Review Cafe Mario - Knysna

Lovely restaurant, great decor and vibe. We order focaccia and a pasta each. They did forget the focaccia and the food did take a while to arrive, but it was worth the wait. The waitress was very apologetic. We had the Puttanesca and Pasta Aurora, it's the best plate of pasta I've had in my life.

Caffe Mario will always be my go-to recommendation for a spectacular dinner in Knysna. Italian food, prepared with special care and attention. a feast of flavour. Warm atmosphere, cosy and always friendly staff.

Very tasty food, incredibly attentive staff and thoughtful atmosphere. A new favorite and must visit in Knysna especially if you are looking for wheat free pasta and pizza options. Consider booking in advance for dinner.

I had a wonderful evening at Mario's. Everything was perfect, staff, food and atmosphere. Very friendly waiters! Best pizza ever! Will definitely see me again. Thanks

Very happy we decided to eat here. The smells coming from the food around us was so delicious and we were not disappointed when we got our pizza, even split it as we were sharing. The base was thin and crispy (which for gluten-free can be very tricky) and the toppings were amazing. The meals come with garlic, chillies and parmesan. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere was great. Went back the following day for more. And a third time during our 5 day stay in Knysna.

Great food and friendly service. Best kingclip I've ever had. So good, we went back the next evening.

Wonderful service! We called in our order in advance. They waited for us at the door and as soon as they saw us they started taking our food to the table. It was awesome. I had the cheesecake for pudding which was really nice. Tasted authentic. They didn't have any cocktails on the menu though... I think that might be a nice addition but their food is fantastic and really well priced. Proper Italian cuisine.

Brilliant gem of a place. Great Italian food.

Cafe Mario's is consistently good, with very friendly staff along with a relaxed and informal atmosphere. They have been making great tasting Italian grub for decades now. However, when it is season and half of South Africa decend on the small town of Knysna, be prepared to wait at least an hour for your food. It is just too busy. My advice would be to book a table for after 20h00 (Assuming you are going for dinner), things will have settled down and you won't wait so long for your delicious pizza! Great work Gennaro!

We had a great experience at Café Mario. Staff were exceptional and we had the best customer service. Food was prepared with organic ingredients and full of flavour and lovely taste.

Another wonderful experience at Mario's. Loved your pasta dishes. Great atmosphere and a high 🙌 to our host Patrick.....you are a star.

Absolutely fantastic! We made sure we tested all the food pizza ,pasta,peppery veal and waffles! Food was well prepared, with lots of flavours ! Thanks Genaro,It was wonderful meeting you and enjoying some great food!

The food and atmosphere is wonderful. The waiters are full off life and are enjoying what they are doing. It is such a refreshing difference to the rest of Knysna. I would highly recommend it to anyone. It is family friendly with probably the best pizza this side of Italy.

If you like pizza or pasta then this restaurant for you🖐🏻

This was a really great Italian restaurant! The food and atmosphere where great. Worth making a booking - we went on a Monday and it was very busy. There is free parking right across the street.

This is one of the best spots for really good Italian food,I highly recommend their Pizza's and their ice coffees,best in town. My favourite Pizza place,support these locals because they produce nothing but the best and that includes service's.

Stumbled across this little place looking for a late afternoon lunch with an outside area. Tucked away off the main road (yet very easy to find) is a very popular little Italian place. The menu has a great selection of meals (including vegetarian and gluten free). The food is top quality.. staff are friendly, efficient and very helpful. I love the atmosphere (indoors and and outdoor). Bathrooms are modern, clean and neat. There is a real “little Italy vibe” around the place.. go see it, it’s a must if you are in Knysna

Great food and friendly staff. The thin crust pizzas were fantastic and well topped without being soggy. They had such a vast variety of vegetarian options as well, there was really something for everyone. The aesthetic of the restaurant was a bit confusing which detracted from the atmosphere a little bit. However, it was a lovely spot to have a meal none the less. On a warmer day the garden looked like it would have been the perfect spot to sit.

A lovely little Cafè situated near the Quay’s in Knysna. It is constantly buzzing with happy customers as well as upbeat energetic waiters tending to our every need. The food was seriously yummy and came in generous portions. We got to watch a beautiful sunset while eat a scrumptious meal. It really is worth a visit if you are in Knysna.

The pizza is second to none!!! I would recommend anything off the pizza menu - all of it is incredibly tasty! The coffee is also really great. The owner was very friendly and the atmosphere was welcoming.

