There is so much to see and do in Cape Town. At the Southern tip of Africa this modern city was built beneath Table Mountain and is surrounded by nature and the ocean. Cape town has beautiful beaches, stunning biodiversity, incredible food & wine, and huge variety of things to experience. It is a bucket list destination and unlike anywhere in the world.
To Do -
Visit the Markets
One of our favorite things we did in Cape Town was visit the different markets throughout the city. We love Old Biscuit Mill which is open every day and night and is located in, you guessed it, and old biscuit mill. It’s a super fun space which is popular with locals and tourists alike. We did some great shopping here from small local business stalls selling funky and sustainable clothing and jewelry. There are also designer stores, farm stands, artisans stalls & local crafts. We grabbed a beer and ate lunch at the bustling food court here which showcases a huge variety of ethnic food from all over the world.
We also visited the Oranjezicht Market which is only open on the weekends and is more of a community farmers market. It has a great location right on the water near the waterfront. There are local vendors and farmers selling produce, flowers, bread, cheese, honey, ethically sourced meats and seafood and more. The food stalls here are the real highlight which makes it the perfect place to have lunch. There are also bars selling fresh cocktails, beer & kombucha. If you visit on a weekend we highly recommend visiting this fun and colorful market.
Oranjezicht Market - Photo Credit: www.dining-out.com
Stroll the Waterfront
When visiting Cape Town you have to take a stroll down the VA Waterfront which is the oldest working harbor in South Africa. There are restaurants, bars, great shopping and more all with stunning Table Mountain as the backdrop.
photo credit - Marriott
Explore Bo Kaap
The most colorful corner of Cape Town. This picturesque neighborhood is famous for it’s brightly colored buildings that line narrow cobbled streets. This neighborhood is home to the Cape Malays, a Muslim Afrikaans-speaking ethnic group. After taking a stroll around and taking photos you can stop to eat at one of the traditional Cape Malay restaurants nearby that serve delicious African curries.
Go to the Top of Table Mountain
No trip to Cape Town is complete without taking the gondola to the top of Table Mountain which is of the New Wonders of the World and one of the most iconic mountains in the world. Table Mountain is the country's most photographed attraction and people come from all over the world to see it. You can see Table Mountain from anywhere in Cape Town and one of the most spectacular things we’ve ever seen is the clouds that seem to spill over the flat table top of the mountain throughout the day. These cascading clouds are called the table cloth.
Table Mountain and it’s table cloth clouds
Day trip down the Cape Peninusla to Kalk Bay’s & Muizenberg Beach
One of the best things we did in Cape Town was rent a driver to take us along the Cape Peninsula all the way to Boulders Beach and back. It was a perfect day trip and we got to see so much. Our first stop was Muizenberg Beach which is a surfing beach and known for it’s colorful picturesque beach huts.
Next we stopped at Kalk Bay which is an adorable fishing village on the coast of False Bay. There are boutique shops and a few seafood restaurants along the main road. We shopped for awhile and then had lunch and a couple cocktails at Cape to Cuba. We loved this funky beach hut restaurant that served Cuban food and delicious cocktails. Try the mojito!
Boulder Beach
The most famous and unique beach in Cape Town is Boulders Beach where you get the chance to see the warm weather loving African penguins. The beach is beautiful with giant granite boulders which is where it gets it’s name. This beach reminded us a lot of our home of Lake Tahoe, except minus the penguins of course
There are tons of penguins at this beach so if you visit you are guaranteed to see them. Make sure to bring your swimsuit because the water is cold and perfect for swimming under the hot summer sun. It was such a remarkable bucket-list experience to be able to swim with these African penguins!
Sunbathe at Camps Bay
On our last day we decided to take it easy and brought some beach towels and spent the day sun bathing at Camps Bay. This beach is a cove with white sand and is lined with bars and restaurants along the promenade. What makes this beach so special is the looming twelve apostles mountain range which forms the back of Table Mountain and directly behind the beach. It’s a stunning backdrop and makes Camps Bay one of Cape Town’s most scenic beaches.
Photo Credit - @miljof via @secretcapetown
Walking the promenade with Lion Head Mountain in the background
Hike to the top of Lion’s Head
This popular 2.7-mile out-and-back trail takes you to the top of Lion’s Head mountain which gives you sweeping views of Table Mountain, and the coastline. We didn’t do this hike but would love to next time we visit.
To Eat -
Thali
3 Park Rd, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
Our favorite restaurant in Cape Town is Thali! We still dream about this incredible Indian Restaurant. Traditionally a ‘“thali” is a meal consisting of 10 or more regional Indian dishes. The meal is served over 3 courses, starting with lighter fare like oysters, then adding spicy curries which are accompanied with rice, dips and tasty sides. Every bit was an explosion in our mouth, and every dish was thoughtful and added to the entire experience.
We have eaten at restaurants all over the world and saying that this is one of our top 10 is a huge deal and we stand by that! We would travel back to Cape Town just to eat at this fabulous restaurant again.
TIP: Try the Coconut Cashew Lassi cocktail to go with your meal
Chefs Warehouse
91 Bree street, Cape Town, 8001
We had an amazing meal at Chef’s Warehouse which is a restaurant by acclaimed chef Liam Tomlin. Serving tapas style plates of fresh seafood with a twist using Asian flavors and ingredients everything we ate here was delicious. The highlight was the seafood which is all sustainably sourced We loved the Vietnamese oysters.
Photo Credit - The Inside Guide
Nelson’s Eye
9 Hof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
This steakhouse is one of Cape Town’s hidden gems and has been around since the 60’s. The steaks here are high grade grain fed beef from South Africa. They are butchered and wet-aged on site for 21 days and then cut to order. All cuts of meat come with a variety of homemade sauces like bernaise, creamed spinach and a choice of baked potato or fries. We loved everything at this old school steakhouse!
To Stay -
Le Grenadine in Kloof
We stayed at this adorable boutique hotel near Kloof Street. We loved the bright and cheery atmosphere, the breakfast and the location. We had an upstairs room which had a little deck and the whole property revolves around a quaint garden. This place was the perfect price and location was near all the restaurants and bars on Kloof Street.
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel
We didn’t stay at the Belmond Hotel in Cape Town but we did come to this iconic pink hotel for an pre-dinner cocktail. This luxurious hotel has been captivating visitors since 1899 and is worth coming to see while in Cape Town.
We had the best time in Cape Town and are so happy we tagged on a few days in the vibrant city at the end of our African adventures. It is a great jumping off or ending point to any safari trip in Africa. There is so much more to Cape Town we didn’t see and we can’t wait to come again.
