Experiences

Clifton’s four beaches are separated by big granite boulders that not only shelter the beaches from the infamous southeaster winds that prevail here during summer but also separate them into five distinct destinations namely: Clifton 1 to 4, and then Moses Beach which is only revealed at low tide. You’re on Clifton 4th, home of the proverbial sundowner, volleyball competitions, paddle boarding and early morning cold water swims and Clifton Surf Lifesaving Club, one of the oldest lifesaving clubs in South Africa. It’s a place where families gather on weekends and where yachts come to moor on scorching summer days. It’s where the cry of the ice-cream seller: ‘A lolly to make you jolly’, is a familiar soundtrack and where in summer the sun only goes down at 9pm.

We can’t wait for you to experience Clifton through the lens of our family home, it’s one of our favourite places in the world and we hope the experience of having your own private villa on this most famous of beaches offers rest, relaxation and the time you need to fill your cup with sun, sea and good times. Whether you’re enjoying a bbq on the front lawn of the house prepared by our resident chef or heading out to sample some of our favourite restaurants, activities and destinations, our concierge services will make sure you get the experience you crave.

To whet your appetite, we’ve put together a list of some of the things we love doing when we are in the city – do as much or as little you feel like. We also have a sister property in Devon Valley in Stellenbosch as well as a wine estate and wine bar, so we’ve taken the liberty of including a few of our favourite winelands destinations there too.

Enjoy!
Sue and Bernard

EAT

Your location in Clifton means that you are within walking distance of some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, cafes and outdoor experiences. Our top recommendations are as follows:

Mantra Café, 43 Victoria Road, Camps Bay, + 27 65 823 3901
Mantra is the perfect breakfast, lunch and dinner spot with views directly onto Camps Bay Beach and a consistently good menu, wonderful interiors and the best shop.

The Eatery, 51 Victoria Road, Clifton, opens at 8am, closes at 7pm
This little spot on the road above Clifton 2nd is a good place to start or end your morning walk with a coffee or a smoothie.

Salsify Restaurant, The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Rd, off Kloof Road. With sweeping views of the ocean and majestic Lion’s Head as a backdrop, Salsify’s locally conscious fine-dining menu is inspired by nature and driven by the seasons. Located in the former hunting lodge of Lord Charles Somerset, this is an experience that incorporates views, history, incredible food by chef and owner Ryan Cole and top-tier wine pairing. 021 010 6444 or reservations@salsify.co.za

Hugo Social Club, 9th Floor, 2 Kings Road, Seapoint, +27 286 9332
A unbeatable city rooftop destination for anyone who loves mountains and oceans in equal measure. Great for brunches, lunches, and sundowners, Hugo Social Club is a work space with views if you need to catch with the office while on holiday.

Pauline’s, 277 Main Road, Seapoint
Best coffee in town! Try their new shop in an old church at The Goodman Gallery in Greenpoint.

Sans Community, 277 Main Road, Seapoint, +27 21 205 4555
Best organic grocer in town, Sans supplies regenerative organic locally farmed goods to our communities with a call and collect service that allows you to reserve products in-store for prompt collection.
 
Saturday Food Markets
Oranjezicht City Farm Market: Granger Bay Blvd, V&A Waterfront/ +27 83 628 3426, open Wednesday 5-9pm, Saturday 8am-2pm, Sunday 9am-2pm. The OZCF weekly farmers' market is an exceptional offering of local produce, breads, eggs & dairy products, plus artisanal foods in a beautiful coastal setting. First and foremost, a sustainable community, farmer-style market, it caters ‘for independent local farmers and artisanal food producers.’ This local market not only provides Capetonians with fresh, healthy food (in many instances, food is vegetarian- and vegan-friendly or wheat-, gluten-, sugar- and dairy-free) and creates awareness for organic farming and food – but it also provides community upliftment and togetherness, while supporting passionate local entrepreneurs and local job creation.

The Old Biscuit Mill: 375 Albert Rd, Woodstock / +27 21 447 8194
The Neighbourgoods Market is one of Cape Town’s biggest markets and is open 7 days a week. It’s well known for the incredible spread of food offerings, with everything from breakfast fare to dumplings and gyros with craft beers to wash it all down. There are also great clothing stalls, crafts, artisan products, cosmetics, and just about everything else you could want! Combine a trip here with a booking at award-winning chef Luke Dale-Robert’s Pot Luck Club or Salon.

Bay Harbour Market: 31 Harbour Road, Hout Bay / +27 84 370 5715, open Friday and Saturday
Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay is a celebration of the vibrancy, spirit and diversity of creativity and culture that make South Africa such a unique country. Known for its ‘eats, beats and arts and crafts’, the Bay Harbour Market’s location in an authentic fish factory in a working harbour is unbeatable.

