Dope AfrikaBarrydale is more like a village; it lies in a fertile valley between South Africa’s Langeberg mountains and the Karoo, one of the quietest places made fit for you to come to enjoy an amazing holiday experience.
Specifically for tourists, there are a lot of activities to do here for the few days you may choose to stay. Days in which you would get to spend your leisure hours properly in the company of its warm and friendly people.
Want to know more about the area at large? Below is a list of fun things to do In Barrydale for your memorable vacation.
Fun Things To Do In Barrydale
1. Enjoy the Mediterranean and local flavors of Mez Karoo kitchen
There are a whole lot of restaurants to get something nice for yourself to eat in Barrydale, but amongst all, one that stands out is the restaurant and coffee shop of Mez Karoo Kitchen, designed for guests to come to enjoy Mediterranean and local flavours in its peaceful garden under a warm atmosphere.
With the excellent services offered by its staff, visitors are at liberty to browse through its tasty meal menu of lamb kleftiko with vegetables, chicken phyllo pie, lemon-and-spinach rice and salad, dessert, rosewater ice cream, and sweet Moroccan crunch, all of which are succulent and tasty.
Why you should visit?
Here, visitors get to enjoy any meal of the day, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Address: 24 Van Riebeeck St, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
2. Dine at the Karoo art hotel
During your visit to the area, the restaurant at the Karoo Art Hotel seems to be a nice place to eat because it offers a meal menu that features foods and treats from the Karoo.
Showing up here could either be for a date or just merely catching up with any meal of the day, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, in its unique settings dominated by wooden tables.
What do they offer?
The eatery at Karoo Art Hotel has a meal menu made up of milkshakes like Morning Glory, Vintage Villain, toasted sarmies, salads, and other light meals.
Address: 30 Van Riebeeck St, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
3. Check out the Karoo Art Hotel
The Karoo Art Hotel is one destination that you don’t get to behold in its full glory just by looking outside, but rather by taking a walk inside while exploring its quirkiness of bright walls from lime green to oxblood red, the idiosyncratic collections and objects d’art start to work their.
Being a resort and hotel as well, this should be a perfect pick for whosoever is in search of somewhere relaxing to catch a rest or spend the night at—one that has its rooms individually decorated and elegant or funky, a bit off the wall.
What should I expect?
Just as aforementioned, the Karoo Art Hotel has an eatery where you can grab a cup of tea and a plate of meal, though it is primarily meant to book a night in one of its memorable suites.
Address: 30 Van Riebeeck St, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
4. Get arty and crafty with Barrydale hand weavers
The Barrydale Hand Weavers is a one shop for both art enthusiasts and craft lovers alike visiting Barrydale, as it is the only prominent location in the whole area where they get to enjoy browsing and buying arts and crafts of their preferred and desired choices.
What do they offer?
The Barrydale hand weavers do offer art and craft items as part of their job creation project, which consists mostly of hand-woven rugs, tableware, and fabrics. Add this among your list of fun things to do In Barrydale, this weekend.
Address: Joseph Barry Distillers, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
5. Check out the collections of MUD Gallery
The MUD Gallery is just a few miles away from the Barged Hand Weavers, more like a next-door neighbor where guests are always welcomed and are at liberty to check out the collection of paintings, sculptures, and ceramics it has on display and exhibits.
What should I expect?
Here, visitors get to hang out in its space built of local materials and relax in its peaceful garden while getting something to bite on. If you are looking for what to do in Barrydale, then check out the Mud Gallery.
Address: R62, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
6. Drop by the Magpie art collectives
Should you begin your search for a destination, check out a selection of arts and crafts from all over Africa.​, well this tourist attraction of Magpie Art Collective would be one of the top recommendations, as it presently happens to be the only destination to get to see functional art in the area.
Speaking of functional art in the area, they are items that mostly revolve around light fittings and lamp shades, reshaped and made new using recycled materials.
What do they offer?
As one of the best places to visit in Barrydale, the Mango Art Collectives do offer for sale chandeliers to be hung in your private quarters, should that be something you are interested in buying.
