{"id":1244,"date":"2021-10-17T15:21:09","date_gmt":"2021-10-17T15:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wandercapetown.com\/?p=1244"},"modified":"2023-11-24T09:03:30","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T09:03:30","slug":"city-center-cape-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wandercapetown.com\/neighbourhood-guide\/city-center-cape-town\/","title":{"rendered":"City Center Cape Town | CBD Attractions & Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cape Town is a really sprawling city, with suburbs stretching across the mountains and hills of the country\u2019s southernmost edge. And at the heart of it all is our city center, a business district with plenty of attractions and activities, restaurants, cafes and bars. And all with the monumental Table Mountain as backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I lived in the City Center of Cape Town for a few years, and did plenty of exploring! Since there\u2019s so much happening in the center, I\u2019ve split it up into activities – things to do – and attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your time and preferences, I\u2019d recommend spending at least a weekend in the heart of Cape Town before moving onto one of the adventure sports<\/a> neighbourhoods for some more nature-based fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safety – what to keep in mind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Because of its centrality, the city center can be a little less safe than other neighbourhoods. Pickpockets are relatively common in heavily-populated areas, and can even, on rare occasions, threaten you with a knife or gun. Because of this, it\u2019s best not to carry your valuables with you, and to keep your bag zipped and at your front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may also see a lot of homeless individuals living in tents and sleeping bags on certain streets. This can come as a bit of a shock – but it\u2019s important to know that most of these people are non-violent, and are struggling under governance that does not provide adequate support for impoverished and drug addicted citizens. If you behave calmly and respectfully, you\u2019re very unlikely to be physically threatened by anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, it\u2019s important to note that the likelihood of threat increases when you\u2019re on your own and exploring quiet streets. Women in particular should try to stick to well-populated, well-lit streets, or walk with a friend. You can find more safety tips and resources here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to do in the City Center<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The city center is the perfect place for tourists to start when exploring our beautiful city. It\u2019s small enough to walk, and you can easily go from here to anywhere else in the city, using the MyCiti busses<\/a>, trains, or uber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let\u2019s jump right into what to do in the city center!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stroll through Company\u2019s Gardens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Located right in the heart of Cape Town is Company\u2019s Gardens. This beautiful green space is home to many indigenous plants and trees, along with lovely sprawling lawns shaded by trees, where people enjoy picnics or just laze about on a sunny day. You\u2019ll see plenty of squirrels and birds (and rats if you visit in the evening – fair warning), and there are often buskers playing good music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch a film at The Labia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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One of our favourite thrifty activities in Cape Town<\/a> is going to see a film at The Labia! This old-school independent theatre is one of the oldest in the country, and screens both arthouse films and bigger names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Labia Theatre is cheaper than other moviehouses, with weekly deals where you can get dinner and a movie for really good prices (R110 – R180 for two people). They also sell alcohol and coffee and tasty treats at good prices – and they don\u2019t restrict you from bringing your own snacks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This old theatre was a bit of a lifesaver when we were broke students, and we\u2019d strongly recommend everyone pay it a visit. Maybe you can even see a South African film while you\u2019re at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit Long Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The iconic Long Street — one of the best places to be at night in Cape Town<\/a>! Sometimes Long Street is overhyped, and then you feel disappointed when you actually walk down it and find that, whatever positives, it is <\/em>just a street. But if you don\u2019t go in expecting the world, this very long street can be great fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On weekend nights (or any night but Mondays and Tuesdays, those are our jol <\/em>recovery days), Long Street lights up. Particularly on Cape Town’s summer<\/a> nights! You\u2019ll find live music at various bars, along with some very different kinds of clubs, bars and restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the day, Long Street is a fun shopping center, with some high-end restaurants and cafes that are well worth a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore Bo Kaap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Perhaps the most famous neighbourhood in Cape Town is the bright and colourful Bo Kaap. It hugs a steep hill, with cobblestone streets and candy-coloured houses, overlooking the city center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bo Kaap is formerly known as the Malay Quarter and remains the center of the city\u2019s Cape Malay<\/a> community. Because of its lovely location and uniquely bright buildings, the neighbourhood has become very sought-after and suffered from gentrification and rising prices. However, in 2019, various parts of Bo Kaap were declared National Heritage sites, and are thus protected for the residents!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to respectfully exploring this beautiful and historic area, I\u2019d highly recommend popping into Atlas Trading for some spices. And, if you have the time, even joining a Cape Malay cooking class<\/a>. You\u2019ll be able to learn more about the culture and how to make some of their incredible traditional dishes – and then eat them! As locals who\u2019ve always enjoyed Cape Malay cuisine, it was such a pleasure to do this class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a meal on Kloof Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the last few years, Kloof Street has emerged as Cape Town\u2019s favourite street for date nights, cocktails and decadent meals. The restaurants on this street are pricey, but offer some of the best food I\u2019ve ever had. In particular – Black Sheep, Ricks Cafe Americain, and Saigon are three of our all-time favourites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also on this street is Van Hunks, a super popular bar and grill. So you can start your evening with a drink or two here, and then move on to one of the restaurants, or walk down to Long Street for some live music or dancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go shopping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Filling up on peanut butter at Nudefoods, Zonnebloem<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of Cape Town\u2019s neighbourhoods are not really shopping districts, but this is not one of those! The city center is home to many local businesses and brands<\/a>, and you can find treasures up most of the streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This area also has shopping centres and international brands, but I\u2019d really recommend checking out the Capetonian creations, whether you\u2019re on the lookout for souvenirs, clothing, ceramics – anything. Cape Town is a city of entrepreneurs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Market-wise, this neighbourhood has Greenmarket Square, a flea market with various local arts and crafts. The Waterfront is also nearby, with multiple markets of its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cocktails at the Pink Lady<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Pink Lady, also known as the Mount Nelson Hotel, is one of Cape Town\u2019s oldest and most attractive hotels, with beautiful views of our Table Mountain<\/a>. Of course, most of us can\u2019t afford to actually stay here. But what you can <\/em>do, is go for fancy cocktails at the in-house Planet Bar. Some of the best cocktails I\u2019ve had were here – and they also hand over a lovely selection of salted nuts with your drinks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vibe is very classy and cool, making it a perfect spot for a fancy date. You can even follow up your cocktails with a film at The Labia since it\u2019s a 2-minute walk away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head over to the Waterfront and join a sailing tour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Waterfront isn\u2019t technically within the city center, but it\u2019s so close that I want to add it to the end of this list! Particularly because sailing out from the waterfront gives you the best view possible of Cape Town\u2019s center, with Table Mountain rising up behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are various sailing options available, including short lunchtime trips, dinner cruises, and the sunset champagne sail<\/a> that we did and loved. Whichever you choose, you\u2019ll sail out from the strikingly pretty harbour, glide out on the water, and maybe even see some seals and whales on the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free & cheap places<\/strong> in the City Centre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re exploring Cape Town on a budget, here is a list of activities that are generally under R50 or entirely free! <\/p>\n\n\n\n