It’s all about the combination of the beer and the vibe. The incredible setting helps, but Charlies is a place were the locals hang out and visitors make new friends.

Situated in Port Owen in Velddrif, the sense of space, views over the marina and the unrivalled West Coast hospitality make Charlies the first choice stop in the area. With space for 160 patrons’, enjoy the cool pub vibe inside, fresh air and warm rays for sun lovers outside or a smoker friendly glassed in deck.
All about the beer.
The microbrewery on site is up and operational. Charlies produces four brews all named for something in the area. The Cormorant Stout celebrates the thousands of birds often seen flying low over the sea. The Sandveld Lager commemorates the typical vegetation of this part of the West Coast. The Harbour Pale Ale invokes all kinds of love for the ocean and the Lighthouse Blonde honours these beacons keeping us safe at sea.
For beer aficionados, here is some more detailed information about the beer, all I know, is they all taste
good. Beer tastings are available making it easy to select your favourite.
Cormorant Bourbon Stout
4.3% ALC/VOL
Oats and a multitude of malts give this sweet stout its sumptuous base. Expect bitter, yet silky chocolatiness from cocoa nibs and chocolate malt, giving way to the smoky sweetness from ageing in bourbon oak casks. Cormorant is a moreish combination.
Available: 18/01/2019
Lighthouse Blonde
4.1% ALC/VOL
Beautiful in its simplicity, this light beer is true to a traditional blonde style – a light malt base delightfully balanced with delicate hops. Generous amounts of wheat malt provide Lighthouse with its velvet smoothness. The finish is crisp and dry with a slight sweetness. An easy-drinking, light ale.
Available: 28/12/2018
Harbour American Pale Ale
5.4% ALC/VOL
We’ve crossed the pond to create a beer of independent thought. Chock-full of six big, bold American whole-leaf hops, we’ve created an intense flavour of tropical and citrus fruits with a slight pepperiness and dry finish. It’s all in the method – we periodically add in the hops throughout the brew to get the most out of each one. The complexity and vibrant fruitiness of Harbour is held up nicely by the bittering and the higher alcohol volume. Available: 11/01/2019
Sandveld Lager
4.1% ALC/VOL
Our twist on a Czech-styled Lager. A lighter bodied refreshing, hoppy Lager, with low to medium bready malt aroma, balanced by a slight herbal spice of the Saaz hop. A long lasting creamy white head.
All about the food.
The restaurant serves a variety of bar snacks, main meals, deserts and a kids menu, with the cuisine described as a culinary fusion between British and West Coast flavours. Bar snacks offer plenty of choice for R50 – R100 and include exciting choices like West Coast Mussels with coconut chili ale, beef sliders with Emmenthal cheese and gherkins, or a Springbok carpaccio with Parmesan, capers and a truffle vinaigrette.
Main meals range between R95 and R145 and it’s a tough choice when presented with honey mustard glazed eisbein, spicy lamb curry or chargrilled sirloin steak. Vegetarian meals include mushroom pasta or a vegetarian burger.
Desserts to delight and forget about calorie counting because you can’t leave without sampling the Malva pudding crème fraiche sorbet and raspberry jelly or the Stout flavoured ice cream and meringues.
All about the Vibe.
This is a relaxing, chilling, eating, drinking, laughing, chatting kind of place, except when it’s Friday night and the live music is pumping, and the party is on. Or when everyone is focused on the big screen TV cheering on the Bokke, the Stormers, or other sporting greats.
The deck area is available for hire for private functions, the great atmosphere and friendly staff are always part of the deal. Sunsets are always better with an ice cold beer and sundowners at Charlies are legendary.
Find Charlies Brewhouse on the West Coast Way Foodie Route and Berg Route
7 Days a week
Where: 1 Marina Centre, Port Owen Drive, Port Owen, Velddrif
Contact: +27(0)22 783 0448 | [email protected]
The Roaming Giraffe is Di Brown. Travel writer and blogger, mother, grandmother, avid reader, tourism professional, learner photographer, social media influencer, Twitter fan and lover of Instagram.
West Coast Way is South Africa’s road trip with the most twists. Explore a unique collection of 101 road trip stops along themed routes by planning a self-drive trip or guided tour for a nature and adventure-filled Cape West Coast vacation. The new West Coast Way “basket” of free routes on offer include the West Coast Way Tractor Route, the West Coast Way Berg Route, the West Coast Way Foodie Route, the West Coast Way Cultural Route, the West Coast Way Wild Route – as well as the newly launched Cape Way Route – all of which are designed to showcase the many attractions and activities that are already on offer on the Cape West Coast and inland areas – but may be unknown to many.
For more information on West Coast Way, the other routes on offer, and the list of 101 Things to Do on the West Coast visit www.westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Connect with West Coast Way on Facebook and Twitter at WestCoastWaySA.