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Cape Town’s City Bowl stretches from the trendy beaches making up the Atlantic Seaboard in the West across to where Cape Town’s major highways send travelers to the airport, Century City and the Cape Winelands. Aptly named, the City Bowl is hugged on one side by the iconic Table Mountain and her sisters, and bordered on the other by the Atlantic Ocean, whose chilly waters continue almost without end, until finally touching ground in South America. 

Residents of the City Bowl enjoy phenomenal views, no matter where they live. The suburbs in the forefront peek over the Atlantic Ocean and then extend further back, slowly creeping up the mountains, whose shadows create magnificent shapes over the city.

These mountains comprise of the flat-topped, 1.086-metre high Table Mountain which is flanked to the west by the pointed Lion’s Head and her neighbour, Signal Hill, and to the east by the spire of Devil’s Peak. They present Capetonians and visitors alike with an enormous natural playing field, where nature walks, cable cars and hikes ranging from the easy to the strenuous are part of the day-to-day scene. For the more adventurous, activities like mountain biking, abseiling, rock climbing and kloofing will be sure to get your blood pumping!

On the opposite side of the City Bowl, the famous V&A Waterfront is almost a suburb on its own. Those in need of retail therapy need not look any further! A wide range of shops and restaurants, including floating restaurants and cafes with wonderful bay views, are at your disposal. The Waterfront offers other well-known Cape Town attractions, including the fantastic Two Oceans Aquarium where scuba diving is offered, and trips to Robben Island.

Kloof Nek

Situated furthest up the mountains, Kloof Nek plays the role of City Bowl guardian. Nestled between Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, the suburb casts a protective eye upon her neighbouring suburbs. A nearby traffic circle presents visitors with a tough choice to make – Camps Bay, Clifton beach, the cableway or Lion’s Head?

Oranjezicht A little lower down, east of Kloof Nek, sits Oranjezicht. This quaint but effortlessly stylish village is home to some of Cape Town’s most artsy. Oranjezicht’s large and beautifully restored homes stand proudly above the other suburbs, enjoying close proximity to the city centre and the cableway and only a ‘mountain’s hop’ from the stunning Atlantic beaches.

Higgovale

Sharing mountain slope with Oranjezicht is Higgovale, where meandering roads lead visitors through the green and leafy suburb, offering a taste of what is to come in the Table Mountain National Park. Nature enthusiasts will also enjoy exploring the Higgovale Quarry, where there are exciting face climbs. Higgovale residents are treated to a variety of gorgeous views – Table Mountain’s slopes, sandy beaches, the Waterfront and, of course, the city bowl, all of which are easily accessible from here.

Tamboerskloof

Tamboerskloof is not for lack of nature with its prime position at the base of Table Mountain, just beneath Lion’s Head. One of the oldest residential suburbs in Cape Town, Tamboerskloof’s houses brings together different styles of architecture, from the old to the new. With a mere ten minute walk separating Tamboerskloof residents from Cape Town’s famous Long Street, residents can enjoy the best of both worlds – the peaceful atmosphere of Tamboerskloof and the exciting city centre.

Gardens

Next door to Tamboerskloof, one will find Gardens, named after South Africa’s oldest gardens, Company Gardens, which lies within. This area is one of Cape Town’s oldest and most established, with authentic mansions creating a colonial atmosphere. Two of Cape Town’s most enjoyable streets, Long and Kloof, are easily accessible from here, as is Kloof Nek, the cableway, the Waterfront, stunning beaches and various museums and galleries.

Vredehoek

If one had to take an enormous flying leap from Gardens over the leafy De Waal Park, they would find themselves landing in Vredehoek. As its name implies (“peace corner”), the suburb is nestled in a quiet corner, sitting comfortably on the lower slopes of Devil’s Peak. Vredehoek is not without character however. Victorian houses form a contrast against modern, trendy restaurants and bars and close by, one can find the bohemian Long Street and many other Cape Town attractions.

Devil’s Peak Estate

Sharing Vredehoek’s stage, Devil’s Peak Estate inherits its name from the distinctive landmark towering behind it. The peaceful suburb enjoys its tranquillity but its convenient location close to the city centre ensures that residents never grow bored.

Zonnebloem

Lying further ahead, on the foothills of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, is Zonnebloem, originally known as District Six, an area of tension during Apartheid. Evoking painful memories associated with Apartheid, the suburb is not very populated, however the District Museum is a popular tourist attraction and worth visiting.

Woodstock

Further east from Zonnebloem, carefully restored Victorian semi-detached homes decorate upper Woodstock. Like the other City Bowl suburbs, Woodstock is located close to the city centre, but on Saturday mornings, visitors need not venture any further. Crowds follow their noses to the neighbourhood goods market held at the refurbished Old Biscuit Mill, where delicious, home-cooked goods cause mouths to water.

Foreshore

Further ahead, sitting in front of the city centre and dominated by the world-class Cape Town International Convention Centre, is Foreshore. Neat and ready for business, Foreshore’s main street is decorated by fountains and statues as well as a memorial dedicated to the South African soldiers who fought during the world wars. The Artscape Theatre gives Foreshore a touch of culture and is home to the Cape Town Philharmonic and Cape Town Performing Arts Board. Many exciting venues lie only moments away with the city centre in Foreshore’s backyard.

