Cape Town: Best things to do in one week for the first time visitor
Overview
You’ve finally booked a much anticipated flight to South Africa’s Mother City and now here is your jam-packed one week itinerary full of all the great things this city has to offer! From the famous Table Mountain which is the stunning backdrop to the city to the natural beauty of the Cape Point Peninsula to the vibing bars and fine dining restaurants, this itinerary has it all! Here are the best things to do in one week for the first time visitor in Cape Town.
But first, for a comprehensive overview and introduction to this beautiful South African city, please see my post, Cape Town ‘Before You Go’ Survival Kit. This provides details of the geography, history, culture, language, currency and best restaurants, wine farms and hikes. It also covers aspects such as safety, accommodation, best time to visit, transport and even some local lingo! This a real and raw analysis of my experience in Cape Town, after having travelled there 4 times as a tourist and lived there for a year.
[Disclaimer: this is a very full and busy itinerary for 7 days. If you have the luxury of more time in Cape Town, then ideally stretch this itinerary out over 10 days. For those desiring a slower pace, you’ll unfortunately have to eliminate some activities.]
Highlights of the 7 Day Itinerary
Click on the link to see more for each highlight. Note that these highlights are listed in a different order on account of the most efficient way to see each highlight per day.
Table Mountain: cable car, highest point, sundowners
V&A Waterfront
Bo-Kaap
The Company’s Garden
Cape Town City Hall
Iziko Slave Lodge
District Six Museum
Zeitz MOCAA
Long Street
Kirstenbosch Gardens
Lion’s Head
Neighbourgoods Market
Clifton Beach
Camps Bay
The Twelve Apostles
Hout Bay
Chapman’s Peak Drive
Noordhoek Farm Village
Cape Point Vineyards
Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point Peninsula
Boulders Beach
Simon’s Town
Fish Hoek / Kalk Bay
Constantia Wine Valley
Robben Island
Wine Lands: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Elgin, Somerset West
Upcoming Posts
Day 1
V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront is a mixed use neighbourhood and the oldest working harbour in South Africa, located at Cape Town’s port. From a distance, its beautiful aesthetic of wooden docks and diversity of ships and boats gives the impression of a standard harbour but take only a few steps closer and you’ll discover an iconic blend of so much more. With more than 24 million visitors annually, it’s no surprise as to why!
The Waterfront district has the iconic Table Mountain as its backdrop, which can be seen in most locations within the V&A. For even better views of the city and beyond, part with ZAR 160 for a ride on the Cape Wheel.
What can I expect to find at the V&A Waterfront?
Visitors will be treated to more than 80 eateries, from rustic al fresco to fine dining restaurants. There are also over 500 retail stores serving guests the best in high end fashion and special authentic momentos, within the exclusive mall or in their outdoor open-air markets.
Spruikers will vie for your attention to interest you with a multitude of other attractions: museum entries, live entertainment, sunset cruises, helicopter flights and audio tours.
Water taxis link the V&A Waterfront with the Cape Town Convention Centre via its canals. Along these, visitors can also partake in kayaking and stand up paddleboarding, as well as being part of the Cape Town triathlon.
My favourite things to do and places to go in the V&A waterfront
I spent countless hours relaxing and engaging with the various options within the V&A Waterfront area. My favourites were:
- Zeitz MOCAA Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
- Nobel Square – showcasing live local music and the sculptures of South Africa’s four Nobel Peace Prize winners: Albert Lutuli, Desmond Tutu, F. W. de Klerk, and Nelson Mandela.
- V&A Food Market – my two favourite frequent activities at this artisanal foodie collective were
(i) Enjoying oysters from Knysna Oyster Company and a glass of bubbling MCC
(ii) Savouring a local beer on the outside wooden tables to the live music in the adjacent Nobel Square - Shopping at the Watershed – a dockyard building home to over 360 local art, craft and design brands. The perfect place for an authentic momento or gift
- Live music at Ferrymans Irish Tavern – an outdoor space with local acts performing original and tribute covers
- Enjoying a fresh croissant from Vovo Telo or a sweet treat takeaway from Cassis Paris
- Having coffee in the lobby of the famous and decadent Table Bay Hotel
Sadly from a time perspective, this itinerary only allows a morning at V&A Waterfront but you could easily whittle away many days here and may wish to do so!
