At less than two hours’ drive north of Cape Town, the West Coast village of Paternoster has become one of the most popular weekend boltholes for Capetonians. And it’s not hard to see why: endless beaches stretch along empty windswept shores, rocky promontories jut out into the wild Atlantic, and in season whales frolic off the coastline here. On dry land, you’ll find quirky boutiques, a handful of excellent seafood-focused restaurants and plenty of lovely places to stay.

There’s no shortage of self-catering cottages on offer in the town, but rather splash out on a room at the delightfully over-the-top Abalone House. As if in rebellion against its stark surrounds, Abalone House is a whirl of colours and textures, from tinkling chandeliers to colourful Tretchikoff prints

The 10 suites are clustered around a sheltered courtyard and pool, each decorated in a gently opulent style, with oversized prints and colourful touches offsetting the abundance of starched white linen. The rooms on the rooftop terrace are the best in the house, offering wonderful sea views and easy access to the Jacuzzi.

Downstairs the cosy lounge offers fireside couches that are a cosy sanctuary in winter, leading onto the terrace bar and airy deck that offers wonderful sundowner views in summer.

The hotel is also home to Reuben’s bistro, an outpost of the local celebrity chef Reuben Riffel. The menu is heavy on West Coast influences, with local smoked mackerel delicately plated with daikon and horseradish mayo, and pan-fried kabeljou (a delicate white fish) sourced from a sustainable farm just around the corner.

If there’s a downside, it’s that petty crime is becoming more of an issue in the village, where local inhabitants have been hit hard by a slump in the local fishing industry. Pay a little extra attention to your valuables.