Guidebook for Cape Town
Food Scene
Haiku Cape Town CBD
58 Burg StGreat pan-Asian with lots of options.
My favorite Cape Town restaurant. Innovative food without being pretentious. They close early, and don't take reservations.
235 locals recommend
Chefs Warehouse & Canteen
92 Bree StMy favorite Cape Town restaurant. Innovative food without being pretentious. They close early, and don't take reservations.
Right next to Haiku (also listed here), this is Cape Town's best Indian restaurant.
90 locals recommend
Bukhara Cape Town CBD
33 Church StreetRight next to Haiku (also listed here), this is Cape Town's best Indian restaurant.
Jason Bakery
185 Bree StGreat bread, coffee, pastries. Try the pies and sandwiches.
One of Cape Town's best. But there's lots of great coffee in Cape Town.
58 locals recommend
Deluxe coffeeworks Church Street
25 Church StOne of Cape Town's best. But there's lots of great coffee in Cape Town.
Bean There Coffee Company - Cape Town
23 Chardonnay RdAnother solid coffee option.
milk and honey
42 Hans Strijdom AveLocal Cape Townians lunch spot.
This is part of the Test Kitchen empire, and a great option nearby if you don't want to venture out to Woodstock for their other restaurants.
121 locals recommend
The Shortmarket Club
199 Oxford RoadThis is part of the Test Kitchen empire, and a great option nearby if you don't want to venture out to Woodstock for their other restaurants.
The Pot Luck Club
373-375 Albert RdMy favorite restaurant in the city. Hands down. Go and enjoy.
One of the top 50 restaurants in the world (and therefore quite hard to get a table), it's a brilliant spot to have a long multi-course dinner (if that's your thing). I'd perhaps rather pick the Pot Luck club, but hey, it's in the top 50 for a reason!
259 locals recommend
The Test Kitchen
375 Albert RdOne of the top 50 restaurants in the world (and therefore quite hard to get a table), it's a brilliant spot to have a long multi-course dinner (if that's your thing). I'd perhaps rather pick the Pot Luck club, but hey, it's in the top 50 for a reason!
Cape Town is not the best breakfast city, but this place is great. Can't be beat.
32 locals recommend
Superette
66 Albert RdCape Town is not the best breakfast city, but this place is great. Can't be beat.
Karen Dudley's sandwich and salad shop was good enough for Michelle Obama, and hopefully good enough for you. She's an amazing personality, and the food is always top notch.
56 locals recommend
The Kitchen
111 Sir Lowry RdKaren Dudley's sandwich and salad shop was good enough for Michelle Obama, and hopefully good enough for you. She's an amazing personality, and the food is always top notch.
Yes, it's in a mall, and that's not fun. But it's the best sushi in town. No comparison. Worth the trip out to the Waterfront. Rainbow reloaded roll.
289 locals recommend
Willoughby & Co
19 Dock RdYes, it's in a mall, and that's not fun. But it's the best sushi in town. No comparison. Worth the trip out to the Waterfront. Rainbow reloaded roll.
Saigon
Kamp StreetGreat mid-week pan Asian option, with quite good sushi.
Royale Eatery
20 Vineyard RoadBurgers. Everyone seems to love this place.
It's kind of a food court style Indian/Middle Eastern joint, with great value.
147 locals recommend
Eastern Food Bazaar
96 Longmarket StIt's kind of a food court style Indian/Middle Eastern joint, with great value.
Literally right on the doorstop of the apartment, Cape Town's best meat place. Great for steaks, and other local meats (like ostrich, kudu, springbok). All around great option.
103 locals recommend
Carne SA
70 Keerom StLiterally right on the doorstop of the apartment, Cape Town's best meat place. Great for steaks, and other local meats (like ostrich, kudu, springbok). All around great option.
Italian food right near the apartment. Takes itself a bit too seriously, but good food all around.
26 locals recommend
95 Keerom
95 Keerom StItalian food right near the apartment. Takes itself a bit too seriously, but good food all around.
I'd mostly go here to hang out and have a coffee, but pretty decent breakfast food too. Nice place to people watch on Long Street.
23 locals recommend
Lolas Cafe
228 Long StI'd mostly go here to hang out and have a coffee, but pretty decent breakfast food too. Nice place to people watch on Long Street.
