quick summary of cape town highlights
table mountain - cable car up for sunset, get drinks from the bar, watch sunset and cable car down by night
numerous hiking routes around the mountain but we love the 1.5hr hike up Lion's Head - panoramic views!
cape point - where the cold Benguela current meets the warm Mozambique current - spectacularly so...
on the way to cape point, stop at boulders beach to visit the african jack ass penguin colony
kirstenbosch botanical gardens and the summer music concerts on the lawn 021 762 9585
the victoria & alfred waterfront - shopping malls, restaurants, bars, boat cruises, heli-flips and buskers
robben island - take a ferry trip from the waterfront to south africa's most (in)famous prison island
groot constantia - well known wine estate situated close to cape town, literally behind the mountain
get adventurous as you sandboard down the dunes - 40minutes from cape town
bird's eye views, adrenalin and silence as you tandem paraglide from the mountain
march is 'peak season' in cape town with pride, argus cycle tour, carnival and jazzFest
april sees the world's most beautiful marathon - the two oceans marathon
july to november offers land-to-sea whale sightings all along the cape coastline
august to september - unbelievable wild flower displays, particularly along the cape west coast
december - summertime and queer minded fabulousness at the mother city queer project party
scroll down to 'gay village cape town' (below) for a seperate listing of the city's gay venues
our favourite restaurants, bars & attractions around cape town and its peninsula
camps bay beach
too many cafes/bars/restaurants to mention here, but go watch the sunsets on this palm fringed beachfront
bars and street cafes have great ocean and sunset views with beautiful people and funky music
Paranga Restaurant - great setting with sea views and very good prawn tempura 021 438 0404
The Round House Restaurant - forests, distant sea views, fine dining and summer picnics 021 438 4347
city centre
tourism info, c/o Burg & Castle str 021 487 6800 for maps & brochures
Green Market Square - vibrant centre of the city by day - closed on Sundays
visit the colourful and multi level Pan African market - bargain before U buy!
antiques, galleries and outdoor café’s along Church Str pedestrian arcade
up Government Lane for St Georges Cathedral, parliament & national gallery
Christiaan Barnard Hospital,181 Longmarket St, 021 480 6111
082 376 7917 for diamonds, tanzanites and fine jewellery hand crafted in cape town
city restaurants
Bukhara Indian Restaurant city centre lunch or dinner 021 424 0000
95 Keerom Restaurant, Italian fare off Long Street 021-422 0765
and directly opposite, Carne Restaurant for meat lovers 021 424 3460
selection of restaurants at Heritage Square, c/o Bree & Shortmarket
Savoy Cabbage - fine dining for many years 021 424 262
Africa Café - variety of african continental cuisine 021 442 0221
many cafe bars, shops & lunch spots along Long Street & right up to the top of Kloof Street
clifton beaches
parking gone by 10am in season - no shops so pack suntan lotion/sun cap/snax/water
4 glorious soft sandy beaches - 3rd beach is where the boys normally gather to soak up the sun
The Bungalow Restaurant, between clifton & camps bay - sea views, lunch/dinner and sundowners 021 438 2018
de waterkant
holiday apartments, colourful cottages, cute gardens, various restaurants and all the gay village bars
stroll around and explore this safe area's many art galleries, interior stores and outdoor street cafe's
the Cape Quarter Mall offers 2 cobblestone court yards with great eateries, deli's and a variety of shops
delicious... Il Leone Italian Restaurant - great food and to-die-for ragu - lunch or dinner - 22 Cobern Str 021 421 0071
Trinity, a multi-level club with restaurants & live music - Bennett Str tel 021 418 0624
Loading Bay Cafe & Apparel - comfort food & fully booked burger-thursdays 30 Hudson Str 021 425 6321
gay village cape town
The 'gay village' is centred around Hudson-, Prestwich-, Cobern- & Jarvis Streets.
