Guidebook for Cape Town
Food Scene
Thali Restaurant
3 Park RdAmaaaazing Indian food tasting menu. Make sure to go HUNGRY.
This is such a great place for brunch or dinner. Phenomenal food— and you can try SA classics like Kudu and skilpadjies here. Wonderful wine list, too— and lovely setting :-)
123 locals recommend
Manna Epicure
4 Kloof StThis is such a great place for brunch or dinner. Phenomenal food— and you can try SA classics like Kudu and skilpadjies here. Wonderful wine list, too— and lovely setting :-)
Bacini's
177 Kloof StPIZZA
Delicious Indian food with an amazing and funny owner. I recommend the Tava Chicken with Naan. Yum! This is kind of a dive, looks-wise, but so good-- especially if you're over by Gardens Centre. It's also on Uber Eats.
14 locals recommend
Vintage India
Delicious Indian food with an amazing and funny owner. I recommend the Tava Chicken with Naan. Yum! This is kind of a dive, looks-wise, but so good-- especially if you're over by Gardens Centre. It's also on Uber Eats.
BEAUTIFUL views. Go for sundowners and try the cesar salad pizza-- I think it's my favorite pizza in all of Cape Town :-)
55 locals recommend
Mantra Cafe
43 Victoria RdBEAUTIFUL views. Go for sundowners and try the cesar salad pizza-- I think it's my favorite pizza in all of Cape Town :-)
Really good and affordable Asian food in an interesting environment.
147 locals recommend
Eastern Food Bazaar
96 Longmarket StReally good and affordable Asian food in an interesting environment.
This has food and shopping and often even live music-- delicious and fun. Go here after a walk along the Sea Point Promenade. :-)
197 locals recommend
Mojo Market
30 Regent RdThis has food and shopping and often even live music-- delicious and fun. Go here after a walk along the Sea Point Promenade. :-)
YUM. This used to require a reservation. If you can get in there, the food is affordable and phenomenal.
247 locals recommend
Black Sheep Restaurant
104 Kloof StYUM. This used to require a reservation. If you can get in there, the food is affordable and phenomenal.
Rick's Cafe Americain
Weltevreden StreetThis place is fun and delicious.
GO HERE. Get the peri-peri chicken and be brave and try the sardines starter. :-)
20 locals recommend
Toni's on Kloof
88 Kloof StGO HERE. Get the peri-peri chicken and be brave and try the sardines starter. :-)
Let's just say they have one of those cheese wheel pastas and leave it at that.
69 locals recommend
The Cousins Trattoria
3b Barrack StLet's just say they have one of those cheese wheel pastas and leave it at that.
A really amazing more of a fine dining experience. Beautiful place.
312 locals recommend
The Pot Luck Club
373-375 Albert RdA really amazing more of a fine dining experience. Beautiful place.
Go here for a vibey ambiance and delicious food-- try and book the back patio in advance!
7 locals recommend
ëlgr Restaurant
75 Kloof StreetGo here for a vibey ambiance and delicious food-- try and book the back patio in advance!
Come here for a fun date night or family time-- you get a piece of pottery to paint whilst you eat and drink and then get to pick up the fired product later.
Clay Cafe In The City
199 Bree StreetCome here for a fun date night or family time-- you get a piece of pottery to paint whilst you eat and drink and then get to pick up the fired product later.
This place has the most delicious curries. Pro-tip: go to their personal website to check if they are running deals-- they also have their own delivery guys that drop off to our building, though the restaurant itself is VERY cute :-) Try the chicken sagwala and the paneer maneer kastoori. YUM.
Curry Club
50 New Church StThis place has the most delicious curries. Pro-tip: go to their personal website to check if they are running deals-- they also have their own delivery guys that drop off to our building, though the restaurant itself is VERY cute :-) Try the chicken sagwala and the paneer maneer kastoori. YUM.
Go here for a casual walk up meal right next to the sea point promenade.
143 locals recommend
Rockpool
205 Beach RdGo here for a casual walk up meal right next to the sea point promenade.
Bree Street is very close by and has so many restaurant choices! All very cute and with patio and indoor seating :-) Bootlegger, Clarke’s, Burger and Lobster, Cafe Frank, Between Us, and many more!
