You're never too late for a date with Mr. Write 🫖🎁

👋 Good morning, Hermanus!

Guess who’s back? Not only the school children but also your Scoop team.

Welcome back to the Hermanus Scoop - your weekly catch-up on all things local, lekker and worth knowing about. From hidden gems to community news, we’ve got you covered.

We hope all batteries have been recharged and minds and bodies are refreshed ahead of what promises to be an incredible second half of 2025 - especially if you’re reading Hermanus’ finest.

In this week’s edition:

🫖 You can’t go wrong with Mr. Write - where the kettle’s always on and the stories are just beginning

🐋 Kalfiefees is around the corner - we’ve got you covered.

📅 Local events, restaurant specials, and more to fill your calendar.

Let’s get into it.

– The Hermanus Scoop Team 🐋

P.S. They say sharing is caring so please keep on caring for those around you by sharing our free subscription page with them and get them to sign up today 🙃

🏡 Property of the Week - Presented by Greeff Properties

Looking for ocean views or a mountainside retreat?

Each week, we spotlight a standout listing that captures the unique charm and lifestyle of the Overberg. From ocean-view escapes to tucked-away treasures, these are the homes that inspire imagination - and maybe even your next move. Brought to you by Greeff Properties, trusted specialists in exceptional real estate across the Overberg.

Exquisite Modern Home Moments from the Heart of Town

This beautifully renovated four-bedroom residence offers a seamless blend of sophisticated design and everyday comfort. Each bedroom boasts its own en-suite bathroom, while the entire home has been curated with impeccable taste and meticulous attention to detail. Thoughtfully renovated with a clean, contemporary aesthetic, every detail reflects smart design and quality finishes.

Positioned on a single level and north-facing, the property enjoys mountain views and natural light throughout. The striking open-plan kitchen is a real stunner, featuring a central island, sleek Caesarstone countertops, and premium finishes throughout. Double-volume ceilings in the living and dining areas add to the airy, expansive feel, anchored by a stylish shared closed-combustion fireplace for warmth and ambiance.

View the property in full here.

🫖 Mr. Write: Where the Kettle’s Always On and the Stories Are Just Beginning

This week’s local business spotlight is on Mr. Write.

Some ideas arrive like lightning. Others steep slowly, like tea. For Deoné van Riet, the founder of Mr. Write, the dream of starting something gentle and generous began not with a business plan, but with a quiet hunger for “more.”

Back in Cape Town, Deoné was clocking time in a 9-to-5 job that ticked the boxes but left creativity hemmed in. After hours, she taught herself to bake, paint, write - following instincts rather than blueprints. But it wasn’t until she designed her first logo that something clicked. That tiny act of making and naming something personal stirred a vision that had been brewing beneath the surface: a space that wasn’t perfect, but heartfelt. One where the tea was hot, the atmosphere forgiving, and the ambition not to be the biggest but to be the kindest.

She named it Mr. Write: a playful nod to Thomas More’s imagined utopias, heartbreaks that demanded healing and the idea that when you can’t find “Mr. Right” (or the perfect job, the perfect place, the perfect moment), maybe you can create something real instead.

Cape Town, she says, felt too sharp for such soft beginnings. Hermanus, by contrast, offered rhythm over rush. “It’s a place where a dream doesn’t have to be loud to grow,” she reflects. That first dream took root behind someone else’s gallery - cramped, hidden, far from ideal. But it worked. Because when conditions aren’t perfect, you learn fast. And you learn with heart.

A Family Affair, A Community Café

Today, Mr. Write lives on the bustling High Street. The shop has grown - not just in size or foot traffic, but in soul. It’s now a family venture, run by Deoné alongside her brother Jean-Maree, with their mother - an experienced hand in the café world - offering her warmth and wisdom behind the scenes. What began as a solo creative risk is now stitched into a shared rhythm of family, hospitality, and local collaboration.

Walk through the door and the first thing you’ll notice is the air itself: it doesn’t buzz, it hums. There’s a deliberate softness to the experience. A slow-lit interior. Pre-loved books. Locally made gifts. Dozens of teas with names that read like poetry. And at the heart of it all, a promise: here, you can take your time.

“We try softer, not harder,” Deoné says. “We designed the space for slow moments and gentle rituals. Whether you’re here to work, to read, to meet a friend or sit quietly on your own - it’s okay. You don’t have to be anything other than just… here”.

More Than a Menu

That ethos spills into every cup and corner. The café offers over 40 specialty teas - from familiar rooibos to rare and exotic infusions - alongside award-winning häzz coffee. Add to that a selection of baked treats from local artisans, toasty comfort food, and the kind of friendly WiFi that doesn’t eye your laptop suspiciously after 45 minutes.

The team behind the counter is as much a part of the experience as the menu: there’s the quietly focused Somi, the ever-charming Bless, and the sense that everyone who works at Mr. Write actually wants to be there - and wants you to feel like you belong.

