Make Cape Town your winter getaway
Plotting your escape from the cold?
A trip to Cape Town has something for everyone.
ADVENTURE
Table Mountain - whether covered in its moody cloud ‘the table-cloth’, or standing proud against clear blue South African skies, Table Mountain is always a spectacle. For those wanting a more subtle, reliable thrill, the cable car is the most convenient route up and down. Though, if you’re looking to combine the views with a fitness challenge, hiking to the top guarantees a richer experience and firmly earns you a glass or two of Chenin Blanc at the bottom.
There are different routes you can take with Platteklip gorge in the centre of the mountain being the most popular. Whilst it’s quite steep, it’s fairly straightforward and should take between 1-3 hours depending on how fit you’re feeling. If you’re on the sharp end of the adventurer scale try the India Venster route which requires a bit of scrambling and navigating a few chains and ladders. It’s more than doable for those with good fitness and flexibility, but if you’re not feeling too confident or want more security you can always go with a guide.
On both routes you’ll have an amazing view of the city below - the V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay, Robben Island and the Twelve Apostles to name a few. And you don’t have to know anything about flora or fauna to appreciate the wildlife on the mountain itself. We recommend hiking early in the morning to avoid midday sun, but make sure you check the forecast and come prepared for every eventuality. Don’t forget water, and some cash too if you’re hoping to get the cable car back to the bottom.
Lion’s head hike is another firm Cape Town favourite. It’s around 5-6km long with a 400m climb, and should take between 1.5-2.5 hours. It’s the perfect way to combine catching the sunrise or sunset with some exercise. The final stretch does involve some ladders and chains, so it’s not for the faint hearted, but the views are some of the best you’ll find. You can easily drive or organise a taxi / uber from Cape Town to drop you at the start of the route.
For those looking for a coastal adventure, Cape Town also offers surfing from beginners to seasoned pros, great white shark diving further to the east, and whale watching if you’re there between June and September. Perfect if you’re in a couple where one prefers sunbathing, and the other adrenaline…
WINE WINE WINE
Cape Town wine routes are unbelievably beautiful - think of a trail comprised of envy-inducing Dutch architecture, immaculate gardens and vineyards, ultra-modern wine cellars, and exceptional weather all doused in incredible vino. It’s almost impossible to choose your favourites but these between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are simply too good to bypass…
Jordan Wine Estate - 25 mins outside of Cape Town, Jordan is accessible but feels a million miles away. The ‘Cellar Door’ offers a casual all day menu (think light bites and sharing platters washed down with a wine tasting at cellar door prices).
Delaire Graff - You may know the GRAFF name from the luxury jewellers in New Bond Street, but the British jeweller’s South African estate has diamonds and so much more. The front terrace is ideal spot for sampling their life-changing Summercourt chardonnay. The second restaurant, Indochine, offers modern, Asian cuisine, and en-route you’ll discover sculptures and the hand-picked art collection curated by Laurence Graff himself.
Tokara - Just a stones throw from Graff, Tokara is the dream neighbour. Combining perfectly manicured vineyards with olive groves, you can sample both in their tasting experiences, or with a glass and snacks on the wrap-around terrace. Tokara’s restaurant has incredible views of False Bay and Stellenbosch, or opt for something more casual with takeout from the deli.
The Wine Tram - Franschhoek is a beautiful town, and a great place to base yourself to access some of the best wineries in the region, lots of which are extraordinary hotels in their own right. The wine tram is the chicest hop-on-hop-off tour you’ll ever come across, and whilst it’s a bit of organised fun, it’s a practical and reliable way to sample a variety of vineyards without worrying about who’s designated driver. Our faves include Richard Branson’s Mont Rochelle which makes the perfect lunch-stop, the understated Grande Provence, and Boschendal where you can enjoy a divine picnic on the lawns.
Babylonstoren - The older sister of Somerset’s ever-popular ‘The Newt’, Babylonstoren is the original, and maybe the better sibling. Owner Karen Roos has channelled her immaculate style (honed as the former editor of Elle Decoration) into restoring an 18th Century Cape Dutch farmhouse. The gardens are reason enough to visit and only require a small entrance fee. Better still, try the spa nestled in bamboo featuring myriad pools, an authentic hammam, and an unreal spa menu. We’re yet to mention the five star hotel with drool-worthy interiors, the farm-to-fork restaurant Babel, lunch at the Greenhouse, pizza nights at the bakery, or the recently refurbed wine-cellar. We could go on…
FOOD
When it comes to dining in Cape Town you are spoilt for choice. Start your day with an experimental coffee-stop at Truth Coffee, take lunch or cocktails at always-lively Kloof Street House, enjoy sushi at Nobu (without the London price tag) in the One & Only with hard-to-believe views of Table Mountain, or go out-out to some of our favourites -
Pot Luck Club - In the Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock, the Pot Luck Club oozes cool. At the top of a vibrant hub of art, design, and other culinary forces (including the epic Test Kitchen), step out the glass elevator to find modern small-plates, bespoke cocktails, and an impossible-to-choose-just-one wine menu. Sip away and enjoy views of Cape Town in lights.
Belly of the Beast - Don’t try to look at the menu before you arrive because there isn’t one. Trust in the seasonal produce, and let the chefs deliver their lunch or dinner tasting menu. And if you’ve got trust issues, the reviews speak for themselves.
Chef’s Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic - Whilst not strictly in Cape Town, this restaurant is worth making the journey for. Chapman’s Peak Drive is an epic coastal route outside of the city and this restaurant is like finding gold at the end of a rainbow. Drive through Camps Bay, stop at Llandudno beach, pick up a coffee at Deus in Hout Bay, stop for a few pictures at the viewing points, and end up at this slice of heaven. Once you’ve parked up, a buggy will take you to the water’s edge where you can enjoy the catch of the day with an unrivalled view of the Atlantic. If you don’t make it all the way there, try their sister restaurants in Beau Constantia or at Maison in Franschhoek instead
The V&A waterfront also has heaps of restaurants dotted along the water’s edge, making them a prime pitstop if you’re sight-seeing in the area. Further in-land you’ll find more independent restaurants and cafes; don’t be afraid to stumble into wherever takes your fancy as you may just find the latest and greatest.
CULTURE
If you’re travelling to Cape Town it’d be remiss to not immerse yourself in South Africa’s complex history.
The Bo Kaap region is a short walk away from the city centre, making it a popular sight-seeing-spot, not just for the insta-worthy rainbow coloured streets, but also the incredible history of the Cape Malay slaves. The houses were once white on order of the council, but were painted in their beautiful bright colours in 1990 on release of Nelson Mandela to mark their long-subdued freedom.
The Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) sits eight-stories tall and proud in the V&A Waterfront and is the first-ever major institution dedicated solely to artists from across the African continent. The building itself is a work of art, having been transformed from an abandoned grain silo to a contemporary museum that’s modern yet industrial.
There are a number of tour providers and experiences in Cape Town to help you navigate South Africa’s fascinating history and culture, including day trips to Robben Island, the Cape of Good Hope and many more. Even dotted around the V&A waterfront and in the food market you’ll find little nods to the past that makes this place so special.