City Guide – Cape Town

This beautiful South African city is perfect for exploration by foot, but also  has a good public and private transport system: taxis, Uber, trams and buses are widely available, so buy a day pass to hop on and off.

Highlights Covered in the Brand g Tours

Your Brand g city tour of Cape Town will give you an overview of the city and wonderful views of the bay. During our included full day tour of the Cape Winelands regions of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, you will participate in wine tastings and enjoy an incredible luxury picnic lunch at the Warwick Wine Estate. Our tour of the Cape Peninsula will show you the Good Hope Nature Reserve, Simon’s Town and Boulders beach, home to a huge colony of African penguins.

We’ve also included free time in Cape Town, so you can choose which additional sights you want to see, like Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned), Table Mountain, or even diving with sharks.  You can book these at our   Add-On’s Section  where you will find full details and pricing.

Cape Town Highlights To Explore on Your Own

In addition to the optional tours, you may also wish to explore any of the cultural hot spots or just take in the waterfront, beaches or markets.

Cape Town Theatres, Museums and Libraries

Cape Town has a number of theatres offering varied entertainment including The Fugard, The Baxter Theatre, Theatre on the Bay, and the Maynardville Open Air Theatre. Details of what’s on can be found HERE.

With such a wealth of history, Cape Town has a large number of museums to feast your cultural senses on.

District Six Museum

Apartheid Museum 

Robben Island Museum – Brand g Tour Option

Irma Stern Museum

South Africa Jewish Museum

South African Museum

South Africa National Gallery

Cape Town Diamond Museum

Gold of Africa Museum

Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden

More attractions and details can be found HERE. 

These are just some suggestions. Feel free to consult the hotel concierge staff or other resources.  Keep in mind, hours of operations can vary.

There is no shortage of great food in Cape Town. The following is a list of recommended or award-winning restaurants to try. Consult your hotel concierge for reservations. as hours may vary.

Nobu: Located within the One and Only Hotel

Upscale Japanese menu breaks down into two main concepts – classic dishes and local specialties. Classic dishes are those that have been with Nobu since the beginning, and that are, in part, responsible for making the brand what it is today. Those dishes include Miso-Marinated Black Cod, rock shrimp tempura, yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, and king crab tempura. The next wave of Nobu dishes, known as Nobu Now, are born out of regional flair. Each location is given the freedom to experiment with local ingredients and create dishes that pay homage to Nobu’s traditions while at the same time representing and embodying the destination.

Reverie Social Table: 226A Lower Main Road Observatory, Cape Town Central 7925. +27 21 447 3219

Join  Chef patron Julie Hattingh around her 18-seater table, put away your phone (by request) and engage with your fellow guests as you enjoy a 5-course meal along with carefully selected wines. #ProudlySouthAfrican

La Colombe Constantia:  Silvermist Wine Estate, Main Road, Constantia, Western Cape, South Africa. +27 21 794 2390 [email protected]. n.b. 30 min drive from host hotel.

Even if you don’t partake in the wine-paired options at La Colombe, the fine dining experience will leave you giddy. Having paced third in the Mercedes-Benz Eat Out Restaurant Awards, the restaurant is a guaranteed delight. Forest-themed theatrics set the tone for this culinary wonderland, without ever detracting from the star of the show: the bold and unique dishes that will have you talking about this restaurant for years to come. It’s another of Cape Town’s fine dining establishments to make the global list of top restaurants. The flawless food pairs with excellent wines, in an enchanting setting overlooking the Silvermist Wine Estate. This is for those diners who want something truly unique and special.

FYN:  Speakers Corner Floor 5th 37 Parliament Street, 8001. +27 21 286 2733.

Fine dining Japanese fusion experience, where discoveries are made when boundaries are crossed. The lines between the kitchen and the dining room become one as you go on a  theatrical journey of flavour discovery.

The Pot Luck Club: Silo Top Floor, The Old Biscuit Mill, 373 – 375 Albert Road, Woodstock. + 27 21 447 0804

Luke Dale-Roberts makes the list once again with The Potluck Club, located in the Old Biscuit Mill, which is worth a visit in its own right. It takes fine dining tapas to the next level, with great views of the city and harbour. The menu is divided into flavour profiles: salty, sour, sweet, umami, and bitter. Guests select their dishes by marking them down on the paper menus, and then the chef decides on the serving order. You really can’t go wrong with any of the menu items. They also do a Sunday brunch with a set menu and bottomless bubbles.

