Guidebook for Cape Town
Drinks & Nightlife
They have good music, bossy waitresses and the best hot dogs in town.
317 moradores locais recomendam
The Power & The Glory
13d Kloof Nek RdThey have good music, bossy waitresses and the best hot dogs in town.
Small and intimate and the hub of the local jazz scene. Tickets almost always available at the door and if you get there early the pizza place just next door has exceptional pizza. The oldest and most seedy bars in town is just down the road on the corner: Kimberly (second oldest) and Perseverance (oldest).
9 moradores locais recomendam
Straight No Chaser
87 Station RdSmall and intimate and the hub of the local jazz scene. Tickets almost always available at the door and if you get there early the pizza place just next door has exceptional pizza. The oldest and most seedy bars in town is just down the road on the corner: Kimberly (second oldest) and Perseverance (oldest).
It's a hidden gem in a beautiful old courtyard and the bar has an original wooden cabinet from when the building was a mortuary. There is an art gallery and chocolatier too and I just love the space with the small fountain and pretty tiles.
255 moradores locais recomendam
The Gin Bar
64A Wale StreetIt's a hidden gem in a beautiful old courtyard and the bar has an original wooden cabinet from when the building was a mortuary. There is an art gallery and chocolatier too and I just love the space with the small fountain and pretty tiles.
The most excelctic mix of completely independent and young brewers coming together to offer Cape Town an unprecedented selection of beers brewed on the premises. Catch their pub nights if you can. Live music also on offer.
8 moradores locais recomendam
The Brewers Co-op
135 Albert RdThe most excelctic mix of completely independent and young brewers coming together to offer Cape Town an unprecedented selection of beers brewed on the premises. Catch their pub nights if you can. Live music also on offer.
Food Scene
There are three of these and I love their attention to detail in decor. Young vibe. My favourite is the Loop Str one. The most touristy is the Kloof Str one.
70 moradores locais recomendam
YOURS TRULY
175 Long StThere are three of these and I love their attention to detail in decor. Young vibe. My favourite is the Loop Str one. The most touristy is the Kloof Str one.
It is the only place in Cape Town where you can be served drinks and food with your toes in the sand, your face in the sun and the smell of the surf constantly drifting past you. Perfect for champagne sunsets.
275 moradores locais recomendam
Grand Africa Café & Beach
Granger Bay BoulevardIt is the only place in Cape Town where you can be served drinks and food with your toes in the sand, your face in the sun and the smell of the surf constantly drifting past you. Perfect for champagne sunsets.
By far my favourite food in Cape Town - fusion asian with a great champagne list. Fantastic pink flamingo wallpaper. Beautiful and intelligent owner. Booking essential or take a chance in good weather and sit on the sidewalk counter.
33 moradores locais recomendam
Hallelujah
11D Kloof Nek RoadBy far my favourite food in Cape Town - fusion asian with a great champagne list. Fantastic pink flamingo wallpaper. Beautiful and intelligent owner. Booking essential or take a chance in good weather and sit on the sidewalk counter.
This local institution has recently reopened and they often have shows, comedy, poetry readings etc.
24 moradores locais recomendam
A Touch of Madness Restaurant
12 Nuttall RdThis local institution has recently reopened and they often have shows, comedy, poetry readings etc.
General Store
22 Bree StGreat salads, beautiful, teeny space.
A wonderful lunch spot chosen by local patrons daily. Overlooking the much underrated yet scenic Church Square.
48 moradores locais recomendam
milk and honey
42 Hans Strijdom AveA wonderful lunch spot chosen by local patrons daily. Overlooking the much underrated yet scenic Church Square.
The most generous portions, the widest selection of curried and eastern food, the most reasonable prices in town and a quaint space with ornate doors that lead right through one long corridor from one end of the building to the other. Don't miss looking up at the old carvings on the architecture in this part of town.
147 moradores locais recomendam
Eastern Food Bazaar
96 Longmarket StThe most generous portions, the widest selection of curried and eastern food, the most reasonable prices in town and a quaint space with ornate doors that lead right through one long corridor from one end of the building to the other. Don't miss looking up at the old carvings on the architecture in this part of town.
The only place I know that makes their own meal served without a menu and under the trees on a pristine lawn with fresh flowers and antique crockery. A feast and a joy every time. Afterwards ask for blankets and enjoy desert splayed under the dappled afternoon light.
