Address
Birkenhead House
119 11th St, Hermanus, 7200, South Africa
Lowest upcoming
$708
19 Jun 2026
Highest upcoming
$2,351
30 Dec 2026
Median nightly
$1,062
across 365 upcoming days
Cheapest week
5 to 11 Jul
33% below annual median
Daily price line
Upcoming nightly rates
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Cheaper More expensive
Cheapest week ahead: 5–11 Jul 2026
at $715/night
(33% below median)
Review
Condé Nast Readers' Choice 2023 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019
Character and identity
A cream-coloured villa set on a cliff above the ocean in Hermanus, Birkenhead House is a 11-room boutique property that trades on the conceit of staying in the impossibly stylish home of a well-travelled friend. Owner-designer Liz Biden's signature shows in every room: bold colour, gilded accents, vintage furniture, zebra-skin mirrors, antique Indian carvings, Chinese vases, each room different. The bay-view infinity pool is the social centre, the spa offers outdoor treatments above the water, and dining happens whenever and wherever you want it, terrace, balcony, poolside. Service is intuitive and house-party warm.
Who's it for
Best for:
Couples, honeymooners and design-literate travellers who want a small, intimate property with serious decorative personality and a front-row seat for whale watching from June to November. Multigenerational families taking several rooms or buying out the house also work well. A natural two-hour add-on from Cape Town.
Should look elsewhere:
Anyone wanting a full-scale resort with multiple restaurants, kids' clubs or beachfront access. Travellers who prefer minimalist, restrained interiors will find Biden's maximalist palette too much. If you want a buzzy hotel scene with other guests around, eleven rooms is too few.
Bottom line
The draw here is the combination of a cliff-edge setting and a domestic, almost private-villa register of service that no larger property in the area matches. Spend the money if you're a couple on a Cape itinerary or a serious whale watcher, and time the trip for the southern winter and spring migration when the bay fills with southern rights.
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Location
119 11th St, Hermanus, 7200, South Africa
Hermanus, South Africa · 34.4100° S, 19.2805° E
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Amenities
Wi-Fi
Restaurant
Bar
Room service
Breakfast
Smoke-free property
Full service laundry
Beach access
Parking
Airport shuttle
Local shuttle
Outdoor pool
Practical info
Website
Phone