Cape Town tourism is growing each and every day. With such a large increase in tourism in can be hard to decide what area of Cape town you want to stay in. This is why we have made a list of the top 5 areas in and around Cape Town where we would recommend you to stay. For each neighbourhood we have described its transport, must do’s/see’s, restaurants/bars and where to stay.
Cape Town City Centre
Cape Town CBD is the the lower part of the city bowl an stretches from the company gardens all the way down to the Cape Town Convention Centre. The three major streets it incorportates are Adderly street, Long Street and Bree Street. It is a mishmash of business, culture and nightlife all blended into one. The range of diverse coffee bars, restaurants, craft markets and theatres is enormous. This variety makes the CBD one of the best hot spots to discover Cape Town.
Transport
Transport is not needed during the day in CBD. Anything you would like to do is within walking distance. If you would like to go somewhere in the CBD during the night, taking a cab is strongly recommended. Like in every big city, do watch out for pickpockets at night.
Must do/see
Walking around in CBD is an experience in itself. The variety of shops, markets, restaurants and people is enormous. Just open your eyes and enjoy Cape Town. There are also a variety of museums and even the world famous coloured houses of Bo Kaap close by.
On a nice day make sure to visit the Company Gardens. This is a big park in the centre of Cape Town filled with beautiful flowers and plants, museums, heritage buildings and squirrels that like to be fed nuts.
Every first Thursday of the month there is an event called First Thursdays. Art galleries around the city stay open till 9 pm and offer free wine and snacks.
Restaurants/Bars
In CBD there are too many restaurants and bars to name. Long Street and Bree Street would be your best bet for dining and clubbing. Open from the early mornings till late at night. Bree street is filled with a lot of new places and a less raucous atmosphere than the ones on Long Street.
Where to stay
Your best bet for a hostel would be Long Street, Bree Street and its surrounding. A lot of the side-streets between Long Street and Bree Street have hostels as well. Dorms at hostels around these streets go from around R190 per person.
Pros:
· City Centre
· No transport needed during the day
· Lots of sightseeing close by
Cons:
· Noisy during the night’s because of the nightlife.
· pickpockets during the night.
Sea Point & Greenpoint
Sea Point and Greenpoint are two different parts of Cape Town that are often mistaken for each other due to them being so close to each other. These two neighbourhoods that are located between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean are filled with stunning apartment buildings, parks, cool bars and restaurants. A major attraction is the Promenade, a picturesque walkway and park along the water that is popular among both Capetonians and tourists alike.
Transport
Walking is possible within Sea Point and Greenpoint itself. The MyCity bus has two main lines that run through both area and buses are regular. The Promenade, Cape Town Stadium, bars and restaurants are all within walking distance from Ashanti Lodge Greenpoint. If you want to go to the city centre at night, taking a cab is recommended.
Must do/see
The promenade is a beautiful place to walk on a sunny day. If you keep the ocean on your left hand side and keep walking you will find yourself going around the Cape Town Stadium. You can do a tour through the stadium if you would like to see it from close up of even attend a match.
If you keep walking along the water you will find yourself at the V&A Waterfront. While this isn’t in Sea Point or Greenpoint anymore it is close enough to walk. From the Waterfront you can also take a boat tour to Robben Island. During this trip they will teach you about the history of the island. Make sure to book the trip beforehand, because it can be really busy and only a certain amount of boats leave each day.
If you are looking for a beach to spend your day at, just take a taxi to one of the 4 Clifton Beaches. This trip will take you around 10 minutes. Make sure to bring some food and drinks, because there are no shops available at the beach.
Restaurants/Bars
V&A Waterfront has an amazing selection of restaurants where they serve all kinds of food and drinks. Furthermore, Sea Point and Green Point main roads are also full of restaurants and bars.
Where to stay
The Ashanti Gardens lodge offers a variety of accommodation types, from dorms to en-suite double rooms. Ashanti offers an elegant alternative to travelers who are looking for a quieter place to stay during their stay in Cape Town. If you need to relax after a heavy day, you can do so at the pool or in the communal lounge. There is free pancakes for breakfast every morning.
Pros:
· Promenade.
· Bars and restaurants.
Cons:
·
Gardens
One of the most popular areas in Cape Town. The central location and the variety of bars and restaurants make this place popular amongst both tourists and locals.. Gardens is the suburban version of the Cape Town city centre. You get all the nice bars, restaurants, malls and sightseeing without all the noise and raucousness of the city centre. You are still able to walk into the city centre in about 10 minutes.
Transport
Not needed in this area, here everything is within walking distance. Even Long Street, the most popular street in Cape Town nightlife, is less than 10 minutes’ away. You can also walk through the Company Gardens to get to the CBD. To get to further out areas there are plenty of MyCity bus options available.
Must do/see
Kloof Street is a must and is pretty much the same as long street, just safer and less rowdy. This street is filled with boutiques, bars, restaurants, beauty shops and many more shops. If you are done with this vibrant street and you want a place to relax you can go to De Waal Park, just behind Ashanti Lodge Gardens. Or even walk to the Company Gardens, although this is technically not part of Gardens, it is just down the bottom of the street from Ashanti Lodge Gardens.
If you are looking for some adventure Gardens is the right choice for you. The Table Mountain, Lions Head and Signal Hill are all easiest to get to from Gardens. If you go all the way to the top of Gardens you will find yourself at the beginning of both Signal Hill Road and the road leading to the Table Mountain Cable Car. You can choose to take a cab to each of these beautiful sights or walk all the way up.
