Guidebook for Cape Town
Parks & Nature
When the south-easter is blowing, this beach is wind-free. Lovely sea-water pool, if you don't mind the water being cold. Icecream vendor often on site in summer. Beautiful views. Rock pools make this fun for children, but there are bodies in bikinis too.
9 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Queen's Beach
When the south-easter is blowing, this beach is wind-free. Lovely sea-water pool, if you don't mind the water being cold. Icecream vendor often on site in summer. Beautiful views. Rock pools make this fun for children, but there are bodies in bikinis too.
Lovely place to hang out with kids or with friends -- have a picnic on the grass, talk to the dogs, play on the great play stuff for kids. Some weekends there is a tiny coffee stall with a knowledgeable and entertaining guy running it. Good for a run or a stroll.
68 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Parke ng De Waal
Molteno RoadLovely place to hang out with kids or with friends -- have a picnic on the grass, talk to the dogs, play on the great play stuff for kids. Some weekends there is a tiny coffee stall with a knowledgeable and entertaining guy running it. Good for a run or a stroll.
Favourite place for a run (around the perimeter, ~3kms), a cycle or a wander. At certain times of year, e.g. spring, there are free guided walks by volunteers. Parkrun happens here on a Saturday. In winter, it gets boggy in places, and in spring there are pinecones to gather for the pinenuts.
28 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Rondebosch Common
Milner RoadFavourite place for a run (around the perimeter, ~3kms), a cycle or a wander. At certain times of year, e.g. spring, there are free guided walks by volunteers. Parkrun happens here on a Saturday. In winter, it gets boggy in places, and in spring there are pinecones to gather for the pinenuts.
Can't be beat! Great when it's grey and threatening to rain -- the views are still awesome over the whole of the Cape Flats. Great when it's hot and sunny -- find a tree to lie down in the shade. Bring a picnic or buy lunch at the restaurant near the shop (I don't rate the more expensive restaurant near the bottom gate but some might like the Xhosa face painting on offer). The most beautiful banks of spring flowers in August/September, but lovely green lawns and wonderful proteas, ericas and other fynbos at every other time of the year. Complete with streams and ponds for small fry to muck around in. From November to April there are open-air concerts, from jazz to classical to pop to rock.
1765 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Kirstenbosch Pambansang Hardin ng Botany
Rhodes DriveCan't be beat! Great when it's grey and threatening to rain -- the views are still awesome over the whole of the Cape Flats. Great when it's hot and sunny -- find a tree to lie down in the shade. Bring a picnic or buy lunch at the restaurant near the shop (I don't rate the more expensive restaurant near the bottom gate but some might like the Xhosa face painting on offer). The most beautiful banks of spring flowers in August/September, but lovely green lawns and wonderful proteas, ericas and other fynbos at every other time of the year. Complete with streams and ponds for small fry to muck around in. From November to April there are open-air concerts, from jazz to classical to pop to rock.
Arts & Culture
Pretty cheap to enter, range of interesting artwork from modern to ultra traditional, and sometimes the shop is open for some great, good value bits and pieces (wire, postcards, embroidery?). Enough entertainment and outside spaces for a family to enjoy the visit too.
190 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Iziko South African National Gallery
Government AvenuePretty cheap to enter, range of interesting artwork from modern to ultra traditional, and sometimes the shop is open for some great, good value bits and pieces (wire, postcards, embroidery?). Enough entertainment and outside spaces for a family to enjoy the visit too.
Close by and very interesting -- not many working mills around Cape Town. This one was built more than two hundred years ago, fell into disrepair twice in the 20th century, but was restored just before the millennium. Open to the public one Saturday a month, when expert volunteers get it going and you can climb up and see the inside. Possible to see quite a lot even when it's closed.
Mostert Mill
Close by and very interesting -- not many working mills around Cape Town. This one was built more than two hundred years ago, fell into disrepair twice in the 20th century, but was restored just before the millennium. Open to the public one Saturday a month, when expert volunteers get it going and you can climb up and see the inside. Possible to see quite a lot even when it's closed.
Shopping
This is a great collection of interesting shops: a nursery, a cafe serving rather good brunches and lunches and teas, and a couple of arty-crafty shops -- local homeware, jewellery, books, a few clothes, and art pieces. Also a collection of makers (sculptors, beaders etc.) around the parking lot, always doing interesting things. Good value wooden pieces etc. Some organic vegetables and good bread on offer too.
One of my favourite spots.
37 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Montebello Design Centre
31 Newlands AveThis is a great collection of interesting shops: a nursery, a cafe serving rather good brunches and lunches and teas, and a couple of arty-crafty shops -- local homeware, jewellery, books, a few clothes, and art pieces. Also a collection of makers (sculptors, beaders etc.) around the parking lot, always doing interesting things. Good value wooden pieces etc. Some organic vegetables and good bread on offer too.
One of my favourite spots.
Essentials
Roundabout in the neighbourhood.
