Cape Town

There are many things that I wish I knew upon my arrival in Cape Town, one of which is very, very important. If you’re a foodie like myself, you know that one of the things that you need to know going into a new city is how to tear through it gastronomically. If you’re the type that plans lunch at breakfast and dinner at lunch like so many before us, this article is the one for you during your stay in Cape Town.

In classic foodie fashion, and the niftiest way to plan, it is, of course, organized by meal (you’re welcome in advance). 

The following list and set of descriptions is one not only based on my own personal opinion (though I think that it can certainly be trusted…). It was compiled based on recommendations from the other students on my program who brought their own excellent taste buds to the table for our feasts. 

Bon appetit! 

Breakfast/Brunch

Suprette This breakfast spot has some excellent breakfast bagel sandwiches and a pretty decent latte. Plus, its convenient location Woodstock Exchange means it's optimal for some good post-meal shopping! 

Clarke’s Whether for breakfast, lunch, or everyone’s favorite meal combo, this spot is a must-do! I’m a puppy for a good bowl of fries and this spot had it, and the chicken buttermilk burger was delish. 

Jarryds A trendy little spot in Sea Point, this breakfast joint does it better than maybe any other one in Cape Town. I like to consider myself a breakfast sandwich connoisseur myself, and Jarryds does it best! 

Kleinsky’s Delicatessen One word: bagels. Kleinsky’s got ‘em, and you need ‘em, baked to deliciousness and to be enjoyed on-site or on-the-go. But that’s not all! You also couldn’t go wrong with the challah French Toast or a fresh pastry from their spread. 

Nest Before I can even begin with the food, I have to start with the view. Situated on the gorgeous Constantia Uitsig property and overlooking one of the many beautiful winelands of Western Cape, you’re enjoying your breakfast with a view! And, as a plus, the food is fantastic! Portions are small so you might need to get one and split with a friend, but it’s worth it nonetheless. 

Lunch

Old Biscuit Mill This one is more than just a meal, it’s an experience. Open on Saturdays in Woodstock, Old Biscuit Mill is a whole hodgepodge of options for some of the best food in Cape Town. It’s a must-do, more than once, because you won’t be able to enjoy its specular spot in all its glory the first time around.

Cocoa Wah Wah A popular spot among UCT and study abroad students alike, Cocoa Wah Wah is a great spot to pop in for a meal after or before or even between classes if you have the time.

Jeans Kitchen at UCT Hustle and bustle your way into the heart of UCT at this hoppin’ spot for your falafel fix that will satisfy your mid-day hunger for sure! This vegetarian Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant located in the Rachel Bloch House is a popular one for lunch on campus.

Mojo Market I cannot endorse this one enough. Filled with some of the best pop-up restaurants in the city, it’s a great stop in for a group of people with different tastes and stomachs. If you’re lucky, the live band will come out to play a set too!  

Dinner

Eastern Food Bazaar Dubbed by multiple sources (to be trusted, I promise) to be a Cape Town favorite restaurant, Eastern Food Bazaar is a great spot for dinner in groups. A market-style restaurant with options spanning from traditional South African Cape Malayan to Chinese, their big portions are sure to fill you up the right way.

Saigon I have to say this is my favorite (though not to take away from any of these other fantastic dinner spots!), and I am not the only one to say so. With some of the best sushi in Cape Town, and fantastic noodle dishes too, this Vietnamese / Sushi twist is sure to please. 

Kloof Street House This one’s a little fancy, but it’s worth the trip for this beautiful venue and delicious food. Set in one of the most hoppin’ parts of town, it’s the perfect spot for a nice night out on the town.

Bocca For an Italian fix like no other, this is the perfect spot for you. Situated in Cape Town CBD, it’s a beautiful venue with a fantastic bowl of pasta!

Bay Harbor Market at Hout Bay Open on Friday evening, the Bay Harbour Market is a great spot for any fix you’re looking for. With a great array of options in every stall, you’re sure to fill your belly with something worthwhile.

Willoghby’s One of the best sushi spots in Cape Town, Willoughby's at V&A is a fantastic spot to fill that Japanese crave. Can’t go wrong with a fried rice or noodle dish either! They’re the jack of all dishes.

