Cape Town central Local's Favourites
Shopping
Wonderfully quirky local bookstore with an emphasis on South African literature and a great kids section downstairs.
123 locals recommend
the book lounge
71 Roeland StreetWonderfully quirky local bookstore with an emphasis on South African literature and a great kids section downstairs.
A Virgin Active gym, Vida-e coffee, Ben Wei Asian restaurant and Knead bakery. If you still need to get your workout indoors, this is the place!
9 locals recommend
Wembley Square Offices
40 Solan RdA Virgin Active gym, Vida-e coffee, Ben Wei Asian restaurant and Knead bakery. If you still need to get your workout indoors, this is the place!
Groceries and pretty much anything else you might need at this compact little mall. WW foods, PnP, Clicks, Le Creuset, Body Shop, cellular providers, hardware store, hair & beauty salons, clothing & gift shops. Standard Bank branch + other banks ATMs. Some gorgeous arts and crafty things, all locally made at Fabricate and wonderful new local designer clothing stores at Sitting Pretty and Hannah Lavery.
220 locals recommend
FNB Bank ATM Gardens Shopping Centre
22 Mill StreetGroceries and pretty much anything else you might need at this compact little mall. WW foods, PnP, Clicks, Le Creuset, Body Shop, cellular providers, hardware store, hair & beauty salons, clothing & gift shops. Standard Bank branch + other banks ATMs. Some gorgeous arts and crafty things, all locally made at Fabricate and wonderful new local designer clothing stores at Sitting Pretty and Hannah Lavery.
Health food, coffee, locally made clothing and gifts, sushi or groceries: all available at this stylish little mini-mall. Now with a Starbucks too!
But I highly recommend you go a bit lower down the street to the hidden alley Deluxe. :) Local is lekker!
81 locals recommend
FNB Bank ATM Lifestyle On Kloof
60 Kloof StHealth food, coffee, locally made clothing and gifts, sushi or groceries: all available at this stylish little mini-mall. Now with a Starbucks too!
But I highly recommend you go a bit lower down the street to the hidden alley Deluxe. :) Local is lekker!
Food Scene
Named 'the best coffee shop in the world' this steampunk ode to the bean is well worth visiting.
425 locals recommend
Truth Coffee Roasting
36 Buitenkant StNamed 'the best coffee shop in the world' this steampunk ode to the bean is well worth visiting.
Coffee and art make a beautiful pair. Visit this stunning addition to Cape Town's burgeoning hip coffee scene.
96 locals recommend
Haas Coffee
19 Buitenkant StCoffee and art make a beautiful pair. Visit this stunning addition to Cape Town's burgeoning hip coffee scene.
Wonderful burgers, pizzas, salads, baked goods (obviously) and coffee.
13 locals recommend
Knead Bakery Wembley Square
80 McKenzie StWonderful burgers, pizzas, salads, baked goods (obviously) and coffee.
Come and taste Cape Town's biggest burger in its hippest spot. You have to see it to believe it. Bigger than your head! Hearty breakfasts and lunch offered too and the pizzas are threatening to outshine the burgers. The loud waiters and love of swear words come free. :)
71 locals recommend
The Dog's Bollocks at YARD
6 Roodehek StCome and taste Cape Town's biggest burger in its hippest spot. You have to see it to believe it. Bigger than your head! Hearty breakfasts and lunch offered too and the pizzas are threatening to outshine the burgers. The loud waiters and love of swear words come free. :)
Very affordable & tasty pizza, pasta, burgers, salads & sandwiches plus quite a vibey little bar scene on a nice summer's evening.
28 locals recommend
Narona
136 Buitenkant StVery affordable & tasty pizza, pasta, burgers, salads & sandwiches plus quite a vibey little bar scene on a nice summer's evening.
Lazari
221 Vredehoek AveCute & cosy neighbourhood favourite for breakfast / brunch / lunch
Lovely Greek food on a beautiful square. Summer nights can't be beaten!
114 locals recommend
Maria's Greek Café
31 Barnet StLovely Greek food on a beautiful square. Summer nights can't be beaten!
Mai Thai Sushi Gardens
12 Mill StGreat, affordable Asian cuisine in a good-looking spot.
Comfortable and cosy, popular breakfast, brunch, lunch, work-from-home coffee spot.
102 locals recommend
Red Sofa Café
21 Derry StComfortable and cosy, popular breakfast, brunch, lunch, work-from-home coffee spot.
One of my eternally favourite spots. Gorgeous cocktails at the stylish bar or delicious food in the wind-sheltered garden, every corner of this restaurant is pretty as a picture. Always busy, bookings are a must.
