Unwind Tapas Bar Jeffrey's Bay

Restaurant Type	Casual Dining
Value for Money
Vibe

On Tuesday, when Google Ads was down, I decided to take advantage of the situation and head to Jeffreys Bay. I needed to pick up some baby chickens, and since I was out, I figured I might as well grab chicken feed and treat myself to a nice brunch.

I chose a restaurant called Unwind, which isn’t quite on the beach but close enough that you can still see the waves and enjoy a pleasant view towards Gamtoos. The décor really caught my eye—there was plenty of attention to detail that gave it a cozy atmosphere. It’s not drenched in a beach vibe, but I appreciated the effort.

If you’re lucky enough to grab the right table, you can even take in a sweeping 180-degree view of the shoreline.

Since it was a Tuesday morning around 11, the place was understandably pretty empty. However, a group of loud teenagers disrupted the calm. Two girls were discussing their school drama at top volume, and now I know more about their personal lives than I ever needed to. I hope I wasn’t this annoying at that age.

The menu is fairly simple, which has its perks, but I expected more seafood options—only fish and chips made an appearance. Oddly enough, Unwind calls itself a tapas bar, but I didn’t see any tapas offerings on the menu. Perhaps they save that for tourist season? Either way, I wasn’t presented with any tapas options.

I went for a chai latte and braised rib with mash. While waiting, the music selection was a bit lackluster—think suburban housewife playlist—which felt out of place for a beachfront spot in summer. The chai latte wasn’t really chai, but let’s be honest, I didn’t expect much in a surfer town. Still, it was presented nicely, complete with fancy crockery and a cute little biscuit for Instagram-worthy flair.

The main course, while delicious, left me wanting more in terms of portion size, especially considering the R135 price tag. The ribs were tasty, and again, the presentation was on point, but I didn’t walk away feeling like I’d just had a hearty meal.

After the other patrons left, I found myself sitting for quite a while waiting for the bill. The waitron seemed less than interested in keeping an eye on his tables—perhaps the laid-back surfer vibes were to blame. Luckily, I wasn’t in any rush.

All in all, the value for money is up for debate. I’m considering coming back to try their elusive tapas and will decide then if Unwind deserves a regular spot in my rotation.