UberEats

Mr. Lin’s Sushi and Thai This Uber Eats blessing has a very Chinese take on Thai curry including ingredients like bamboo shoots and wood ear for a nice blend on a classic dish. It's a great one for a dinner in or a late-night crave crush!

Gourmet India Great spot for some fast Indian cuisine. Fast and gourmet? What else could you ask for!

1890 House of Sushi One of the best sushi spots in Cape Town, this spot can be enjoyed on-site or on UberEats, with an extra nod to its Tiger Roll. The Chicken Fried Noodles also come highly recommended for their authenticity to actual Chinese fried noodles.

Pizza Co. Need your late-night pizza fill up? Pizza Co. is the one to call! They’re quick, they’ve got plenty of options, and their pizzas are the perfect size for a hungry you.

Now I'm hungry...and I'm sure you are too. So go out and enjoy! I know I did. 

A week and a few days ago, I found out that my study abroad program was cut short, and that we were all required to go home. Now, I think we all have done a lot of talking about why, so I am sure you already know. But, what you don’t know is how I spent my last week. 

After finding out that I would have to leave Cape Town, my friends and I put together a comprehensive day-by-day itinerary jam-packed of all of our bucket list items in the five days before we were out. Think of it like a list of Must-Do’s (among many others), and add all of these things to your list! Trust me, they’re a necessity before you leave Cape Town. So important, in fact, that we packed them all into one week! Check it out. 

Monday

Brunch at Kleinsky’s Delicatessen in Sea Point. The food is good and the venue is great, soaked with fresh, sea-soaked air. (Highly recommend the Challah French Toast!) Order some bagels to go to save for lunch. 

Take a quick stop into Mash Boutique across the street for some beautiful South African fashion and jewelry designs. 

Day at the beach: Clifton #4. Bring a speaker and your towel, buck up for the day and rent a beach chair, and enjoy! You have your bagel when you get hungry after some time in the sun, and you can take a freezing dip in the water if you get too hot. It’s the perfect day, if I do say so myself. 

When the day starts to round up and you just can’t take the hot sun anymore, go ahead and head to Kloof Street in Gardens for a nice little walk of shops. There you’ll find a couple of vintage stores, boutiques, and South African shops to look for gifts for family members, friends, or just for yourself!

Just before sunset, finish up your walk in Gardens by heading to Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel for sunset. There is a rooftop bar where you can enjoy appetizers and drinks should you choose, or even if not, the view is spectacular. You’ve got it all the way around—from a view of the city to a view of the mountains to a view of the water—and it couldn’t get any better than that.

Once the sun goes down, and your stomach is grumbling, head off to a late dinner at the Eastern Food Bazaar. Recommended by many as one of the best spots for food in Cape Town, this market-style restaurant features a bunch of options, from traditional, South African Cape Malayan food to Chinese food, they’ve got an array of choices. Don’t make my mistake and be fooled by the affordability— the portions are huge! Enjoy! 

Day 1, down!

Tuesday

Go ahead and sleep in today, yesterday was busy! But once you’re up, put a nice outfit on, because you’ve got a fancy dinner today and a long day ahead. 

Start off the day out of the house with a great lunch! Mama Africa on Long Street is the spot. Enjoy some traditional South African cuisine here, and make sure to start off with the samosas (they’re fantastic!). Once you’re all filled up, time to get your shop on! 

Long Street is lined with a number of shops and boutiques that are great for souvenir shopping, or just for your own delight! I can tell you from firsthand experience that it was both! Start at Mememe, or at Greenmarket Square (the two ends of the shopping spree, up to you where to begin!) and walk straight down Long Street. There are plenty of options, whether you are looking for art and decor by local artisans, high fashion clothing, fun and funky jewelry, or accessories, you’re sure to find something you love on Long. 

Make sure you are wrapped up by at least 3:00, because you have a long drive ahead of you —you’re off to Stellenbosch! Stellenbosch is South Africa’s premier wine country, and by far some of the most breathtaking landscapes I have ever seen. If you make in on time, you can do a wine tasting at Delaire Graff Estate, or just grab dinner there instead. It is quite expensive, so heads up for that, but there are plenty of other vineyard options in Stellenbosch at which you can enjoy dinner and a view. If you want, you can stick around into the evening to enjoy some of Stellies’ nightlife, or head back in an Uber to get some sleep for tomorrow. 

