Guidebook for Cape Town
Food Scene
Hudsons, The Burger Joint
22 Kloof StreetGreat Burgers, take away or eat in
Jason's has a cult following. Great coffee and baked goods. Get there early on Saturday's to try their doughssants (a doughnut croissant hybrid). He's never repeated a flavour!
338 locals recommend
Jason Bakery
185 Bree StJason's has a cult following. Great coffee and baked goods. Get there early on Saturday's to try their doughssants (a doughnut croissant hybrid). He's never repeated a flavour!
Great setting in the Company's Garden - and only 2 blocks away!
602 locals recommend
Company's Gardens
Great setting in the Company's Garden - and only 2 blocks away!
If great Napolitano pizza and exceptional wine is your thing, Bocca is your spot. They don't take reservations.
73 locals recommend
Bocca
Wale StreetIf great Napolitano pizza and exceptional wine is your thing, Bocca is your spot. They don't take reservations.
Hang with the hipsters and inner-city cool kids. Also: Cape Town's best bloody Mary.
260 locals recommend
Clarke's Bar & Dining Room
133 Bree StHang with the hipsters and inner-city cool kids. Also: Cape Town's best bloody Mary.
A restaurant dedicated to cheese and other cultured cuisine (kefir, pickles, kombucha). Their selection of cheesy dishes is unparalleled. Go hungry!
18 locals recommend
Culture Club Cheese
Boundary RoadA restaurant dedicated to cheese and other cultured cuisine (kefir, pickles, kombucha). Their selection of cheesy dishes is unparalleled. Go hungry!
A popular Mexican spot in nearby Green Point. Booking is essential!
229 locals recommend
El Burro Greenpoint
79 Main RdA popular Mexican spot in nearby Green Point. Booking is essential!
Another trendy burger spot. Voted Eat Out Best Everyday Burger Eatery in 2015.
26 locals recommend
IYO Burgers
103 Bree StreetAnother trendy burger spot. Voted Eat Out Best Everyday Burger Eatery in 2015.
Cape Town's original ramen restaurant. It's grungy and alternative. Get there early - they don't take bookings.
80 locals recommend
Downtown Ramen Asian Restaurant
103 Harrington StreetCape Town's original ramen restaurant. It's grungy and alternative. Get there early - they don't take bookings.
Bouchon Bistro
95 Hout StShare tapas and drink great wine. One of our favourite local gems!
Planet Bar
8 Buiten StOne for the vegans.
Truth Coffee Roasting
36 Buitenkant StSteampunk and coffee. A match made in heaven.
If you can get a table, Pot Luck Club & Gallery is a must-visit restaurant in Cape Town! Booking well in advance (up to a month) is required.
312 locals recommend
The Pot Luck Club
373-375 Albert RdIf you can get a table, Pot Luck Club & Gallery is a must-visit restaurant in Cape Town! Booking well in advance (up to a month) is required.
One of our favourite ice-cream shops (Gelato), just two blocks away! They use excellent quality ingredients, and offer a variety of interesting flavours (pistachio is their most popular). It's only open 'till 6pm though, and not open on weekends.
16 locals recommend
Moro Gelato
85 Regent RdOne of our favourite ice-cream shops (Gelato), just two blocks away! They use excellent quality ingredients, and offer a variety of interesting flavours (pistachio is their most popular). It's only open 'till 6pm though, and not open on weekends.
Hands down, the best ice cream / gelato in Cape Town. Located on lower Kloof Street, it's well worth a visit. A range of interesting flavours, no preservatives used and vegan options available too. The best part? They're open until 11pm every night...
23 locals recommend
Unframed Ice Cream
45C Kloof StHands down, the best ice cream / gelato in Cape Town. Located on lower Kloof Street, it's well worth a visit. A range of interesting flavours, no preservatives used and vegan options available too. The best part? They're open until 11pm every night...
Riverine Rabbit
81 Church StreetA trendy restaurant featuring smoked food.
Superb tapas. Take the thinking out of eating: the menu is a set menu shared between two, and it's one of the top restaurants in the country. They don't take reservations so get there early - or wait at the downstairs bar (aptly called "No Reservations") for a table to open up.
Their sister restaurant, located at Beau Constantia, has magnificent views and does take reservations.
235 locals recommend
Chefs Warehouse & Canteen
92 Bree StSuperb tapas. Take the thinking out of eating: the menu is a set menu shared between two, and it's one of the top restaurants in the country. They don't take reservations so get there early - or wait at the downstairs bar (aptly called "No Reservations") for a table to open up.
Their sister restaurant, located at Beau Constantia, has magnificent views and does take reservations.
