The Adventurer’s Guide to Cape Town

Hiking: Hiking the three peaks in Cape Town is not for the weak of heart, but the views are so rewarding. For beginners, start with Lion’s Head. This moderate hike will spiral you up to the peak where you get the most breathtaking views of the city, ocean and mountains. If you’re feeling brave, tackling Plattklip’s Gorge up Table Mountain is steep but well worth it to end up on top of one of the seven natural wonders of the world. (Pro tip: Save you legs by hiking up and taking the cable car down)

Paragliding: For the most exhilarating way to see Cape Town from the sky, try paragliding with Skywings Paragliding Cape Town off Lion’s Head or Signal Hill. The only scary part is jumping off the side of the mountain, but the gentle glide down is so serene over the ocean. Their sunset options offer some of the most incredible views.

Surfing: Muizenberg is a world-renowned beach for surfing. There are plenty of lessons for beginners or rentals for pros who want to get out on the water at Surf Emporium.

Shark cage diving: Gansbaai is a short drive away, and well-known for shark cage diving. For those not scared to come face-to-face with a great white, this is an unforgettable experience with Marine Dynamics Shark Tours.

Sand dune ATVing: Atlantis Dunes takes you a little bit north of the city but gives you the opportunity to take an ATV out onto the dunes. The guides are super friendly and helpful. If you’re a thrill seeker, this definitely is the perfect thing to get your heart racing.

Game drives: Kruger National Park is a short flight away from Cape Town and a great trip if you want to do some incredible game drives. For those who want to stay closer, there are a couple reserves, such as Aquila, that protect the animals and focus on sustainability, where they can still do game drives.

Cape of Good Hope: For those who prefer spending time in nature, the Cape of Good Hope is the southernmost point of Africa. These rolling cliff-slide landscapes offer hiking and stunning views. You will get up close and personal with some animals, including, but not limited to baboons, ostriches and if you’re lucky, an eland. The drive out to here on Chapman Peak (known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world) makes it a perfect day. Kenzi Travel and Tours offers a great day trip to the Cape.

Coffee: Cape Town has some of the best coffee in the world. For a steampunk café with incredible food, make sure to check out Truth Coffee Roasters. Origin Coffee is a beautiful café in Da Waterkant focused on incredible brews. If you find yourself in Woodstock, I definitely recommend heading to Flat Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Lunch & dinner: Zuney’s is open late, offering a menu of local waygu burgers, fries, wine and beer. You can’t go wrong. If you want to try your own hand at cooking, Pahari and Woodstock is a Zimbabwean restaurant that offers cooking classes with the owners. They teach you how to make traditional Zimbabwean food, which may include a bug or two for the brave. Kloof Street House has some of the best food and drinks in the city. They offer lunch specials daily with three courses and their Pornstar Martinis are to die for (I still have dreams about them).

Fine-dining: Nobu on the V&A Waterfront offers incredible sushi and seafood options. Pier is an incredible, fine-dining restaurant with a whimsical approach to phenomenal food headed by award-winning John Norris-Rogers. Alternatively, head to Norris-Rogers’ other restaurant, La Colombe, which has been named the best restaurant in Africa for good reason. No matter what, don’t skip out on the wine pairings.

Dessert: Unframed Ice Cream is a highly rated shop boasting unique flavors. For a more aesthetic experience, definitely head to Moro Gelato.

Cocktails: The amount of cocktail bars in Cape Town that should be on this list is numerable. If you can only go to three, here’s what I’d recommend. Art of Duplicity is a speakeasy, highly rated in the world featuring fun drinks, but before that you have to solve some riddles to even find your way in. Talk to Strangers is an unassuming bar offering inventive cocktails on a fun light bites menu. The “secret“ Gin Bar behind Honest Chocolate Café is worth a visit for their gin cocktails and champagne room.

Wineries: There are almost 500 wineries in Cape Town, which makes sense knowing that South Africa is the third-largest producer of wine in the world. Delhiem is a small operation with stunning grounds and a fun cupcake and wine pairing. Oldenburg is a newer winery in Stellenbosch that offers a beautiful tasting room and delightful wines. Vergenoegd Low Wine Estate has beautiful grounds and a duck parade twice a day showing off the birds that keep their grapes safe.

Markets: The market scene in Cape Town is a must-see, but be warned, they are usually only open on weekends. Here you can find food vendors and local artist/crafts, which makes phenomenal souvenirs. My three favorites are Oranjezicht City Farm Market, Neighborgoods market at Old Biscuit Mill and the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay.