"Chef Matt Short's R399 seafood platter on the Knysna lagoon, a Travellers' Choice winner. Book the sunset deck for a relaxed date."
About Sirocco
The seafood platter for two lands with calamari, mussels, line fish and prawns, and at R399 with a glass of Chenin Blanc each it is the rare waterfront splurge that does not punish you. Sirocco sits on the water at Thesen Harbour Town, the converted boatyard on Thesen Island, with a terrace and an upstairs deck over the Knysna lagoon. Chef Matt Short runs a Mediterranean kitchen that leans Italian and Portuguese, built on the lagoon's own oysters and the day's line fish. For what separates a very good room from a great one, see our guide to the seven signs of a great restaurant.
The Kitchen
Matt Short heads the kitchen, with Wian van den Berg as sous chef, and the cooking is Mediterranean by way of the Garden Route: Italian and Portuguese technique applied to South African seafood. The wood-fired oven does the heavy lifting, turning out blistered pizzas and the char on the fish.
Start with Knysna oysters, shucked from the lagoon the restaurant overlooks, then move to the seafood platter, the dish that fills most tables, a pile of calamari, black mussels, prawns and grilled line fish. The wood-fired pizza is the other order regulars defend. Plan on R350 to R400 a head for dinner before wine; the platter-for-two deal with a glass of Chenin each is R399 and remains the best value on the menu.
The room has the numbers to back the reputation. Tripadvisor ranks Sirocco fifth of 136 restaurants in Knysna on a 4.2 average across more than 2,300 reviews, and it holds a Travellers' Choice award for 2025. The South African wine list is deep and fairly priced, which is the point of eating Mediterranean food this far south.
The Room
Sirocco occupies a corner of Thesen Harbour Town, a restored boatyard on Thesen Island, and the draw is the water. The ground-floor terrace sits at the marina's edge; the upstairs sunset bar has two decks over the lagoon and takes private bookings. Inside is open and bright by day, contemporary and unfussy. The sound level rises when the bar fills on weekend evenings, so book the terrace for a quiet dinner and the deck for sundowners. Lighting is soft after dark, tables are well spaced on the terrace, and dress is smart-casual. Seating runs large across the two levels.
Not for
Not for a quiet conversation on a Saturday night. When the upstairs sunset bar fills, the noise carries to the terrace, and the kitchen slows under the weekend crowd.
Frequently Asked
Is Sirocco worth it?
Yes, especially for the setting and the value. Sirocco ranks fifth of 136 restaurants in Knysna on Tripadvisor and holds a 2025 Travellers' Choice, and the seafood platter for two at R399 is good value on a lagoon-front terrace. Go for the view and the oysters rather than fine-dining precision. See more best seafood restaurants worldwide.
How hard is it to book Sirocco?
Not hard, but book ahead for a sunset table. Sirocco takes reservations through Dineplan and by phone on +27 44 382 4874, and weekday tables are usually available on short notice. Friday and Saturday evenings and the upstairs sunset deck go first in the December and Easter holiday seasons, so book a week out for a terrace table then.
What is the dress code at Sirocco?
Smart-casual, with no jacket requirement. Thesen Island is a relaxed Garden Route setting, so neat trousers, a shirt or a summer dress fit the room, and most diners arrive straight from the day. Swimwear belongs at the marina, not the dinner table. There is no formal code, but the sunset deck reads slightly dressier on weekend evenings.
What is the average meal price at Sirocco?
Plan on R350 to R400 per person for dinner before drinks. The seafood platter for two with a glass of Chenin Blanc each is R399, the best deal on the menu, and Knysna oysters are priced by the half-dozen. The South African wine list is deep and fair, so a couple sharing a platter and a bottle should stay comfortably under R900.
What should I order at Sirocco?
Start with Knysna oysters from the lagoon the terrace overlooks, then share the seafood platter of calamari, mussels, prawns and line fish. The wood-fired pizza is the order to add for a non-seafood eater at the table. Sit on the terrace at sunset and pair it with a South African Chenin Blanc or a local craft beer.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Sirocco
Via Dineplan or +27 44 382 4874
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressTH28, Thesen Harbour Town, Thesen Island, Knysna
NeighbourhoodThesen Island
CuisineMediterranean seafood (Italian / Portuguese)
Average spendR350–400 pp · platter for two R399
Dress codeSmart-casual
ReservationDineplan or phone
Tripadvisor4.2 · #5 of 136 · Travellers' Choice 2025
DietaryWood-fired pizza and vegetarian options; ask for vegan / gluten-free