They keep a handwritten notebook of regulars’ names. Not for marketing purposes. Just because remembering someone’s order - and greeting them like a friend - is still the most underrated kind of magic.

A Brew for Tired Hearts

At its core, Mr. Write isn’t just a tea and gift café. It’s a soft space in a sharp world. A place for tired hearts and curious minds. For artists between gigs, students pulling late hours, tourists seeking a slower moment, or locals craving familiar kindness.

“It’s not about being perfect,” says Deoné. “It’s about being here. Trying. Offering something small but sincere. A good brew. A better day.”

In a town already known for natural beauty and big views, Mr. Write offers something more intimate: a handwritten welcome, a moment of pause, a story in the making.

And isn’t that what great places - and great tea - are all about?

Some questions with Deoné on her local favourites…

Best coffee in town?

Of course, we love Mr. Write’s coffee and drink it everyday. But coffee shop owners love enjoying coffee at other cafés too!

The other day a customer said, half-joking, like he’d caught me doing something scandalous: “I saw you at CoUnity drinking coffee!”

And I get it! But I genuinely love CoUnity. I love Dawn. I love Mikro. I love Black Medicine. The list goes on. Hermanus is spoiled for great coffee.

Favourite local restaurant or hidden food gem?

I’ve only had fantastic restaurant experiences in Hermanus. But if I had to follow tonight’s cravings, I’d head straight to Embers Wood Fired Oven for their Soprano pizza. Well done, Chef!

Go-to place for a walk or fresh air?

I love strolling through the neighbourhoods of Hermanus. The houses, the gardens, the beautifully kept exteriors… the people of Hermanus know how to do outdoors right.

One place you always take visiting friends and family?

YOU SCREAM ice cream! And then we go to Rossi’s. Both are non-negotiable.

Your top spot to unwind or recharge?

There’s a secret nook along the cliff path that I escape to when I need to reset.

Alas… I cannot reveal more.

🐋 25 Years of Kalfiefees in 2025 - A Festival of Theatre, Music, Art and Lifestyle

This is a festival for young and old alike. Drama, comedy, music, dance, children’s theatre, book talks, art and lifestyle - there’s something for every festival goer’s taste. The Kalfiefees offers artists from across the country the opportunity to come together and entertain audiences from all walks of life.

• Get your festival guide here

• Buy your tickets here

• For more information you can contact the festival management here: Telephone: 061 520 9041 & Email: [email protected]

Let’s all support local art together and enjoy the festivities as a community during this time!

🍷 Wine of the Week

We’ve teamed up with a few mysterious ghost writers who know their way around a wine glass. Each week, they’ll be sharing a local wine review straight from the heart of the valley.

What’s in your Glass (24.07.2025) 

Brunia Syrah 2023

Since 2017, under the watchful eye of the Sander brothers, this family has transformed the Cold Mountain farm in Sondagskloof (neighbours to the well-known Hermanuspietersfontein, who pioneered the ward back in 2006) into organic and biodynamic operation. Older brother Brett tends the vines, while younger brother (ex CWG protégé) Wade, is responsible for the alchemy in the cellar.

Since they took over, the focus has very much been to ensure that the grape quality is of the very highest standard. A lot of investment has gone into developing an ecosystem to ensure soil health and sustainability.

It comes as no surprise that their focus on the red wine side has fallen on Syrah - seeing that Wade learnt his trade at the Mullineuxs in Franschhoek for a couple of years as a CWG protégé and later as assistant winemaker.

With their minimalist approach, the wine is very stylish. To describe the wine (briefly), would almost feel like a cardinal sin, seeing that the finer nuances and complexity is what makes this wine.

The wine is perfumed and laced with purple and blue fruit (think blueberries and brambles) supported by hints of baker’s spice and savoury undertones.

On the palate, seamless tannins that is never-ending and feels timeless. Probably why I didn’t really feel like sharing the wine with anybody!

The wine is pure bliss in the glass! Subtle, understated - yet confident.

94/100

📆 What’s On in Hermanus

The last week of the month has a lot to offer:

Saturday | Lunch with Thorne & Daughters Wines 🍷
🗓 Saturday, 26 July · 12:30 📍 Join the Marine Hotel for a refined four-course lunch, thoughtfully paired with the exceptional wines of Thorne & Daughters. Expect a taste of springbok, vibrant seasonal accompaniments, and a citrus-kissed dessert - all perfectly matched to showcase each wine. R495pp. Booking essential at www.themarinehotel.co.za or 028 313 1000.

Saturday | Hermanus ParkRun 🏃 
🗓 Saturday, 26 July · 08:00 📍 Hermanus Forest, Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley - Start your weekend with a scenic 5km trail run (or walk). Free to join - just register online at parkrun.co.za.

Saturday | Benguela Cove ParkRun 🏃 
🗓 Saturday, 26 July · 08:00 📍 Benguela Cove, R43, Botriver Lagoon, Hermanus - Start your weekend with a scenic 5km trail run (or walk). Free to join - just register online at parkrun.co.za.

