Cape Town's Hidden Local Gems

If you're travelling to Cape Town, and you are looking for a place to stay, FZP self-catering rentals are beautiful, well maintained, centrally located apartments,which provide the perfect base from which to explore this remarkable city. Choosing the self-catering option means you will have a lot more flexibility to really explore and to live like a local. Cape Town has many well- known attractions, such as the famous landmark Table Mountain, the stunning golden beaches, shopping centres such as the V&A Waterfront and Century City, and the bustling streets of the city itself. However, there are many secret locations that even some of the locals don’t know about! Here are our top ten hidden gems in Cape Town, a city of secrets and surprises.

                                         Image by Pod pictures

1.      Explore the secret tunnels under Cape Town 
      Wander through the now abandoned canals located underneath the city, and marvel at their impressive architecture. Once used as underground channels to supply the Company Gardens and the passing ships with fresh water, today these waterways are used to convey the water from Table Mountain to the sea. This is an exciting activity for the adventurous and the fairly fit!
 

2.      The Power and the Glory

Located underneath the popular restaurant Rafiki’s in Kloof Street, this trendy hotspot offers delicious food and famous hot chocolate along with an enticing Indie atmosphere, live performances and a busy bar. 

3.      Silvermine Nature Reserve

Fancy a relaxing stroll? Silvermine is a stunning nature reserve, proffering spectacular panoramic views and beautiful indigenous flora and fauna. The trails range from easy to difficult, and in summer you can take a refreshing dip in the dam.

4.      Picnics on Chapman’s Peak

Here’s a sneaky tip, if you don’t want to pay to drive all the way along the Chapman’s Peak road, at the first toll booth tell them you are going on a picnic, and then stop at one of the designated look out spots, before the second toll, and you won’t have to pay a cent! The views are absolutely breath taking, and it’s the ideal location for a romantic date- bring some champagne and watch the sunset. 

5.      Jason Bakery

Located in Bree Street, with delicious deli style food, including amazing sandwiches and scrumptious vegetarian options, Jason Bakery is fast becoming a famous local haunt with incredible pastries and a relaxed atmosphere. Their breakfasts are a fantastic way to start your day, and their general manager is called Captain Bread.
 

6.      The Tokai Earth Fair Market

Found in a forest, offering fantastic local produce and delicious food, this market is rumoured to have the best chocolate brownies in town! It’s open on Saturday mornings and on Wednesday from 15h00 until 20h00.

7.      Olympia Café and Kalky’s

Kalk Bay has a number of wonderful little restaurants and shops on offer, and Olympia and Kalky’s are two of the best options! Olympia Café is known for its ‘chilled out’ atmosphere, and is always jam-packed, offering the tastiest pastries in town. Kalky’s is famous for its fantastic fish and chips, and for its cheeky resident seal that pesters all the local fishermen. 

                              image by Tripadvisor

8.      The Creamery

Ice cream fans, this is one for you. The creamery is based in Mowbray and has the most amazing ice-cream in town-once you start, in no time at all, you will be completely hooked! Some of their unique, wonderful flavours include coffee and praline almond, spiced pecan, barley malt, sweetcream cookie dough, prickly passion, jasmine blossom and chocolate peppermint leaf. 

                               Image by the Creamery

9.      Pub quiz at the Fireman’s Arms

Every Thursday at 20h00, people gather at the Fireman’s Arms to compete in the weekly pub quiz. Located in Buitengracht Street, this is one of the oldest and most well-known pubs in Cape Town, which has a fantastic atmosphere, delicious food, and lots of beers on tap. 

10.  Rondevlei Nature Reserve

Did you know Cape Town is home to a family of hippos? They live at Rondevlei, one of the city’s lesser known nature reserves, and can be spotted from the hide along with a number of beautiful bird species and other animals, such as the elusive porcupine. 

Come to Cape Town and explore everything that the vibrant city has to offer, including the lesser known, hidden gems!