Thali: Chefs warehouse & Canteen on Bree. +27 (0)21 422 01 28 For reservations email: [email protected]

One of the newer contenders on the fine dining scene is Liam Tomlin’s Thali, which serves Indian-style tapas. The décor is worth the visit alone, with mosaic details and copper touches. The outside courtyard is like a little oasis, while the indoor seating is moody and dimly lit. The curry-spiced oysters are sublime and unique, and the fish tacos (served in taco-style poppadoms) are fresh and flavourful. Consider ordering the set menu so you don’t miss out on anything. They don’t take bookings, but there is ample space so you shouldn’t have much trouble getting a table.

The Knysna Oyster Company: 37B Dock Road V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Central 8001. +27 83 442 0953.

Specializing in fresh, cultivated, pacific oysters produced in the cool clean waters of Nelson Mandela Bay. Their fresh oysters are available all year round, direct from the farm to your fork! The oyster bar offers a variety of raw and speciality oysters in a fun and lively environment. Perfect to sample a glass of wine on the waterfront.

Being described as South Africa’s (and Africa’s) gay capital, Cape Town no doubt has a sort of je ne sais quoi quality attracting all members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community to its pretty pink inclusive shores. In fact, South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution was the first in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. Not to mention, South Africa was also the fifth country in the world, and the first country in Africa, to legalise same-sex marriage. Today, Cape Town is one of the most popular destinations in South Africa for local and international LGBT members.

The Mother City’s ‘gay village’, is concentrated in and around the CBD (Central Business District), particularly in Green Point’s chic De Waterkant. It is here that the hedonists, the diverse, the multi-cultural and the multi-sexual come out to play. Although, like many other cities around the world the gay scene is shrinking, we’ve managed to find a few gems.

Please ensure that the venues are operational and open before attending.

Bars

Stargayzer:  Caxton Street | Parow | Cape Town | +27 (0)72 343 0494. Opening Hours: Fri – Sun: 9pm – 4am.
Shimmy on over to Stargayzer in the Northern Suburbs to see where the party is at. The Parow haunt is seen as one of Cape Town’s most iconic gay nightclubs. The hotspot hosts various DJ’s, a great dance floor, a lounge area and two bars, and brings together amazing people for nights you won’t soon forget.

Beefcakes:   34 Somerset Road | Green Point | Cape Town. +27 (0) 21 425 9019. Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 7pm – 12am
Big Bay: Monday – Friday: 5pm – 11pm | Saturday and Sunday: 12pm – 11pm.
This American 50s diner-style burger joint is a wildly entertaining eatery with a touch of madness and a lot of man-ness! Inviting anyone and everyone to experience drag dining at its finest, Beefcakes offers guests frivolous (and raucous) performances, beefy (topless) waiters and legendary (mouth-watering) burgers. On any given night, the drag-tastic restaurant has a variety of live entertainment acts, themed nights and fabulous events on offer which is in addition to their gourmet burger menu. If you are not keen on the bun and patty option (although we highly recommend you try them), there are other meal options available, including salads, chilli poppers and nachos. Whether you are there for the actual beef patties, beefy waiters or beefing awesome performances, Beefcakes will ensure that you get the “full Beefcakes experience from the plate to the stage”!
Note: Be sure to order a body shot off the torso of one of the hunky barmen or waiters!

Café Manhattan:  74 Waterkant Street |De Waterkant | +27 (0) 21 421 6666. Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10am – 11pm
Café Manhattan – a member of the Madame Zingara family – is as much a restaurant as it is a watering hole. This chic eatery, with a hint of the Wild West, is the longest standing venue in the heart of De Waterkant and is a firm crowd favourite. Guests can choose to indulge in their monstrous burgers (all served with double-dip fries and onion rings) and sumptuous desserts (try their delectable chocolate cameral brownie), chill out on the terrace with a cocktail, or have a late-night rendezvous in the bar. Whatever the occasion, Café Manhattan welcomes everyone and anyone – all you need to do is just saddle up and take a ride, cowboy!