A TRENDIE GUIDE TO CAPE TOWN.
Cape Town is one of those places that quietly recalibrates you.
I was lucky enough to spend three weeks there this time last year and, as a creative, it genuinely refuelled my soul. It came at a time where I didn’t need distraction or stimulation. I needed grounding and a change of scenery.
January is always a strange time. We’re told we need to reset, overhaul, become new versions of ourselves overnight. New routines, new goals, new energy. But none of us actually have a reset button (We’re humans, not robots).
London can amplify that. It’s very easy to get caught up in the pace, the comparison, the constant sense that you should be doing more. I love London for so many reasons, but it does pull you into momentum without ever really asking whether that momentum still makes sense for you.
Cape Town does the opposite.
You’re surrounded by mountains, sea, endless nature. Things that are much bigger than you and whatever feels urgent at the time. Perspective returns very quickly. Your problems don’t disappear, but they shrink. You remember that there’s a world outside your phone, your inbox, your to-do list and london.
In London we have the Thames. In Cape Town, nature is everywhere. You can’t avoid it. And that does something to your nervous system whether you consciously think about it or not.
I’m very aware of how fortunate I am to work for myself and to be able to experience places like this. I don’t feel entitled to it at all, and I’m conscious that it could change at any point. I think that’s exactly why I try to experience trips like this properly instead of racing through them.
That means actually leaning into the food, the culture, the pace, the people. Sitting longer at breakfast. Letting days unfold without planning every hour. Enjoying better food, slower mornings, cheaper but better coffee. Small things, but they add up.
I’m not tied to working in London, and while I was there I worked from Cape Town. That change of environment genuinely shifted how I thought, how I created, and how I felt about my work. Mornings were slower. My thinking felt clearer. There was more space in general.
This guide came out of that time. Not from sightseeing or chasing recommendations, but from living there for a few weeks. From returning to the same places. Which ones I’d tell a friend to go to without hesitation.
Cape Town has a way of reminding you what matters if you let it.
I’ve marked places in a very simple way, mostly based on whether I wanted to go back or whether I’d recommend them to someone else.
* somewhere I was glad I tried
** somewhere I’d recommend to a friend
*** somewhere I’d happily return to
Coffee / Breakfast
The places I went back to were the ones that felt easy. Good food, good coffee, easy.
Maggy Lou’s ***
I went here a lot. Always felt like the right choice and never disappointed. Also great to work from.
Kleinsky’s*
Great bagels, casual and buzzing spot.
Rosetta Roastery Cafe ***
When we stayed on Kloof street for a few days, this was our local and this made me fall in love with coffee so much more.
Pauline’s
Nice, easy vibe but didn’t stick with me in the same way others did.
Arthur’s Mini Super*
Less about the coffee and more about the vibe. Snacks, atmosphere, people coming and going.
Places I wanted to try:
The Strangers Club
Our Local
Espresso Lab
Convenient and reliable.
Dinner
Kiki’s **
Perfect for a date night, special occasion or simply because you fancy a nice candle-lit meal with a vibey atmosphere.
Clarke’s **
Loved this spot. The food was sooo good, and their sandwiches are delicious.
Fyn *
Very impressive, but more of an experience than somewhere I’d return to.
Blondie **
Drinks spot but also great for dinner. A vibey place with a DJ and great cocktails.
Places I wanted to try:
Belly of the Beast
Chef’s Warehouse
Tomson
The Athletic Club & Social
Things to do
Lion’s Head *
So worth doing, especially early in the morning.
Table Mountain *
Incredible, but timing and weather matter. Also go first thing.
Fitness:
Running first thing (it gets HOT in summer), Sweat 1000 classes, F45 classes***
A good way to keep some structure while travelling.
Takeaway on the beach *
Simple and very enjoyable. Sushi Box is great.
Clifton 2nd ***
Sunsets, swimming, and just letting time pass.
Cafe Caprice on a Sunday ***
If you know you know.
The Cape Winelands
If you can, spend a few days here. This was the highlight of the trip for me.
Stellenbosch
Worth going to the town itself, just to walk around. Beautiful streets, great boutiqye shops, great restaurants.
If you can get a table at Fat Butcher, go. My South African friend who’s lived in Stellenbosch her whole life said, “you MUST go there”. She wasn’t wrong.
We were slightly hungover because it was the day after the wine tram, and it was still incredible. The food, the service, the atmosphere. I’ve never been anywhere quite like it.
Table de Meye
Possibly the best long lunch I’ve ever had. Very much a bucket list thing for me.
It genuinely feels like eating in your friend’s garden. The one who cooks unbelievably well and makes it all feel effortless. Watch vlog here.
Vineyards
Delaire Graff and go for the view and a glass of wine, of course.
We did the orange line on the wine tram and stopped at:
Boschendal
La Cotte Farm
Babylonstoren
Noble Hill
Would go back and go to La Colombe if I could get a table.
Where we stayed
Our friends stayed at 7 Koppies Farm, which was amazing.
We stayed at Farmstead in Franschhoek, which was much more rustic and off grid. Fresh eggs, fresh bread, very stripped back.
Full disclaimer, the road to it had a river running through it. This took us by surprise and was actually hilarious. We were VERY lucky our Uber drivers found it funny rather than turning around.
If you go, don’t rush it.
And don’t try to do all of this.
Remember, this is a guide to follow loosely. Interpret accordingly.
Stay Trendie x