Time Out Market, The Old Power Station, Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, open 7 days a week is a food and cultural market that brings the best of the city together under one roof with a curated mix of the best local chefs, drinks, and cultural experiences.
 
SEE
 
Must-do day trips:
Robben Island Prison Museum Tour: www.robben-island.org.za
Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus: www.citysightseeing.co.za
Helicopter Ride Cape Town: www.helicopterscapetown.co.za
Two Oceans Aquarium: www.aquarium.co.za

DO

Outdoor Pursuits

Clifton and surrounds:
With nature right on your doorstep, there’s much to do see and do. The Clifton loop walk is a good way to familiarise yourself with the area, walk up to Victoria Road from the bungalow, turn left and walk all the way along the road towards Bantry Bay, you can take any of the roads to your right after the Bantry Bay Pharmacy and ascend until you get to Kloof Road, then turn right and walk back towards Clifton with eye-popping views for company. You make the route shorter too by using Clifton Stairs to get to Kloof Road or the more strenuous Biskop Stairs. Biskop is legendcary amongst runners and athletes, just half an hour of laps on the steep 301 steps is a solid workout with crashing waves your soundtrack.

Lion’s Head
Hiking up Lion's Head is doable for everyone independent of the expertise level. It is rated as an A+ hike if you choose the easy route. But if you are more adventurous there is the possibility to hike a more challenging route with ladders and chains. The whole way up and down Lion's Head takes about 1.5 hours. The path is rocky but sandy in parts so hiking shoes are a must. Please walk in groups and not on your own, particularly not in the early morning or late evening. If you would like us to help you find a guide to escort you, contact your host.

Table Mountain
There are many hikes up to Table Mountain from Platteklip Gorge (the most direct route up) to our personal favourite India Fenster, all of them quite strenuous and we strongly recommend that you use a guide to take you up. Alternatively, get the cable car up and down. Table Mountain Cable Way: +27 21 424 8181, www.toursbylocals.com

Padel Courts

Just a short walk to Clifton 4th car park and you’ll find a walkway between the community hall and public toilets that will take you to The Glen Country Club, where arguably one of the most beautiful Padel Courts in South Africa is located. With views directly onto the rocks and coastline of Mermaid’s Cove, there can be no greater way to start or end the day. Open 7am to 9pm daily. 3 Victoria Road, Clifton. Book in person or with https://playtomic.io

Ocean Kayak Trips
Just offshore from Clifton, another world awaits, one ruled by African penguins, Cape fur seals, sunfish (aka mola mola), southern right whales and dolphins – all known to swim so close to the coastline, you may not even need a kayak to see them. But if you’re looking to connect with nature and discover many more inhabitants of the thriving kelp forests that lie just offshore, and get a glimpse of what the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and Lion’s Head look like from a kayak, these guided tours are not to be missed. We recommend two companies for this: Kayak Tours Clifton, you can literally get on your kayak just a few steps from the house and spend 90 minutes exploring the coastline as part of a guided tour. You can whatsapp them ahead of time to make sure the weather is good for the day you have in mind. + 27 82 5313531. Or Cape Kayak Adventures, Three Anchor Bay, www.kayak.co.za, +27 74 810 2224 or + 27 83 346 1146

Volleyball
There’s always a volleyball tournament or practice happening on Clifton 4th and Camps Bay Beach but if you want to participate without any pressure to commit, try out Friends Who Volley, a free event that happens every Thursday evening at 5pm on Clifton 1st Beach. It’s an event for everyone, no matter your skill level, all are welcome. Instagram: friendswhovolley

Tandem Paragliding Flights
Take the skies for the experience of a lifetime as you soar high above the Seapoint skyline with views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles. An exhilarating head rush like no other. Flights depart from Lion’s Head or Signal Hill just behind the bungalow, depending on the winds. www.paraglide.co.za

V&A Waterfront Shopping

This world class shopping destination set in the scenic waterfront harbour is a full day experience with much on offer. From the wonders of the Aquarium to The Watershed, a beautiful and vibrant space where over 150 tenants sell unique products and arts and crafts. Don’t miss the AAFRICAA(pronounced ‘Africa’) Store at the Alfred Mall, an exquisitely curated lifestyle store contemporary African design, that is an exciting retail space for the continent’s leading contemporary brands and designers.

Southern Suburbs

The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is internationally recognised as one of the great botanical gardens of the world. Set against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the garden is home to five of South Africa’s six different biomes and places a strong emphasis on indigenous plants. Established in 1913 to preserve the flora native to South Africa, it is believed to have been the first botanical garden in the world with this vision, at a time when invasive species were not considered an ecological and environmental problem. Few gardens can match the sheer grandeur of the setting of Kirstenbosch, as such it’s the perfect place for a picnic with spectacular mountain views. Enquire about the outdoor concerts held here during the summer months. Guided Birding Walks by members of the Cape Bird Club are highly recommended too. www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch, www.capebirdclub.org.za

Deep South – False Bay and Southern Peninsula
The African Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach lives in a picturesque area, where enormous boulders divided by small, sandy coves provide a home to a land-based colony of about 1 000 African penguins. A popular international tourist destination with a dedicated visitor centre, it’s best to get there early before the crowds arrive. We highly recommend a swim at Water’s Edge Beach afterwards, in the warm water of a calm, protected bay.