Saturday | Hermanus Country Market 🌿 
🗓 Saturday, 26 July · 09:00 - 14:00 📍 Hermanus Cricket Club - Artisan stalls, live music, food, fresh produce and a family-friendly vibe - a staple Saturday outing for locals and visitors alike.

Saturday | Local Community Market – Onrus 🌿 
🗓 Saturday, 26 July · 09:00 - 13:00 📍 De Wet Saal, Onrus - Pop by the De Wet Saal in Onrus for a vibrant community market filled with local crafts, food, and fresh produce. A great way to support local and enjoy a relaxed morning out!

Monday_| Flikker Filmfees 🎥 
🗓 28 - 31 July. Film Festival celebrating 100 years of Afrikaans - featuring exclusive short films and films from the last two years of the kykNET Silwerskermfees. Learn more and buy tickets here.

Around the Corner: Mikro Coffee x Wags & Whiskers🐶
🗓 2 August. 10:00. In collaboration and support of Wags & Whiskers Hermanus, we are hosting a coffee pairing, showcasing some of the most unique coffees paired perfectly with various little bites. Join us for a coffee tasting adventure while supporting a great cause. Tickets are available here at R150 each with all profits going to Wags & Whiskers.

🎓📚 School Term Update

Local schools are back in session for Term 3!

Some quick highlights from across our schools:

• Five tennis players from Hermanus High School represented the Boland Kavaliers team in the doubles and mixed doubles categories - congratulations and keep on practicing hard and enjoying your game!

• Hermanus Primary welcomes Worcester-Noord this weekend for a sports day during which they will play rugby, netball and hockey - good luck to all the pupils!

• The Curro Cantare Girls Chambers Choir is performing their tour programme with guest artist Rea Costerus (violin) on Saturday 26 July at 18:30 at the Hennie Mentz Hall - join them for an evening of beautiful music and exceptional talent. Tickets are R100 at the door.

Wishing all learners, teachers, and parents a strong and successful term ahead!

🌬️🌦️ Hermanus Weather Update: 24 - 30 July

This week, the Overberg sky continues its quiet performance - opening with soft greys and rainfall, warming into golden sun, then closing with a gentle curtain of cloud. It’s a seven-day stretch of soft drama and small joys.

Here’s what the week ahead looks like:

⸻

Thursday 24 July

Misty with a message. 🌧️ Light rain returns (3.9 mm total), paired with cool air ranging from 11°C to 14°C. Winds begin at 7 m/s, calming to 4 m/s by evening. A good day for soup, socks, and slow emails.

Friday 25 July

Bright edges, lingering chill. 🌥️ A soft mix of cloud and sun with only 0.6 mm of rain early on. High of 13°C, low of 11°C, and breezes nudging up to 10 m/s. Not quite sunny, but definitely worth stepping out.

Saturday 26 July

Shifting softly toward sun. 🌤️ Dry and calm, with temperatures from 10°C to 13°C and light winds maxing at 7 m/s. Ideal for cliff path strolls, market mornings, and that overdue beach walk.

Sunday 27 July

Sunlit serenity. ☀️ The kind of day that feels like a gift. Clear skies all day, with a mild high of 15°C and low of 8°C. Winds at 7 m/s bring just enough movement to keep things fresh.

Monday 28 July

Hello, almost-spring. ☀️ A surprise warm-up with a high of 19°C and low of 7°C. Winds drift down to 4 m/s. It’s the kind of mid-winter Monday that makes you believe in second chances.

Tuesday 29 July

A warm and wandering kind of day. ☀️ The week’s warmest, with a high of 21°C and low of 10°C. Light winds at 5 m/s. Leave the jacket, take the long way.

Wednesday 30 July

Soft close, with a little curtain drizzle. ⛅🌧️ Cloud returns, along with 8.9 mm of rain across the day. High of 17°C, low of 12°C, and gentle winds at 6 m/s. A day to listen, not plan.

So whether you’re plotting a wind-lashed hike or a fireside feast, remember: Hermanus doesn’t just do weather - it does atmosphere. The kind that changes your plans, and then rewards you for changing them.

Here’s to soaking it all in.

🦐 Restaurant Specials:

Here are some of the best deals from all over town for you to enjoy during the coming week:

Spotted in the Overberg: Photo of the Week

Each week, we feature one special snap submitted by someone who calls this place home. From misty morning walks to playful pups on the beach - we want to see what you see.

And here’s the perk: every featured photographer gets a free flat white on us - in partnership with Molo Coffee. So send in your best shot to [email protected], and you might just sip your way to local fame.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Scoop!

Stay warm, stay dry, stay curious and we’ll catch you next week!

- The Hermanus Scoop Team 🐋

P.S. Got a story, sighting, or scoop to share? Drop us an email at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you.