Table Mountain
There’s a reason that Table Mountain is listed on day one! Firstly, it is the most iconic landmark in South Africa, which forms an imposing backdrop to the city of Cape Town. The mountain attracts 4.2 million people per year for various activities and has a famous cable car which takes visitors to the top. Others choose to ascend by hiking one of the many mountain routes. Secondly, the cable car is occasionally closed on account of weather conditions, so you do not want to risk this happening on your last night in the city! Experiencing Table Mountain is, in my opinion, the very best thing to do in Cape Town.
Table Mountain (Afrikaans: Tafelberg) has 8,200 plant species, most of them endemic to the mountain. Approximately 80% of the flora is the much revered fynbos (which means ‘fine bush’ in Afrikaans). Table Mountain forms part of the Table Mountain National Park and is flanked by Devil’s Peak, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill, forming a striking crescent around the city.
I suggest taking the cable car if you are short on time. However, for those with additional time and enthusiasm, see my post on the Best Hikes in Cape Town, for the various tracks and options up this incredible mountain.
Recommendations
- Walk along the ‘table top’ to Maclear’s Beacon: the highest peak on Table Mountain (1086 metres). This will take roughly 30-40 minutes each way.
- Take your time photographing some of the best views you’ll ever witness, including Cape Town city, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, Devil’s Peak, the Atlantic Ocean, the 12 Apostles
- Enjoy a glass of MCC (Methode Cap Classique – sparkling wine) as the sun goes down across the glimmering ocean
Dinner: Gold Restaurant or Marco’s Restaurant
Both of these restaurants offer an immersive African cultural experience with hearty game meals and live music. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening at Marco’s Restaurant, with live music and dance. The marimbas are a dream! Go for their ‘Pan African Platter’, which gives guests a taste of springbok, kudu and ostrich. They also whip up some delicious traditional Xhosa Dishes and home brewed African beer. Located in the Bo-Kaap region of Cape Town, its chef and owner, Marco, is the first black restaurateur in Cape Town. In 1989 he opened his first restaurant in Cape Town.
Day 2
Breakfast: Hemelhuijs
The whimsical multicoloured fresh floral displays inside the bright and breezy uber chic Hemelhuijs are a drawcard alone. However, combine this with exquisite food flavours, fresh juice and breakfast cocktails and you’ll wish you could make this your local.
Today’s a busy day full of historical city landmarks and much information to digest, so make sure to fill your bellies with some delights from this cafe for the day ahead: one of my favourite eateries!
Castle of Good Hope
Built by the Dutch East India Company (DEIC) between 1666 and 1679, the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa. It was originally a clay and timber structure located on the coastline of Table Bay, built at the instruction of Jan van Riebeck upon his arrival in Cape Town in 1652. The Dutch settled in the Cape to act as a replenishment station for ships passing the treacherous coast around the Cape on long voyages between the Netherlands and Indonesia.
The fortress was later relocated inland due to land reclamation. After restorations in the 1980s it is considered the best preserved example of a DEIC fort. The fortress housed a church, bakery, various workshops, living quarters, shops, and cells, among other facilities. Its yellow paint was chosen to reduce the heat from the sun.
Today visitors can wander around the premesis and capture extraordinary photos from within, as well as of Cape Town city. Note that the Castle is sometimes closed for filming purposes. It is also the site for various festivals such as the Craft Beer Festival which I attended in 2018 and was a great day listening to live music and sampling local beers!
District Six Museum
A monumental museum in an old Methodist Church, District Six Museum opened in 1994, as a memorial to the forced movement of 60,000 inhabitants of various races during Apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s. It serves as a grim reminder of a not-so-distant tragic past.
District Six was named the Sixth Municipal District of Cape Town in 1867. It was originally established as a mixed community of freed slaves, merchants, artisans, laborers and immigrants and was a vibrant centre with close links to the city and the port. It was prime land in the centre of the city and a place of refuge and community for South Africans of all backgrounds. That is until 1966 when the apartheid government declared it a white area under the Group Areas Act and bulldozers moved in while people watched as their homes and belongings were destroyed. These 60,000 people were forced to move to various townships on the outskirts of Cape Town, according to their racial classification. These townships are located in the dry and dusty Cape Flats area with considerably poor infrastructure and sadly have become notorious for high crime rates.
