When it comes to festive fun for all ages, tastes and budgets, Cape Town’s inner city has it all. Here’s the ultimate downtown guide of what’s hot and happening.
Budget options (under R 100):
Free Walking Tours in Cape Town
Some of the best things in life really are free! Look out for the green umbrellas on Church Square and join a walking tour every day of the year at 11h00; 14h00 and 16h20. Cape Town really is walkable for everyone, with these 1.5-hour walking tours taking visitors on historic city tours, apartheid to freedom tours and Bo-Kaap tours. Find out more about these educational, fun excursions here.
The Company’s Garden
First built as a refreshment station for the trade route that rounded the tip of Africa between Europe and the east, The Company’s Garden was a refuge for ships sent by the Dutch East India Company which would stop by after months at sea and stock up on fresh produce grown in the garden. Now referred to as Cape Town’s green lung, this oasis in the centre of the city is a favourite for both locals and tourists. Enjoy this thriving urban space where great flora, food, music, and art is available to enjoy, including access to the Iziko South African National Gallery and Iziko South Africa Museum (see more about both places below).
District Six Museum
Besides the beauty of Cape Town, the history of the Mother City is rich and iconic.
The iconic historic community of District Six in the heart of a city became a place of refuge and community for so many South Africans of all backgrounds. The District Six Museum pays homage to this important community, a memorial containing maps, photographs, and other reminders of this old vibrant neighbourhood, with site walks and tours available by ex-resident storytellers.
Iziko South African National Gallery
This is Cape Town’s premier public art museum, housing a vast and engaging collection of historical, modern and contemporary South African, African and international artworks. Whether it’s works on paper, photography, sculpture, beadwork, textiles, or architecture that you like best, this art gallery has it all.
Iziko South Africa Museum
Founded in 1825 and situated in the historic Company’s Gardens, the South African Museum attracts millions of visitors every year, given its vast historical collection of fossils, ancient insects and historical tools, housing more than one-and-a-half million specimens of scientific importance.
Medium budget options (R 100 – R 400):
Prins & Prins Museum tour
This museum and gallery, located in the cellar of Huguenot House with an entrance through the front door of bespoke jeweller Prins & Prins, offers a fascinating history of diamonds, coloured gems, and jewellery. Learn more about South Africa’s diamonds and precious metals and how these came to be transformed into precious heirlooms. The museum also houses some of the earliest stone tools and shamanic rock paintings of some of the oldest jewellery in the world.
Clay Café in the City
Located in Bree Street, Clay Café is a craft focused space where like-minded adults can be creative, learn new techniques and have fun while enjoying great food and relaxing music. Choose from a variety of unfired pottery pieces, colourful paints and tools and release your inner artist by creating a personal and unique masterpiece!
Sky Hi- Ride
For those wanting a little more adrenalin in their choice of activity, the Sky-Hi Ride is a must. Think exhilarating, gravity-defying and breath-taking – a ride that reaches a free fall speed of up to 100km per hour. Head to the 28th floor of Hotel Sky for the ride of your life.
Nish Nush
No drama, just shawarma is what you get at Nish Nush at 110 Bree Street. This is authentic Mediterranean food that won’t break the bank. Meaning ‘snack’ in Hebrew, Nish Nush means fresh, delicious, and fast tahini, zhoug, falafel and so much more.
Tjing Tjing Rooftop bar
Tjing Tjing Rooftop bar on Longmarket Street, part of Ilze Koekemoer’s Tjing Tjing House offering, is located in a house that dates back over 200 years. Be transported to the Far East where this signature Japanese shrine-inspired red bar offers authentic Japanese food and bespoke cocktails.
Luxury options (R 400+):
The Grand Daddy Hotel is an iconic Long Street hotel and the perfect location for a rooftop movie night. Watch your favourite movie under the stars surrounded by gleaming vintage Airstream Trailers. This is a truly unique experience and perfect for a fun night out with friends, family, or colleagues.
FYN restaurant
It’s not often you can say you enjoyed a meal at a restaurant ranked in the top 50 worldwide.
Located at Speakers Corner on Parliament Street, FYN uses fish, poultry and meat from the best Cape Town farms and fisheries to create the best of Japan. Think prawn crudo canapes with dashi mayo and grilled shishito peppers, with kaiseki-style multi-course menus drenched in candied ginger, tempura nori and salted Japanese plum.
Pepperclub Hotel & Spa
This 5-star hotel and spa in central Cape Town offers guests three different dining experiences and is situated amongst Cape Town’s most influential happenings on Loop Street. Rest and rejuvenate in Cayenne Spa, enjoy delicious, tasty and irresistible dining in the Copa Restaurant or book a night or two in the Pepperclub Hotel and enjoy it all.
If you were deliberating about what to do in the heart of Cape Town this festive season, deliberate no more. “Downtown Cape Town is expecting a bumper holiday season for every type of visitor with different needs, wants and budgets,” says Tasso Evangelinos, CEO of Cape Town’s Central Improvement District (CCID). “Whether its dining, history, culture, entertainment, shopping or sightseeing you are after, the inner city really does have it all”.
Issued by Atmosphere Communications on behalf of Sharon Sorour-Morris, communications manager of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID). Email sharon@capetownccid.org
