Guidebook for Cape Town
Shopping
Lifestyle pharmacy
Main RoadLocal pharmacy, 3 minutes' walk
A great collection of used vinyl for sale. Great for vinyl junkies. Find hidden treasures.
Revolution Records
73 Lower Main RdA great collection of used vinyl for sale. Great for vinyl junkies. Find hidden treasures.
Dried fruits, nuts, grains, pulses, truly free range eggs, tofu, cheese, coffee beans, spices, honey, nut-butters, lots of organic stuff.
14 locals recommend
Komati Foods
74 Lower Main RdDried fruits, nuts, grains, pulses, truly free range eggs, tofu, cheese, coffee beans, spices, honey, nut-butters, lots of organic stuff.
Food Scene
Great sushi and also a range of hot asian dishes. Sit at the conveyor belt and watch the sushi chef, or at the tables in the back. Nice relaxed, friendly vibe.
34 locals recommend
1890 House Sushi and Grill
40 Trill RdGreat sushi and also a range of hot asian dishes. Sit at the conveyor belt and watch the sushi chef, or at the tables in the back. Nice relaxed, friendly vibe.
That Place
76 Lower Main Rd2nd-hand bookshop/coffeeshop/restaurant – chilled vibe, interesting books, nice people.
Hipster bar, good music, good coffee, good food - breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches, salads. Also serve a ranger of craft beers.
14 locals recommend
Hello Sailor
86 Lower Main RdHipster bar, good music, good coffee, good food - breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches, salads. Also serve a ranger of craft beers.
Ferdinando's Pizza
205 Lower Main RdBest pizzas in Observatory. Cosy atmosphere. Great value.
Rated as one of Cape Town's best burger spots. Craft beer available. A very popular Observatory drinking spot. Great place to meet the locals.
30 locals recommend
Jerry's Burger Bar Observatory
123 Lower Main RdRated as one of Cape Town's best burger spots. Craft beer available. A very popular Observatory drinking spot. Great place to meet the locals.
Authentic local cuisine. Try the Mnqushu - Africa's version of polenta, and don't miss the crayfish samoosas. While most of Cape Town feels a bit european, here you really feel like you're in Africa.
30 locals recommend
Cafe Ganesh
38 Trill RdAuthentic local cuisine. Try the Mnqushu - Africa's version of polenta, and don't miss the crayfish samoosas. While most of Cape Town feels a bit european, here you really feel like you're in Africa.
Blab Cafe
74 Lower Main RdGreat second-hand bookshop plus coffee-shop
My favourite in the neighbourhood for breakfasts and lunches or just to chill with some coffee and get some work or reading done.
22 locals recommend
Saint James Cafe
43 Station RdMy favourite in the neighbourhood for breakfasts and lunches or just to chill with some coffee and get some work or reading done.
Drinks & Nightlife
A variety of bands and comedy acts appearing regularly. Also a popular bar to hang out in and meet the locals.
7 locals recommend
Obviouzly Armchair Backpackers and Pub
135 Lower Main RdA variety of bands and comedy acts appearing regularly. Also a popular bar to hang out in and meet the locals.
Sightseeing
Bo-Kaap has a fascinating history. Many of the residents are descendants of slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia and various African countries, who were imported to the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch during the 16th and 17th centuries. The slaves were known as “Cape Malays” (which is not essentially true as most of the residents are not entirely of Malaysian descent). However the term has stuck and Bo-Kaap is also known today as the Cape Malay Quarter. The best place to discover the history of the area is the quaint Bo-Kaap Museum (+27 21 481 3939). It’s open from 10h00 to 17h00 from Monday to Saturday. Tickets cost R10 for adults, R5 for students and pensioners and children aged 16 and under may visit free of charge.
275 locals recommend
Bo-Kaap
71 Wale StBo-Kaap has a fascinating history. Many of the residents are descendants of slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia and various African countries, who were imported to the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch during the 16th and 17th centuries. The slaves were known as “Cape Malays” (which is not essentially true as most of the residents are not entirely of Malaysian descent). However the term has stuck and Bo-Kaap is also known today as the Cape Malay Quarter. The best place to discover the history of the area is the quaint Bo-Kaap Museum (+27 21 481 3939). It’s open from 10h00 to 17h00 from Monday to Saturday. Tickets cost R10 for adults, R5 for students and pensioners and children aged 16 and under may visit free of charge.
Take a ride to the top of Table Mountain, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. A return ticket is R240 (R115 for children under 18). You could also take a one-way ticket (R125) and walk up or down. Visit http://www.tablemountain.net for details and to buy tickets.
