Simon's Bar at Emily Moon

Simon’s Bar is the bar space at Emily Moon, positioned above Emily’s Restaurant on Rietvlei Road near Plettenberg Bay. Its character comes from a carefully assembled nautical interior, with vintage boat engines, water-sports equipment and other found objects used as decorative features. The result is a relaxed, distinctive setting shaped by river-lodge surroundings and an interest in old boating culture.

A wood-fired pizza oven sits at the centre of the room and anchors the food offering. The kitchen produces artisan pizzas with a range of carefully matched toppings, including combinations built around buffalo mozzarella, marinated tomatoes, spring onion, pulled pork, baby onions, peppers and rocket. The menu has a casual, shareable focus, making the bar suited to an informal lunch, an evening meal or a stop for something easy to eat alongside a drink.

Ingredients are grown at Emily Moon where possible and otherwise sourced locally. That approach gives the menu a clear connection to the surrounding area without taking the food away from its straightforward, sociable style. Pizza is the defining choice, while the bar setting makes room for drinks and unhurried conversation.

The drinks list includes a selection of South African wines, alongside cocktails prepared at the bar. The setting looks across the Bitou River, with the changing light towards sunset adding to the atmosphere. Simon’s Bar therefore works particularly well for relaxed drinks, a casual meal or an early evening gathering in a characterful Garden Route venue.

Located within the Emily Moon River Lodge complex, Simon’s Bar shares the broader property’s layered interiors and natural setting while retaining a more informal identity than a formal restaurant. The combination of wood-fired pizza, local produce, South African wine, cocktails and nautical objects gives the space a recognisable personality. It can suit couples, small groups and diners looking for a sociable meal rather than an elaborate dining occasion. The nearby river landscape also makes it a natural choice for a slower visit around the end of the day.