Cape Town, South Africa

My first trip to the African continent was to Cape Town, South Africa. I had little to no expectations of South Africa in general; it was never on my bucket list of destinations (no particular reason). I just never gave it too much thought. All this said, it was one of my favorite trips! I now tell everyone that South Africa should be on their bucket list of places to visit.

South Africa was truly memorable. I was impressed by the nature-the coast, the mountains, and the gardens throughout the Cape Town area. The varying architectural styles and the design happening there was completely unexpected. The food was also a pleasant surprise! Again, I did not really know what kind of food to expect but I loved the food at every place I tried. So here is a little recap of my trip and a couple of other things I would have added had I had more time there!

Stay

Cape Cadogan

I stayed at the beautiful Cape Cadogan hotel during my stay. It was at the top of my list of hotel options, both classical in design and a decent price point. This is a 19th century Georgian style townhouse that has 15 rooms. The smaller hotel lends to a more intimate experience. What first drew me to this hotel was the front facade along with the black and white tile. To me, there is nothing more classic than a black and white checkerboard floor-drama, high-contrast, classic. It’s in a great location too. While the hotel itself is situated on a tranquil residential block, it is in Cape Town’s Kloof Street Neighborhood so you are steps aways from the vibrant restaurants and bars.

Gorgeous George

During my trip I also got to stay one night at, as the name implies, a gorgeous hotel. Cape Town has so many great accommodation options that it was hard to choose just one. So the other hotel I chose to stay at was Gorgeous George located in a central part of town. This hotel in one word is chic. I loved everything about the vibrant, edgy and playful design featured throughout the hotel. From the floral carpet lined hallways to the striped tile rooftop pool, everything about this hotel makes you want to stay and hang out.

Mount Nelson

Want to splurge? This is the hotel at the top of my splurge list in Cape Town! The “blushing oasis” is located between the slopes of Table Mountain and the vibrant city, making it an ideal starting point for any trip. Originally painted pink in 1918 to symbolize the end of WWI, it has remained a pink palace ever since. The hotel dates back to 1899 and features 198 rooms with a row of restored Victorian-era cottages and lush gardens. You can still book a reservation at one of their restaurants to stop in for their famous afternoon tea.

Do

Table Mountain

A must-do while in Cape Town is to visit the iconic Table Mountain! This flat-topped mountain overlooks the city of Cape Town and is part of the natural 7 wonders of the world. You can access the top by cablecar or by hiking all the way to the top. Standing on top of the mountain offers an incredible of the city and water and chances are you will also spot a rock hyrax (or a rock rabbit) scurrying around the mountainside.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

The Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden is located at the eastern end of Table Mountain. The garden is considered to be one of the best in the world. The garden is home to more than 7,000 plant species and even includes a sculpture garden. There are several trails to walk on but one of the highlights is The Canopy Tree Walkway, which is a curvaceous steel and timber bridge that is raised and set amongst the treetops. The walkway provides an amazing view and was a unique experience to have in Cape Town.

V&A Waterfront

The Victoria & Albert Waterfront (known as the the V&A) is a neighborhood in Cape Town along the waterfront that encompasses the original harbor. It has been converted into a mixed-use community full of restaurants, shops, art and residential units. There is always plenty of activity happening there during the day as well as at night giving you plenty of options. Take a ride on the now symbol of the neighborhood-The Cape Wheel. You get a panoramic 360 degree view of Cape Town and the bay.

Waterfront Bike Ride

Take a bike ride around the boardwalk. Rent a bike from a local bike shop and head to the city’s edge. I rented a bike from Up Cycles V&A Waterfront and it was one of my favorite ways to explore the area. You get to cover a lot more ground than on foot and it’s an affordable way to see the waterfront. There is a promenade that you can safely ride your bike on and get some fun photos along the way. Highly recommend!

Shopping

V&A

The V&A area is home to a standard shopping mall, but the cooler and hipper shopping attraction for me along the waterfront was The Watershed. The Watershed is a warehouse full of 150+ local vendors selling locally designed goods and crafts. It is a designer’s heaven. There is so much to explore and it’s convenient to have it all housed in one space. Their website describes it best: “Cape Town has a powerful design story to tell…over 150 makers tell this story, offering over 365 local brands to visitors. You can experience the best in local art, ceramics, jewelry, clothing and more.” Say no more! I left here a few local souvenirs that I love!