Bree St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Bree Street is very close by and has so many restaurant choices! All very cute and with patio and indoor seating :-) Bootlegger, Clarke’s, Burger and Lobster, Cafe Frank, Between Us, and many more!
This place is fun if you're in the mood for delicious tapas and a nice wine list! Great for going and sharing a bunch of different small plates :-)
128 locals recommend
La Boheme
341 Main RdThis place is fun if you're in the mood for delicious tapas and a nice wine list! Great for going and sharing a bunch of different small plates :-)
This place has really fun and beautiful decor both inside and on the patio. Definitely make a reservation before you go. Delicious, more upscale food. Great drinks!
408 locals recommend
Kloof Street House
30 Kloof StThis place has really fun and beautiful decor both inside and on the patio. Definitely make a reservation before you go. Delicious, more upscale food. Great drinks!
For the more adventurous eaters-- an amazing meat-eaters tasting menu.
21 locals recommend
Belly of the beast
110 Harrington StFor the more adventurous eaters-- an amazing meat-eaters tasting menu.
A delicious spot with fabulous views. I highly recommend eating here anytime you find yourself at the V&A Waterfront or the Watershed. (A really good thing to do when you're ready to buy some souvenirs is to shop at the Watershed and eat at Den Anker on the same day.)
21 locals recommend
Den Anker
A delicious spot with fabulous views. I highly recommend eating here anytime you find yourself at the V&A Waterfront or the Watershed. (A really good thing to do when you're ready to buy some souvenirs is to shop at the Watershed and eat at Den Anker on the same day.)
This is a cute tiny little bakery that is great for an amazing cup of coffee and some yummy baked goods or breakfast in their little courtyard. :-)
28 locals recommend
Dinkel Bakery.
91 Kloof Nek RdThis is a cute tiny little bakery that is great for an amazing cup of coffee and some yummy baked goods or breakfast in their little courtyard. :-)
For when you want amazing Thai food-- they even have a portion of their dining room where you can sit on the floor in a more traditional setting :-)
57 locals recommend
Yindee's
22 Kamp StFor when you want amazing Thai food-- they even have a portion of their dining room where you can sit on the floor in a more traditional setting :-)
Go here for an amazing breakfast/brunch (they make a mean shakshuka!) and delicious coffee surrounded by plants! It's also next door to the pharmacy and Checkers if you want to do a shopping run after :-)
Our Local @ 117 Kloof
Go here for an amazing breakfast/brunch (they make a mean shakshuka!) and delicious coffee surrounded by plants! It's also next door to the pharmacy and Checkers if you want to do a shopping run after :-)
For when you want a nice lunch on a cute patio :-) I'd book ahead of time.
219 locals recommend
Cafè Paradiso
110 Kloof StFor when you want a nice lunch on a cute patio :-) I'd book ahead of time.
This is one of the most famous/oldest steak restaurants in the country. If you're into steaks, definitely go here.
59 locals recommend
Nelson's Eye
9 Hof StThis is one of the most famous/oldest steak restaurants in the country. If you're into steaks, definitely go here.
Absolutely delicious food! Really fun in a group. Definitely book in advance :-)
82 locals recommend
South China Dim Sum Bar
289 Long StAbsolutely delicious food! Really fun in a group. Definitely book in advance :-)
This is a TRUE rooftop restaurant-- I can't even remember how the food is, but if you feel like getting a little fancy and truly being on top of the world, consider this spot.
48 locals recommend
The Vue
40 Chiappini StThis is a TRUE rooftop restaurant-- I can't even remember how the food is, but if you feel like getting a little fancy and truly being on top of the world, consider this spot.
Okay, this one is VERY touristy and VERY fun. Go here for a night filled with trying new foods and hearing fun music.
63 locals recommend
GOLD Restaurant
15 Bennett StOkay, this one is VERY touristy and VERY fun. Go here for a night filled with trying new foods and hearing fun music.