950 locals recommend
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
5821 Tafelberg RdTake a ride to the top of Table Mountain, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. A return ticket is R240 (R115 for children under 18). You could also take a one-way ticket (R125) and walk up or down. Visit http://www.tablemountain.net for details and to buy tickets.
Parks & Nature
The most south-westerly tip of Africa, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. A Natural World Heritage Site, it's a nature reserve with buck, baboons and zebra, as well as 250 species of birds. Stunning beaches too - if you like the idea of an unspoiled beach on a stretch of wild coast with buck nearby on the dunes. Great for walking or swimming if the weather is good. R125 entrance fee (children 2–11 pay R65)
859 locals recommend
Cape Point
The most south-westerly tip of Africa, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. A Natural World Heritage Site, it's a nature reserve with buck, baboons and zebra, as well as 250 species of birds. Stunning beaches too - if you like the idea of an unspoiled beach on a stretch of wild coast with buck nearby on the dunes. Great for walking or swimming if the weather is good. R125 entrance fee (children 2–11 pay R65)
Boulders beach, near Simonstown, is home to a colony of African Penguins. This is one of the few sites where this vulnerable bird can be observed at close range, wandering freely in a protected natural environment. This is a good day trip which you can do by train. A return train ticket is R33 and the gate fee at Boulders Beach is R65.
562 locals recommend
Boulders Beach
Kleintuin RoadBoulders beach, near Simonstown, is home to a colony of African Penguins. This is one of the few sites where this vulnerable bird can be observed at close range, wandering freely in a protected natural environment. This is a good day trip which you can do by train. A return train ticket is R33 and the gate fee at Boulders Beach is R65.
Join me on one of my regular mountain walks. Most evenings I walk up to the blockhouse, about an hour’s walk.
King's Blockhouse
Join me on one of my regular mountain walks. Most evenings I walk up to the blockhouse, about an hour’s walk.
Arts & Culture
South Africa's premier art museum houses outstanding collections of South African, African, British, French, Dutch and Flemish art. Selections from the Permanent Collection change regularly to enable the museum to have a full programme of temporary exhibitions of paintings, works on paper, photography, sculpture, beadwork, textiles and architecture. They provide insight into the extraordinary range of aesthetic production in this country, the African continent and further afield. This programme is complemented by a range of temporary visiting exhibitions.
190 locals recommend
Iziko South African National Gallery
Government AvenueSouth Africa's premier art museum houses outstanding collections of South African, African, British, French, Dutch and Flemish art. Selections from the Permanent Collection change regularly to enable the museum to have a full programme of temporary exhibitions of paintings, works on paper, photography, sculpture, beadwork, textiles and architecture. They provide insight into the extraordinary range of aesthetic production in this country, the African continent and further afield. This programme is complemented by a range of temporary visiting exhibitions.
Tells the story, in photographs and written accounts, of the forced removals of people and the physical destruction of District Six by the apartheid government. A very moving experience and an important part of understanding the people of Cape Town.
445 locals recommend
District Six Museum
25A Buitenkant StTells the story, in photographs and written accounts, of the forced removals of people and the physical destruction of District Six by the apartheid government. A very moving experience and an important part of understanding the people of Cape Town.
Great planetarium, with regular shows about the current night sky. The South African Museum houses more than one and a half million specimens of scientific importance. The collections now range from fossils almost 700-million years old to insects and fish caught last week. There are also stone tools made by people 120 000 years ago, traditional clothes from the last century, and T-shirts printed yesterday.
305 locals recommend
Iziko South African Museum and Planetarium
25 Queen Victoria StGreat planetarium, with regular shows about the current night sky. The South African Museum houses more than one and a half million specimens of scientific importance. The collections now range from fossils almost 700-million years old to insects and fish caught last week. There are also stone tools made by people 120 000 years ago, traditional clothes from the last century, and T-shirts printed yesterday.
Stand in the cell where Nelson Mandela spent most of his 27-year prison sentence. Guided tours by former political prisoners. Book your ferry ride from the Waterfront. R300 for adults, R160 for under-18s.
223 locals recommend
Robben Island Museum
Stand in the cell where Nelson Mandela spent most of his 27-year prison sentence. Guided tours by former political prisoners. Book your ferry ride from the Waterfront. R300 for adults, R160 for under-18s.
Essentials
Closest place to get your groceries, but you won't find everything - not very sophisticated tastes, no parmesan cheese for example. But good for general groceries.
29 locals recommend
Pick n Pay Family Observatory
Closest place to get your groceries, but you won't find everything - not very sophisticated tastes, no parmesan cheese for example. But good for general groceries.
Kwikspar - Observatory
67 Station RdAll your groceries, decent bakery, good veggie section.