Address: 27 Van Riebeeck St, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
7. Join in the get-together of Barrydale Art Meander
The Barrydale art meander is more like an annual festival held in mid-December that witnesses the gathering of artists in Barrydale coming from both home and abroad swing open the doors of their art studios and spaces, immersing themselves in its creativity.
All that is expected of tourists showing up here is to keep an eye on the dates and stay tuned so as not to miss out.
Why should you partake in this event?
Coming over for this event is nothing but to immerse yourself in the town’s creativity.
8. Take a walk and wander the streets in the area.
Wandering the streets of Barrydale with your camera in hand is also something fun to try out in the area. Through experience, you can relieve yourself by driving, cycling, or walking down the streets and pathways while admiring their beautiful surroundings.
What should I expect?
Here, visitors get to come across architectural church buildings, luxurious houses, pretty gardens, drystone walls, and a fence decorated with a rattle of enamel plates and mugs—more than enough beautiful sights to take pictures of.
9. Go hiking at the Barrydale valley
Waterfalls surround the Barrydale Valley, where locals and visitors can come to hike and take part in birdwatching adventures.
All that is expected of visitors is to pack a midday heat hat, sunscreen, and plenty of drinking water to enjoy the adventure to the fullest.
What to expect?
Here, visitors get to hike on its 10-kilometer trails, which should last for a span of four hours. Add this among the hidden gems in Barrydale.
10. Go wine tasting at Barrydale Cellars
There are quite a few places to go wine tasting during your holiday or business trip in Barrydale, one of which is the Barrydale Cellars, a cellar restaurant in the surroundings of a heritage garden.
It is a pleasurable experience, I guess everyone would wish to be part of, with plenty and several bottles to grab and have a taste of while hanging out in the company of friends or close relatives.
Why you should come over to this place?
Barrydale Cellars is known for its great customer service, meaning you are guaranteed to be treated as a prince and princess as you go about enjoying this pleasurable experience.
Address: 1 Ladismith Way, 6750, Barrydale, South Africa.
11. Enjoy more glasses of wines at Joubert-Tradauw Winery
Just like the wine-tasting experience of Barrydale cellars, the Joubert-Tradauw Winery is also another nice one-time stop to enjoy the very best of flavorful and tasteful wines.
Unlike the Barrydale cellars highlighted earlier, where you get to enjoy wine tasting in the surroundings of a heritage garden, here they get to enjoy wine tasting on the stoep or under umbrellas on the terrace.
What do they offer?
The Joubert-Tradauw winery has its menu made up of Alfresco Deli’s platters, roasted vegetables, paté, lamb, chicken wings, and mini ribs, alongside cheese and fruit as dessert.
Address: Tradouw Valley, R62, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
Looking for more places to explore in South Africa? You may like to check out the best places to visit in Potchefstroom (South Africa), Hartenbos, Mossel Bay (South Africa), and Bloemfontein (South Africa).
12. Grab a glass of beer at The Makers Brew
Enjoy the beer-tasting experience The Maker’s Brew also makes our list of fun things to do in the area specifically for lovers of beers—an ideal location that guarantees them a taste of some of its craft beers.
Being a microbrewery in the area, the Maker Brew has its own menu made up of blond ale, amber ale, a yeasty saison, and porter, along with some other blends of beers for the tasting pleasure of its guests.
What other things do they offer?
The Maker Brew also has an in-house restaurant offering coffee alongside pizzas, salads, and pub grub for guests not interested in taking a glass of beer.
Address: R62, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
13. Enjoy the thrills of the Barrydale in Bloom festival.
You might as well want to consider yourself lucky should you consider visiting the area during the Barrydale in Bloom festival, usually held annually in October. It is something different to try out for fine nature lovers and enthusiasts who get to enjoy the sight of gardens in their full glory.
Even though it might seem like exploring the area’s garden is the main focus of this festival, there are still some other activities to keep guests entertained and thrilled.
What to expect?
Talking of its other activities, visitors are also welcome to be part of its special events like a craft fair and bring & braai, through which they get to connect properly with local residents in the area.
14. Visit the specialty and gift shop of Inkaroo Jewellery
The Inkaroo Jewellery is a retail store in Barrydale owned and managed by a certain Miss Heather, who goes about making individualized jewelry designs using beads and materials from nature to put up for sale afterward.
