Richard Holmes

As if the mountain, oceans, vibrant city and dynamic culinary scene weren’t enough to keep you busy, Cape Town also brings the goods when it comes to a jam-packed schedule of concerts and events. Across the city, you’ll find live music, vibey markets, and festive events that are a total jol (that’s a ‘party’, in local lingo). Here's our hand-picked selection of the hottest events to head for in the Mother City. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Cape Town🍝 The best restaurants in Cape Town🏖 The best beaches in Cape Town🛍 The best shops in Cape Town Richard Holmes is a travel writer based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Cape Town is the culinary capital of Africa, and has long been hailed as one of the world's most exciting destinations for foodies. Whether you're searching for a restaurant with a view of the winelands – hello Chef's Warehouse – or a contemporary fine-dining destination in the heart of the popular V&A Waterfront, we've got you covered in this authoritative list of the best restaurants in Cape Town. And because the landscape keeps changing, so does this list, with new additions including The Happy Uncles and the Nikkei cuisine of Nobu.  Cape Town is a cosmopolitan culinary landscape and one that is increasingly aware of the need for diversity both on the plate and in the kitchens. In selecting our favourite spots (and we know there will be those who disagree) we’ve highlighted a cross-section of the city’s kitchens. They are each memorable in their own way, and while they differ in approach and price they are all worth a visit. So, our advice? Come hungry, and get stuck into our (ever-changing) selection of Cape Town’s best restaurants.  RECOMMENDED: 🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town🛍 The best markets in Cape Town🍕 The best pizza in Cape Town This guide was recently updated by Richard Holmes, a travel writer based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

South Africa’s wine making may fall into the ‘New World’ category, but in fact its vinous heritage dates back more than 300 years. Many of the Cape’s greatest wine farms are less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, so it’s not hard to justify a day trip. But if you do need one more reason, here it is: scattered amid the vineyards you’ll find many of South Africa’s top restaurants, dishing up inspired bistro fare and elegant fine dining. Check your appetite (and the depth of your pockets) and tuck in. RECOMMENDED: 😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape TownPlanning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

Forget ‘saving money’ in 2024. You know what your New Year’s resolution should be? Get out more. Do more stuff. See more of the world. Life is short, after all – and 2024 promises a tonne of unmissable festivals, art, food and music. There are openings and re-openings. Brand-new train routes criss-crossing countries and continents. Whacky places to party. And even if the cossie livs does have you tightening the purse strings, there are plenty of free and affordable events on this list, too.  So get your booking fingers at the ready: your 2024 bucket list awaits. This is our definitive guide to the coolest new things to do in the world next year. See you out there!  RECOMMENDED:😎 The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🌃 The best European city breaks for 2024🖼️ The world’s best museums and galleries

Cape Town is a truly global city, fusing vibrant African flair with European savoir faire, and that cosmopolitan character is on full display in the city’s shops and boutiques. From the inner city to the seaside, Cape Town’s shopping precincts and characterful suburbs offer no end of retail therapy, whether you're after big-name brands or local creatives. Not sure where to start? Try these must-visit stores... RECOMMENDED:☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town🥣 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town This article was recently updated by Richard Holmes, a travel writer based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.

Since opening in the inner-city suburb of Gardens in 2017, YARD has become something of a cult-classic in Cape Town, serving up an inspired range of pizzas with a side-order of character and charm. That’s thanks to Eugene Smith, a chef who traces his passion for the kitchen back to a challenging childhood when muffin sales and food stalls helped to put food on his family’s table. ‘I’ve always had a passion for food, and food was definitely my saving grace,’ says Smith, born and bred in Cape Town, who spent 18 years running both the kitchens and front-of-house operations for one of the largest restaurant groups in South Africa. But at YARD he lets his own personality shine through, and at YARD at Time Out Market Cape Town he combines a devotion to authenticity with a cheeky enthusiasm for breaking a few rules along the way. We pulled him away from YARD’s wood-fired ovens to ask… How is YARD at Time Out Market Cape Town different from the Gardens original? YARD in Gardens is all about nostalgia, whereas here at the Market it’s a bit more modern, more upmarket. The Market is also more refined than our Gardens location, and the menu here caters more to the number of international guests we see here at the Market. So we focus on things that people are likely to know, and enjoy, but balancing international and local flavours. But at both we are all about authentic dough, hand-stretched bases, and doing things the proper Neapolitan way. What first sparked your passion for pizza? I’v