Carne Kloof
153 Kloof StYummy restaurant focusing on the protein. :-)
I haven’t been here personally because it arrived after we moved, but my friends love this place :-)
13 locals recommend
Between Us
176 Bree StI haven’t been here personally because it arrived after we moved, but my friends love this place :-)
Amazing breakfasts! Perhaps one of the best eggs benedicts in town?
38 locals recommend
Liquorice & Lime
162 Kloof StAmazing breakfasts! Perhaps one of the best eggs benedicts in town?
BLONDIE
Delicious food, loud vibey music, and great drinks :-)
Galjoen
Treat yourself to a fish themed tasting menu and wine pairing that is just WOW.
The Dog's Bollocks at YARD
6 Roodehek StGREAT pizzas and burgers and beer :-)
Pizza Shed Bree
Yummy pizzas!
One of the most renowned restaurants. Take an Uber there and book earlier in the day so you can admire the views :-)
64 locals recommend
Chefs Warehouse At Beau Constantia
Constantia NeckOne of the most renowned restaurants. Take an Uber there and book earlier in the day so you can admire the views :-)
Book a classic afternoon tea at the Mount Nelson :-)
9 locals recommend
Afternoon Tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel
76 Orange StBook a classic afternoon tea at the Mount Nelson :-)
Drinks & Nightlife
Fun bar with amazing bar food-- across the street from a delicious taco place and a delicious burger joint.
317 locals recommend
The Power & The Glory
13d Kloof Nek RdFun bar with amazing bar food-- across the street from a delicious taco place and a delicious burger joint.
I recommend going here on one of your first nights! You can walk here and have a gorgeous sundowner on their rooftop bar. Indeed, if you feel like swimming, you can with a 200R drink minimum per person :-) Their food is also really delicious and you can order it pool side.
10 locals recommend
The Cloud Nine Boutique Hotel
12 Kloof Nek RdI recommend going here on one of your first nights! You can walk here and have a gorgeous sundowner on their rooftop bar. Indeed, if you feel like swimming, you can with a 200R drink minimum per person :-) Their food is also really delicious and you can order it pool side.
The Dark Horse has ammmmaaaaaaazing tapas style food, but still a casual bar feel. The decor and vibe of the place are really amazing-- and there is a rooftop bar! Highly recommend for a meal and a drink.
21 locals recommend
The Dark Horse
145 Kloof StThe Dark Horse has ammmmaaaaaaazing tapas style food, but still a casual bar feel. The decor and vibe of the place are really amazing-- and there is a rooftop bar! Highly recommend for a meal and a drink.
You can come here to enjoy the decor and styling alone. They have proper mixoligists working the bar and there is something different to look at in every room :-)
39 locals recommend
The Athletic Club & Social
35 Buitengracht StreetYou can come here to enjoy the decor and styling alone. They have proper mixoligists working the bar and there is something different to look at in every room :-)
a fun bar/hostel/restaurant that you can sit at during the day with your computer whilst enjoying a beer. amazing plants and cool people abound.
295 locals recommend
Yours Truly
73 Kloof Sta fun bar/hostel/restaurant that you can sit at during the day with your computer whilst enjoying a beer. amazing plants and cool people abound.
Van Hunks
1 Upper Union StThis is for those of you that may be interested in a local dive bar.
Yummy food and great beers :-) There’s also one in Camps Bay.
63 locals recommend
Tiger's Milk Kloof Street
55 Kloof StYummy food and great beers :-) There’s also one in Camps Bay.
Fabulous little spot for coffee that also has a cheeky little gin bar in the back :-)
113 locals recommend
Honest Chocolate Cafe
64A Wale StFabulous little spot for coffee that also has a cheeky little gin bar in the back :-)
Essentials
Checkers Kloof Street
Weltevreden StreetBlooms Pharmacy
113 Kloof StPHARMACY
Pick n Pay Gardens
Mill StreetGO HERE FOR YOUR FIRST BIG SHOP Woolworths, a pharmacy, a Wellness Warehouse (health foods and awesome local skincare and soaps, an amazing wine store, and a local specialty foods deli are all in here! Has underground parking :-)
59 locals recommend
Lifestyle On Kloof
50 Kloof StGO HERE FOR YOUR FIRST BIG SHOP Woolworths, a pharmacy, a Wellness Warehouse (health foods and awesome local skincare and soaps, an amazing wine store, and a local specialty foods deli are all in here! Has underground parking :-)
Shopping
Greenmarket Square
Longmarket StreetGo here! Lots of lovely goods-- tons of vendors-- and all local stuff, from the cheap to the more refined.