Restaurants/Bars
Around Kloof Street there are many good restaurants. There is a big difference in cuisine and price, this means there is a restaurant to everyone’s liking. Kloof Street is also the right place to be if you’re looking for a place to have a drink. If you are ready to hit the nightlife, just walk down Kloof Street onto Long Street.
Where to stay
Located at the foot of Table Mountain is Ashanti Lodge Gardens. A historic 150 year old mansion converted into a Backpackers hostel that is a step above the rest. Open for 25 years and the 2nd oldest hostel in Cape Town, Ashanti Gardens has become well-known for our superb facilities, outstanding and friendly service, as well as excellent security. During the day you can hang out by the pool or at the Kumasi Bar and Café. For the typical South African experience there is a braai area, which is open to all guests. The Ashanti Guest Houses, which are Located between Ashanti Lodge Gardens and Kloof Street, are a quieter place to stay at and give you more luxury and privacy.
Pros:
· Walking distance from Cape Town City Centre.
· Number of cool bars and cafes
· Difference if cuisine
Cons:
· Nothing, it is the best place to be.
Muizenberg
Probably the best place to stay for water sport lovers in Cape Town. The opportunity for surfing is great and the water temperature is pleasant. When you walk along the beach you will always see plenty of surfers. There are a lot of surf shops where you can rent equipment and even book surf lessons. If you are not a fan of water sports, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and architecture. This Suburb is great to chill at for 1 or 2 days before going back to Cape Town Centre.
Transport
Going to Muizenberg from the Cape Town CBD is about a 30-minute drive or an hour on the train. In Muizenberg itselfyou can mostly get around by foot. We would still recommend hiring a car when going, this way you can also go to some of the beautiful places surrounding Muizenberg.
You can also take the train to Muizenberg. Just hop on at Cape Town Central Station and take the train to Simons Town. You can purchase a one way tourist ticket for around R12.
Must do/see
One of the things that you can’ miss out on is the view over False Bay from the Muizenberg Mountain top. Muizenberg Mountain gives you an amazing view over the longest beach of Cape Town. To reach the top you have different hikes to choose from. The shortest hike is around 1.5 hours and the longest will take you around 5 hours. But it all depends on your level of fitness. To make the hike more comfortable make sure to bring enough water, food and plenty of sunblock with you! A picnic on top is recommended!
As mentioned before, surfing! If you are a beginner take some lessons, offers are endless at Muizenberg. Even if you don’t take After a nice surf session, end your day with a walk over the Muizenberg Catwalk to enjoy the sunset.
Every Friday at 4pm the Blue Bird Garage Market opens at 39 Albertyn Road in Muizenberg. This family friendly indoor market has everything you could be looking for at a market. The market caters gourmet dishes, fresh ingredients, fresh food, artisan products and bespoke goods. This market that closes at 9pm is a good start of your weekend.
Restaurants/Bars
The Muizenberg boulevard is filled with Surf shops, but luckily there are also plenty of nice restaurants and bars to choose from. If you want to finish your day at sea with seafood, then make sure to go to one of the fish restaurants that serve seafood as fresh as can be. If you have had enough sea for the day, you can also find burger places, ice cream parlours, bakeries and much more along the beach.
You can also go for lunch or diner in Kalk Bay. In this town right next to Muizenberg you can find lots of nice restaurants. You can get here easily by the train going to Simons Town.
Where to stay
Muizenberg has a couple of backpacker hostels along the beach. Make sure you book ahead; especially during summertime these places are popular.
Pros:
· The beach.
· Beautiful view from Muizenberg Mountain.
· Calmness
Cons:
· The distance to Cape Town CBD.
· No nightlife.
Observatory
Observatory or ‘Obs’ is a student suburb in Cape Town. Observatory offers a wide range of entertainment. Especially during the nights, plenty of bars are open and some of them offer live music. The variety of people in Obs is amazing, most of the youngsters are students or artists dressed in hippie clothing.
Transport
During the day you can walk on the Main Road and the top part of Lower Main Road. The best way to get to Obs is with a cab. Observatory is not the safest place to walk around, especially at night. Cape Town CBD is 15 minutes by car from Obs. So it’s recommended to take a cab for your day-trip to CBD.
Must do/see
During the Day you can enjoy the Main Road and the Top Part of Lower Main Road in Obs. You will find bars, restaurants and shops on these streets. If you are looking for nightlife, there is a bit here but you will probably want to go into the city.
Just out of Observatory, in Woodstock, you can find one of the most popular food markets in Cape Town. The Old Biscuit Mill Neighbourhood Market located at 375 Albert Road, is open every Saturday between 8am and 14 pm. The atmosphere is relaxed and easy-going, lots a people are hanging outside enjoying live music with a local beer or wine, served with fresh made food.
Restaurants/Bars
The Lower Main Road is the part in Obs to find bars. The bars are filled with all types of people; backpackers, students, hippies and artists. It is hard to leave the bar without new friends!
Where to stay
Obs has a lot of hostels around Main Road, which is centrally located in the area.
Pros:
· Variety of people.
Cons:
· Not that many cultural attractions.
· crime
As you can see there are plenty of choices when it comes to finding the best area to stay in Cape Town for you. Each neighbourhood has its charms and its lacks. Make sure to choose the neighbourhood that has most of the things you are looking for. If you are looking for a stay in Gardens of Greenpoint or would like to do any tours, check out our website here https://ashanti.co.za/
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