Go there. Great vibe and food. And check out Kalk Bay in the process. Another Kalk Bay option is the Harbour House.
261 locals recommend
Olympia Cafe
134 Main RdGo there. Great vibe and food. And check out Kalk Bay in the process. Another Kalk Bay option is the Harbour House.
Harbour House Kalk Bay
Main RoadSeafood and views!
"Tucked away in the old garage on the corner of Hof and Kloof Streets in Gardens, and hidden behind lush granadilla creepers and a bounty of hanging plants, this laidback café is the kind of place where everyone is welcome – whether you’re strolling in barefoot from the beach, or popping in for a bite between meetings. Furry friends are welcome too, and nobody seems to be in a rush."
45 locals recommend
Nourish'd Café & Juicery
177 Kloof St"Tucked away in the old garage on the corner of Hof and Kloof Streets in Gardens, and hidden behind lush granadilla creepers and a bounty of hanging plants, this laidback café is the kind of place where everyone is welcome – whether you’re strolling in barefoot from the beach, or popping in for a bite between meetings. Furry friends are welcome too, and nobody seems to be in a rush."
"The highly creative seasonal menu is bursting with options, one more delicious than the next. Whet your appetite with a freshly squeezed juice – we recommend the apple, celery, and ginger, or the apple, beetroot, and orange. Then, settle in for a comforting homemade potato rösti with lightly smoked trout, soft whipped herb cheese and a soft poached egg, or old-fashioned grilled farm style sausage in a rich tomato ‘smoor’ with buttered toast. The freshly pressed juices, of which the fruit and vegetables are botanically grouped, are sure to whet your appetite."
102 locals recommend
Hemelhuijs
71 Waterkant St"The highly creative seasonal menu is bursting with options, one more delicious than the next. Whet your appetite with a freshly squeezed juice – we recommend the apple, celery, and ginger, or the apple, beetroot, and orange. Then, settle in for a comforting homemade potato rösti with lightly smoked trout, soft whipped herb cheese and a soft poached egg, or old-fashioned grilled farm style sausage in a rich tomato ‘smoor’ with buttered toast. The freshly pressed juices, of which the fruit and vegetables are botanically grouped, are sure to whet your appetite."
"Rated as a favourite by renowned local chef Ash Heeger, The Loading Bay in De Waterkant constantly pumps with urbanites and trendsetters seeking their next matcha latte. Though it shares floor space with an achingly hip menswear shop, the eatery is where the magic happens. Tuck into a bowl of bircher muesli, some spiced buckwheat pancakes, or a slice of double-fermented sourdough with your choice of topping – all of which are available all day, every day."
72 locals recommend
Loading Bay
30 Hudson St"Rated as a favourite by renowned local chef Ash Heeger, The Loading Bay in De Waterkant constantly pumps with urbanites and trendsetters seeking their next matcha latte. Though it shares floor space with an achingly hip menswear shop, the eatery is where the magic happens. Tuck into a bowl of bircher muesli, some spiced buckwheat pancakes, or a slice of double-fermented sourdough with your choice of topping – all of which are available all day, every day."
"With its impressive, yet simple, lineup of tasty and original healthy dishes – coupled with a laidback interior, and simply sublime city and mountain views – Harvest Café & Deli in the Bo-Kaap is an innercity eatery worth its salt.
It’s not for nothing that the breakfast crowd has already cottoned on to the quinoa porridge with banana, coconut, turmeric, toasted buckwheat and passion fruit; and the eggs benedict on zucchini fritters with wilted spinach and toasted almonds. Naturally, smoothies (the Lean Green is a must) and fresh juices complete the picture."
24 locals recommend
Harvest Cafe & Deli
102 Wale St"With its impressive, yet simple, lineup of tasty and original healthy dishes – coupled with a laidback interior, and simply sublime city and mountain views – Harvest Café & Deli in the Bo-Kaap is an innercity eatery worth its salt.
It’s not for nothing that the breakfast crowd has already cottoned on to the quinoa porridge with banana, coconut, turmeric, toasted buckwheat and passion fruit; and the eggs benedict on zucchini fritters with wilted spinach and toasted almonds. Naturally, smoothies (the Lean Green is a must) and fresh juices complete the picture."
