Dining and Day Trips in Cape Town

Dining in Cape Town
As one of the most modern, cosmopolitan cities in Africa, Cape Town is an excellent destination for foodies in search of an unforgettable meal at a price much lower that what you would pay in the states.

Along the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, you’ll find plenty of tourist-oriented restaurants, but because of their prime location, they can be overpriced. For a better selection of ethnic restaurants offering fare at lower prices, try Long Street (along street that runs down the center of the city and it popular with budget travelers). The trendy De Waterkant area, between Bo Kaap and Green Point is another hot spot for delicious, but reasonable priced food. At these places expect to pay under $10 for a basic meal, up to $30-$40 for something a little more upscale. For a bit of splurge, head out to the nearby winelands where you can enjoy a leisurely, multi-course menu in a romantic setting with wine pairings for under $75 per person at Le Quartier Francais.

Local specialties include the Karoo lamb, seafood such as yellowtail, cape salmon, and kingklip, and oysters farmed in Knynsna down the coast. For an authentic local meal that costs just a few bucks, try bunny chow, bread hollowed out and filled with curried vegetables, chicken or lamb.

Day Trips
From Cape Town proper, there are nearly limitless options for day trips. Boulders beach is known for its large penguin colony. Visitors come to watch penguins frolic around and, during September, hatch from their eggs. A visit to the Cape of Good Hope is a regarded a must-do as well. Though many people think that this spot is where the Pacific and Indian Oceans meet, it’s actually several miles east. Still, it’s a dramatic sight and a wildly beautiful one.

Hout Bay, features calm waters, a beautiful beach, and Seal Island, a small island covered in seals (just watch out for the smell!). Two hours from Cape Town, you’ll find the Bontebok National Park and the De Hoop Nature Reserve, which is a perfect spot for whale-watching in season (December to March) .

Many people who come to Cape Town also drive at least a portion of the Garden Route, a picturesque road that leads from Mossel Bay, via George and Knysna to the Tsitsikamma National Park on the south coast. Those who continue on the road can go to Port Elizabeth, Cintsa and the Wild Coast, eventually Durban and Swaziland, though this would be much more than a day trip. The trip from Cape Town to Swaziland in total will take several days if you stop at scenic points and for meals.

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