Cape Town Central - Where to Go

Cape Town’s city centre reflects what this vibrant city is all about youthful energy, an eclectic mix of people, excellent food and drink, and every opportunity to party.

The city centre also showcases some of Cape Town’s oldest buildings and reveals a variety of architectural styles that are a testament to the various influences in its unique history. Here you can find beautifully restored Cape Dutch buildings flanked by high-rise office blocks and some of Cape Town’s best hotels, all with spectacular views over the city.

Home to a mixture of corporate giants and small independent businesses, Cape Town’s city centre is characterized by a constant buzz, no more so than at lunchtime when its narrow streets are full of networking business people, market stall owners and lively entertainers. It’s also home to most of Cape Town’s nightclubs and late-night eateries – head for Long Street to be at the centre of it all.

The suburb of Gardens lies next to Cape Town’s city centre at the foot of Table Mountain. This affluent area is a creative hub – home to art galleries, modelling agencies and film studios – and boasts many chic shops, restaurants and vibrant bars where Cape Town’s young and beautiful go to mingle.

Immerse yourself in the Gardens lifestyle and take a wander down fashionable Kloof Street or treat yourself to high tea at the world-famous Mount Nelson Hotel after a visit to the nearby National Art Gallery and the Company’s Garden.

Oranjezicht (meaning Orange View) is a quiet suburb with a charming character that places it on many people’s list of favourite places to live within the city. Set between the edge of the city centre and the lower slopes of Table Mountain, this former farmstead is now home to a range of upmarket and luxurious accommodation with expansive views over the city bowl and Table Bay.

Popular with international visitors, expatriates and the fashionable crowd, Oranjezicht boasts a number of stylish eateries, bars and delis where you can grab a gourmet sandwich and a cappuccino before heading off to explore the rest of the Cape Peninsula.

Higgovale is a small, leafy suburb tucked away on the slopes of Table Mountain at the edge of Cape Town’s city centre. This exclusive residential area is home to some of Cape Town’s most stately homes and beautiful gardens and, because of the incline of the mountainside, houses are often multi-storied, providing wonderful views of the city below.

Its elevated position and dense thickets of trees provide Higgovale with an atmosphere of tranquillity far removed from the daily grind of city living. Largely free of the summer’s notorious south-east wind, Higgovale is the ideal location for those seeking a secluded and sheltered base from which to explore the city centre and beaches of Cape Town, both of which are a mere 10-minute drive away.

Lying on the slopes of Lion’s Head and Signal Hill, the suburb of Tamboerskloof has amazing views of Cape Town. The generous size and elegant style of the houses here hint at the special nature of Tamboerskloof and indeed this suburb has long held a reputation for some of the most sought-after addresses in the city.

Gracious and often beautifully restored Victorian villas line the quiet streets of Tamboerskloof and it’s a short walk to tucked-away bars and delis. Table Mountain and Lion’s Head are just a 5-minute drive away while another five minutes will take you to Camps Bay beach. Popular among locals and international visitors alike, Tamboerskloof is home to some of the city centre’s most exclusive boutique hotels.