"The famed white canopy and copper sign is a shining light for hungry town-goers seeking a warm cuppa and a tasty all-day breakfast of warm croissants, eggs and bacon, and Brioche French Toast (and many other items). Pull up in a seat in the cool interior, decorated with pared-down wooden tables and indoor plants, or savour the sunshine and people-watch on the street-facing tables outside. Either way, it’s easy to understand why this eatery is a firm favourite for townies and suburbanites looking for a scrumptious morning fix."
260 locals recommend
Clarke's Bar & Dining Room
133 Bree St"The famed white canopy and copper sign is a shining light for hungry town-goers seeking a warm cuppa and a tasty all-day breakfast of warm croissants, eggs and bacon, and Brioche French Toast (and many other items). Pull up in a seat in the cool interior, decorated with pared-down wooden tables and indoor plants, or savour the sunshine and people-watch on the street-facing tables outside. Either way, it’s easy to understand why this eatery is a firm favourite for townies and suburbanites looking for a scrumptious morning fix."
Good bagels. Never thought I'd say that about Cape Town. But these are solid.
28 locals recommend
Kleinsky's Delicatessen
32 Parliament StGood bagels. Never thought I'd say that about Cape Town. But these are solid.
Scheckter's RAW
98 Regent RdRaw vegan restaurant.
Shopping
It's not a mall, it's not a store. It's a tasteful shopping centre where you can get nice wine, groceries, bread, and books even! This is a great go-to nearby the apartment.
81 locals recommend
FNB Bank ATM Lifestyle On Kloof
60 Kloof StIt's not a mall, it's not a store. It's a tasteful shopping centre where you can get nice wine, groceries, bread, and books even! This is a great go-to nearby the apartment.
Arts & Culture
District Six Museum
25A Buitenkant StA winner. Go there.
It's got its highs and lows, but I think covers some good ground work for understanding this complex city.
161 locals recommend
Iziko Slave Lodge
Wale StreetIt's got its highs and lows, but I think covers some good ground work for understanding this complex city.
Parks & Nature
Lion's Head Hike
Signal Hill RoadEarly mornings or sunsets are a good time to climb to the top.
My favorite place in the whole world. An incredible botanical garden in the mountains. You can start a hike up Table Mountain from here.
1765 locals recommend
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Rhodes DriveMy favorite place in the whole world. An incredible botanical garden in the mountains. You can start a hike up Table Mountain from here.
All of the four Clifton beaches are beautiful. 4th is more student vibes, 3rd is more gay, and 1-2, well that's where the rest go I guess.
387 locals recommend
Clifton 4th Beach hotel
Fourth Beach PromenadeAll of the four Clifton beaches are beautiful. 4th is more student vibes, 3rd is more gay, and 1-2, well that's where the rest go I guess.
Definitely worth the drive down here on a nice day. You can stop in Kalk Bay on the way for lunch at Olympia Cafe.
859 locals recommend
Cape Point
Definitely worth the drive down here on a nice day. You can stop in Kalk Bay on the way for lunch at Olympia Cafe.
Great for runners. Actually the whole city is great for runners!
40 locals recommend
Newlands Forest Hiking Trail
Great for runners. Actually the whole city is great for runners!
This is everything to Cape Townians, so go experience it. There's so much to do actually, I won't list it all here.
1249 locals recommend
Table Mountain Hike
5821 Tafelberg RoadThis is everything to Cape Townians, so go experience it. There's so much to do actually, I won't list it all here.
Entertainment & Activities
Theatre, music, performances. Worth checking out their schedule.
348 locals recommend
Artscape Theatre Centre
Theatre, music, performances. Worth checking out their schedule.
Baxter Theatre Centre
Main RoadAnother theatre to check out their schedule.
Everything Else
Walk around the Bo Kaap to get a sense for Cape Town's complex history, and to take in the beautiful architecture.
275 locals recommend
Bo-kaap
71 Wale StWalk around the Bo Kaap to get a sense for Cape Town's complex history, and to take in the beautiful architecture.
Essentials
Woolworths Kloof Street
50 Kloof StThe best.