The Marine in Hermanus has reopened

The Marine in Hermanus has reopened with a refreshed spirit, unveiling a new chapter of coastal elegance while staying true to its heritage. The ground‑floor public areas — reception, cocktail bar, Pavilion Restaurant, and the long connecting passages — have been reimagined by Dawn Dickerson and Carmel Naudé of HotCocoa Interiors and Design. Their approach was not structural but atmospheric, restoring warmth and sophistication to spaces that have defined the hotel for more than 120 years.

The redesign draws deeply from Hermanus’ natural environment. Olive‑green panelling, hand‑painted murals of proteas, aloes, and the endemic Erica “Pride of Hermanus” create a visual link to the fynbos kingdom. Terracotta floors were preserved, lighting softened, and textured stucco walls introduced to add depth. The passages — once dark and soulless — now form an inviting journey through the hotel, connecting reception, lounges, bar, restaurant, pool, spa, and rooms.

The reception has been transformed into a refined alcove with brass accents and raffia wallpaper, while the cocktail bar now features grit‑blasted granite, Verdigris touches, handmade tiles, and sage‑green velvet stools. The Pavilion Restaurant has adopted a brasserie‑meets‑greenhouse aesthetic, with black‑and‑white tiled floors, green marble accents, botanical greenery, and a cascade of glass pendant lights. The courtyard and pool terrace have been landscaped into a lush sanctuary, framed by palms, bougainvillea, hibiscus, and strelitzias.

“We wanted guests to feel an immediate sense of warmth, sophistication and luxury, as if they have just walked into someone’s home,” says Dawn Dickerson.

The Marine’s reopening signals not just a refurbishment but a renewal. It remains part of The Liz McGrath Collection alongside The Cellars‑Hohenort in Cape Town and The Plettenberg on the Garden Route, and continues to be a proud member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.