I hadn’t been to Polana for a good three years (Ive got no idea why I stayed away for that long!) but a friend had a birthday party here on Saturday night and I was reminded of why it’s such a great spot.
The location of this venue could not be closer to the sea – in fact you could probably touch the rocks if you leant far enough out the enormous windows! The view, on a clear day or not, is spectacular – the crashing waves only a few metres away and of course being able to see right across the bay to the mountains on the other side.
Polana is situated below Harbour House and next door to Lucky Fish and Chips – all in the same building on the Kalk Bay Pier. While Harbour House is slighty more expensive, Polana still has a great menu and serves the most delicious tapas – anything from the ciabatta wrapped in Parma ham, chicken livers (the most “to die for” livers Ive had in a long time), spare ribs, prawns or chirozo sausage and olives are well worth it.
The menu features dishes from Angola and Mozambique and being so close to the harbor the freshest of fresh fish is served – in fact the restaurant has its own fishing boat!
The interior decorating of Polana is a mixture of Indonesian and Portuguese with a colonial touch! The floors are whitewashed, colourful ceramic tiles adorn the walls and Indonesian furniture is dotted around. Booths with comfortable cushions make up the more ‘formal’ dining area of the restaurant whereas the tapas menu is available in the ‘lounge’ area closest to the windows.
Polana is the perfect summer and winter venue – in winter a log fire roars in the lounge; perfect to quaff red wine as you whale watch (sometimes you can see whales from less than 100 metres away) and of course the seals are in the harbour and off the harbour wall all year around.
So, when you are next looking for a party venue give Polana a try – the view will take your breath away and you will probably make yourself very comfy at the windows and will settle in for a good few hours. The lounge area remains open late for drinks so you might even find yourself watching the sun come up and the fishing boats chug out for the new days catch.
Useful Kalk Bay Links
Details
Address: Harbour House, Kalk Bay Harbour, 7975 Kalk Bay, Cape Town
Telephone: +27 (0)21 788-4133
Opening hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner.