408 locals recommend
Kloof Street House
30 Kloof StOne of my eternally favourite spots. Gorgeous cocktails at the stylish bar or delicious food in the wind-sheltered garden, every corner of this restaurant is pretty as a picture. Always busy, bookings are a must.
My personal favourite brew, Deluxe, now lives right around the corner. Only coffee though, so get your eats somewhere else.
66 locals recommend
Deluxe Coffeeworks
171A Buitenkant StMy personal favourite brew, Deluxe, now lives right around the corner. Only coffee though, so get your eats somewhere else.
New York Bagels
44 Harrington StExcellent bagel, breakfast and coffee shop!
Incredible ramen and bao upstairs from Lefty's dive bar. Highly recommended though not necessarily child friendly.
80 locals recommend
Downtown Ramen Asian Restaurant
103 Harrington StreetIncredible ramen and bao upstairs from Lefty's dive bar. Highly recommended though not necessarily child friendly.
The best milkshakes in the hood since the nineties... lovely outdoor seating on charming Dunkley square and open till laaaate for a drink or three.
46 locals recommend
Roxy Late Night
14 Wandel StThe best milkshakes in the hood since the nineties... lovely outdoor seating on charming Dunkley square and open till laaaate for a drink or three.
Good sushi and Chinese / Asian fusion food at this local. Just check opening hours, can be closed on the weekends as it is mostly an office-worker hangout. Lovely naturally lit small complex for rainy days.
7 locals recommend
Ben Weí Sushi Asian Fusion
3 Solan RdGood sushi and Chinese / Asian fusion food at this local. Just check opening hours, can be closed on the weekends as it is mostly an office-worker hangout. Lovely naturally lit small complex for rainy days.
Drinks & Nightlife
OTT, glamorous bar for a late night cocktail or bottle of bubbly.
15 On Orange Hotel, Autograph Collection
15 Orange StreetOTT, glamorous bar for a late night cocktail or bottle of bubbly.
If the weather is fine, sit on the veranda or in the garden of this stately old hotel. On chilly evenings, the Planet Bar is oh-so-elegantly cosy with fireplaces and an extensive drinks menu to warm you, body and soul.
34 locals recommend
Mount Nelson Planet Restaurant & Bar
76 Orange StIf the weather is fine, sit on the veranda or in the garden of this stately old hotel. On chilly evenings, the Planet Bar is oh-so-elegantly cosy with fireplaces and an extensive drinks menu to warm you, body and soul.
Essentials
A 24 hour mini grocer if you should need anything in the middle of the night! Also a bit of an after-party stop as the young ones fuel up after a night out.
32 locals recommend
Engen Oranje Service Centre
27 Annandale StreetA 24 hour mini grocer if you should need anything in the middle of the night! Also a bit of an after-party stop as the young ones fuel up after a night out.
Parks & Nature
Huge dog-friendly park with a large children's play area. On Sundays in the summer, free concerts take place near the gazebo. Pack a picnic and join the locals!
68 locals recommend
De Waal Park
Molteno RoadHuge dog-friendly park with a large children's play area. On Sundays in the summer, free concerts take place near the gazebo. Pack a picnic and join the locals!
Wonderful green lung in the heart of the city with bird houses, fish ponds, rose gardens and a lovely restaurant with an imaginative outdoor play area and a life-size chess set
602 locals recommend
Company's Gardens
Wonderful green lung in the heart of the city with bird houses, fish ponds, rose gardens and a lovely restaurant with an imaginative outdoor play area and a life-size chess set
Park at the far end of the cable car road (so keep going past the cable car station until the road is blocked) to find a nice level tar road that is closed to vehicles with wonderful views of the city, the harbour, Lion's Head and Signal Hill. Easy to walk with a stroller / pram / with kids on bicycles.
9 locals recommend
Tafelberg Road
Tafelberg RoadPark at the far end of the cable car road (so keep going past the cable car station until the road is blocked) to find a nice level tar road that is closed to vehicles with wonderful views of the city, the harbour, Lion's Head and Signal Hill. Easy to walk with a stroller / pram / with kids on bicycles.
Arts & Culture
Wonderful natural history museum, art museum and planetarium all within a minute of each other in the Company Gardens
305 locals recommend
Iziko South African Museum and Planetarium
25 Queen Victoria StWonderful natural history museum, art museum and planetarium all within a minute of each other in the Company Gardens
Getting Around
Big bus depot with connections to all MyCity Bus Routes including the Airport, Hout Bay and Camps Bay.
173 locals recommend
Gardens My City Bus Station
Big bus depot with connections to all MyCity Bus Routes including the Airport, Hout Bay and Camps Bay.