The floor of the museum is covered with a huge map of the district, with hand written notes by former inhabitants and old traffic signs and exhibits of monuments from the area. The museum also has an upstairs viewing section which provides a wonderful view of the map below.
Cape Town City Hall
En route to The Company’s Garden, pause for reflection at the Cape Town City Hall. Nelson Mandela made his first public speech here from the balcony a few hours after being released from prison on 11 February 1990.
Lunch: The Company’s Garden
In Cape Town’s city centre, lies the beautifully manicured The Company’s Garden. This is the oldest garden in South Africa, with its beginnings in the 1650s by the region’s first European settlers, the DEIC. Its fertile ground was used to grow a wide variety of crops and fresh vegetables to passing ships. The DEIC also engaged in trade with the first nation Khoisan people in South Africa, exchanging iron, copper, beads, tobacco, and brandy with cattle.
Today the sprawling area is home to various gardens, such as roses, herbs, succulents, lawns, park benches, historic statues and interesting animals such as Egyptian geese and quick-moving squirrels!
Take a moment to have lunch in the beautiful Company’s Garden Restaurant. The outdoor seating is the perfect place to breathe in the clean air under the overarching canopy, watch the animals and refuel.
Iziko Slave Lodge
After lunch, walk down to the Iziko Slave Lodge. Built in 1679, this is one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town. It is now a museum dedicated to the long history of slavery in South Africa. The original building was used to confine slaves (men, women and children) brought to the Cape by the DEIC during the 17th and 18th century. These are people who have since contributed to the richness and diversity of South African history, heritage and culture.
Bo-Kaap
The Bo-Kaap is an area situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre. It is famously known for the brightly coloured facades of its houses, built in distinctive Cape Dutch and Georgian architectural style. Its rich history can be enjoyed today by taking a walk through its streets and visiting the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum.
Keep in mind that these wonderfully colourful buildings are people’s homes so be respectful when taking photographs. Many of the families have been living here for generations. Previously known as the Malay Quarter, the homes in Bo-Kaap were originally built in the 1760s to lease to slaves, known as Cape Malays. These slaves were brought from Malaysia, Indonesia and the rest of Africa to work in the Cape.
Cape Malay cuisine
The Cape Malay people have also provided a marvellous contribution to the foodie scene in Cape Town. Infused with complex spices and rich sauces, food is tasty and filling! We stopped by the iconic Bismiellah Restaurant on Wale Street for some hearty gatsby’s and a falooda (rose-syrup, basil and vermicelli noodle milk drink with icecream).
Zeitz MOCAA
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is the largest museum of contemporary African Art in the world! It opened in September 2017 and is located in the historic (and huge!) Grain Silo, an architectural wonder at the V&A Waterfront.
If you still have some energy left today, then it’s worth checking out the incredible and provoking exhibitions.
Sundowner drinks at The Willaston Bar, The Silo Hotel
Perhaps one of the most aesthetically stunning bars I ever visited in Cape Town, the Willaston Bar, also located in the Grain Silo, has a panel of 5.5m pillowed windows that provide panoramic views across the city. The reflections of colour and light at dusk is unparalleled. The plush lounges and high bar stools are the perfect place to catch your breath after a huge day and watch the sunset with a tasty spritzer.
Dinner: Kyoto Garden
I visited this award-winning Japanese restaurant twice: it’s flavours are next level. Located in a trendy and vibrant part of Cape Town, Kyoto Garden serves up quality seafood, sourcing only the best from around the globe: umi from Spain, lobster from Maine, king crab from Alaska and scallops from Japan to name a few. We were treated to the use of a shichirin: a light weight traditional Japanese cooking apparatus that conducts heat evenly and up to temperatures of 1700℃! We cooked thinly sliced portions of wagyu beef, duck, prawns, kingklip, scallops, asparagus and marrow. The experience was one I’ll never forget!