Kloof Street

Kloof Street is a great place to shop and eat. The trendy street is lined with cafes, bars and boutiques. Spend part of your day walking up and down perusing the cute shops and taking a break at one of the cute cafes. One shop to highlight is AKPJ studio. They sell over goods from over 40 South African creatives.

Etc.

If your love language is textiles, then Mungo is your destination. Mungo offers a variety of patterns in subtle and bold colorways ranging from blankets and throws to towels and apparel. They have their own mill and produce their own textiles. They were South Africa’s first mill to get the  Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification, which ensures environmentally and socially responsible practices throughout the entire supply chain, right from the harvesting of the raw materials to the finished product. Their company ethos: “We believe strongly that what we create, and the manner in which we create it, will filter down to the end user and help to improve the world we live in.” I love that and hope more and more companies follow suit!!

Love Ceramics? Head to Chandler House to explore this adorable shop featuring a variety of ceramics and curiosities. Veranda magazine named it one of the 50 most beautiful shops in the world. The owner is a self-taught artist and he also collaborates with other South African artists to fill his space with items of whimsy.

Han Ceramics is another ceramic studio to check out while in Cape Town. Owned and operated by Hannah Massey, she crafts cool and organic-shaped creations.

Cape Point

Exploring the beautiful southern part of this region is another must during your trip. Cape Point is not technically the most southern point of Africa but it does offer stunning cliff views of the water, and a variety of wildlife and vegetation. I hired a driver to drive down to Cape Point vs doing a group day trip so that I could spend the time how I wanted instead of structured and scheduled stops. One highlight was stopping at Boulders Beach to see the cute penguins! You walk along a raised boardwalk and get to observe these cute animals in the water and on the beach.

Boulders Beach:

The Stellenbosch & Franschhoek Wine Valley

I highly recommend doing a day trip to the Franschhoek or Stellenbosch wine valley! Franschhoek, meaning “French Quarter” in Afrikaans, is celebrated as South Africa’s culinary and wine capital. Nestled amidst mountains, the valley boasts over 50 renowned wineries and amazing restaurants, offering a not-to-be missed food and wine destination when visiting Cape Town. Franschhoek is a village set in a wonderful landscape and the Franschhoek Wine Tram provides scenic hop-on-hop-off tours, allowing visitors to explore the area’s beauty and viticulture.

I visited Stellenbosch, which is a nice and vibrant town full of Dutch architecture and pretty wineries. I set up a tour of the area with The Wine Fairy. Katie Barratt is lovely and will customize the day to your liking. Since I love seeing regional architecture whenever I travel and find Dutch architecture so quaint, I wanted to definitely spend some time taking in the cute town and all of its architectural wonders. I also went to two different wineries while there, which were both wonderful and different from each other. The valley’s French heritage, dating back to Huguenot settlers, adds a unique cultural charm to this picturesque destination.

Eat

Kloof Street House

There were several things that I liked about this restaurant. I loved the vibe first and foremost. This well-known restaurant is set in a Victorian house and features unique decor and artwork throughout. I went for dinner and the interior was dimly light and moody, offering a perfect atmosphere for a night out. The outside garden was also lit with soft glowing fairy lights creating a magical feel. The cocktails were good but when it comes to food, I had one of the best steaks of my life. I am not a huge meat eater but I decided to try an ostrich steak and wow. That was the red meat I’ve been missing in my life!

Black Sheep Restaurant

Conveniently located on trendy Kloof street, Black Sheep Restaurant was another place that I loved. Everything I had was delicious and I appreciated the fresh local ingredients. The menu changes based on availability of these ingredients, and portions are generous. It’s a great atmosphere for a date night or a casual dinner with a larger group.

Sea Breeze Fish & Shell

I tried Sea Breeze for seafood while in Cape Town and it was delicious. I had read some amazing reviews as one of the best spots to try fish in the city and I was not disappointed. Everything I tried was fresh and flavorful!

Coffee

I enjoy a good cappuccino and try as many local gems as I can when traveling. I tried several different coffee spots while in Cape Town but this one was unique in that it combines coffee with art. Need we say more?? It is continuously on the best coffee lists of Cape Town and definitely worth a visit!

Try out Jason Bakery near the V&A waterfront in Green Point. It’s a family-owned artisanal bakery in Cape Town serving coffee, excellent breads and a variety of savory and sweet baked goods.

We will do a separate post about Safari in South Africa, a bucket list trip, but in the meantime here’s a little preview of Safari Lodge Design!