Cape Town is and always will be my favourite city in the world. The love affair started with wonderful childhood family holidays to Cape Town visiting Boulders beach, V&A Waterfront, Robben Island and Groot Constantia. Along with many of my friends, I chose Cape Town for university and after UCT, I completed a year at Red & Yellow which only embedded my love for Cape Town and enabled me to secure my first job in the mother city. Cape Town is a place where I made the best of friends, met my husband, got married and have memories to last a lifetime – here are some of my recommendations to enjoy one of the world’s greatest.

Things to do

• Robben Island
• Simons town and visiting the penguins at Boulders beach
• Kalk Bay for fish and chips and walk from Muizenberg to St James, Harbour House Brass Bell is always a good lunch stop
• Chapmans peak drive for spectacular views as you hug the coastline
• Hop on hop off bus – a great way to see Cape Town and they even do some of the Constantia wine farms
• Table mountain – would recommend buying tickets online before you go and check the weather. The other option is to hike up – this is still on my to do list. A great route is called ‘Pipe track’ or starting at Kirstenbosch.
• Lion’s Head – a great hike to start the day
• Zeitz Mocca museum – largest museum of African contemporary art (visit the Silo hotel rooftop for drinks)
• Kirstenbosch botanical gardens (worth seeing if they have any concerts on)
• V&A Waterfront for shopping (visit the Watershed market too)
• Cape Point and Cape Agulhas (for the Southernmost tip of Africa and where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet)
• Walk along Sea Point promenade (or hire bikes)
• Bo Kaap area to see all the colourful houses (Cape Malay area) – grab a bite at Harvest Deli
• Hout Bay village
• Noordhoek – and visit the Foodbarn for something to eat

Markets

• Oranjezicht City Farm Market – Saturday 9am – 2:30pm
• Neighbourhood/Old Biscuit Mill – Saturday 9:30am – 5pm (go early)
• Bay Harbour Market, Hout Bay – Saturday 9:30am
• V&A food market – Daily 10am
• Watershed – local design and crafts – Daily 9am

Restaurants

Some of my favourites;

• Ricks Cafe, Kloof Street
• Cafe Paradiso, Kloof Street – my hands down favourite
• El Burro, Greenpoint (mexican)
• Black sheep, Kloof Street
• Beluga or Willougbys for sushi
• The Pot Luck Club for a foodie experience, need to book in advance
• Clarkes, Bree Street (burgers)
• Jason’s Bakery for some of the best pasteries
• Woodlands eatery, Vredehoek for wood fired lamb pizza
• Harvest Deli – In Bo Kaap area for a healthy breakfast/lunch
• Truth – for coffee/breakfast
• Nourished – breakfast
• The Lawns at the Roundhouse (for breakfast/lunch or sundowners (our wedding venue)
• Thali – for great Indian (walk ins only)
• Chef’s warehouse at Beau Constantia (you can tie this in with some wine tasting)
• There are so many options and Kloof street is a must!
• Duchess of Wisbeach
• Life Grand Cafe 
• Short Market Club

Bars

• The Secret Gin bar, Bree Street
• Power and the glory, Kloofnek
  Winchester Mansions for sundowners
• Grand cafe and beach, Waterfront
• Raddison
• Silo hotel rooftop (for drinks)
• 12 Apostles (leopard bar)
• Camps Bay retreat for sundowners (their spa is also great)

Wine tasting

Some of my favourites;

• Babylonstoren, near Franschoek
• Beau Constatia, Constantia
• Constantia Glen, Constantia
• Maison, Franschoek
• Boschendal, Stellenbosch – highly recommend their picnics
• Tokara, Stellenbosch
• Vrede en Lust, Franschoek
• Buitenverwachting
• Delaire Graff 
• Wine tram in Franschoek is highly recommended – advance booking required

Best beaches

• Llandudno
• Camps Bay
• Clifton 4th beach
• Bakoven

Getting around

Uber
Excite taxis -+27 (0)21 448 4444

Helpful guides

• the inside guide – the essential guide to cape town
• Lonely Planet – Cape Town
• Telegraph – Cape Town
• Cape Town City Guide 
• Cape Town City Guide 
• Time out – what’s on in Cape Town

Venturing beyond Cape Town

If you have longer, there are many places to visit from Cape Town including; Franschoek, Greyton and Hermanus. There is also the magnificent West coast with some of my favourite places being Eilands Bay (for surf) and Paternoster. Die Strandloper is a must visit – a casual restaurant on the beach serving up fresh seafood and a relaxing, chilled atmosphere to enjoy the setting with your feet in the sand.

Knysna

• Belvidere for pub lunch at the Bell (200m from my Dad’s home)
• Île de Païn – breakfast (love this place)
• East Head Cafe for great views (also breakfast)
• Check out the Waterfront area for eateries and shopping
• Walk around Knysna Heads
• Pembreys for dinner (a family favourite)
• Take an cruise with Knysna Charters
• Visit the Wild Oats famers market in Sedgefield every Saturday
• Thesen Island for cafes, restaurants and shops (also a great place to stay)
• Butterfly Blu restaurant, Brenton on Sea
• Shop for clothes and gifts at Two on Toast

Plett

• Cornutis (Great for pizzas and a bit of an institution)
• Wine tasting at Lodestone, Newstead, Katy & Monty and/or Bramon wines (great lunches)
• Robberg beach and walk to Robberg head (a great half day/full day hike – lots of great walks in Knysna/Plett area)
• Visit Old Nick Village for shopping and eateries – the Mungo shop and mill is worth a stop