Bo-Kaap

Moving on towards the City Bowl’s western corner and slightly back to the foot of Signal Hill, one can find Bo-Kaap, a suburb characterised by brightly coloured houses symbolic of the large Muslim community that exists in the area. The smell of authentic Cape Malay curry is almost palpable in this area, causing noses owned by curious tourists to flock to the area. Although known as the Malay Quarter, the area is populated by inhabitants of all cultures that hail from all corners of the world, including Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Indonesian Archipelago.

De Waterkant

Ahead of Bo-Kaap, De Waterkant’s semi-detached 19th century houses restored into stylish cottages line cobbled streets, contributing towards the suburb’s trendy atmosphere. One can find some of Cape Town’s best restaurants, wine bars and delis in De Waterkant, which attracts locals from their various corners of the city at all hours of the day, creating a festive area abuzz with energy.

Granger Bay

An easy twenty minute drive from the airport, the city centre on its one side, the gorgeous Atlantic beaches on the other, the V&A Waterfront on its doorstep and the Metropolitan Golf Club and Green Point stadium in its backyard, Granger Bay residents are comfortably situated between all of Cape Town’s major necessities. On Sundays, residents need only to take a few steps to find themselves at one of Cape Town’s largest markets, Green Point Market, outside the stadium.

Green Point

Behind Granger Bay, Green Point’s mark on South Africa’s map has been made big, bold and noticeable since the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. But the suburb has a lot more to offer than just the impressive Green Point Stadium.

Green Point’s houses with their Victorian-style balconies peek over the suburb’s narrow streets and sidewalkcafes, creating an area much like a quaint village. The Cape Quarter shopping centre livens up the atmosphere, offering visitors a range of shops and restaurants. The evenings are full of life as glittering lights brighten up the night sky and the sidewalks are filled with the chatter of locals and visitors alike as they feast on scrumptious meals and sip exotic cocktails. The party doesn’t stop on a Sunday, with the weekly market attracting residents from all over Cape Town with traditional African art and other crafts.

Three Anchor Bay

Connecting Green Point to Sea Point, Three Anchor Bay places residents moments away from both suburbs’ attractions, while providing them with beautiful, upmarket housing.

In the middle of the suburb, the well known Glengariff Road presents visitors with a tough choice; up or down? Those deciding on down, are led to the promenade, where frothing waves splash against intimidating rocks, causing shoots of upward sprays and occasionally sprinkling onlookers with gentle drops of water. Those choosing up will soon find themselves on Maskew’s Path which will take them up Signal Hill. Once at the top, a combination of a few, very pleasant activities which on their own are satisfying enough, will result in magic – a yummy picnic lunch, sundowners and one of Cape Town’s most famous views. As the sun sinks, casting a spectrum of colours to stretch across the sky, spectators will have experienced a quintessential Cape Town experience.

Sea Point

Sea Point brings the City Bowl to a neat end in the west. Conveniently close to some of Cape Town’s most popular attractions, Sea Point offers a range of destinations and activities. With its beachfront housing and large, luxurious villas, Sea Point residents enjoy beautiful homes in a prime Cape Town location.

The Sea Point promenade offers a walk so stunning and close to the sun-induced sparkling water, one almost feels as though they can simply dive off the pavement and into the Atlantic Ocean. The promenade suits those of all ages, offering play parks for children, ideal picnic spots for families and a perfect location for fitness enthusiasts with a public swimming pool overlooking the ocean. Whether careering madly across the Olympic size pool, bouncing off the diving board or playing with the kids in the splash pool, visitors at the pool will enjoy a fantastic sea view while not having to deal with sticky salt and sand.

City centre

All of the City Bowl suburbs are special in their own way and offer different environments suiting people from all walks of life. Together, they create that energetic buzz that Cape Town is famous for. But this feeling seems to get stronger the closer one moves towards the City Bowl’s centre and it’s right in the middle of these suburbs that it feels as if you can reach out and touch the energy. It’s almost as if the surrounding suburbs are whispering a well-known secret – “You think this is nice? Just wait until you see what’s waiting for you.”

Protectively circled by her sister suburbs, Cape Town’s city centre is renowned for its exciting atmosphere and constant buzz. Here, visitors can find evidence of South Africa’s rich history, an exciting mix of cultures, towering political buildings on whose steps monumental moments in history have occurred and all the modern necessities anyone could ever need. This area, with the famous Long Street running proudly throughout, presents visitors with a vibe combining the bohemian, trendy and alternative. A strange mix of shops, restaurants, coffee shops and accommodation ranging from casual backpackers to swanky hotels, fuse together in a unique and exciting way. Markets are an often occurrence in the area, especially during peak season. Museums, galleries, theatre, and political and historical buildings keep people busy throughout the day and, in the evenings, the city centre is alive with restaurants, pubs and clubs, ensuring the crowds are stimulated into the early hours of the morning.