Wednesday

Alright, make sure you get a good breakfast in your belly this morning because today’s plan is an all-day affair! 

!!! Heads up on this one though, you need to apply for a permit for this hiking trail and it takes approximately three days to obtain. !!!

Pack some snacks (but beware of baboons!! -- For real, they stole our food, photo evidence below), and put on a swimsuit. For the first time in a long time (the water in Cape Town is cold!!!), the water will actually be warm enough for you to go swimming! 

IES Blog #4 Baboon.JPG

Take an Uber ride (it's a long one, so hope for an aux cord) to the Crystal Pools trailhead, and head up for the hike. It's not too long, about an hour to an hour and half, to the first pool. But keep going! There are five pools carved out in the mountains, and are not only beautiful, but warm enough to take a dip! The second pool is the best, if I had to choose, but if you want to check them all out, go for it! Take a look at the pictures below for motivation and inspiration to push through the hike. Trust me, it’s worth it!

IES Blog #5 Crystal Pools.JPG

Spend the whole day laying out in the sun and enjoying a swim under the waterfall until sunlight is soon to be up. Make sure you keep an eye on your stuff, because, like I said before, the baboons are lurking and ready to search for your food! 

You’ll probably fall asleep on the way home, but hang in there as long as you can! The view on the drive home is beautiful and you might not want to miss it! Definitely get to sleep as soon as you get home though because you’ve got a bright early wake-up call in the A.M. 

Thursday

I warned you—bright and early!—you’ve gotta leave by 4:30 in the morning if you want to make this one on time, we’re headed to a sunrise safari! Aquila Private Game Reserve and Resort offers affordable half- or whole- day safaris on their private animal reserve, which is home to all Big 5 animals and more. It’s about two hours away from Cape Town, so you can nap on the way there, and then enjoy your morning seeing the animals. 

IES Blog #5 Aquila.JPG

After your morning safari, enjoy the complimentary lunch buffet offered by the resort, and lay out by the pool on the resort’s property. Stay all day to get a full day of sun and swimming! Then, make sure to stay up and enjoy the drive home—it’s truly gorgeous!

Once you get back, grab some snacks and pack them up! You started your day with a sunrise, and you’re going to close it out with a sunset! Just a quick 45-minute hike (at worst), the Kloofs Corner trail ends in the perfect view of the coast for the sunset. See for yourself:

IES Blog #5 Kloofs corner.JPG

After your hike back down, hop in a quick Uber to Saigon for some of the best sushi and noodle dishes in Cape Town! (IMO)

Friday

Put on something comfortable to bike in, because you’ve got a ride ahead of you today! But first, obviously, brunch! Start at Jarryds in Sea Point for breakfast, where I highly recommend the breakfast sandwich with avo (though others recommend the Eggs Benedict!). 

From there, take a quick walk around the corner and down the street (feel free to stop into a boutique here and there, Sea Point has some fabulous shopping!) to the Sea Point Pool. This is a great spot to spend your day in the sun and get a swim in. 

And right next door, you’ll find one of the pickup points for UpCycle bikes! There’s no better way to dry off and get some exercise at the same time than to take a bike ride along the coast. 

IES Blog #5 Biking.jpg

Enjoy a ride to the V&A Waterfront to make dinner at Willoghby’s, or to Camps Bay for dinner at Cafe Caprice. You can’t go wrong either way!

Saturday

Unfortunately, Saturday was take-off time for us, so we spent our day at the only place that felt right: the beach! But first, of course, breakfast! Suprette is a great breakfast spot and conveniently located in the Woodstock Exchange, where you’ll find a bunch of little shops and boutiques for some quick shopping. 

Once you’re ready to go (and maybe grab some bagels to go before you do!), head to the beach. We chose Camps Bay, but Clifton #1 is a great option too. Soak in the sun and don’t take it for granted! It was the last of ours, and I already miss it a whole lot. 

IES Blog #5 Camps.JPG

Even if it’s not your last week in Cape Town, this itinerary can serve as a whole list of Must-Do’s that you can toss onto your list! Trust me, if we wanted to get to all these places when we only had five days left, then you should get them in too!