A really lovely experience here.<br/><br/>The restaurant space is enough to give you that homely feeling. I sat in a corner, by the window. Snugged between bigger tables, it was lovely.<br/><br/>The wine. The food. Orgasmic! <br/><br/>Cannot wait to come back.

Best pizza in Knysna, friendly staff and cosy atmosphere. Their pizzas are always juicy with enough cheese. Be sure to book before your visit.

Perfect place for a breakfast alongside the water. All components of the breakfast was cooked exactly as requested and we also did not had to wait long for our food.

Lovely place ..nice staff.. good vegetarian options and great taste..<br/><br/>We were turned away the earlier day as we did not have reservation.. and we realised when we visited next day with prior booking our place.. <br/>

We booked a table in advance and were asked if we wanted inside or outside. We chose outside and when we arrived there was no table. After waiting we were told we could have a table inside or they could move it to the door giving us "the best of both". Really? What is the point of booking if you have to wait for a table?<br/>

“Italian” food. Very substandard food, nothing special at all. Pizza underdone in the middle with burnt crusts. Melanzane was just cheese with next to no eggplant. Service was poor. Disappointing experience overall...

Service was good, atmosphere nice (it was a rainy day so can’t say much) but honestly food wasn’t wow. Average pastas, my napoletana didn’t pack much flavor. My husbands Alfredo was also quite average. Wouldn’t come back.

Good service for takeaway, but pizza was missing Salami and Avocado as per order. I understand they were busy and I could have checked before we left.

Great setting with good service and beautiful food made with love. Very cosy. Would certainly go back again and again. Most recommendable!!!

Pizza???<br/>Huge it was<br/>Like 4 people can have a heartbeat mean. <br/>Also it was delicious and had an amazing flavour of cheese <br/>I will recommend this place to everyone visiting knysna

A nice cozy coffee shop in the heart of Knysna waterfront. The place was full of people and it tends to be quite noisy but the service received was good. The menu offers some food Italian dishes and prices are very competitive.

The waterfront in Knysna is where you find the hub of Restaurants, and Cafe Mario was my favorite.<br/><br/>They serve delicious pizzas and garlic bread. I tried one with Mozarella, rocket leaves, onions and chicken and what a wonderful pizza it was, also they serve fresh garlic and chilli prepared in their kitchen.<br/><br/>Also the host was really wonderful, and it was the best pizza I had in South Africa.<br/><br/>And that was the only pizzeria I found in South Africa which serve Oregano and not black pepper.<br/><br/><br/>

Really loved the vibe and atmosphere! <br/>The Pizza and drink was good , only thing That was a downer was they didn’t have Dom Pedro’s . Other then that it was Bravo !

Delicious pizza, great view, friendly waitress! The only flaw I can comment on is the wait for our pizzas which was a tad too long & we even joked with the waitress about how long it toke. Will hopefully be back in the future!

I booked over the phone, when i arrived they were Very unhelpful, never stayed long enough to try the food. Went to 34 south next door instead and was extremely impressed

Aesthetically the place seemed nice and after making a booking i was excited to try it. I drove all the way from Plett to be ignored and stood waiting around for 15 minutes without any attendance. Pity<br/>

Poor experience this evening. Had a great meal last night but returned to be disappointed. Tried to book at 6.30pm in person and was assured we'd have a table at 8pm which wasn't ready. Took 30min to get wine and then another 45 min for the meal... Will think twice about returning

This is our go-to place in Knysna for tasty simple food. The food is tasty, the atmosphere is friendly and the owner can always be seen somewhere chatting with a customer. This is one of those places that the locals favour and can easily be looked over by passers by. The Mario's breakfast is very affordable for a great plate of food. The Mario's pizza is also one of our favourite pizzas. True Italian food, not to be missed..oh and I almost forgot to mention the nice view from the outside deck onto the harbour canals

Caffe Mario is the most popular restaurant in Knysna Quays on the waterfront. When we visited them last evening, the restaurant was packed with residents and tourists. Our friendly server got us a table soon.<br/>The restaurant is small, but vibrant and lovely. The seating is comfortable, the restaurant has a cosy vibe. We ordered our drinks and two kinds of pizza and pasta and everything was excellent. The food, the ambience and the service is fantastic. Caffe Mario is a must-visit Italian restaurant and bar in Knysna.

After reading the reviews, I decided getting pizzas to go would be the way to go. We weren't disappointed! 5 people, 5 different pizza's and 5 happy faces.

Delicious pasta! Wonderful vibe and really great service. I quite enjoyed the Italian theme and the warm lighting. The huge portions are so worth the price. Large enough to experience it all over again the next morning for breakfast!