bars generally close as the last revelers leave & venues include:
Amsterdam Action Bar - Cobern Str - men only
Backroom Bar, Jarvis Street - men only - some surprise events
Bar Code - Cobern Str - men only/leather/boots - themed nights
Beefcakes Burger Bar, opp Boardman's - burgers, drag shows and bingo
girl power at Beaulah Bar, c/o Somerset and Cobern, 021 421 6798
Bronx Bar - now demolished
Bubbles Bar, 125 Waterkant Street (up the stairs) - cosy & friendly drag cabaret bar
Cafe Manhattan - Dixon Str - bar & great burgers - till late 021 421 6666
Crew Bar - Napier Street - busy dance club and bar
Hothouse - Jarvis Str, men only sauna - luxurious lounge-bar & outdoor deck
Clifton 3rd beach is where the boys are - no shops so take snax/water/sun protection
or Sandy Bay nudist beach - a 25min drive from the city towards Hout Bay
gardens
Gardens shopping mall - cafe bars/restaurants/banks/shops/supermarkets
the Mount Nelson hotel do daily high-tea fit for a queen 021 483 1000
SA Museum, National Gallery & Planetarium - all off Government Lane
Medi Clinic, 21 Hof str 021 464 5500 or 24hr 021 464 5555
greenpoint
Manos restaurant - popular local lunch time venue 021 434 1090
Jade Bar (upstairs from Manos) night time groove lounge bar.
Vida e Caffe coffee bar – get your caffeine fix here
Giovanni's deli will spoil you for continental choice - fresh flowers too
Woolworths for food stuffs/flowers/snacks/’biltong’/magazines
Ultra Liquor for private sundowner stocks - closed on Sundays
Greenpoint stadium and Metropolitan golf course
Virgin Gym 021 434 0750 - everything plus indoor/outdoor pools.
mouille point
Wakame for sushi, sundowners and sea views 021 433 2377
fab al fresco menu at Sotano, 121 beach road (close to lighthouse) 021 433 1757
the Grand - restaurant on a beach, Granger Bay 021 425 0551
seapoint
Winchester Mansions - Sunday jazz brunch 021 434 2351.
Buzbey Grill - local hang-out for ribs, steaks & seafood 021 439 5900
sunset walk/jog along beachfront promenade, all the way to Camps Bay.
a selection of banks/shops/restaurants all along Main Road.
waterfront
enornmous shopping mall & various hotels built around a working harbour
restaurants, cafe's, sunset cruises, heli-flips and the two oceans aquarium
many restaurants on the waterfront but we love Balducci's, Primi and Willoughby's
Panama Jacks seafood - a wooden shack with live lobster, eastern mole rd, cape town docks 021 448 1080
and further afield:
hout bay & chapman's peak drive
do the 20min scenic coastal drive from Camps Bay, pass Sandy Bay and Llandudno, to Hout Bay
visit Hout Bay's beautiful harbour and do the hair-raising, mountain-hugging Chapman's Peak drive (toll gate)
stop at the Chapman's Peak hotel for calamari starter followed by portuguese steak (in a pan) with rice & fries...
cape winelands of franschhoek, stellenbosch and paarl
1hr self drive from the city or guided day tours - visit 2-3 estates per day.
see winelands page for listings of favourite wine estates & choice restaurants
general
what's on listings
main newspapers: Cape Times (mornings) + The Cape Argus (afternoons)
next 48 hours and various free printed listings from airports/hotel foyers/cafes
pre book show/event/theatre tickets at Computicket 083 915 8000
Artscape theatre, City 021 410 9800
Baxter concert hall, Rondebosch 021 685 7880
Cape Town convention centre, City 021 410 5000
Theatre on the bay Camps Bay 021 438 3301
Grand West Casino also cabaret shows and live music gigs
Zula Sound Bar Long Street, City - show casing local talent
taxi services
Marine- 021 913 6866 or Sport Taxi's 021 447 4444
hop-on hop-off city bus - great orientation tours 021 511 6000
useful telephone numbers
one stop emergency number from landline 107
one stop emergency number from mobile phone 021 480 7700
ambulance 10177
cape town airport 021 937 1200
dentist 021 421 2971
directory enquiries 1023
fire 021 480 7700
hospital 021 402 6911
international enquiries 0903
mountain rescue 021 937 0300
police emergency 10111
sea rescue 021 449 3500
time 1026
weather 082 162
what to pack
travel LIGHT and casual - pack walking boots, sandals, light clothing,
t-shirts, shorts, swimming costume, jeans, sun cap and shades
general safety
like anywhere in the world, walk like a warrior and don’t flash valuables
reclaim VAT
favourable exchange rate, so prepare for extraordinary shopping sprees…
Reclaim VAT (on unused goods) from kiosks at airport and Waterfront
well everybody, enjoy, and any great discoveries of your own, let us know!
the outinafrica team