Late drink on Long Street
Long Street is Cape Town’s notorious nightlife strip. You’ll find countless bars to choose a tipple from. One of my favourites is Tiger’s Milk but there are many others. This is a place to exercise caution with your safety. Don’t leave valuables on display and when walking between bars be vigilant and walk in groups.
Day 3
Ferry to Robben Island
This morning you’ll be on an epic boat trip from the V&A Waterfront to reach the shores of Robben Island. Don’t forget to look back as you see the beautiful city stretch out before you. The tour time to Robben Island and back is roughly 4 hours, including two half hour boat trips.
Robben Island is a 3.3km long island in Table Bay, that is located approximately 7km off shore from Cape Town. It was previously fortified and used as a prison from the late-seventeenth century until 1996, after the end of apartheid. Its most famous inhabitant was most certainly the polical activitist and lawyer Nelson Mandela, where he was held captive for 18 of his 27 imprisoned years.
An old-school bus will take visitors around the island, showing them various historical sites such as:
- Nelson Mandela’s prison cell
- the graveyard of people who died from leprosy
- the Lime Quarry
- Robert Sobukwe’s house
- the Bluestone quarry
- the army and navy bunkers
- the Maximum Security Prison
There’s always an opportunity for a tourist photo in South Africa and Robben Island is no exception. They have instituted a giant photo frame with a backdrop of Cape Town which is a must for photo enthusiasts.
Kirstenbosch Gardens
Next on to one of the most remarkable gardens in the world: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden! Nestled in the eastern foot of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch is a stunning display of local flora and fauna. It’s also the home for various music festivals and Christmas Carols in December. Take your time and meander around the pathways for a few hours: great exercise with some gorgeous visual treats! Keep a look out for the famed protea flowers, which flower between May and October.
For those who’s stomach’s are rumbling, stop in for Pam’s famous scones at Fynkos, The Kirstenbosch Tea Room. They also serve other delicious lunch options.
Sunset hike up Lion’s Head
At the top of any first time hiker’s list in Cape Town is Lion’s Head. It can’t be missed. In fact, if you engage in conversation with anyone who has visited Cape Town, you’ll likely hear that they climbed Lion’s Head. The hype is warranted: its views across Cape Town and the Atlantic Ocean are simply a dream. It’s also the easiest and quickest of most hikes in Cape Town. Allow 3 hours total. The climb will take roughly 60-90 minutes depending on your fitness level but trust me, you will want to spend some time at the top soaking in the sights.
This is one of the safest and most popular hikes to do in Cape Town and I’d personally feel safe climbing alone on a weekend when it’s likely that you’ll be bumping shoulders with multiple other hikers. There are two approaches to ascend near the top: one has chains to help you elevate up some vertical rock faces but despite this description, it’s not particularly onerous in my point of view.
Dinner: The Pot Luck Club, The Biscuit Mill, Woodstock
From the moment you ascend the glass elevator up the side of The Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, you just know that The Pot Luck Club is going to be something special. I came here for my birthday when I happened to be in Cape Town one year. Views stretch across the city to the mountains and the space has an industrial yet intimate feel. Wait staff are quick to tailor food choices to your personal preference and they even have a quaint paper and pencil system for ordering. I will never forget my experience here and even left with a polaroid memory of the afternoon which the restaurant also provided for me!
Day 4
Winelands Day Tour: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek or Paarl
Cape Town’s wine regions are some of the best in the world but with limited time in the Cape, you’ll sadly have to choose which area you’d like to visit. The good news is that your last day will also be spent touring the upmarket wineries of Constantia, so today I’d suggest choosing between Stellenbosch, Franschhoek or Paarl. See my upcoming post on Cape Town’s Winelands for further information on these regions, and others such as Elgin and Somerset West. I visited these winelands frequently with friends during my time in South Africa but I also have very fond memories of the organised day tour I did to Stellenbosch. These trips give you an opportunity to meet others and be transported in safety.
Sundowners at Grand Africa Cafe & Beach
This beach club with an outdoors disco ball is a popular venue amongst tourists and locals alike. Its sandy outdoors terrace overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and it’s a hop skip and jump away from the V&A Waterfront. With its free-spirited beach culture, historic seaview warehouse, wooden deck and private beach, Grand Africa is a place to relax by the water!
