Sonnekus Guest House

We went to Sonnekus for breakfast to celebrate my birthday, as my partner had kindly planned, but the experience fell well short of what we expected from a place presented so beautifully on social media. It took about 10 minutes for a waitress to come take our drinks order. We then learned they don’t serve decaffeinated coffee. Caffeine is medically forbidden for me, and it’s disappointing that a modern breakfast venue can’t meet that basic dietary need. There were no fresh juices either, so we ordered smoothies. We were also surprised that no alcohol is served. For a birthday breakfast, we’d hoped to have a glass of bubbly or a classic mimosa. With none of those options and the poor service, it’s hard to understand the offering or what justifies opening to the public in its current form. The smoothies took around 15 minutes to arrive, despite our food order being placed at the same time. We were the only table ordering smoothies, and by the time they came we were very hungry and drank them quickly. Then we waited roughly another 20 minutes for our meals, about 35 minutes in total for drinks and food at a relatively small venue. That’s unreasonable. We’d heard the service wasn’t great, but didn’t expect this. When the food finally came, we ate quickly and left. Other customers were frustrated too. People waited a long time for coffee and food, and at the table across from us, three of four guests got their plates together while the fourth waited so long that the others were nearly done by the time his arrived. The staff didn’t seem attentive or concerned about delays, and there was little urgency or care for customers. It seems this bed and breakfast has opened its breakfast service to the public, but if it can’t handle the volume, that decision should be reconsidered. I’m very disappointed and won’t return or recommend it. I expected a much higher standard from a brand associated with Ideas Cartel.

This is one of my favourite spots. It’s so peaceful and beautiful, and I’ve enjoyed the restaurant many times. Had a delicious smoothie and brekkie there and got lots of work done.

A social media post led me to this little gem for breakfast. The omelette was the best I’ve had in many, many years, and a walk along the coast afterwards made it a great morning out.

All 15 of us had a wonderful time at Sonnekus Botique Hotel on the 18th October, celebrating my Mom’s 90th birthday with High Tea. Nono made choosing from the teas fun by explaining the options, and the food platters were top drawer. The Arancini balls especially were the best we’ve tasted in years. Thank you for making it such a lovely occasion. I highly recommend it, you won’t be disappointed. Joan & Family