My beloved Cape Town, South Africa
I loved doing the city on foot. We lived in Gardens / Vredehoek, below Table Mountain.
From there we used to walk down Company Gardens, wave to the squirrels until we got to Long Street. The whole street has buildings of a very colonial and picturesque style at the same time. It may give the feel of San Francisco, depending on how, but its African stamp reminds you that you are in Africa.
Crossing from Long Street to Buitenkant they go to the most important and significant Museum for me. I visited just before leaving and highly recommend it. It is there where they explain the apartheid issue, how the “coloured” as they call them there, that is, the mestizos, lived it. It is the District Six Museum. I recommend that you hire a guide like they offer, a former resident of the area. Hearing the story told by someone who has lived it first-hand changes a lot. It’s worth a little more, but it’s worth it! Noor has been there for many years and I also recommend his book.
I was very excited during my visit to the museum. I lived through apartheid, as I spent 10 years of my childhood there. It is terrible what they suffered and how the government covered it up. Thank goodness, it’s over, and it will take two generations, in my opinion, for people to live without rancor.
Crossing Long to the left, facing the sea, you will head towards the Bo Kaap, for me one of the most beautiful areas of Cape Town. The colorful houses form one of the most authentic and culturally rooted neighborhoods in the city. There are some tours that take you to the houses to get to know the authentic cuisine, but I recommend that you get lost in there and discover beautiful corners.
Don't miss out:
- Table Mountain: any time of the day is good.
- Signal Hill: Sunset. Take a bottle of wine and some snacks and spend a nice time with the locals and tourists who stretch out there “just to chill out”.
- BoKaap: Muslim culture.
- Green Market Square: for the souvenirs you want to take with you. You can bargain a lot! Almost halfway through!
- Kloof Street: antique dealers, vintage stores, local bars, cool restaurants.
- Long Street: Vintage stores, restaurants, nightlife.
- Kirstenbosch Gardens: The largest botanical garden in the world. Take a picnic with you and spend a great day in pure nature! Plus, they’ve built the Boomslang, where you walk above the trees! Impressive!
- Climb Lions Head! Incredible views from the top. Cheer up, I went up twice.
Restaurants:
- China Dim Sum Bar: Asian Cuisine. Long Street, one of the best and most frequented by locals. Reservations are required.
- Arnolds: If you are into meat and experiments, here you will find all kinds of meats: ostrich, crocodile, wild boar, deer, etc.
- Hudsons: the best burgers on Kloof Street.
- Yard: a garage owned by a guy, who legend has it, was broke and started serving burgers out of his garage… on Roodehek Street, just off Buitenkant Street. It is now one of the most IN venues in Cape Town. Only hamburgers.
- Tigers Milk: If you can get away to Muizenberg, it’s on the waterfront, delicious food, great waiters and beautiful views.
- Beefcakes: It is on Somerset Road, Green Point. It started out as just gay, with drag performances, but now it’s one of the most famous places in the city, and the food is spectacular!
- Cargo: the steak with spicy chocolate sauce! OMG, my mouth is watering!
- Jonkershuis: In Groot Constantia. PRICELESS!
- Willoughbys: Sushi exquisite. This restaurant is inside the Waterfront.
Cafeterias:
- Truth Coffee shop: where the locals frequent in the mornings: Buitenkant street. Right across the street they have put Haas Coffee shop, you will love the decor and the place for sure ☺.
- Tamboers Winkel: One of the first coffee shops I visited upon my arrival. Very nice and tasty.
- Lazari Coffee Shop: in the Gardens neighborhood, for when you go for a walk there. We lived on this street, so we frequented this coffee shop many mornings. You have to try the Chai Lattes… and their cakes!!!!!
Wine tasting:
- Groot Constantia: Restaurant Jonkershuis is here. Beautiful views, good food and wine tasting.
- Spice Route: on the outskirts of Stellenbosch.
- Spier: on the outskirts of Stellenbosch.
- Annandale: Route 44 towards Stellenbosch.
- Kleine Zalze: 3 km from Stellenbosch.
Markets:
Root 44: Saturday and Sunday. At Annandale Wine Estate. A diverse market of food, art, music and crafts. To spend a pleasant morning.
St Georges Mall Earth, Fair, Food Market: open Thursdays at St Georges Mall from 12 pm to 6 pm. You could take a tour of the city on this day and eat in the street, local and international food.
Spice Route Destination: It is in Paarl. This place is great because they have wine tasting, beer, biltong (dried meat, buenisimaaaa), chocolate … all in one idyllic and beautiful place.
Old Biscuit Mill: this is the most touristic market in the city. Located in Woodstock, you have to go on a Saturday morning and hang out there along with the locals and tourists. The atmosphere is fantastic and the neighborhood has a lot of history. One of my favorite places.
If you wanted to go to a National Park to see the Big 5, the closest one that is good to go for a morning would be the Aquila Game Reserve. It’s not the Kruger, but if you want to do a little safari, it’s only 2 hours from Cape Town.
Beaches:
- Clifton: there are 4, Clifton first, second, third and fourth. Each has a different audience. The third and second are great.
- Bikini Beach: Gordons bay… is a little further away.
- Camps Bay: Café Caprice, where you can rub shoulders with the CT jet, those who think they are cooler ☺.
- Llandudno Beach: This area is very protected, as many celebrities have homes here Beckham, Elton John … The beach is amazing.
- Bloubergstrand: On this beach there is more wind, hence it is frequented by windsurfers. But the view of the city from this beach is breathtaking.
If you head from the city along the coast towards Hout Bay, for fish and chips, you will pass the Twelve Apostles in one of the most famous locals “On the Rocks”. It is an idyllic hotel-restaurant to watch the sunset quietly and within the mountain range that forms the Twelve Apostles.
Muizemberg - Cape Point route:
- Simonstown
- Kalk Bay: you can stop for lunch at Cape To Cuba, it is a very authentic place.
- Cape Point: the southernmost point of the peninsula. Climb up to the lighthouse and see where the two oceans meet!
- Boulders Beach: Say hello to the penguins for me ☺.
- Scarborough: what beaches, what landscapes!
Neighborhoods and streets:
Bree Street: charming restaurants and art galleries: ex. Afterwork drinks: & Union and Clarks Diner for lunch.
Waterkant: high level and gay community. Stylish restaurants and bars.
Seapoint Beach promenade: Rent a bike at the Sea Point pools and take a one-hour ride along the boardwalk. A very fun atmosphere.
Bo Kaap: Muslim culture and roots
District Six: Here you will find besides the Museum and many great coffee shops…! Charlie’s Bakery!!!!
Kloof Street: Restaurants and boutiques.
Waterfront: Very touristy but very nice. The entire new port area. Restaurants, the best stores and brands.