20 moradores locais recomendam
The Table
The only place I know that makes their own meal served without a menu and under the trees on a pristine lawn with fresh flowers and antique crockery. A feast and a joy every time. Afterwards ask for blankets and enjoy desert splayed under the dappled afternoon light.
The most expansive gardens in the Western Cape that can be eaten from for lunch. A lovely spa with the only Hammam I know of in Cape Town and a real traditional Cape Farm dam acts as your swimming pool.
183 moradores locais recomendam
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts - Simondium RoadThe most expansive gardens in the Western Cape that can be eaten from for lunch. A lovely spa with the only Hammam I know of in Cape Town and a real traditional Cape Farm dam acts as your swimming pool.
Situated on a tree-d square it's the perfect lazy afternoon lunch after a day of shopping at the Book Lounge or walking through the Company Gardens. At night it's cozy and candle-lit. Great service, cold beer, homely food.
114 moradores locais recomendam
Maria's Greek Café
31 Barnet StSituated on a tree-d square it's the perfect lazy afternoon lunch after a day of shopping at the Book Lounge or walking through the Company Gardens. At night it's cozy and candle-lit. Great service, cold beer, homely food.
Perfect Sunday night sunset spot directly opposite the Sea Point pool. Always good art on the walls, always good carpaccio on the menu, weather dependent almost always a good sunset.
240 moradores locais recomendam
La Perla
281 Beach RdPerfect Sunday night sunset spot directly opposite the Sea Point pool. Always good art on the walls, always good carpaccio on the menu, weather dependent almost always a good sunset.
The best italian deli in town and the best flowers in town. You can sit here for three hours and not hear a word of English. Fantastic place to catch a solo espresso.
363 moradores locais recomendam
Giovanni's Deliworld
103 Main RdThe best italian deli in town and the best flowers in town. You can sit here for three hours and not hear a word of English. Fantastic place to catch a solo espresso.
Italian clothes and food at its best. Also one of the few local purveyors of Aesop. Take a stroll around the picturesque De Waterkant which was a portuguese shipping and fishing mecca before it was gentrified and now boasts as the pride of the local LGBT scene.
72 moradores locais recomendam
Loading Bay
30 Hudson StItalian clothes and food at its best. Also one of the few local purveyors of Aesop. Take a stroll around the picturesque De Waterkant which was a portuguese shipping and fishing mecca before it was gentrified and now boasts as the pride of the local LGBT scene.
I'm often here on a Saturday morning. I love the Italian decor and the extensive menu delivers on every meal. Great iced coffee. Great gelato. Get there early or you won't get a seat.
17 moradores locais recomendam
Giulio's Café
16 Loop StI'm often here on a Saturday morning. I love the Italian decor and the extensive menu delivers on every meal. Great iced coffee. Great gelato. Get there early or you won't get a seat.
Folk Cafe Bree Street
7 Bree StOrinoco
SMAK Delicatessen & Restaurant
22 Bree StVilla 47
47 Bree StDapper Coffee Co
Castle StreetPappa San is Cape Town's most famous sushi chef and this is his third restaurant. The decor is totally unassuming while the food and Japanese beer will blow you away.
34 moradores locais recomendam
Obi Restaurant
14 Long StPappa San is Cape Town's most famous sushi chef and this is his third restaurant. The decor is totally unassuming while the food and Japanese beer will blow you away.
Essentials
There are some lovely eating spots here and a swimming pool on the roof!
151 moradores locais recomendam
Sorbet Cape Quarter
27 Somerset RdThere are some lovely eating spots here and a swimming pool on the roof!
The closest bottle store to the Icon building. The col' cachio's in the complex is also great. The local MCC, Merlot and Tafel Lager is really good. The location shown on the map is wrong. It is in fact on the corner of Hans Strijdom Avenue and Bree Street - the long squat building just on the other side of the Ernest and Young building from the Icon.
Picardi Rebel Liquor
18 Hans Strijdom AveThe closest bottle store to the Icon building. The col' cachio's in the complex is also great. The local MCC, Merlot and Tafel Lager is really good. The location shown on the map is wrong. It is in fact on the corner of Hans Strijdom Avenue and Bree Street - the long squat building just on the other side of the Ernest and Young building from the Icon.
Getting Around
Thibault Square
Parks & Nature
This is a beautiful public space where you get to rub shoulders with all walks of Capetonians. Sitting at the cafe is an institution and has been for generations. The Iziko Gallery on the Gardens always has fantastic exhibitions and a wonderful permanent collection. Walk all over, there are many hidden gems.
