Here we are, back in Cape Town! This time for a very special trip we have been planning for about 2 years now!
I probably should have known this, but I only recently learned that Cape Town was established in 1652 initially intended as a ‘temporary’ refreshment point for ships traversing the oceans to gather spice imports from Asia. Cape Town started its development as a small community that provided fresh water, vegetables (with Brussels sprouts being the first veggie planted here) and meat to sailors who worked for the Dutch East India Company.
EATING
- The Conservatory – we went straight from the airport and we were not disappointed! A great way to start our adventure with delicious food (and wine!) at this lush, elegant restaurant, flooded with natural light and a green house type feel.
- Breakfast and coffee – or lunch in our case as we missed breakfast at Olympia Cafe https://olympiacafe.co.za/. An ‘institution’ as I saw it described somewhere, it has its own bakery and serves HUGE, delicious pastries and a seasonal lunch as advertised on a black board.
As I like to look things up and understand how they came about, I learned that Olympia was born, like the best of things, over some delicious Chardonays, and out of a lack of good flat whites in the South Peninsula. And go it goes that ‘in November 1997, a greasy old fish-and-bait shop named Olympia Café had the words “and Deli” added to its signage, and those iconic corner doors opened for business. A legend was born.’ (even if they have to claim this themselves on their website). - Zola’s kitchen & deli, a vegetarian and vegan health cafe, creperie and deli. I tried their Mesquite Africano, super tasty!
- Mesquite coffee is a unique and flavorful beverage made from the roasted pods of the mesquite tree. Unlike traditional coffee, it is naturally caffeine-free and has a distinct, sweet, and nutty flavor.
- Foxcroft https://www.lacolombe.restaurant/foxcroft what a treat! Casual, super relaxed fine dining! We returned, we loved it and will come back. Oysters were a treat, yellow tail delicious and we discovered a few new exciting wines.
- Last stop before heading back to the airport: Adara at Palmiet Valley Estate, great food but the real highlight for me was the desert! Campari soaked oranges and Amarula ice cream! Yummy
WALKING
- Babylonstoren: great fun to walk around the gardens, perfect for a day trip. There are restaurants, workshops, garden tours, farm and lifestyle shops , a spice house and a garden spa, what else would one need? An interactive 19th century interactive farm? There it was, running multiple demonstrations,
- Kirstenbosh botanical garden: definitely worth at least 1/2 to explore, I wish we had more time. The canopy walk was great fun, fab views of Table Mountain as you walk among the tree tops. Also interesting to see (says the history nerd in me) the thick hedge of native wild almonds, planted by Ian van Riebeeck in 1660, that marked the boundary of the new Cape Colony and was intended to help keep the Khoisan away.
- Fish Hoek historical walk to Muizenberg via Kalk Bay following the coast line.
- Obviously, Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope. Lots of hiking options here, keen to come back.
Other things to do:
- Canoe with penguins from Seaford beach, fun way to see the penguins
- Chapman’s peak drive: wow views
SLEEPING
- For the first few days we stayed in Fish Hoek with Teresa, the friendliest host ever https://www.airbnb.com/l/nEgACub. Amazing mountain and ocean views from the lounge and from the main bedroom, yay!
- Casa del Sonder in Cape Town near Bo Kaap (bit doggy at night (as we learned walking back after dinner) but great fun as a one off).
You know it aaall! 