Dinner: Shortmarket Club / Shortmarket Grill
In addition to the food, I distinctly remember my experience at the Shortmarket Club for its opulent old world interior, plush leather banquettes, vintage drinks cart that visits each table in a timely fashion and the extraordinary display of ‘taxidermied’ butterflies behind glass cases across the back wall of the restaurant. It’s a visual treat. Entry from the street is quite discrete! You’ll then walk through a narrow corridor and staircase to enter Shortmarket
Retro lamps hang from the ceiling to provide a romantic glow across tables and there’s a relaxed yet expectant hum that emanates from the tables of its guests. We enjoyed fine-dining at its best, from a changing seasonal menu.
NB: In November 2021 due to increasing restrictions during the Covid pandemic, the Shortmarket Club was reinvented as the Shortmarket Grill! The new upmarket brasserie-style menu will continue within the same exquisite premesis, delivering a ‘decadent but pared-down new take on fine dining’.
Day 5
Neighbourgoods Market
Treat yourself to the vibrant Neighbourgoods Market! This trendy Saturday market is set in & around an old mill in Cape Town’s hipster suburb of Woodstock. You’ll find quality artisanal products and gourmet foods, including leather goods, clothes and jewellery. There’s also a huge tent with food stalls selling all kinds of international flavours so make this your go-to for breakfast this morning!
Hout Bay
Hout Bay is a quirky seaside suburb of Cape Town located approximately 20 minutes drive from the CBD. It is one of the most active fishing harbours in South Africa and is spectacularly surrounded by mountains. Visitors have access to some 40 restaurants and a wide array of antique and art shops. There is also the option to visit a nearby township called Imizamo Yethu, which I would recommend on an organised tour. Hout Bay is one of the safest sailing venues and is popular for a multitude of water sports.
Personally, my favourite attraction in Hout Bay is the Bay Harbour Market, open Friday nights and weekends. This rustic chic marketplace showcases a huge array of stalls selling locally made antiques, art and crafts and all to the the sound of live music. What a jol! It’s bewildering how many vendors have crammed into this space. Whatever you do, don’t miss the human sized chocolate fountain!
Chapman’s Peak Drive
The illustrious Chapman’s Peak Drive winds its way between Hout Bay and Noordhoek on the Atlantic Coast of South Africa. Affectionately known as ‘Chappies’, this stunning road is cut into the side of the Table Mountain National Park, forming a gateway between Cape Town and the southern peninsula. Its spectacular views have seen it featured in Hollywood films and it’s also possible to rent a convertible to drive along it (and impress a friend). The mountain above Chapman’s Peak Drive has been reinforced due to the damage caused by unstable cliffs. Visitors will find multiple stops along the way, where the car can be parked in order to be at one with the wind and waves down below!
Lunch: Noordhoek
Noordhoek Farm Village
At the end of Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of the most tranquil towns in the Cape: Noordhoek. Noordhoek Farm Village is a vibrant rural and artistic village and is the perfect place to stop for a coffee and admire local art and crafts. Horseriding on Noordhoek Beach is an iconic and beloved past time and should be considered as an itinerary suggestion if you have the luxury of time!
Cape Point Vineyards
Alternatively, for the wine-lovers, a visit to Cape Point Vineyards is a must. This well-known winery is nestled in Noordhoek’s mountain range and sits perched above the Atlantic Ocean and a private lake, with large lawned areas for guests. Enjoy a world class glass of Sauvignon Blanc or spend longer enjoying an iconic picnic hamper or wine tasting session. Settle in, close your eyes and breathe in the fresh mountain air!
12 Apostles Hotel & Spa
In an ideal world, there would be enough time for an entire afternoon at this famous 5 star boutique hotel. The 12 Apostles is the epitome of luxury and is one of Cape Town’s gems. If you’re running short on time, then skip the spa but ensure you’ve secured a booking in The Leopard Bar for sunset balcony drinks. Sunsets are truly mesmerising. The light holds tightly to the outline of Lion’s head until the whole sky is ablaze with pinks and oranges.
