Oh, Cape Town, you are more beautiful than I would have ever imagined! I loved our time as a family of three there, and am recommending you six (plus 1) to dos in and around the city below!
1) Street Food Market at Cape Point Vineyards
Every Thursday the garden area of Cape Point Vineyards is home to a street food market, serving anything from quesadillas over pizza, vegan burgers and Greek gyros straight out of food trucks. It’s a beautiful event full of families and wine lovers; the scenery, in which one enjoys their food with some wine straight from the nearby fields, could not be more picturesque with Kommetjie beach one one side and the vineyards on the other.
2) Day trip: Cape of good hope, penguins at Boulder’s beach, Muizenberg beach
This utterly beautiful road trip along the coast is totally worth its 3-hour-drive, ending in the Cape national park which reminds one of typical African steppe. It is best to check the weather at cape of good hope beforehand, as it tends to be foggy and very windy up there. It’s a historical site worth visiting though in any weather condition, with a nice walk from the parking lot up the Cape, the lighthouse and the view over the sea (if there is a view, that is ;)).
On the way back we first stopped at Boulder’s Beach to see the oh-so-famous and popular penguins, together with many other visitors, I must say, but it was worth a quick stop.
We then continued driving to Muizenberg, where we stopped for a walk along the beach, passing the colorful beach houses, and we had coffee and juice at the beautiful Harvest Café. I found the trip amazing, the scenery on the drive is stunning and the stops along the way make the drive convenient even for children!
3) Day trip to Constantia: Groot Winery and Chardonnay Deli
Constantia is a 20 minute drive away from central Cape Town and home to beautiful vineyards, such as the historical wine estate Groot. It’s a beautiful place for lunch, sitting underneath threes which overlook the vineyards. Of course, wine tastings are also possible! Kiddy chairs are available.
If you still have room for some more food on the way back, I recommend stopping at Chardonnay Deli for a slice of their amazing homemade cakes! We also bought bread, cheese, milk and fruits here before heading back to Cape Town in the afternoon. Kiddy chairs are also available here.
4) Oranjezicht City Farm Market
Oh the OZCF market simply is to be loved! The atmosphere is very relaxed (especially compared to the Neighbourgoods market in Woodstock), the food enjoyed on large wooden tables with sea view, and the fact that all the market stalls are built underneath huge white tents make the market shady but still there is some wind coming from the sea (again, I found Neighbourgoods market so, so hot and smelly, if felt as if there is nowhere for the smell of all the cooking to disappear).
I found the place to be fun also for Antonia, she played on the floor and got to meet other children.
5) Summer concert at Kirstenbosch botanical gardens
We were lucky to hear about the summe concerts, which take place in Kirstenbosch during summer, beforehand. It is best to buy the tickets beforehand as they tend to be sold out. Bring a picnic blanket, some wine and food – and then do it like the locals: Sit anywhere on the grass, the musical stage in eyesight, and listen to the music, dance and drink wine. I LOVED the vibes here, it was great also with a baby (obviously, far away from the stage to avoid loud music) as there are many babies and children and they end up playing together.
6) Table mountain (without a stroller)
Obviously you HAVE TO go (or drive) up table mountain at least once as long as you’re in Cape Town. I recommend taking the cable car when having babies, and I also recommend not taking a stroller up the mountain. Once you are up on the hill, there are nice (easy) walking paths which can be made with a baby in a carrier / sling, but not with a pram.
We arrived at the lower terminus around 9am and did not have a single person in front of us waiting for the cable car. Apparently it gets crazy after 10am, so – for one – be thankful for your children to wake you up early.
Plus 1) A visit to Woodstock: Neighbourgoods Market, Superette and Rosetta Roastery
I must admit, I am not a big fan of Woodstock, especially not whilst I have a baby with me. I did not feel very safe, especially not after a car stopped right next to us and the driver advised us to hide our phones, cameras and wallets properly in the area.
However, it IS a cool place, and a visit to Cape Town would not be complete without visiting Neighbourgoods market at The Old Biscuit Mill. Also here I recommend getting there early, when it is still cool and not too crowded. The food is amazing, and local designers sell beautiful handcrafted designs!
Almost next to the market is the café called Superette, which offers great brunch. And, if there still is room for a coffee, head to Rosetta roastery just next door. I had one of the best coffees here while in Cape Town!
