{"id":1170,"date":"2021-09-26T15:23:30","date_gmt":"2021-09-26T15:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wandercapetown.com\/?p=1170"},"modified":"2023-11-21T10:46:04","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T10:46:04","slug":"sea-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wandercapetown.com\/neighbourhood-guide\/sea-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Sea Point | Neighbourhood Guide to Cape Town\u2019s central coastal hub"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The beautiful coastal neighbourhood of Sea Point is one of the most accessible and enjoyable areas in Cape Town! It\u2019s also my own neighbourhood, so I\u2019ve been exploring everything it has to offer. And it\u2019s not just the Promenade!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve put together a resource on all the best things you can do and see in Sea Point, including the caf\u00e9s and coffee shops in the area. From hiking and kayaking to Sunday strolls with picturesque views, there’s a great deal to enjoy here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13 Best things to do in Sea Point<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, let\u2019s jump into all the best things to do in Sea Point! Despite being a pretty small neighbourhood, Sea Point packs a punch. You can enjoy multiple adventure sports<\/a> here, surprise your partner with the perfect date, or spend a lovely day with the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hike up Signal Hill<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Signal Hill is one of the most unappreciated hikes in Cape Town<\/a>! Approaching the track from Sea Point\u2019s Ocean View Drive, it\u2019s an easy trek with stunning views over the city. We do the walk every week, and it\u2019s always a joy (and perfect for trail running). The track slopes very gradually up and around Signal Hill<\/a>, surrounded on either side by plantlife, with Sea Point below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you reach the top, you\u2019ll see the whole of Cape Town city<\/a>, with Table Mountain and its sister peaks, stretching out before you. And if you turn to the left and walk a little further along the track (past the mosque), you’ll soon come to a bench overlooking the sparkling ocean. It\u2019s a magical spot to sit and take it all in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a walk along the Promenade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Of course, the Sea Point Promenade has to feature on any list of Cape Town activities<\/a>! The Promenade is just so peaceful and beautiful and well-frequented. It\u2019s also very long, and you can spend an hour walking from one end of it to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On that walk, you\u2019ll see dogs and children playing, people gyming using the outdoor gear, waves crashing, seagulls and oystercatchers<\/a> flying about, and lots of people enjoying the fun. I\u2019d recommend strolling along the length of the promenade, and then going for a coffee at one of the cafes below. That\u2019s one of our favourite ways to spend a Saturday morning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Promenade also often has giant photo displays along its ocean wall, and at the moment (2022) you can find displays of Thomas Peschak\u2019s work, and a South African birdlife exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the kids to the pool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This is one for the bright summer days! At the western end of the promenade, you’ll find a large public pool. Sitting just off the ocean, this is one of the prettiest traditional pools I’ve seen, with terrific views and pools of different depths for various ages and swimming skills. It’s open from Monday to Sunday from 7am – 6:45pm. It costs R31 for adults and R17 for kids, and it has its own changing rooms etc. Its best during the week, when it’s less busy, as it can get packed during summer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Play putt-putt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Now, I\u2019ve never played putt-putt here myself, but I hear very good things! It\u2019s a cute little miniature golf course perfect for dates or days with the kids. And it\u2019s right next to the Promenade, and to Green Point Common<\/a>. So you can really make a day of it, and follow your putt-putting up with ice cream from the Creamery (right outside the entrance to the park) and then a stroll through the extensive gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a dip in the ocean<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Sea Point has a few tide pools where you can take a chilly, exhilarating dip. It\u2019s not for the faint of heart outside of summer, but when the sun is warm, there\u2019s nothing quite like it. Particularly because so many birds make their home in the area, so you’re really surrounded by nature despite being so close to the cityscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while they’re not among the top beaches in Cape Town<\/a> because of the rocky coastline, Sea Point also has a few little beaches. I’d recommend Rocklands Beach as the prettiest, but all are great for sunbathing and a dip. Kids also love them, because of the light sand, lack of waves, and curious creatures living in all the natural rockpools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look for colourful creatures in the rockpools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Speaking of the rockpools! Sea Point’s beaches are more rock than sand, which might make it unideal for swimming – but only for humans. There is so much life here, it’s phenomenal. In a single rockpool, you might find dozens of marine plant species, molluscs, and brightly coloured sea anemones, their tendrils swaying in the water. Be careful not to step in the water, as you don’t want to disturb these bustling ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rent a bike and explore<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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There\u2019s something special about riding a bike on a sunny, breezy day. And Sea Point is a wonderful place to do it! On the western side of the promenade, you can rent a bike and set off to explore. Follow the coast and enjoy the salty smells, stunning views, and the wind blowing through your hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is also an ideal option for those who want to explore Sea Point and Green Point in an hour rather than three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grab something to eat and enjoy the view<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the western end of the promenade, you\u2019ll find some lekker food stalls. You can find something to eat here and then grab a spot to sit and enjoy the view. There\u2019s always a lot going on here, and you can alternate between people-watching and bird-watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the paragliding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This is much like watching the general views, but I thought I\u2019d add it in here separately because Sea Point and Signal Hill are so popular for paragliding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can watch the paragliders from the Promenade (or from everywhere in Sea Point – we see them every day through the window). But if you want a great view, the Signal Hill hike is the best vantage point. From here, you\u2019ll be meters away from the whooping paragliders, and really get to see the trick turns and elegant gliding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in actually paragliding yourself, check out our paragliding post<\/a>! It\u2019s fantastic fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take your kids to the park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have children, Sea Point is particularly lovely. At least, I believe it is – I don\u2019t have any kids of my own. But I always see happy kiddies playing at the little park on Sea Point\u2019s western side. As well as zooting along on bikes and scooters, or admiring the happy doggies<\/a> playing on the grass. There\u2019s a lot of happiness going around!