106 locals recommend
The Watershed
17 Dock RdGo here! Lots of lovely goods-- tons of vendors-- and all local stuff, from the cheap to the more refined.
Small shopping centre with underground parking, a great grocery store (Woolworths), and awesome specialty grocer (the olive branch), an EXCELLENT wine shop (right next to both of those), and several cool clothing spots :-)
59 locals recommend
Lifestyle On Kloof
50 Kloof StSmall shopping centre with underground parking, a great grocery store (Woolworths), and awesome specialty grocer (the olive branch), an EXCELLENT wine shop (right next to both of those), and several cool clothing spots :-)
The Old Biscuit Mill
375 Albert RdMojo Market
30 Regent RdMy Favourite Activities
This place is AMAZING for a Saturday morning. Go do your farmers market shopping, have an amazing brunch from one of the stalls, shop around the beautiful goodies, and then have a beer at the picnic tables :-)
324 locals recommend
Oranjezicht City Farm Market
Granger Bay BoulevardThis place is AMAZING for a Saturday morning. Go do your farmers market shopping, have an amazing brunch from one of the stalls, shop around the beautiful goodies, and then have a beer at the picnic tables :-)
Guys! If you are travelling alone or in a group, this activity is a very fun and very affordable full day activity that helps you see many parts of Cape Town. Get a ticket and hop on the blue mini peninsula tour route! Take it to Kirstenbosch, hop off, pay the entrance fee to that park, and then marvel the BEAUTIFULNESS that is Kirstenbosch. I recommend doing the tree top walk (it's a very easy and beautiful walk). When you are done at Kirstenbosch, hop back on the PURPLE WINE ROUTE tour (looks like they may be one tour now? but verify that when you buy tickets).
Then you get to do a mini wine tour of four great vineyards-- hopping on and off :-) I believe there is food at most of them, but I enjoy the tree-filled beauty of Eagles Nest for eating. Have a full lunch or just share some snacks.
When you're done, get back on the blue mini peninsula route. This takes you on a gorgeous drive! Get out at Hout Bay (if you want) and get DELICIOUS fish and chips at the restaurant there. If you have some cash with you, walk around the corner of the restaurant to a mini market with people selling crafts on the street-- great for souveneirs. There's also a cute pearl shop here.
Hope back on and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL drive by the twelve apostles. This pops you back out eventually at the V&A Waterfront, where I would go to the Watershed and look around at the beautiful local wares, possibly then ending at the restaurant Den Anker for some wine and a gorgeous view of the harbour and Table Mountain. :-)
You can just uber home after all of that.
289 locals recommend
City Sightseeing Cape Town
81 Long StGuys! If you are travelling alone or in a group, this activity is a very fun and very affordable full day activity that helps you see many parts of Cape Town. Get a ticket and hop on the blue mini peninsula tour route! Take it to Kirstenbosch, hop off, pay the entrance fee to that park, and then marvel the BEAUTIFULNESS that is Kirstenbosch. I recommend doing the tree top walk (it's a very easy and beautiful walk). When you are done at Kirstenbosch, hop back on the PURPLE WINE ROUTE tour (looks like they may be one tour now? but verify that when you buy tickets).
Then you get to do a mini wine tour of four great vineyards-- hopping on and off :-) I believe there is food at most of them, but I enjoy the tree-filled beauty of Eagles Nest for eating. Have a full lunch or just share some snacks.
When you're done, get back on the blue mini peninsula route. This takes you on a gorgeous drive! Get out at Hout Bay (if you want) and get DELICIOUS fish and chips at the restaurant there. If you have some cash with you, walk around the corner of the restaurant to a mini market with people selling crafts on the street-- great for souveneirs. There's also a cute pearl shop here.
