If you are going to visit South Africa you will almost certainly visit Cape Town, so it is important that you find the right place to stay, for us some of the best areas to stay in Cape Town are the City Bowl, and the neighbourhoods it includes, Gardens, Green Point and Camps Bay.
The best places to stay in Cape Town
There is nothing complicated about staying in Cape Town, as there is a wide range of establishments to suit all budgets.The only thing you should consider is the area you choose, as it is a city where there are big economic and even social differences between neighbourhoods:
1.City Bowl
The City Bowl is what is colloquially called the city centre.This area includes such well-known residential neighbourhoods as De Waterkant, Tamboerskloof and Woodstock.
This is the location of the Central Business District (CBD), an important financial centre in South Africa.the South African Parliament is located on Plein Street, the seat of government for six months of the year.The provincial government of the Western Cape and the Cape Town municipality also have their headquarters here.
Walking down the streets is an interesting mix of Art-Deco buildings with imposing skyscrapers reminiscent of New York’s Big Apple.So much so, that some scenes from the film ‘The Lord of War’ starring Nicolas Cage were shot here, pretending to be the center of Manhattan.
In this neighborhood you can find everything from charming cafes to sophisticated nightclubs.One of its most famous spots is the mythical Long Street, a beautiful avenue of colorful Victorian houses that offers a wide range of bars and restaurants.In 1990 and after more than 20 years in prison, Nelson Mandela addressed the entire nation from this building once he was released.in 1994, he would do so again as the winner of the first democratic elections and the country’s first black president.
CITY BOWL ACCOMMODATION
2.Sea Point
Another great place to stay in Cape Town is Sea Point, one of the richest and most populated areas of Cape Town, located between the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Lion’s Head Mountain.It is very lively and its seafront promenade, the main feature of the neighbourhood, is always full of people who come to enjoy the sea breeze.
Another important attraction is the Bantry Bay public swimming pool.”, “It also features the popular tide pools at Saunders Rock and Milton.
In general, this is an area with a wide range of restaurants, such as the Winchester Mansions (Beach Road, 221), which features a popular Sunday brunch with jazz music; or Franky’s Diner (Main Road, 303), a venue inspired by the 1950s that’s open 24 hours a day.
The Mojo Market is another important meeting point in the neighbourhood, open seven days a week and with 30 different food stalls, as well as live music shows and screens showing sporting competitions.
SEA POINT ACCOMMODATION
3.Green Point
Many tourists who stay overnight in Cape Town do so at Green Point.It is situated in the north-west of the central business district, offering a quiet residential area for the city’s young professionals and LGBT community. Somerset Road is its main street and is home to most cafes, restaurants, delicatessens and nightclubs.
Amongst its places of interest is the Cape Town Stadium, built specifically to host some of the matches that took place during the 2010 World Cup, and which currently has guided tours showing the changing rooms, VIP areas and other facilities of the stadium.
Also of note is the Green Point Urban Park, a pleasant park in the middle of the city, perfect for picnics.It has an open-air gym, a playground, an adventure area and a maze, as well as a wide variety of plants and information boards with details of all of them.
Finally, we should mention the Green Point lighthouse, which is wrongly called Mouille Point and is said to be the first solid lighthouse in the country, being illuminated for the first time in 1824.It was built by the German Herman Schutte, and today it remains virtually unchanged.
GREEN POINT ACCOMMODATION
4.Gardens
Also known as The Gardens, it is a perfect place to book accommodation in Cape Town and is situated just south of the city centre, directly below Lion’s Head and Table Mountain.It is a neighbourhood with a high class population and numerous chic hotels, restaurants and shops.
It is also an important centre for the creative industry, as the headquarters of the TV station e.tv are located here.It is also home to the famous five-star Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel.
The area is famous for the Table Mountain, the symbol of the city.”, ‘
Next door is Lion\’s Head, which offers unparalleled views of the Mother City, at an altitude of approximately 670 metres above sea level and especially beautiful at sunset.
LOCATION IN GARDENS
5.Tamboerskloof
Located between the Cape Peninsula National Park and Gardens, just outside Long Street and at the foot of Lion\’s Head, this is one of the oldest residential areas in the city, with an interesting mix of Victorian houses and Art Deco buildings.It is one of the most popular places to stay in Cape Town,
It is only a 15 minute walk from the city centre and is well served by public transport and is a quiet and safe area close to Kloof Street, known as the “Restaurant Mile”.There are also antique shops, bookstores and charming cafés where you can sit and have a drink.