Fantastic experience from start to finish. The ambience was warm and felt like an authentic Italian restaurant. The food was perfect, and the service was friendly and efficient. Best restaurant in town!

Just stopped by for some cake and tea. Beautiful place with Italian style decor. Try coming on a sunny day and enjoy sitting outside by the river. <br/><br/>Had the Twinings English Breakfast tea and the sweet apple cake.<br/><br/>Thumbs up from me.

Trendy small restaurant , great service , pizza was very good , fair size , when sharing salad and pizza they brought pizza and salad already shared on seperate plates , nice touch , great venue

Really tasty food at a reasonable price . Restaurant very busy on a week night so that speaks for itself of the good quality food wine and service, excellent waiter wish we could remember his name .

This quaint cafe was walking distance from our hotel , Boy Oh Boy , it did not disappoint. It's authenticity makes you feel at home like you're in Italy. <br/>The food is simple and so tasty , just the way our friendly waiter described it. He had a lovely sense of humor that kept us going. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is wonderful.

Nice little lively joint in the happening part of Knysna. We went there since they happen to have a decent selection of vegetarian dishes. The food was delicious and the service was good. It's got a nice cafe vibe and that makes the place a lot of fun.

Fundi was our waiter this year. Please ask for her when you are waiting to be seated. Fundi means intelligence. And was she a pleasant, positive and an energetic, intelligent suprise. <br/><br/>My husband liked her positive spirit and thus trusted her to suprise him with a breakfast she would choose for him. She was such a darling and made everything a stunning experience. <br/><br/>I have enjoyed cafe mario for years. Every year it is one of those things you need to do when in Knysna surrounds. <br/><br/>I also like the fact that they are open at 7am so that we can enjoy a quality breakfast before the crowds shuffle in.

Really awesome. Grennaro (Mario's dad) managed to squeeze us in at the very last minute after a really bad experience upstairs at O Pescador. His attention to every table made it feel like we were at his house for dinner. The staff were super knowledgeable and so friendly!<br/><br/>The food here is so tasty, even if you just opt for the Olio pasta - the Fungi pasta is brilliant too especially if you're a fan of mushrooms in a true pomodoro sauce. Overall, the menu prices are extremely reasonable - in fact far too reasonable - and the wine list doesn't set you back a fortune. Give it a go - you definitely won't be disappointed! <br/><br/>A little bit of small town Italian land in the heart of the Knysna waterfront.

This now was a good place to go to. We were shocked as we couldn't even get a table we waited and waited and finally something came up. We had our usual which we try everywhere - a plain Margarita pizza with feta, olives, mushroom and chili and gosh was it good hey. The base was so nice and crust we really enjoyed it. We then had a bucaniero (excuse the spelling) pasta 🍝 was really good but was only tomato and wasn't too impressed. Either way this with a bottle of wine, and next to the lake/ocean. Was really nice

I think it's a great place to hangout, especially on rainy days. <br/>Warm atmosphere, professional staff. The service was a bit slow, however the place was packed. <br/>

Cafe Mario is a beautiful little restaurant overlooking the water at the waterfront in Knysna, with a great vibe and quaint feel to it. The menu is rather large and there are many options to choose from. The pastas which we had were all good portions sizes, with good authentic Italian flavours! The place is owned by a wonderful little family who are very friendly! A nice lunch spot when visiting or crossing through Knysna.

The best pizza I've had outside of Cape Town . Amazing owner, lovely friendly staff. True Italian atmosphere and food. Would definitely recommend this spot to any garlic lovers .

Caffe Mario is brilliantly situated to catch the sun at on a chilly winters morning. <br/><br/>The pizza with Buffalo Mozzarella is really good. Just a pity they put English tomatoes on it....good Itallian tomatoes like Roma or San Marzano would have been awesome. <br/><br/>The Venturi was simply delicious 😋<br/><br/>The service a bit slow.....but being on vacation it might not be too critical 😜<br/><br/>

Am visiting Knysna with family. Over the last 2 days we had a lunch and breakfast at Caffe Mario. Have to admit they are the most hospitable hosts. You get welcomed by nicest of the staff members, the seating is very nice right next to the canal and the food is amazing. You always look for places where you get treats warmly and this place ticks all the boxes. Great place to have a relaxing meal

Food was so good and very well priced ! Delicious cappuccinos and the trammezinis are just delicious. Paintings are fantastic ! Service is only okay.

