Quantcast
Channel: Traveler's Digest » South Africa
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 9

The Beaches of Cape Town

0
0

Cape Town is often considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and with good reason, as the city, sandwiched between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, has an absolutely stunning landscape.

Whether it’s the vistas from the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, the waterfront shops at V&A Waterfront or the city’s trendy nightlife centered along downtown’s Long Street, Cape Town really does have something for everyone. But to see where the city really shines one has to visit its beaches!

A distant view of Cape Town and Table Mountain.

A distant view of Cape Town and Table Mountain.

The beach is at the center of Cape Town’s laid-back lifestyle and in the summer it can seem like the entire city is at the beach catching rays. The stretch of Atlantic coastline between the V&A Waterfront and Hout Bay is about as scenic as it gets. Victoria Road weaves along this coastline, which is sometimes referred to as “Cape Town’s Riviera,” along the oceanfront cliffs and mountainsides passing through the fashionable neighborhoods of Clifton and Camps Bay before reaching Hout Bay.

Downtown, by the V&A Waterfront, the Shimmy Beach Club is the place to go to enjoy drinks under the African sun. The only beachfront club downtown, this club is packed with Cape Town’s young elite who come to enjoy its seaside swimming pool, private beach and lounge bar. Meanwhile, at night the restaurant and dance club keep guests entertained until late.

Driving south from Downtown, Beach Road travels through the suburb of Sea Point before turning into Victoria Road and rounding the bend of Lion’s Head and arriving at Clifton.

Besides being the trendiest and most posh area in Cape Town, Clifton has a spectacular beach that wouldn’t look out of place on a post card for the Seychelles or some other tropical paradise. Giant rocks jut out into the turquoise water and separate the beach into four distinct coves. Clifton’s 4th beach is the most popular and a blue-flag beach, so it’s perfect for swimming or sun tanning.

The gorgeous white sand of Clifton's 4th beach.

The gorgeous white sand of Clifton’s 4th beach. Photo credit Warren / CC BY-SA

After an afternoon on the sand visit a nearby restaurant for dinner. The Bungalow is an upscale restaurant on the Clifton shoreline that has panoramic views of the coast and Lion’s Head. The contemporary cuisine is light and refreshing, exactly what’s called for in the hot African summers, and the deck has a splash pool for those extra hot days.

Another option in Clifton is La Med. This Mediterranean restaurant has an oceanfront location with tons of tables outside that are perfect for drinks or dinner. After the sun goes down local DJ’s spin tunes until late night.

For a trendy cocktail bar experience in Clifton, look no further than the Salt Vodka Bar at the Ambassador Hotel. This uber-posh bar has more than 30 vodkas available for guests to enjoy while they admire the views of Clifton.

Just south of Clifton on Victoria Road is the neighborhood of Camps Bay. Here a beautiful white-sand beach stretches out in a horseshoe shape in the shadow of the Twelve Apostles, which are twelve mountain peaks that provide a stunning backdrop to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Camps Bay is incredibly affluent, and nothing short of palaces dot the gentle hillside slope that rises from the beach to the base of the Twelve Apostles.

The beach at Camps Bay with the Twelve Apostles.

The beach at Camps Bay with the Twelve Apostles. Photo credit Charlie Dave

Camps Bay is a great place to stay, as it has a relaxed vibe and a number of boutique hotels to entice visitors. For instance, the Primi Royal is a boutique hotel with a rooftop swimming pool, ocean view and trendy cocktail bar that doesn’t disappoint.

Forgetting about the beach for a moment, The Grand Cafe on Victoria Road is the perfect place for brunch or a light lunch. This restaurant is decorated in a light Parisian-style and serves chic cuisine accompanied by an extensive local wine selection. Elsewhere in Camps Bay, the Café Caprice is a popular restaurant for dinner, as the sunset views from its seaside location are just fantastic.

From Camps Bay Victoria Road winds along the coast for almost 15 kilometers to Hout Bay. This secluded coastal suburb has a beach, but most visitors come for its fishing-village vibe. Fish and chips is a popular option at the local restaurants, and no seafood restaurant is more highly regarded than the Chapman’s Peak Restaurant. Every weekend locals from across Cape Town come to enjoy its seafood offerings, like its famed calamari, from the seaside terrace.

An overview of Hout Bay from the Silvermine Nature Reserve.

An overview of Hout Bay from the Silvermine Nature Reserve. Photo credit Warren / CC BY-SA

See the Destinations on the Map

The post The Beaches of Cape Town appeared first on Traveler's Digest.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 9

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images