Dinner: The Test Kitchen (Origins)
The Test Kitchen was previously known as ‘the best restaurant in South Africa’ and was consistently listed in the world’s top 50 restaurants. Its dark room / light room experience was next level amazing! We were moved from a dark room after some initial canapes and cocktails and into a light room thereafter to experience the remaining set menu. My experience here was unlike any other: flavours that curl around your tongue, aromas that have your nostrils dancing and a decor so luxurious that your eyes are constantly darting to take in all that surrounds.
Sadly, due to the Covid pandemic, The Test Kitchen closed in September 2021. However, it has been reinvented as The Test Kitchen Origins by its previous talented head chef, Luke Dale Roberts. Diners are seated in the same room throughout, and can choose from a 3 or 5 course set menu. It is designed to be a ‘pared-back more relaxed’ approach, however, I can only imagine the true decadence that would be delivered to guests after having dined at a few of the head chef’s restaurants.
Day 6
Cape Point Peninsula day trip
A trip to Cape Town is incomplete without touring to Cape Point Peninsula. Various tour groups offer day trips along this stunning coastal tour. Along the way you’ll encounter the endemic fynbos vegetation, as well as the possibility of zebra, antelope such as eland and bontebok, birds and even baboons with their human master! Tours commence their drive along the Atlantic Coast before heading inland to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, to its tip at the Cape of Good Hope, and then back along the beautiful towns of False Bay. Keep reading for more information!
Clifton Beach
This exclusive stretch of sand that forms the backdrop to the affluent Cape Town suburb of Clifton, which is home to the most expensive real estate in South Africa. Clifton Beach refers to a set of 4 beaches, named 1st through 4th from north to south. Each is separated by enormous granite boulders which are possible to walk between.
Access to the beach is free and visitors can wander between each. Note that each Clifton beach tends to attract its own type of crowd. Clifton 4th is popular amongst teenagers, Clifton 3rd is famed amongst the gay community, Clifton 2nd is littered with instagrammers and models and Clifton 1st is for people with dogs and those wanting to escape the posers along the shoreline. I had a great time playing volleyball here one evening. It’s a lovely atmosphere with the seabreeze rolling in across the sand and the sun glistening across the beautiful Atlantic seaboard.
Camps Bay
Upmarket Camps Bay is also set within an affluent area and is known as Cape Town’s party beach. It has a beautiful long stretch of white sand and a natural rock swimming pool, all set at the base of the Twelve Apostles mountains. Adjacent this is a lively promenade full of swanky seafood restaurants, clubs and hotels. In summer, it is crawling with those ‘wanting to be seen’.
If you’re after a quiet beach where you can take a book and find some peace, perhaps continue a bit further along the coast to Beta or Bakoven Beach.
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic Coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. The journey to this point is truly spectacular and you’ll pass a narrow stretch on the journey where both the Atlantic and Indian oceans are visible. Most tours stop for photo opportunities and to gain an up-close appreciation of the remarkable fynbos plants that cover the terrain.
At the Cape of Good Hope, you’ll have some time to look around and witness the ferocious waves crashing upon the rocks. Spare a thought for the sailors who navigated this dangerous point in their ships!
The Cape of Good Hope Lighthouse
Visitors can climb some steep steps to the Old Lighthouse, which I’d highly recommend for the stellar views! Note that some of the elderly tourists doing this were struggling somewhat. From here you’ll find 360 views from the peak, including across to the spectacularly intimate and secluded Dias Beach. There is also a funicular called The Flying Dutchman which can take guests a portion of the way, although not the last steep section.
Boulders Beach
Fancy some wildlife spotting?! Well get ready to gaze upon some active little penguins! Boulders Beach is a sheltered inlet guarded by granite boulders and a popular tourist spot due to the colony of African penguins which settled here in 1982. From just two breeding pairs, the colony has grown to about 3000 in the last few years! This is thanks to the prohibition of commercial pelagic trawling in False Bay, which has increased the supply of pilchards and anchovies, a much loved part of the penguins’ diet!
Visitors can view these curious creatures from only a few metres away, thanks to some expertly constructed boardwalks and platforms.
Simon’s Town (Simonstown)
This village and its charming Victorian architecture is home to South Africa’s largest naval base. For those traveling in private transportation, there’s also an old military relic to be discovered high on the mountain overlooking the Indian Ocean!
