EAT & SHOP HERE
Hello Eatery
Tuck into all-day breakfasts, towering burgers with home-made patties (R75), fresh-baked bread (R35) and thick milkshakes (R38) at this bistro. If you’re just feeling peckish, you can’t go wrong with the bread platter, which comes with grated cheese and local preserves (R45).
Where? Church Street
Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm; closed on Sundays.
Contact: 079 873 1526; search for “Hello Hopefield” on Facebook
Courtyard Restaurant
Only open once a week, you’ll find the Courtyard Restaurant tucked behind Hopefield’s Mill Country Fair. The Courtyard Classic is a stacked plate of freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, onion, roasted tomatoes and sautéed mushrooms (R60). For something lighter, how about granola with yoghurt and honey (R35)?
Where? Church Street
Opening times: Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.
Contact: 022 723 1528
Die PlaasMol Padstal
This nursery, farm stall, pub and eatery is just outside Hopefield. Order a plate of fries and a beer and soak in the atmosphere (or watch whatever rugby game is playing on the giant projector screen). Don’t forget to grab a bag of biltong for the road.
Where? About a kilometre west of Hopefield on the R45, towards Vredenburg. (Look for the massive theme-park plane parked outside.) Opening times: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
Contact: 074 924 8478; search “Die PlaasMol (Hopefield)” on Facebook
Simply Bee
After a spoonful of Simply Bee’s deliciously sweet (but slightly herbal) honey, you’ll quickly understand why it’s Hopefield’s most coveted export. At the back of the company’s small farm-style building, you’ll find a glass hive where you can watch the bees get to work. Afterwards, head to the shop and grab a beeswax-based cleaner, honey-infused lotion or jar of the good stuff.
Where? Church Street
Opening times: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm; Saturday 9 am to 4 pm; closed on Sunday and public holidays.
Chef and Farmer
Simple, comfort food made with local ingredients. The soup of the day (R30) is made with whichever vegetables are in season and comes with a dunkable pita bread. If you want a bite with a bit more meat on its bones, go for The Farmer’s steak and chips (R120) – you get a 400 g matured T-bone.
Where? Voortrekker Road Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 8 pm; Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm; closed on Monday.
Contact: 071 023 1078; chef-and-farmer.business.site
Mill Country Fair
If someone in Hopefield is brewing kombucha, growing beetroot or baking shortbread, you’ll find it at the weekly Mill market. Pick up a loaf of sourdough and jar of locally made raspberry jam for a true taste of what Hopefield has to offer. Where? Church Street
Opening times: Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.