Superb view over the False Bay with phenomenal tapas. It's the new-ish sister restaurant to Chef's Warehouse on nearby Bree Street. The menu and ambience are different to Bree Street. Booking a few days to a week or so in advance is required.
64 locals recommend
Chefs Warehouse At Beau Constantia
Constantia NeckSuperb view over the False Bay with phenomenal tapas. It's the new-ish sister restaurant to Chef's Warehouse on nearby Bree Street. The menu and ambience are different to Bree Street. Booking a few days to a week or so in advance is required.
Our favourite spot for a relaxed, low key dinner. It's consistent, buzzing and delicious. Booking is essential, especially on weekends.
82 locals recommend
South China Dim Sum Bar
289 Long StOur favourite spot for a relaxed, low key dinner. It's consistent, buzzing and delicious. Booking is essential, especially on weekends.
Another of our favourite local gems. This nose-to-tail eatery is a must-visit if you consider yourself a foodie. (Booking required)
20 locals recommend
La Tête
17 Bree StAnother of our favourite local gems. This nose-to-tail eatery is a must-visit if you consider yourself a foodie. (Booking required)
Drinks & Nightlife
Just around the corner, great terrace for afternoon beer and a snack.
Huge selection of beers.
198 locals recommend
BEERHOUSE on Long
223 Long StJust around the corner, great terrace for afternoon beer and a snack.
Huge selection of beers.
The Gin Bar
64A Wale StreetThe secret gin bar hidden behind Honest Chocolate.
A dive bar on Harrington Street. They also serve exceptional Southern cuisine (chicken and waffles anyone?).
95 locals recommend
Lefty's
105 Harrington StA dive bar on Harrington Street. They also serve exceptional Southern cuisine (chicken and waffles anyone?).
Coffee shop by day, bar by night. Undoubtedly the best coffee in Cape Town.
At night, expect old school rock & roll, live music and cocktails (their Old Fashioned cocktails are the most popular).
155 locals recommend
The House of Machines
84 Shortmarket StCoffee shop by day, bar by night. Undoubtedly the best coffee in Cape Town.
At night, expect old school rock & roll, live music and cocktails (their Old Fashioned cocktails are the most popular).
Essentials
Woolworths Kloof Street
50 Kloof StVino Pronto
Beckham StreetGreat boutique wine shop, not too far
Parks & Nature
Great variety of hikes and walks, or take the cable car to the top.
Popular routes:
Lions head - very popular for early mornings and full moon
Platteklip - a solid hike to the top of the mountain (please take water, there is none on route and this hike can be very hot)
950 locals recommend
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
5821 Tafelberg RdGreat variety of hikes and walks, or take the cable car to the top.
Popular routes:
Lions head - very popular for early mornings and full moon
Platteklip - a solid hike to the top of the mountain (please take water, there is none on route and this hike can be very hot)
Cape Town's famous botanical garden on the slopes of Table Mountain. Take a picnic and lounge on the beautiful lawns, or explore the beautiful surrounds.
1765 locals recommend
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Rhodes DriveCape Town's famous botanical garden on the slopes of Table Mountain. Take a picnic and lounge on the beautiful lawns, or explore the beautiful surrounds.
Arts & Culture
Iziko South African Museum and Planetarium
25 Queen Victoria StCape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre
88 Hatfield StIziko South African National Gallery
Government AvenueEntertainment & Activities
If you're a runner, Tafelberg Road offers stunning views and minimal car traffic. Park at the cable car station and run with the mountain on your right. Pass the boom, turn around when the tar turns to gravel. It's a a solid 10-k run!
9 locals recommend
Tafelberg Road
Tafelberg RoadIf you're a runner, Tafelberg Road offers stunning views and minimal car traffic. Park at the cable car station and run with the mountain on your right. Pass the boom, turn around when the tar turns to gravel. It's a a solid 10-k run!
Sea Point Promenade
Beach RoadA great spot to stretch your legs, alongside the ocean with views of Robben Island.
407 locals recommend
Sea Point Promenade
Beach RoadA great spot to stretch your legs, alongside the ocean with views of Robben Island.
Cape Town's iconic hike. It's an easy, popular route and takes about an hour to summit the peak.
725 locals recommend
Lion's Head Hike
Signal Hill RoadCape Town's iconic hike. It's an easy, popular route and takes about an hour to summit the peak.
Shopping
V&A Waterfront
19 Dock RdA host of local designers have stalls at this trendy market: don't expect your usual curios & collectables! Well worth a visit.
106 locals recommend
The Watershed
17 Dock RdA host of local designers have stalls at this trendy market: don't expect your usual curios & collectables! Well worth a visit.