Fish Hoek & Kalk Bay
Most tours will pass through the beachside town of Fishhoek which has a safe beach that is popular amongst surfers, kitesurfers and bodyboarders. The final destination is Kalk Bay, a charming port town where you can watch the fishermen on the dock while sampling some of their finest catches from the nearby restaurants. A popular place is Kalky’s, where you can select your fish of choice and then devour it on their large outdoor wooden tables.
Dinner: Foxcroft, Constantia
Foxcroft was an wonderfully enjoyable experience, which involved fine dining within a relaxed aesthetic. Food here is exquisite: sourced from the best local farmers and finest international suppliers. Chef Glen Williams heads a team that turns these ingredients into expertly crafted meals and the flavours are indescribable. The menu boasts exotic-sounding dishes such as: market fish crudo, blesbok tataki, red-braised pork, smoked stanford and poached guava.
Day 7
Breakfast: Nest Deli, Constantia Uitsig
For breakfast this morning you are in for a real treat! Nestled amongst the vines of Constantia Uitsig wine farm is the stately little deli called Nest. I spent an entire afternoon here, simply people watching and enjoying its slow pace. The staff are particularly friendly and serve up a wide variety of hearty soul foods. On their menu are a variety of eggs, burgers, sandwiches, cheeseboards, salads, frittata and goulasch.
Take a moment to peruse their collection of sale items such as honey, tea, leather bags, scarves and jewellery.
Constantia Valley Wine Route
Calling all wine connoisseurs: prepare yourselves for a full day of enjoyment! Constantia Valley is a lush environment which hosts some epic boutique wineries and estates.
Constantia Wine Valley is home to South Africa’s oldest wine farm: Groot Constantia.
There are 10 wineries in this region, ranging from traditional homesteads to upscale modern boutique wineries. I went to 9 of them during my travels to South Africa, most more than once, and I can guarantee that they are all visually stunning and the wines are of high calibre. In addition to Groot Constantia, my favourites were Buitenverwachting, Constantia Glen and Beau Constantia.
Below: late afternoon at Buitenverwachting wine farm
Transport Advice
It’s not necessary to attend a formalised wine tour when visiting Constantia. I frequently caught ubers to and from wine farms and from the city, at a fraction of the cost. The Constantia wine valley is roughly 30 minutes drive from the V&A Waterfront. Keep in mind that it may take 10-15 minutes for an Uber to reach you on each wine farm, as you are on the outskirts of town.
Lunch: Chef’s Warehouse, Beau Constantia
For pure views alone, Chef’s Warehouse is monumental. It’s sleek clean-lined interior with floor to ceiling glass windows overlook the beautiful surrounding valley and vines. Beau Constantia wine farm grows much of its own produce, to create tapas-style set menu plates in an elegant yet casual space. On warm days, the outdoor terrace is divine. My visits to Beau Constantia always had me feeling as if I was transported to another time and space, with not a care in the world. The green undulating hills and valleys as seen from Chef’s Warehouse are unrivalled from any other Constantia wine farm.
Dinner: La Colombe, Silvermist Wine Estate, Constantia
Friends, we are going out on a high! Your last night in Cape Town deserves something truly special and La Colombe lives up to the bill. Amongst locals, this is one of those ‘special occasion’ venues. It lies within a converted treehouse! Food takes on an art form at this visually-proud restaurant, with movement and colour at the forefront of their delicious dishes. Contemporary cuisine is fused with a French flair to bring forth iconic plates.
The theatrics of each dish is remarkable. Who could ever forget the petit fours which resembles a toadstool garden, with a lemon thyme marshmallow lollipop, toadstool macarons (rose geranium flavoured), and choc-mint candy floss?! Or the palate cleanser that is presented as a swirling mist hiding a frozen passion fruit shell which holds a refreshing cocktail of kumquat, passionfruit, lime and margarita foam?! Or their signature dish, the ‘Tuna La Colombe’: an elegant tuna tataki served in a bespoke tuna tin?! This night will throw so many delectable and gluttonous surprises your way. Buckle up and be prepared for the best dining experience of your life!
One Comment
Umberto Burgio
Extraordinary travel diary as usual. Missed Robben Island due to bad weather. If thinking about penguins, I still feel the smell😂Did you come back to Cape for this report?