The Sweet, warm Life

The clouds have rolled in across the ocean bringing with them some much needed rain. As seagulls glide through the air in a graceful motion, the waves are orchestrated by the rush of the wind, reaching a crescendo as they crash against the rocks. This view is much appreciated from the comfort and warmth of the interior, gazing out of the windows of the lounge or the restaurant at the Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort.

If you were planning an ocean adventure or an outdoor activity, today would be a good day to take a rain check. However, the wet weather should by no means dampen your mood. It is a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your family, enjoying a warm drink and some good food together.

The smell of chlorine in the lobby is also a good reminder that a warm Jacuzzi awaits you. As you step out of it, met by the crisp, cool freshness of the weather- a hot drink would serve you well.

The Island Dinner offers a range of hot drinks for occasions such as this. At a table in Café Estoril twin boys are drinking coffee from espresso cups, spooning the frothed milk into their mouths with a teaspoon while simultaneously pouring sachets of sugar into the small cup to sweeten the taste of the coffee. “Nice cappuccino, good choice dad!” their mother says as if to speak for them.

The coffee machine in the corner of the room is working overtime and the rich smell of coffee fills the air. A flask of half empty coffee stands on a warm plate and beneath it, another full flask is prepped to keep up with the mounting orders. The Island Diner uses an imported Italian blend of coffee called Molinari. It is smooth and flavoursome meeting the high expectations of serious coffee drinkers and also not-so-serious alike.

A range of selected teas is also available including the South African favourite, caffeine-free Rooibos tea. Although it isn’t on the menu, you can also get a red espresso or a red cappuccino which uses Rooibos tea instead of coffee. On the couches in the lobby, a picturesque family is sharing a pot of tea, playing cards and reading the newspaper as the rain trickles down gently.

Make an occasion of your tea-time and delight yourself and those you love with a sweet treat to go with your hot drink. “If you’re looking for sweetness, go for the lemon meringue but the carrot cake is also very good, it’s moist and tasty”- a hint from a well-informed staff member at the Island Diner. “Look how thick that meringue is” a woman expresses at the sight of the cakes on display. The cakes are fresh and delicious and are sourced from The Crags in Plettenberg Bay supporting local home-industry.

Let the weather entice you to indulge in the luxury offered by the resort and enjoy time spent together as a family in comfort with a warm ‘cuppa’ in hand!