12 XL Prawns served with our Peri-Peri sauce or Garlic Lemon butter
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Freshline Fisheries

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A rustic seafood haven in Knysna offering incredibly fresh catches cooked to perfection, with a BYOB policy and a unique sand-floor atmosphere.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
12 XL Prawns served with our Peri-Peri sauce or Garlic Lemon butter

Freshline Fisheries

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A rustic seafood haven in Knysna offering incredibly fresh catches cooked to perfection, with a BYOB policy and a unique sand-floor atmosphere.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Hands down the best seafood we've ever had – fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked!"

TIP

BYOB for Value

Bring your own alcoholic beverages to save money, as there's no corkage charge.

Try the Braai Fish

Opt for fish cooked on the braai for an authentic, delicious flavor without bones.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens Saturday 11:30AM

Cuisine

Seafood

Price

Mid-range

Phone

+27 44 382 3131

Address

Railway Siding Dockyard Cnr Long & Waterfront Drive (Behind Tait Marine, Knysna, 6570, South Africa

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Braai-Style Seafood Platters

Braai-Style Seafood Platters

Experience the authentic taste of seafood cooked to perfection over charcoal, offering a unique smoky flavor.

Cozy, Rustic Ambiance

Cozy, Rustic Ambiance

Enjoy your meal with your feet in the sand in a relaxed, inviting atmosphere perfect for any occasion.

Google Review
BYOB & Reasonable Prices

BYOB & Reasonable Prices

Bring your own favorite drinks with no corkage fee, making it an excellent value for fresh seafood.

Top 31 Things To Do In Knysna, South Africa - Updated 202520 Knysna restaurants to visit for easy dining & small town charm – Food & Home Magazine
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

trying out no.1 restaurant in Knysna! the best eveyday specials for seafod 🦞🐙🦐🍤 #whatyewonnawear #whatyewonnaeat #knysna #mukbang #seafood
@yewonziee
397 likes • 12.5K views

BYOB for Value

Bring your own alcoholic beverages to save money, as there's no corkage charge.

Try the Braai Fish

Opt for fish cooked on the braai for an authentic, delicious flavor without bones.

A Magical Morning with Knysna’s Seahorses!  I visited Thesen Harbour Town to meet the tiny, enchanting Knysna seahorses at the SANParks offices - what a special experience! Honorary ranger Delle shared fascinating insights about these rare, endangered creatures and the vital conservation efforts to protect them.   Did you know? The Knysna seahorse is one of the world’s most endangered seahorse spe...
@lekker.nikki
670 likes • 20.4K views
First Cuttlefish for Oom Martin at Thesens Island!!!🦑💪🏻😎 @knysnaboatrentals #Visvang_knysna #Visvang #Knysna #Knysnalife #40andover #ilikeboatz #creatorsearchinsights #fishingedits #angler #fishingadventure #fishtok #fishinglife #saltwaterfishing #fishingtips #fishingfunny #knysnaboatrental #Shangrilacharters #deepseafishing #sharks #TheHeads #KnysnaLagoon #ThesensIsland
@ilikeboatz
177 likes • 11.2K views

Weekday Visits Recommended

Visit during weekdays to avoid the weekend crowds and potential service delays.

Skip the Desserts

While mains are excellent, desserts may not live up to the high standards of the seafood.

Somebody pinch me I can’t believe this is Knysna! South Africa, you’re full of beautiful surprises. #knysna #gardenroute #tiktoksouthafrica
@danielacanny
9.2K likes • 122.7K views

Tips

from all over the internet

BYOB for Value

Bring your own alcoholic beverages to save money, as there's no corkage charge.

Try the Braai Fish

Opt for fish cooked on the braai for an authentic, delicious flavor without bones.

Weekday Visits Recommended

Visit during weekdays to avoid the weekend crowds and potential service delays.

Skip the Desserts

While mains are excellent, desserts may not live up to the high standards of the seafood.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Freshline Fisheries is lauded for its exceptionally fresh and perfectly cooked seafood, particularly the braai-style fish and generous platters. Diners rave about the cozy, sand-floor atmosphere and the friendly, attentive service, often highlighting specific staff members. While the main courses receive universal praise, some suggest skipping the desserts.

"Hands down the best seafood we've ever had – fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The braai kob and chips as side were to die for!

What made it even better was Meli. He was friendly, attentive, and gave great recommendations.

Don’t miss this place. Incredible food and top service – a perfect combo!"

Florian Edinger

"Freshline in Knysna is truly a hidden gem that deserves more recognition. Tucked away in this charming coastal town, it offers a delightful dining experience that combines fresh, local ingredients with a cozy, inviting atmosphere. The ambiance is warm and relaxed, making it perfect for a casual meal or a special evening out. The staff are friendly and attentive, adding to the overall welcoming feel of the place.

What truly sets Freshline apart is the quality of its food, especially considering the reasonable prices. Whether you’re enjoying a seafood dish or one of their hearty local specialties, each meal is beautifully prepared and full of flavor. The balance between great quality and affordability makes it a standout choice in Knysna. If you’re looking for a spot that offers both great food and a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere, Freshline is definitely worth a visit."