Hope back on and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL drive by the twelve apostles. This pops you back out eventually at the V&A Waterfront, where I would go to the Watershed and look around at the beautiful local wares, possibly then ending at the restaurant Den Anker for some wine and a gorgeous view of the harbour and Table Mountain. :-)
You can just uber home after all of that.
Parks & Nature
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Rhodes DriveDe Waal Park
Molteno RoadLions Head Path
Lions Head PathBEAUTIFUL views.
DO NOT USE THESE TRAILS AT THE MOMENT. (You can get onto Signal Hill trails that are more frequented by ubering to the Lions Head trail parking lot.) You can get onto Signal Hill trails right from our apartment. Turn right once you walk out from the building. Walk up Military Road, past Signal Hill Lodge (which will be on your right). About 300m beyond the lodge, the road takes a hard bend to the right. At this bend, there is a side road on your left. Turn left on this road: it is the second paved left turn since leaving the apartment. Follow this road as it winds up the mountain— there are multiple trails here. All roads lead to the top. Enjoy. (Take the mace from the cabinet next to the front door— we’ve never once had problems here, but they are trails that don’t have too many people on them, so we just always run or hike with a mace on us.)
609 locals recommend
Signal Hill
DO NOT USE THESE TRAILS AT THE MOMENT. (You can get onto Signal Hill trails that are more frequented by ubering to the Lions Head trail parking lot.) You can get onto Signal Hill trails right from our apartment. Turn right once you walk out from the building. Walk up Military Road, past Signal Hill Lodge (which will be on your right). About 300m beyond the lodge, the road takes a hard bend to the right. At this bend, there is a side road on your left. Turn left on this road: it is the second paved left turn since leaving the apartment. Follow this road as it winds up the mountain— there are multiple trails here. All roads lead to the top. Enjoy. (Take the mace from the cabinet next to the front door— we’ve never once had problems here, but they are trails that don’t have too many people on them, so we just always run or hike with a mace on us.)
Tafelberg Road
Tafelberg RoadPipe Track
Pipe TrackDevil's Peak
Sea Point Promenade
Beach RoadWant to hike around Cape Town, but add a bit of extra safety and a provided lunch? Check out Fynbos Footprints online or contact me for his info— it’s run by a guy who is really great and extremely knowledgeable (he used to be a guide along the week-long hikes on the Orange River). :-)
Fynbos Footprints
Want to hike around Cape Town, but add a bit of extra safety and a provided lunch? Check out Fynbos Footprints online or contact me for his info— it’s run by a guy who is really great and extremely knowledgeable (he used to be a guide along the week-long hikes on the Orange River). :-)
City/town information
Franschhoek
Go here and do the wine tram!
A BEAUTIFUL town nestled into a mountainside. Go here for lunch and wine and olive tastings :-)
33 locals recommend
Riebeeck Kasteel
A BEAUTIFUL town nestled into a mountainside. Go here for lunch and wine and olive tastings :-)
This is a gorgeous small town with incredible wine tastings and gorgeous scenery. More for an overnight :-)
12 locals recommend
Tulbagh
This is a gorgeous small town with incredible wine tastings and gorgeous scenery. More for an overnight :-)
Go here for a day trip— can just take Ubers around or book a driver for the day. AMAZING wine and food scene. Check out Postcard Cafe for lunch and then do the wine tasting at the same farm for a locally kept secret of one of the most beautiful spots in Stellies. For dinner, book in advance for one of the gorgeous restaurants at Remhoogte wine farm. Beyond that, there are so many gorgeous spots in and around town 😍
Stellenbosch
Go here for a day trip— can just take Ubers around or book a driver for the day. AMAZING wine and food scene. Check out Postcard Cafe for lunch and then do the wine tasting at the same farm for a locally kept secret of one of the most beautiful spots in Stellies. For dinner, book in advance for one of the gorgeous restaurants at Remhoogte wine farm. Beyond that, there are so many gorgeous spots in and around town 😍