Since it is a gift shop, visitors do show up here to pick up items of interest from its beautiful and unique collection of jewelry, such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and brooches.
What else happens here?
Visitors are also allowed and are libertarians to show up at her gift shop to come watch her work aside from shopping for items for their loved ones from its stunningly displayed items.
Address: R62, Ladismith Road, The Mud Centre, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
15. Hangout at the Hasekraal Private Nature Reserve
The Hasekraal Private Nature Reserve is a terrestrial and inland water-protected area in Barrydale, designed for visitors to come to enjoy the very best of sports and recreational activities in a landscape that suits hanging out and spending quality time with family and friends.
What other activities are here?
The Hasekraal Private Nature Reserve also has botanical and zoological gardens within its environs, along with some other reserve activities open to visitors.
16. Worship at The Dutch Reformed Church and Pastorie
The Dutch Reformed Church and Pastorie came into existence over a century ago, in the year 1880, as the very first place of worship in the area, famous for its architectural building structure.
Talking of its architectural building structure, it is one made up of a giant clock tower, stained glass and lancet windows, a wooden ceiling, and a choir gallery; a beautiful sight to behold indeed, which you can also choose to take pictures of as well.
Why you should visit?
This is one of the few places of interest in the area to come worship. You shouldn’t be a member of the Christian faith or belief system.
Address: Bain St, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
While exploring Barrydale, you may also like to check out the best things to do in Beaufort West (South Africa), Still Bay (Stilbaai) South Africa, and Marloth Park (South Africa).
17. Enjoy the funfair of Karoo salon
The Karoo Salon has a great atmosphere and hospitality in Barrydale, offering an amazing nightlife experience best enjoyed with friends and close relatives, mostly as it concerns the Gin Picnic Concert.
Being one of the most popular destinations for tourists when it comes to parties and concerts, it is certainly the best bet for enjoying live music performances off the vocals of the most popular and favorite artists in the area.
What to expect?
They also do offer comfortable en-suite accommodation as well as a permanent campsite for those in need of somewhere to stay after the funfair.
Address: Rd 62 Rd, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa
18. Enjoy the blend of local and foreign dishes at Karoo Daisy
The Karoo Daisy is a restaurant house offering a blend of Mediterranean and local flavors in a charming atmosphere in a peaceful garden made up of tables and chairs.
Looking to find out reasons why you should stop by this restaurant house? Well, it is nothing other than enjoying the sweet combo of catching a good rest as well as the taste of delicious meals.
What other things does happen here?
The Karoo Daisy also do hosts a monthly Night market on the firstnFriday of every month as well as other creative events.
Address: 6 Bain St, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
19. Enjoy a comfortable stay overnight at the Barrydale Backpackers
The Barrydale Backpackers is a lodging facility in Barrydale offering affordable accommodation to guests paying a visit to the Ares either for business or holiday purposes. They get to book the space of any one of its bedrooms with a private bathroom and coffee- and tea-making facilities.
What other things do you get to find here?
The Barrydale Backpackers also has a fully licensed bar and restaurant, along with a well-sized swimming pool to cool off in on those warm summer days.
Address: 4 Tennant Street, Route 62, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
20. Cool off during sunny days at the Country Pumpkin restaurant
The Country Pumpkin Restaurant located in Barrydale is one that, in recent times, has turned out to be a popular stopover for tourists and locals alike, specifically during the summer.
It is an ideal location for you to visit during the summer, as you get to cool off under the heat of the day with its flavorful drinks, which are always chilled whenever you want them.
What do they offer?
The Country Pumpkin restaurant also has a farm stall offering for sale local produce such as vegetables, wine, olive products, herbal teas, preserves, dried fruits, jams, and more.
Address: 8 Tennant St, Barrydale, 6750, South Africa.
Plan Your Vacation To Barrydale
In conclusion, you cannot just go wrong showing up as a guest or tourist to this village of Barrydale, with plenty of fun activities and adventurous events entertaining and to the delight of whosoever decided to show up here; few of those activities have been highlighted above.
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