Nice italian place overlooking waterfront and near the Quays. Not a bfast place of course but decent selectio. The Super mario is filling and will take u through lunch. Will come back definitely

Wine by the glass selection was poor. Service good, food - one great dish (chicken livers)- one okay (melanzane parmigiano)- really nice vibe and setting. Sort the wines and all will be good :-)

Brilliant desserts and the tiramisu that they serve can definitely not be missed if you are visiting knysna. The margarita pizza is also worth trying

I ate breakfast at Caffe Mario's not long ago and again recently, to meet a local friend who swears by it and have some of their great thin base pizzas. Mario's pizzas are really good!! So good that we got some takeaways for our long journey back to Johannesburg. <br/><br/>This is one spot that is just always full of locals (in and out of season), regardless of on and off peak times. Mario's make decent coffees and basic Italian food at the Knysna Quays and is a casual waterfront restaurant situated right on the waters edge so the views are stunning. What I like about Caffe Mario is that it has been around for ages and you always get the same level of quality that I have come to expect here on visits and holidays. <br/><br/>*Recommendation: I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to eat here, but whenever I am in the area, Mario's is a solid staple with good prices and gorgeous sunset views over the quays.<br/><br/>For more, find me on Twitter: LaurasW0rld

I came here recently during season for lunch. The pizzas are good, a small family restaurant at the waterfront in knysna. The waitress we had wasn't very accomodating, however the meal was nice.

Came here years ago and was in Knysna again and just had to come back. Supper was gorgeous. I devoured a baked pasta dish that I even enjoyed the next day for breakfast thanks to the generous portion. My boyfriend ate an interesting pizza that he too enjoyed the next day. Good food, good service. 100% will always come back.

Caffe Mario is Jurgen's families go-to pizza and pasta place and seems to be very popular with all the Knysna locals as the tables are always full on the weekends. <br/>Caffe Mario boasts a large variety of pizzas, pastas and various other meals. Despite all this I really do not like Caffe Mario. The two pizzas I've had tried have been average at best and when we sat down at the restaurant I was not blown away by the service, food or decor. I find the food severely underwhelming and I end up leaving my food for Jurgen to eat.<br/>As far as recommending this restaurant I would really advise you to try it for yourself as no-one else seems to have this problem but I would probably not go back to this restaurant unless I did not have a choice.

Fantastic dinner at Marios in Knysna. Feels just like home-cooked Italian with a South African twist. Great setting on the knysna Waterfront - traditional italian cafe decor. Friendly, fast and efficient service. Great pasta , decent thin crust pizza, good value. Worth a visit

By far the best restaurant in Knysna! We make sure to go each time we visit! Only small 'problem' is that you need to book WAY in advance if you hope to get a table for dinner over the weekend. Well worth calling ahead to have a great pizza😀

Quaint little italian place with a very nice atmosphere. Friendly staff and really good food, with good service. I will go again. Very nice pasta and pizza!

We had a team dinner here for the Big 5 Sports Challenge and we absolutely loved the pizzas, wine and cake we had. Our waitress was fantastic and definitely added to the experience.<br/><br/>We were just here for lunch again and were seated right next to the Harbour which was lovely. However, the veal al limone was very disappointing but nonetheless I will definitely be back for some more pizza next time I am in Knysna.

Knowing the place very well, and loving it, we were hugely disappointed! Being busy season we phoned to book, and was told they don't take bookings. Upon arrival we were told that they don't have space because we did not book???!? "They have been doing this for 18years according to the gentleman and if you don't book you will not get a table!" Ridiculous!!!!

Delicious food (try the veal dishes) with large portions and competitive prices. Warm atmosphere with helpful staff. This venue is immune to loadshedding!

We did not have a good meal although it came well recommended. The Alfredo pasta was not at all nice- 2 people at the table left the full bowl. Two of us had chicken schnitzel which was very average. Location and ambience is good

It's certainly one of the better restaurants in Knysna.<br/>One can either sit inside or outside and it has a nice ambience.<br/>I find the food difficult to rate unless one separates the pizzas from the other items on the menu.<br/>I would give the pizzas a 9/10 and the rest around a 6.5 to 7/10 depending what you order.<br/>The service was very good and the prices for the food very reasonable. Wine prices are around the norm.<br/>Coffee was good too.<br/>It's worth a visit. <br/>Since writing the above i went back today and had a salad. I could not fault it.

Best pizza in Knysna. The restaurant has a lovely ambiance as well, but not over the top and child friendly. Everyone really enjoyed their meals. Service was also good.