Cape Point Nature Reserve is a place of rugged rocks and sheer cliffs that tower more than 200 metres above the sea and cut deep into the ocean, provide a spectacular background for the park’s rich bio-diversity. Cape Point falls within the southern section of Table Mountain National park. The natural vegetation of the areas – fynbos – comprises the smallest but richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms. The Flying Dutchman Funicular is the perfect way to reach Cape Point and enjoy the view.  www.capepoint.co.za

False Bay Ocean Tours from Simonstown. False Bay is home to an array of marine life, from the famous Great White sharks to Orcas (Killer whales), a variety of whales including Southern Right whales, Bryde’s whales, Minke whales and Humpback whales. Trips out to sea with seasoned sailor Craig Bovim regularly take in sightings of dolphins, mostly Short beaked Common dolphins as well as Risso’s and Heaviside dolphins who generally come play in front of the bow of the boat providing much joy for guests.

Veld and Sea Coastal Foraging Tours, Scarborough. Roushanna Gray is a wild food artist, foodie, and avid forager who shares her passion for the edible landscape by way of an immersive educational experience that inspires connection and creativity. Inspired by the natural world around her, Roushanna has been working with the exciting and diverse wild flavours found in the mountains, veld, forests, and gardens for the last 14 years. The tour takes in a wide range of delicious and nutritious culinary offerings from the beautiful inter-tidal rock pools and kelp forests along the South African coastline also plays a major role in her cooking and teaching. A must do experience.  www.veldandsea.com

Surfing at Muizenberg Beach, this is a great destination for beginner surfers and there are a number of surf schools here that can take you and your family out for an hour or more. All boards, wetsuits and equipment can be hired here too.   www.surfemporium.co.za

Big Game & Deep Sea Fishing Charters offer amazing adventures for the whole family from trips to Seal Island as well as tuna, yellowtail, snoek and marlin fishing trips. There are also Pelagic Birding Excursions into the Cape Waters where you can see Gannets, Albatros, Petrels and more including the different migratory species that come during different seasons.www.hookedonafrica.co.za

Horse Riding at Noordhoek. For those in the know, a guided horse ride on the 8km is the best beach outride in Cape Town. Backed by National Park, protected wetlands, the ride is around 1 hour long and starts with a 20 minute traverse through wetlands before you reach the unspoiled stretch of beach with magnificent views of Chapman’s Peak and The Sentinel as well as the washed-up ruins of Kakapo, a shipwreck that dates back to 1900. All beach rides are suitable for both novice and expert levels of experience.  www.horseridingcapetown.com

Golf Courses

Metropolitan: www.metropolitangolfclub.co.za
Steenberg: www.steenberggolfclub.co.za
Arabella: www.arabellacountryestate.co.za/arabella-golf-course
Erinvale: www.erinvalegolfclub.com
De Zalze: www.dezalzegolf.com
Clovelly: www.clovelly.co.za

Yoga

The Shala: www.theshala.co.za/ +27 76 909 3514
Hot Dog in Sea Point: www.hotdogyoga.co.za / +27 79 219 1584
Ashtanga: www.ashtangayogacapetown.com / +27 84 358 9863

Gyms

Virgin Active Green Point: www.virginactive.co.za /+27 21 424 0750
 
CAPE WINELANDS

Whether you are a budding sommelier or someone for whom a holiday is synonymous with good wine and good food enjoyed in a spectacular environment – no trip to Cape Town is complete without a day trip or a night or two in the winelands.

We’d love to welcome you to our family home Le Grand Jardin and our wine estate Le Grand Domaine in the Devon Valley. Subject to availability, we can offer you the opportunity to do a wine tasting at the villa or the winery itself where you can also learn about the technical side of the viticulture process with a barrel tasting of our high end, export only wines.

Tastings from R150 per person.
-       Barrel tasting at Grand Domaine (R150 per person)
-       Enquire about our 7 Fires Cooking Experience, there’s an elemental, wild nature to cooking over an open fire not to mention the flavour cooking over a fire gives food. This incredible alfresco eating experience will be overseen by Nicole, our head chef with vegetarian options available too.  (R950 per person)

Other wineland destinations worth visiting:
Le Grand Domaine Enoteca and Wine Bar, 7 Church Street, Stellenbosch
Boschendal Wine Estate, Pniel Road, Franschhoek
Babylonstoren Farm, Klapmuts, Simondium Road, Simondium
Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden, Paradyskloof Rd, Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch