Now that the lockdown rules are relaxing a little, many of us are feeling less hesitant about rekindling our social lives. George is perfectly located for peaceful living, with a thriving community. If you’re ready to get out and about and meet friends, old and new, George, the hub of the Garden Route, is the ideal city.
As the second-largest city in the Western Cape, George boasts being surrounded by the ocean, mountains, forests and farmlands. One of the biggest draws to George is that it feels like a town, but has all the convenient offerings of a big city. It was once voted by Numbeo as the city with the best quality of life in South Africa.
Don’t let George’s nickname put you off… the city is affectionately known as ‘cold and wet’ after its CAW car registration. However, George has a wonderful, moderate climate, making it great for outdoor activities year-round.
So where can you meet people in George?
George Sports Groups and Clubs
There are plenty of sporting activities around George and taking part in them is a great way to meet other with the same interests. This city offers you access to all types of sports, from soccer and rugby, to running and hiking, to surfing and SCUBA. For the enthusiasts who want to meet like-minded people to chat about their chosen favourite, a lot of these sports offer clubs or groups that you can join.
George Bowling Club is not only a popular spot for rolling balls, it’s also a great place to mingle with locals, offering a bar and restaurant to its members. They have award-winning bowlers and teams, and regular tournaments and competitions, so expect some serious gamesmanship. One of the best things about this sport is that it doesn’t require exceptional strength or athletic ability, so it’s suitable for both the young and the old. The club forms part of Eden Bowls, the controlling body for bowls in our beautiful Southern Cape.
For the athletes in the family, joining the Garden Route Trail Running group is a fantastic way to meet other runners. Every Monday evening they have social runs, where they pick a random route, usually around either the beautiful Outeniqua Mountains, the George Dam, or the forest. The group run around an 8km route, and they allow you to bring your dog with you, albeit on a leash.
They might not showcase you at your best, but gyms are a great place to make friends, if you don’t mind people seeing you at your sweatiest! Fitness fanatics will welcome the abundance of gyms and personal training studios to choose from in George. Some offer the standard fitness equipment and weight training, and a few offer martial arts and workout classes.
There are several well-known brands in the area, like CrossFit, Virgin Active and Curves, and a few locally owned gyms you can support. Whatever your wellness goals, you’ll meet people who have fitness in common at these places.
George Community Groups
Lions International is a global network of volunteers working together to make a difference. George Lions Club is a place where the members bond in friendship and fellowship, working together to help improve the local community. They have a mission to promote the principles of good government and good citizenship, strengthen communities, and offer humanitarian services to those that need them.
You’ve no doubt heard of Rotary. Both existing and future members will be happy to know that there is a George Rotary Club. If you haven’t heard of it, to sum it up, it is also a group of locals who work together to make positive changes in the community. Members support education, promote peace, grow local economies, and protect the environment, to name but a few of their missions. The Rotary clubs usually consist of local business owners and change-makers, who work together to exchange ideas and provide solutions to problems that fit in with their vision. Many of the club members forge lifelong friendships, through this shared passion for upliftment.
Round Table South Africa is similar to Rotary, however, it is limited to young men aged between 18 and 40. This non-profit organisation is also proudly non-religious and non-political, welcoming males from all backgrounds. George Round Table meet a couple of times a month to share ideas and empower their individuals to make a positive impact at home, work and in his community. The group offers an opportunity to meet new local friends, and you’ll often meet other Round Table members across the country.
Bridge has been pegged as the greatest card game ever, and I’m sure George’s Outeniqua Bridge Club would agree. Since you need four players for each game, it is also one of the best groups in which you can make lifelong friends. Tennis legend and winner of almost 60 Grand Slam titles, Martina Navratilova, is quoted as saying “no matter where I go, I can always make new friends at the bridge table.” The Outeniqua Bridge Club would also sit nicely in our ‘George Sports Groups and Clubs’ section above, since the World Bridge Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
George Nightlife
There are lots of restaurants in George to tantalise any palate. From fine dining and gastronomic adventures, to casual dining, bistros and pub-grub.
They offer wonderful opportunities to socialise over great food. TripAdvisor’s top three Goerge restaurants are Bayleaf Cafe, 101 Meade and Nina’s Cafe, and all have very different cuisines.
Bayleaf Cafe doesn’t quite fit the nightlife category, since it is only open until 4pm. However, if you’re looking for a great breakfast or lunch, it is thought to be the best value for money eatery in George with quality, flavourful European style dishes and generous portion sizes. 101 Meade is an excellent spot for exceptional food and service, and exquisite dishes. It is definitely more upscale than other restaurants in the area, and has prices to match, but for a date night treat, or celebration, it is highly recommended. Nina’s Cafe is raved about for its fusion food and fantastic atmosphere. Its patrons are often repeat diners, which showcases it as a warm and inviting establishment. It also boasts a bakery and liquor store, and regularly hosts special event evenings. There are numerous family restaurants and well-known chain restaurants dotted across the city just waiting for you to try them out.
Of course, coffee shops are synonymous with socialising. From the 16th century, public coffee houses were popular in the Middle East, and people gathered at them to listen to music, watch performers, play chess and discuss the news of the day over a cup of joe. Since then, they have been established as social houses where friends and colleagues gather to chat, conduct casual business meetings and create or maintain connections. Coffee shops undoubtedly play a role in creating social networks, and in turn, establishing community values. Elvis Brew is just a short drive from our country estate, and offers delicious coffee and nibbles, plus a padstal chock-full of fancy goods. And it’s just next to the airport for those of you who like to travel.
A wonderful place for a social get together is the Corner Club at The Corner Lifestyle Centre. They supply delicious Belgian beers on tap, a large selection of South African wines, and offer the enticement of regular tasting and pairing evenings.
For the pubbers and clubbers, there is a choice of bars and a couple of nightclubs throughout George. The best of the bunch are The Bench Eatery And Bar, Shenanigans Irish Pub, Cactus, and Tarantino’s Resto Bar, all within 10kms of Mooikloof Country Estate. There’s even a nightclub a few kilometres away called Letrax and Nitro Lounge is within 8kms.
Our Mooikloof Country Estate
If you read our last blog, Six Reasons You’ll Love Apartment Living, you’ll not only learn why our Kloofsig Apartment blocks could be for you and your family, you will also read how apartment life can help you bond with your neighbours and community members. The proximity to neighbours truly offers an opportunity to get to know each other and remote workers, stay-at-home parents and others who spend a lot of time at home will relish the opportunity to encounter other people. The shared garden spaces also make it easier to run into your neighbours.
Each apartment offers a fantastic social space with a balcony or stoep, that includes a built-in braai. Our Kloofsig apartments are priced from just R750,000. Read more about the apartments in our blog Welcome to Kloofsig. Just note that we have very quickly sold almost half of the apartments available in this phase of our development, so don’t ponder too long.
Contact our team today to organise the viewing or purchase of one of our available properties.