602 moradores locais recomendam
Company's Gardens
This is a beautiful public space where you get to rub shoulders with all walks of Capetonians. Sitting at the cafe is an institution and has been for generations. The Iziko Gallery on the Gardens always has fantastic exhibitions and a wonderful permanent collection. Walk all over, there are many hidden gems.
There is a trail that you can take around the mountain which is super easy. Ask me and I'll show you the exact spot to start and then you just follow the contour. Otherwise a climb up the mountain is not too tough either and definitely worth the view. As long as you have a small bottle of water and non-slippery shoes, you're fine.
609 moradores locais recomendam
Colina do Sinal
There is a trail that you can take around the mountain which is super easy. Ask me and I'll show you the exact spot to start and then you just follow the contour. Otherwise a climb up the mountain is not too tough either and definitely worth the view. As long as you have a small bottle of water and non-slippery shoes, you're fine.
Everyone has their afternoon stroll on the promenade. Great public art and wonderful people watching, an opportunity to get fresh air in your lungs and move your legs. It stretches all the way from the Waterfront all the way to Camps Bay if you want it to. Don't miss a chance to stop by Winchester Mansions if the opportunity arrises. And make use of the outdoor gym if otherwise inclined. The cul de sac at Queens Beach has a massive boulder that offers a very romantic perch from which to watch the sun set with nothing between yourself and the sun.
407 moradores locais recomendam
Sea Point Promenade
Beach RoadEveryone has their afternoon stroll on the promenade. Great public art and wonderful people watching, an opportunity to get fresh air in your lungs and move your legs. It stretches all the way from the Waterfront all the way to Camps Bay if you want it to. Don't miss a chance to stop by Winchester Mansions if the opportunity arrises. And make use of the outdoor gym if otherwise inclined. The cul de sac at Queens Beach has a massive boulder that offers a very romantic perch from which to watch the sun set with nothing between yourself and the sun.
A beautiful public space with many informative stops for cultural and natural eduction along the way. Perfect for a pic nic or a walk from Sea Point to the Bo Kaap.
417 moradores locais recomendam
Parque Green Point
1 Fritz Sonnenberg RdA beautiful public space with many informative stops for cultural and natural eduction along the way. Perfect for a pic nic or a walk from Sea Point to the Bo Kaap.
Everything Else
Best Coffee in town. Cutest coffee shop in town. Don't miss a walk up and down this street. SMITH art gallery is fantastic but Church Street is packed with art galleries. Mememe on the corner of Long Street has fantastic clothes. At the bottom end of the street is Bread, Milk and Honey which looks onto Spin Square, one of my favourite public spaces.
58 moradores locais recomendam
Deluxe coffeeworks Church Street
25 Church StBest Coffee in town. Cutest coffee shop in town. Don't miss a walk up and down this street. SMITH art gallery is fantastic but Church Street is packed with art galleries. Mememe on the corner of Long Street has fantastic clothes. At the bottom end of the street is Bread, Milk and Honey which looks onto Spin Square, one of my favourite public spaces.
Best cheap and serious massage in town. It looks dodgy but it's open until 10pm and it's right around the corner from you!
Happy Feet
Best cheap and serious massage in town. It looks dodgy but it's open until 10pm and it's right around the corner from you!
Shopping
Great local selection, fantastic old interiors, knowledgable staff, weekly events, calm basement to escape the busy streets from, directly opposite the third oldest bar in the country, the Kimberly Hotel (a truly dodgy but mostly interesting space with a cute jukebox) and just down the road from the very oldest bar in the country, Perseverance in Buitenkant street.
123 moradores locais recomendam
the book lounge
71 Roeland StreetGreat local selection, fantastic old interiors, knowledgable staff, weekly events, calm basement to escape the busy streets from, directly opposite the third oldest bar in the country, the Kimberly Hotel (a truly dodgy but mostly interesting space with a cute jukebox) and just down the road from the very oldest bar in the country, Perseverance in Buitenkant street.
Definitely worth a visit. The restaurants are touristy - but still decent value. The 2hr catamaran trips around the harbour are good fun. Souvenir shops are generally cheaper than Greenmarket Sq. The Red Shed on the side has fantastically curated local goods.
20 moradores locais recomendam
Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre
3 Dock RdDefinitely worth a visit. The restaurants are touristy - but still decent value. The 2hr catamaran trips around the harbour are good fun. Souvenir shops are generally cheaper than Greenmarket Sq. The Red Shed on the side has fantastically curated local goods.