Carli Brunner

"Food was exceptional, really worth it. Braai kingklip was superior, together with grilled prawns and baby calamari tubes and heads. Instead of chips, we took the spicy rice (not chilly at all) and it was best choice, we asked for further portion then. Staff very welcoming and friendly, Prince was enthusiastic and gentle genuinely. Place was cute with sand in the floor and candles and wood tables"

Flaminia Cozzolino

What People Like

Incredibly fresh and flavorful seafood
Cozy, sand-in-your-toes ambiance
Attentive and friendly staff

What People Dislike

Desserts can be disappointing

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Freshline Fisheries is BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) and does not charge a corkage fee.

Top 31 Things To Do In Knysna, South Africa - Updated 202520 Knysna restaurants to visit for easy dining & small town charm – Food & Home Magazine

The restaurant has a cozy, rustic ambiance with sand on the floor, creating a relaxed and inviting dining experience.

8 Best Restaurants in Knysna, South Africa: A Local's GuideGoogle Review

The braai-cooked fish, seafood platters, and fresh oysters are highly recommended.

Restaurants & Pubs in the Knysna AreaGoogle Review

Weekends can be busy. Visiting on a weekday might offer a more relaxed experience.

No, the fish are expertly filleted, ensuring you won't encounter bones in your meal.

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It’s impossible for meat and seafood lovers not to satiate their hunger pangs at Freshline Fisheries in Knysna, which serves everything from prawns, shellfish, crayfish, and fresh fish to chicken, ribs, and steak. Choose from the choicest of fresh fish such as yellowtail, hake, snoek, red roman, kingklip and more, as well as paella, scallops, mussels, and prawns. Patrons can even choose their portion sizes and the method of cooking - Weskus braai, fried, or grilled - served interestingly in scallop shells, while they sip on the bring-your-own-booze alcohol of their choice.

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Freshline Fisheries is a Knysna go-to for all your seafood cravings. You can browse their selection of freshly-caught fish for cooking at home, order a tasty takeaway or choose to dine with your feet in the sand at their rustic venue. All the hake and line fish sold here are handline caught, not only for better conservation of our oceans but also to avoid any bruising of the fish, ensuring that you only get the best of the best.

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At Freshline Fisheries, you can enjoy Knysna’s freshest seafood in a unique atmosphere. Tucked away within a nondescript business area as it is, you’d not know what to expect when you first arrive. But, when you walk in to the dining area decorated with beach sand and maritime artefacts, covered by a stretch tent, you’ll get right into the mood for spending a vibrant afternoon or evening out with great local food and drinks.

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If you are fond of aquatic life, you can join a deep-sea fishing trip or can also rent a rod and try your luck from shore, as Knysna offers multiple opportunities for people who love to fish. Visit the lagoon, which is a prime spot for estuarine species like Kob, Garrick, and spotted grunter, while the beaches of Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay are known for rock-and-surf species like bronze bream, shad, and white steenbras.

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Named TripAdvisor’s number one seafood restaurant in Knysna, Freshline Fisheries is the spot for a casual but freshly-caught meal with friends and family. The outdoor beach restaurant is not licensed to sell alcohol, so patrons are encouraged to bring their own; and no corkage is charged. The restaurant subscribes to the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative and its hake and linefish are handline caught.

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Freshline Fisheries offers a wide selection of seafood in an informal beach-like setting. Enjoy West Coast Snoek from the barbecue or the old time favourite Fish and Chips. Other delectable dishes include oysters, clam chowder, mussels in white wine, traditional home-baked mielie (corn) bread with fresh farm butter and home-made jam, traditional sherry trifle, crayfish and prawns.

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Freshline Fisheries offers a wide selection of seafood in an informal beach-like setting. Enjoy West Coast Snoek from the barbeque or the old time favourite Fish and Chips. Other delectable dishes include oysters, clam chowder, mussels in white wine, traditional home-baked mielie (corn) bread with fresh farm butter and home-made jam, traditional sherry trifle, crayfish and prawns.

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We now make the 20 minutes to Knysna, and we drop down into the bowl of this lagoon-wrapped town, and we turn left at the third traffic light, and left again, and we park outside Freshline Fisheries, and we think: and we lost?. I will not sugar coat it: the surroundings are crude. It looks like the back of the defunct trainyard because that is exactly what it is.

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At Freshline Fisheries, visitors can enjoy an array of food on their beach. This outdoor beach restaurant is considered by many to be one of the best seafood restaurants in Knysna – and its laid-back vibe lends it well to more casual, family friendly or group meals. This is one of the more relaxing and fun restaurants you will find… and the seafood is legendary!

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With a menu that offers a serious smorgasbord of seafood, visit Freshline Fisheries for an authentic, feet in the sand kind of meal. Butterfly Blu in Brenton-on-Sea has panoramic sea views and offers fresh seasonal produce made with locally-sourced ingredients.

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Freshline Fisheries – Enjoy a wide selection of seafood dishes on our beach!. The outdoor beach sand restaurant, voted No1 Seafood restaurant in Knysna, is perfect for a casual meal with friends and family. Unlicensed so bring your own alcohol.

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Freshline Fisheries - For fresh fish and casual vibes, look no further than Freshline Fisheries. This local favorite offers a laid-back atmosphere and a menu bursting with delicious seafood dishes.

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Freshline Fisheries: We received this golden tip from the hotel owner. Here you will find mostly locals. The restaurant consists of two parts.

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