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also take your kids to explore the rock pools that form along the rocky coast, and run around the beaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go kayaking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Another fantastic way to see Sea Point – and beyond – is from the water. From their base at 179 Beach Road, Mouille Point, you can join Cape Kayak Adventures on a two-hour ocean adventure around Sea Point and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trip gives you perfect views (and photo opportunities) of Table Mountain<\/a>, the Twelve Apostles, and our beautiful cityside coastline. You may also be joined by dolphins – particularly on summer mornings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join a boxing or yoga class<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re keen to get a bit of exercise or try something different, Sea Point has a number of yoga studios – perhaps the most popular being Hot Dog Yoga<\/a>. You can spend an hour stretching out and challenging yourself, before grabbing a coffee just below the studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also try a boxing class at The Ring Reloaded<\/a>. We found it extremely challenging and rewarding, and it\u2019s so cool to get those gloves on and have a few rounds. Just be aware that it\u2019s super tiring! We felt rather broken the day after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the sunset<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Sea Point is such a wonderful place to watch the sunset in Cape Town<\/a>. You can walk along the promenade to watch the full hour of changing lights and colours, or you can pop down before going out to dinner as a beautifully romantic start to your evening. With the rockpools, far-stretching ocean, and usually, lots of clouds for the sun to reflect off of, you get twice as much sunset as any area on the other side of the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve also found that the promenade is uncommonly safe for Cape Town<\/a> in the evening, particularly on summer weekends, simply because there are so many people out enjoying it. So that safety element makes it an even better place to relaxedly watch the sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lovely caf\u00e9s in Seapoint<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Kura and I working at Schoon with some very tasty cheesecakes to keep us going
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One of the things Seapoint is most popular for is all the lovely cafes. Since we moved to the neighbourhood, we\u2019ve tried all of the below, and just loved each of them! It\u2019s honestly very difficult to rein ourselves in and not pop down for a coffee and a pastry twice a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pauline\u2019s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pauline\u2019s is a charming little cafe with a focus on sustainability and healthy options. In addition to some top-quality coffee, you can grab one of their sweet vegan creations. Or sit down for a unique salad – the one I had here included a bunch of things I\u2019ve never had in a salad before, like barley, apple and thin slices of cabbage, and it was terrific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My personal favourite here is the cinnamon buns, which aren\u2019t too sweet at all and pair perfectly with a flat white. The cafe itself is quite narrow and intimate, so it\u2019s perfect for a solo or romantic trip, but not ideal for families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schoon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Schoon cappuccinos with our favourite Mervyn Gers mugs, featured in our Cape Town’s small businesses post<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schoon is a favourite of mine because of their delicious fresh-baked bread (which is half-price after 2pm on a weekday) and their terrific coffees and pastries. So basically, everything they offer. The service can be a little slow, but it\u2019s always enthusiastic. It\u2019s also a great place to work if you like remote working from cafes, with handy plug points and good music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coco Safar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coco Safar is kind of an upmarket restaurant\/cafe. But if you buy just a coffee, they bring it to you on a little wooden board with a mini lemon madeleine and a small glass of sparkling water. And for the same price as a coffee anywhere else!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also have lots of tasty treats and a lovely atmosphere, so if you\u2019re feeling luxurious, I\u2019d definitely recommend popping in here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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When we visited Naked a few days ago, it was only because Pauline\u2019s was closed. But we ended up having the best carrot cake all three of us have ever had. The cafe itself has a great aesthetic, with lots of green tiles and wood, and plenty of light. And while I can\u2019t speak for the rest of their food and drink, their iced coffees and confectionary are just fantastic. Perfect for summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Sugar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On the less healthy side is My Sugar. Specialising in creative chocolates and confectionery, this little cafe is a den of temptation. So just don\u2019t expect to walk in here and have only a coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve had a few of their chocolates, including ones with caramel miso paste, marshmallow fluff, and toasted almonds. But I know that they\u2019re always coming up with new creations, so I\u2019ll have to visit again soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can sit here and have a treat with your coffee, or you can order some choccies to go – or both. It\u2019s great fun, and totally decadent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jarryds Espresso Bar + Eatery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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If you feel like a particularly elegant cafe, Jarryds is extra classy! And the large cappuccino is brilliant, with a touch of cocoa to make it even tastier. Jarryds is a mimosa brunch type of caf\u00e9, with plenty of plants and natural light, and a pretty hipster vibe. I like my cafes a little more rustic, but that\u2019s personal preference, and this place was great. It also has very cheerful service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Acai<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Be Acai is a healthier cafe option in Sea Point. In addition to coffees, you can find some fantastic smoothies and juices here, to go or to enjoy here. We also had some lovely wraps and sandwiches, and I know you can get great acai-based smoothie bowls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free and cheap spaces in Sea Point<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Sea Point is full of fun and exciting things to do and see, we want to make sure we provide a plethora of activities for all price points. Below you will find a list of cheap or entirely free activities for you to enjoy when exploring this neighbourhood of Cape Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n