Health shop, small supermarket with pharmacy, fast food outlet (Portuguese/Mozambican), flower and fruit sellers, people offering wire and bead creations, people offering handmade baskets (sometimes), two ATMs, toy shop with books and stationery, hair salon (New Image), petrol station -- there's a lot on offer! Some shops are only open 9 to 5, but others are 8 to 8, and the shop at the petrol station stays open even later.
Silwood Centre
59 Campground RdHealth shop, small supermarket with pharmacy, fast food outlet (Portuguese/Mozambican), flower and fruit sellers, people offering wire and bead creations, people offering handmade baskets (sometimes), two ATMs, toy shop with books and stationery, hair salon (New Image), petrol station -- there's a lot on offer! Some shops are only open 9 to 5, but others are 8 to 8, and the shop at the petrol station stays open even later.
Serves great coffee. Offers good groceries and prepared food. Close by.
24 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Woolworths Milner Road
Klipfontein RoadServes great coffee. Offers good groceries and prepared food. Close by.
Food Scene
They make wonderful ice-cream, great waffles, and very good coffee. Simple, pleasant environment, friendly and efficient staff. The centre that it's in also has: a fairy shop, a local t-shirt shop, a cigar emporium, a second-hand bookshop (tiny but very good, especially visual books), a jewellery store, a lego shop, a laundry, a Woolworths supermarket with a bakery (yum), a health store, and a home store (bit poncey). Oh, and a hair salon and an ATM. And a very good Asian fast food outlet. Very yum.
12 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Creamery Café Palmyra Junction
9 Palmyra RdThey make wonderful ice-cream, great waffles, and very good coffee. Simple, pleasant environment, friendly and efficient staff. The centre that it's in also has: a fairy shop, a local t-shirt shop, a cigar emporium, a second-hand bookshop (tiny but very good, especially visual books), a jewellery store, a lego shop, a laundry, a Woolworths supermarket with a bakery (yum), a health store, and a home store (bit poncey). Oh, and a hair salon and an ATM. And a very good Asian fast food outlet. Very yum.
They make amazing cocktails (try the dirty ninja saketini!), they make interesting sushi, they make brilliant tempura. Their bathroom is very cool too. This place counts as an anniversary blow-out for us, but they do have winter specials and if you're disciplined, you can do it on the cheap. Don't go here if you like dull food.
53 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Kyoto Garden Japanese Restaurant
11 Kloof Nek RdThey make amazing cocktails (try the dirty ninja saketini!), they make interesting sushi, they make brilliant tempura. Their bathroom is very cool too. This place counts as an anniversary blow-out for us, but they do have winter specials and if you're disciplined, you can do it on the cheap. Don't go here if you like dull food.
Cool Asian restaurant a kilometre or two away. Interesting food, pleasant people. Not really recommended for small children, unless they are adventurous eaters.
Haru
92 Campground RdCool Asian restaurant a kilometre or two away. Interesting food, pleasant people. Not really recommended for small children, unless they are adventurous eaters.
Entertainment & Activities
Open-air sea-water swimming pools, including one for toddlers, a diving pool and a big, big general pool. Go early or late if it's high season (Dec-Jan), or expect crowds! Complete with ice-cream vendor and cheap cafe (think lollies, chips and cokes). Lots of lawns and sitting areas. Big change-rooms (bring a lock). Watch the sea and the waves and the gulls, while enjoying swimming in sea-water that's warmer than the sea itself. Very popular with a whole range of Capetonians -- from the very old regulars swimming lengths, to the multi-generational families with stacks of tupperwares from home, to the hipsters chilling. The best, as long as you don't mind lots of people in high season.
122 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Sea Point Pavilion Swimming Pool
Beach RoadOpen-air sea-water swimming pools, including one for toddlers, a diving pool and a big, big general pool. Go early or late if it's high season (Dec-Jan), or expect crowds! Complete with ice-cream vendor and cheap cafe (think lollies, chips and cokes). Lots of lawns and sitting areas. Big change-rooms (bring a lock). Watch the sea and the waves and the gulls, while enjoying swimming in sea-water that's warmer than the sea itself. Very popular with a whole range of Capetonians -- from the very old regulars swimming lengths, to the multi-generational families with stacks of tupperwares from home, to the hipsters chilling. The best, as long as you don't mind lots of people in high season.
A beautiful tidal pool visited by a diverse group of South Africans and some visitors. Elderly locals, babies in the altogether, parents, keen swimmers. The sea comes in over the wall with a splash and a swirl. There are sea urchins, rocks painted white. It's amazing! Go early (before 11 ) in the summer or the road there (and the parking) gets very clogged up. It's just lovely. Not many amenities (no showers, toilets, benches) but who cares.
66 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Dalebrook Tidal Pool
Dalebrook RoadA beautiful tidal pool visited by a diverse group of South Africans and some visitors. Elderly locals, babies in the altogether, parents, keen swimmers. The sea comes in over the wall with a splash and a swirl. There are sea urchins, rocks painted white. It's amazing! Go early (before 11 ) in the summer or the road there (and the parking) gets very clogged up. It's just lovely. Not many amenities (no showers, toilets, benches) but who cares.