Mostly Cape Town, as that’s where I spent 3 months in 2008 for my quarter abroad for Kellogg. But since a few of my friends are going to the World Cup this week, I dug up my recommendations list to share with the world. Enjoy!
Restaurants:
Wijnhuis – fantastic restaurant in wine country, Stellenbosch, best lamb I’ve ever had, great wine list
Manolo - this one’s my all time fav. get the lobster or the salmon
Mama Africa - good for African game, crocodile (tastes like fatty pork) and springbok are the favs
Hussars - good steak place and where I had the Rupert & Rothschild Classique wine (so awesome).
Olympia Café – great restaurant in Kalk Bay (next to Muizenberg) and the one I reminisce about most, on the way down to Cape Point, open 12-3pm or after 6pm
Lecca il Gelato - gelato so good I had to limit my intake.
Bukhara - CBD. upscale indian food. tandoori chicken was good
Codfather’s - pick your own fish from the display case, different types, and they cook it up for you, pay by pound
Wakame - fancy, pricey on the water sushi in Green Point on Beach Rd, Wafu is the bar upstairs for good happy hour
Wine Country:
You should definitely spend a night in wine country. The only place I’ve stayed at was in De Oude Meul in Stellenbosch – reasonably priced and nice. A little older, but still nice, and a great location that lets you walk to some great restaurants.
Ridgeback: Beautiful little winery with excellent wines. Located in Paarl. Good reds and dessert wine.
Fairview: A bigger winery with a ton of different wines, but some are very good (try the Spice Route Vigionier). Also has a goat farm and makes excellent goat cheeses that you can taste. Good spot for lunch as well. Located between Paarl and Stellenbosch. Touristy.
Simonsig: Really good wines, medium sized. Located in Stellenbosch. I like the Syrah and the Chenin Blanc here.
Vriesenhof: Great tiny winery, very non-commercial. Great staff as well. Really great red wines, the Kallista and the Enthopio. Fav of the Kellogg crew that visited.
Ruperts and Rothschild: By appointment only, and only 2 wines (sometimes 3), but worth it if you’re in the area.
Activities:
Garden route - waterfall hike (otter trail) at Tsitsikamma, oysters in Knysna, also options to ride ostriches, elephant sanctuary, and bungee off the highest bridge
Cape Point - there’s a small beach that no one goes to that’s off the beaten track that has some nice white sand dunes, Platboom Bay, on the west side right above Cape of Good Hope
Table Mtn - you gotta call to see if the cable car is running, otherwise hike up. best early in the morning, before 10am to catch it before the fog rolls in
Lion’s Head - good hike and everyone comes out for the full moon hike and brings wine and food up
Woodstock Neighborhood Goods Market - Saturday mornings in Woodstock (artsy area) at the Old Biscuit Mill. Great food and crafts. Good local scene.
Kloofing – also known as gorging, jumping down waterfalls and sliding down rocks through a canyon. Do not attempt if you’re scared of heights, pretty intense.
Kitesurfing – lessons in Table Bay.
Surfing – Muizenberg
West coast of S. Africa, north of Cape Town – if you go, make sure you check out Langebaan for great views and the 6-course beach braai (braai is South African bbq, they take it very seriously, need reservations)
Art galleries - there are a few interesting ones in town. AVA (Association for Visual Arts) on Church St.
Concerts - outdoor in Tokai or in town at The Assembly
Bars:
The Radisson bar around Moullie Point: Great for happy hour / sunset drinks. Right on the water with a great view of the city. Hard to find a seat unless you get there early for happy hour.
Fashion TV: Good dance club – pretty Euro. Crowded. Wednesday’s the good night.
Saul’s Salon: If you’re up at 4am, drunk, and looking to extend the night… think the Deuce.
Cubana: Good mojitos and hookah bar. Loud.
Hemispheres: You’re classic schmancy club with hip hop and electronic. Cover to get in and top of a building in downtown, good views. Mixed crowd. Weekends.
La Med: Beach bar between Clifton and Camps Bay. Underage frat crowd, smaller dance floor, outdoor drinking and scene-y. Largely rich South African crowd. Sundays.