Near the neighbourhood is the Company\’s Garden, a beautiful botanical garden in the heart of the city, the oldest garden in the country, dating back to 1652 when Jan van Riebeeck\’s created this space to grow vegetables for the colony.It not only houses galleries and museums, but also important festivals every year.
One of the museums located in the garden is the Iziko Museum.The word Iziko is from the Xhosa language and means heart.
LODGING IN TAMBOERSKLOOF
6.Camps Bay
It is ideal for travelers who want to stay in Cape Town to enjoy the beach, but without leaving the main tourist attractions.It is an idyllic location facing the turquoise sea and under the watchful eye of the mountain known as the Twelve Apostles.
It has a charming air of a coastal village, which may be because it remained virtually undeveloped during the 19th century.Kloof Nek, the road linking Camps Bay to the city centre was not built until 1848.And it wasn\’t until 1887 that the Victoria Road leading to Sea Point was completed.
Its beautiful palm-lined boulevard offers a wide variety of cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a nice meal with a view of the sea.In addition, the fun continues after nightfall, as there are numerous bars to go out in. Its most famous beach is Camps Bay Beach, which has been recognized as a Blue Flag beach since 2008, a wide expanse of white sand, the largest in the area.It has a lifeguard station and public services, as well as a wide selection of shops and accommodation where you can stay in Cape Town.
CAMPS BAY ACCOMMODATION
If you are going to visit other cities in the country besides this post on the best areas to stay in Cape Town we recommend you: Where to stay in Johannesburg, where to stay in Durban
7.Waterfront
It is located between Table Mountain and Robben Island, in the heart of the city.The V&A Waterfront has become one of the major tourist attractions of this South African destination.
Around it are numerous office buildings, luxury apartments and hotels of the highest category for travelers who want to stay in Cape Town in this area.Other tourist attractions in this charming neighbourhood include the Two Oceans Aquarium, so called because the area links the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic.
The Maritime Museum is also worth a visit, showing the country\’s naval history from prehistoric times to the present day.From this popular port it is possible to take helicopter rides to appreciate the natural beauty of the city, as well as the boats that take you to see the Robben Island prison where Mandela was imprisoned.
One of the curiosities of the Waterfront is that it has its own colony of seals, specifically sea lions.It is a pleasure to see them so close to the city.
ECU ECUADOR ACCOMMODATION IN WATERFRONT
8.De Waterkant
It is an area belonging to the Green Point neighborhood, located southeast of Somerset Road and adjacent to the CBD.Built in the 19th century, it is now one of the most fashionable areas of the city, with a selection of historic buildings, chic shops and cosy cafes. It is popularly known as the “Pink District”, due to the wide range of gay bars and restaurants on offer.
With its boutique hotels and tourist apartments, it is an ideal choice for staying in Cape Town.It is perfectly located just a few metres from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Fan Walk and is a foodie\’s paradise, with everything from Italian to Turkish cuisine available here.Every year, the Cape Town Carnival is held on Somerset Road in March, bringing together thousands of people for an event full of colour and music.
But if there is one thing that catches the eye in the area it is the Prestwich Memorial, a place of remembrance showing the bones found during the construction of Green Point.It is the starting point for exploring District One, the ancient cemeteries of the Slave Route.
LOCATED IN DE WATERKANT
9.Bo-Kaap
It is located south of De Waterkant, on the slopes of Signal Hill.Today it is a picturesque neighborhood full of colorful houses where you can learn more about the Islamic population that inhabits this exciting South African city.
Among its streets you can see the Bo-Kaap Museum, created by the slaves brought from Southeast Asia and who were freed centuries ago, this group of people was known as the Cape Malay.It is believed that their influence was fundamental for the generation of the Afrikaans language, a simple version of Dutch.
The community that inhabits this neighborhood is part of its historical legacy.Dishes that are generally made with vegetables, spices, fruit and meat, not forgetting of course curry!
It is a curious place to stay in Cape Town, a rich cultural heritage that will benefit from your visit, since all contributions made within Bo-Kaap go directly to the members of the community of this historic district.
BO-KAAP ACCOMMODATION
10.Woodstock
The colourful neighbourhood of Woodstock is located two kilometres east of the centre of Cape Town.
It is situated at the foot of Devils Peak, with wonderful views of the harbour, divided by the Main Road and has elegant and spacious Victorian houses.One of its most famous places is the Neighborhood Goods Market, where local food is sold on Saturday mornings.
