Gaaitjie is a whitewashed fisherman’s cottage on the beach at Paternoster, serving seafood-led menus with West Coast wines since 2009. The building itself dates to 1855, when it was built for the foreman of the local fishery; today it is a Cape Heritage site, still owned by the fisheries.

You eat in the cottage, which sits on the rocks above the beach. The kitchen focuses on seafood — line fish, calamari, and dishes using local produce — and the wine list draws from West Coast and Swartland vineyards. The dining room is simple and comfortable, with views of the beach and the bay.

The restaurant is family-run. The Kruger family bought it in 2015, after a chance sighting of the property for sale. They operate it with local staff, many of whom have years of experience cooking fish and local fare.

The cottage is on Sampson Street, named after the foreman who once lived here. It remains the reason the restaurant is here at all.