- Your best option by far is Uber – there’s coverage across all areas in Cape Town, it’s reliable & prices are competitive.
- Meter taxis: If you prefer a traditional taxi service, you can try Excite Taxis. Call them on: 021 448 4444
- MyCiti busses: For all their route info and more, check out the MyCiti website. The key thing is that you’ll need to get yourself a MyCiti card at one of the MyCiti stations and then load money onto that. You can’t use cash on the busses.
- For the ultimate in luxury (and if cost is not a concern), the Tintswalo Atlantic in Hout Bay is an absolute must.
- For something a little different, think hidden sanctuary with a luxurious spa, views & just the ultimate in relaxation: Camps Bay Retreat
- Other great hotels in the CBD area: 15 On Orange, Protea Fire & Ice, The Cullinan & The Capital Mirage.
- And for something that’s still pretty central, but with a sea view: The Radisson Blu
- Take a cableway ride up to the top of Table Mountain – voted as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the world.
- Climb Lion’s Head – it should take approx 40 to 60min to get up and another 30min to get back down. The views from up there are incredible. Try to do it at sunset or sunrise.
- Visit one of Cape Town’s gorgeous beaches – I would recommend Camps Bay if you want to be close to restaurants/bars, any of the 4 Clifton beaches if you’re happy to pack your own snacks for the day, and then Lllandudno if you’re willing to head a bit further out.
- Walk/run/cycle the Sea Point promenade – ocean views, happy dogs, public art, an outdoor fitness area, ice cream stands, bike rentals, and a pretty great public pool complex. You can get all of this here.
- Afternoon Tea at the Mount Nelson (affectionately referred to as the Nellie).
- Visit the V&A Waterfront – this is a hot spot for shopping, eating, drinking, and more. Take a boat trip, book a helicopter ride, visit a market, watch a movie, there really is so many options. Kids will also love the Two Oceans Aquarium & for the art lovers, the Zeitz MOCAA in the Silo District is a must see.
- Market exploring – Capetonians LOVE a market. The most popular weekend markets are: Oranjezicht City Farm (aka OZCF) market in the V&A Waterfront, the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, and the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay. For a cool indoor food market option which is open 7 days a week & features live music on certain days – check out the Mojo Market in Sea Point.
- Constantia winelands touring – You don’t necessarily need to drive out to Stellenbosch or Franschhoek (although those are amazing outings to do as well), the Constantia wine route is a quick 20min from the city centre and there’s plenty of great wine farms to visit. My favourites are: Groot Contstantia, Constantia Glen, Eagles Nest & Beau Constantia.
- See all the sights with the City Sightseeing Red Hop on / Hop off bus – there are a couple of different routes as options, but my top tip would be: Take the blue route as it takes you past 3 of the Constantia wine farms mentioned above.
- Oct to April only: Enjoy a movie under the stars with The Galileo Open Air Cinema (various locations in & around Cape Town)
- Dec to March only: Enjoy a live concert at the gorgeous Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden every Sunday evening.
- Then for a bit of local vibe, shopping, strolling, eating and general merriment, hit either Bree St, Kloof Street or Long Street. Just watch out for pickpockets, keep your phone & wallet safely stashed away at all times.
- My favourite pizza: Pizza Shed
- My favourite Mexican: Una Mas
- My favourite Burger: Devil’s Peak Taproom
- My favourite Ramen: Bodega Ramen
- My favourite curry spot: Curry Club (known as a delivery service, but they also have a restaurant at 50 New Church St)
- My favourite Italian: The Cousins
- My favourite Vietnamese: Yen’s Vietnamese Street Food
- My favourite Chinese: South China Dim Sum Bar
- My favourite Coffee: Deluxe Coffee Works (multiple locations)
- My favourite Ice Cream: Tadaa! Ice Cream
- For a surprising (and delicious) mashup of cuisines: Saint Juz Siberian-Asian
- For something fun/interactive: KimChi Korean BBQ (Sea Point branch)
- For a wine tasting paired with a 3 course dinner, pop into Harringtons Cocktail Lounge every Wednesday evening. The wine partner changes monthly, so there’s always a good reason to return.
- For elevated Japanese dining: Nikkei Japanese-Peruvian
- For a relaxed fine dining meal that’s not too fussy: Foxcroft
- For a surprise menu of dreams: Belly of the Beast
- For elegant inner city dining: Grub & Vine
- For great tapas: Bouchon Bistro or Silk Asian Fusion
- For beautiful sharing plates with truly unique flavours: Elgr
- For bao bun deliciousness & other tasty dishes: Bao Down
- For a modern take on Indian with a set menu of tapas to share: Thali
- For lush decor & solid date night points: Kloof Street House
- For proper Italian seafood dishes: RIVA Fish Restaurant
- For South Cantonese done really really well: Tomson
- For a family & dog friendly space with really good burgers, pizzas & beer: Aegir Project Brewery (Noordhoek)
- For a beautiful wine estate not too far out of town & with great dining options: Steenberg Wine Farm (both restaurants, Tryn & Bistro Sixteen82, are very good)
- Good spots for coffee, breakfast/brunch/lunch & remote working: Yours Truly, Clarke’s, Our Local & The Ladder Cafe.
- For drinks & a bit of a party: The Dark Horse, Tiger’s Milk (various locations), The Village Idiot, Harringtons Cocktail Lounge, Cafe Caprice, and for the younger crowd, Arcade.
- For an absolute fine dining splurge: FYN, La Colombe, Chefs Warehouse @ Tintswalo Atlantic or Chefs Warehouse @ Beau Constantia.
January 2025