Graze By The River

Graze by the River is a coffee bar and restaurant in one of Port Alfred’s original 1820 settler homes, positioned beside the Kowie River on Van Der Riet Street. The venue combines a historic residential setting with a relaxed café and restaurant atmosphere, making space for coffee, bakery treats and homemade meals in a setting away from the road.

A private garden at the rear of the property provides outdoor seating and a quieter place to dine. The garden suits relaxed breakfasts, coffee breaks, cake and casual meals, while the restaurant’s position near the river gives the venue a distinct Port Alfred character. Graze by the River is suited to diners looking for an informal restaurant experience with garden seating and a food-led atmosphere.

The kitchen focuses on honest, healthy food prepared with locally available ingredients. The menu draws on fresh seafood, smoked meats and organic vegetables, with daily specials adding variety. An on-site smoker is used for a selection of dishes, bringing a house-prepared element to the menu without taking the food away from its straightforward, homemade style. Cage-free eggs are used in the recipes, reflecting the venue’s attention to animal welfare and ethical food production.

The coffee bar roasts green coffee beans daily, so freshly roasted coffee forms an important part of the offering. Breakfast, baked treats and homemade meals are all part of the venue’s broad café and restaurant format. Food influences gathered from different parts of the world also appear in the cooking, alongside ingredients and produce associated with the Eastern Cape.

Graze by the River also offers a setting for celebrations and features wine-tasting events as part of its wider offering. The combination of a historic riverside home, a private garden, freshly roasted coffee and food prepared from local ingredients gives the venue a versatile character. It works for a morning coffee, a relaxed breakfast, a slice of cake or a more substantial meal in a garden setting.