Cape Town is my home, it’s where I was born and although I left at nine years old I instantly felt reconnected to this beautiful place when visited back in March 2019. Victoria (my girlfriend at the time) and I went for three weeks where we stayed with my Aunty in an area on the Eastern Cape. We did daily trips exploring the two coastlines and also frequented the vibrant suburbs and urban city areas. It was the trip of a lifetime, I hope you enjoy the photos and the words, I’m stoked to share this special experience with you!
Camps Bay
Camps Bay was the first spot we hit to get some beers and food to wash off the jet lag. Camps Bay is known for is beautiful beachside homes, white sandy beaches, and ice-cold water. There are also plenty of watering holes and places to eat, which was exactly what we were after on a sunny summer evening.
Woodstock
Woodstock was our favorite suburb in Cape Town, it reminded me of places like Brooklyn, Hackney, and Fitzroy. If you’ve lived or been to these dope spots you know what I’m talking about. A vibrant atmosphere full of creative energy, hip bars, and cafes. Like the east end in London and the north of Melbourne, Woodstock is an area that was notoriously dangerous a decade ago but has undergone gentrification of the last five years making it one of the most sort after areas in Cape Town.
All of the coolest fashion labels, cafes, bars, record shops, and vintage clothing stores we found in Woodstock - As the locals termed it “super vibey”
The Waterfront
The Waterfront in Cape Town is a mix of new restaurants and bars, juxtaposed against old fishing docks. We loved dining out here, top restaurants with primo seafood!
Stellenbosch
We had a few day excursions, one of the highlights was definitely the wine tour of Stellenbosch. We joined a wine tour group and enjoyed a day of wine tasting, a traditional South African BBQ called a Braai and ended the day with some wine and chocolate pairing. Stellenbosch is an incredible region just north of Cape Town, this is where a lot of South Africa’s famous wine exports originate.
Hout Bay
Cape Town has loads of beautiful coastal suburbs and towns, some of the highlights for me were Simons Town and Hout Bay. We drove down to the coastal town of Hout Bay one evening to catch the sunset and have dinner at a renowned seafood restaurant; Mariners Wharf. Hout Bay has an incredible bay formed by two headlands. These headlands make for a dramatic picture when the clouds climb over the mountain top, and nestled below you have the suburban houses making this a really unique setting.
Simons Town
On our way to Cape Point, we stopped off at a place called Simons Town, an epic little fishing town with quaint buildings and amazing seaside restaurants, cafes, and bars. You definitely got the feeling that the area had a rich history with the Victorian architecture evoking character and charm.
Bo Kaap
Another unique vibrant suburb in Cape Town is Bo Kaap. Colored houses in this city side area make this a prime spot for instagram shots. Formally a racially segregated area and also previously known as the Malay Quarter, Bo Kaap is the historical centre of Malay culture. It’s obvious why people flock to get snaps here, I definitely had my camera out constantly.
The Markets
Cape Town has several culturally diverse markets, the two standouts were the Biscuit Factory market in Woodstock, and the Oranjezicht City Farm market. Both markets operated on a Sunday and had plenty of music, crafts, beverages, and delicious food on offer.
The Coastline
Cape Town is situated between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, it boasts some of the best surf in the world and breathtaking mountainous backdrops. The most famous mountain being Table Mountain, right at the heart of Cape Town. We enjoyed spending weeks navigating the coast, experiencing amazing sunsets and also, enjoyed a couple of surfs. The photos don’t do the scenes justice.