Here is the Castle Brewery, one of the oldest commercial breweries in the country, designed by American architect H. Steinmann.In front of it is the Beach Road, a reminder of how far the coast used to run in the past.
It is also interesting to see the Treaty Tree, a tree where the peace treaty between the English and the Dutch was signed in 1806; it witnessed the sale of slaves until 1834 and the hanging of criminals.
What is the best area to stay in Cape Town?
If you are planning where to stay during your stay in Cape Town, at Best Locations Hotel we give you the best recommendations to stay in the most central and safest areas of Africa’s most popular tourist destination.Cape Town, considered the most cosmopolitan city on the continent, welcomes millions of visitors every year from all over the world to admire one of its wonders: Table Mountain.
The centrally located Gardens district is situated at the foot of Table Mountain and is the most exclusive and safest area of the city. There you will find the best hotel offer with rooms overlooking the mountains. Tamboerskloof, which borders the Gardens and the colourful Bo-kaap neighbourhood, is considered the trendiest neighbourhood in the city , where you can find a wide range of restaurants and the majestic Signal Hill and Lion’s Head.
Enjoy Cape Town from its best accommodation in the Gardens and Tamboerskloof, in the heart of South Africa.
If you are interested in knowing where to stay in Cape Town , you may also be interested in knowing where to stay in Johannesburg and where to stay in Zanzibar.
The best areas to stay in Cape Town
Gardens
This is a neighbourhood strategically located south of the city centre and is mainly inhabited by upper class residents, mostly young professionals.It has also become a center for the creative industry, headquarters of e.tv in Longkloof Studios, and is the sector that brings together modeling agencies, producers and publishers.
Its main tourist attraction is Table Mountain, which with its impressive 1,086 meters high, was made worthy of the post as one of the wonders of the world.It is the symbol of Cape Town and to climb it, you can take a cable car and enjoy the scenery during the journey which takes less than ten minutes. The most daring prefer to walk up some route of ascent. It is recommended to wear a hat and sunscreen. No traveler can miss the spectacular views of the city center, Signal Hill, the districts of the Atlantic coast and in the distance, Robben Island and the beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton.
At lunchtime, the Gardens is home to some of the most sophisticated restaurants, as well as fast food franchises and the famous fish and chips, with many of the area’s workers coming for a stop at Socieyt Bistro, a restaurant offering delicious food and a wide range of wines, and the city’s typical cape-malay food.To do your shopping, you can visit the Lifestyle on Kloof shopping centre, the best shopping destination in the city, just a few steps from the main tourist attractions and restaurants, with a wide variety of shops and a modern infrastructure, which has been recently renovated.
From Gardens, a few minutes walk, you can reach the city centre.Another option for getting to know the city is the tourist bus service, known as City Sighseeing, which offers interesting tours of the area, as well as minibuses, another alternative for getting around the city and experiencing African daily life.
One of the most popular tourist places at night is Long Street, where you can find many restaurants, bars and discos, as well as avant-garde clothing shops, antique shops, travel agencies, etc. It is a cosmopolitan place where you can also breathe a provincial air.
The Company’s Garden is a public access park for those looking for a break from the hectic city life, with a rose garden, Japanese garden, fish pond, more than 8000 species of plants and paths for a relaxing walk.Also within the garden area are The Planetarium, the Iziko Michaelis National Gallery, the School of Fine Arts, as well as the Iziko South African Museum, which specializes in nature and earth sciences. Next to the park is the Parliament and other government offices. A few meters away, visitors can find the Slave Lodge, where you can learn about the history of the city and slavery.The District Six Museum, which records the stories of the former black residents of the neighborhood who were evicted to create a white city, reflecting the apartheid era, is worth a visit.
Gardens Hotels
Tamboerskloof
This is Cape Town’s fashionable district, bordering the Gardens and Bo-kaap neighbourhood, and is located a 15 minute walk from the centre of Cape Town.These two mountains are part of Table Mountain National Park and you can walk for over an hour on Signal Hill, but it’s worth the effort to get to the top and see the city from the top, while Lion’s Head is located between Table Mountain and Signal Hill.From there, you can contemplate the extraordinary landscape or enjoy an extreme sport such as paragliding.
This central area is one of the best recommendations to have a pleasant, quiet and safe stay, and just minutes away from the hectic urban life.