'Sometimes,' says Yann Rey. 'You touch on magic. There are a lot of fails, but every once in a while you find something really interesting.' And frozen 'magic' is what Rey is always searching for at Unframed, his genre-breaking ice cream brand that has found a home at the Time Out Market Cape Town. A childhood in the French city of Lyon, and a family in the wine business, meant that Yann Rey was immersed in the world of food and wine from a young age. A degree in engineering took him to a life in Paris and New York, and then the world of high finance. That was until a return to start-up investing, and a long-held dream to create a world-class ice cream business, saw him take the plunge with his Unframed ice cream brand in Cape Town in 2016. 'I have always been obsessed by the southern tip of Africa, and I love Cape Town. My plan for Unframed was to build it from here, and take it internationally,' says Rey. Today, alongside five branches across Cape Town and the Winelands, Rey has added his first dose of international flavour to the Unframed brand with a hugely popular parlour in the Time Out Market Cape Town.  What sets Unframed Ice Cream apart from other scoops in Cape Town? We are artisanal makers in the true sense of the word. It’s at the forefront of everything we do. We’re constantly thinking about flavour profiles, and reducing sugar, without ever compromising the flavour and texture. Unframed is renowned for its innovative flavours… what’s the starting point? To be ho

Ticking off the main tourist attractions on a city break is all well and good, but it’s only when you veer off down a side street or stumble across a leafy avenue that you really get a glimpse of a city’s true character. Streets are the heart of local life; they’re where communities come together, where new local businesses become go-to staples and where urbanites go out, hang out and have fun.  So what are the world’s coolest streets worth a stroll right now? To find the answer, we reached out to our global team of local expert editors and contributors, who each made a case for the coolest street in their city. We then narrowed down the selection to create a definitive ranking of the best avenues, thoroughfares, backstreets and boulevards on the planet. And so you have it: the coolest streets in the world’s best cities. Over the last few years, street life has gone through something of an evolution. Outdoor drinking and dining, at one point a temporary measure, has become a staple on many of the streets on our hotlist; only bolstered by green initiatives like pedestrianisation and low-traffic avenues. In other words, these streets have become much more walkable and pleasant places to spend our time. On every street on this list, there are bold, creative new ventures in food, drink, nightlife and culture: from listening bars to repurposed heritage buildings, these streets are where you’ll find a city’s most exciting cultural trends. Ready for a wander?  RECOMMENDED: 🏘️ The w

What makes a city great? Some would say it’s all about buzzing neighbourhoods, affordable food and drink and a mighty selection of things to do, from art galleries and museums to live music and theatre. Others might highlight things like the happiness of its locals, access to green space and strong community vibes. We factor in all that and more in our annual survey, which asks city-dwellers around the world to tell us what it’s like to live, work and play in their hometowns right now. Thanks to the opinions and insights of locals on the ground and our global network of city experts, we’re able to create a global ranking of the world’s best cities – and the 2024 results are in. As in previous years, the basis of the ranking remains our global survey of the people who know their city best: the locals. Working with research company Potentia Insight, we surveyed thousands of city-dwellers about the quality and affordability of food, culture and nightlife in their city. We also asked locals how their city makes them feel: are they happy there? Is it a beautiful place? Is it easy to make social connections? Their thousands of responses gave us a unique insight into the reality of living in the world’s greatest cities right now. Now that international travel is forecast to bounce back to the highest levels since 2019, many travellers will be planning a city break this year – so in 2024, we added a little extra weight to a city’s global appeal. Each survey respondent was asked which

It’s that time again. Every year, we ask thousands of city-dwellers to tell us the coolest spots in their cities. What are the places locals love and visitors flock to? Where are the exciting new openings across food, drink and culture? Where are people going out, hanging out and having fun? For the sixth year running, the results are in. Over 12,000 people had their say in this year’s shortlist, naming the neighbourhoods in their hometowns where everyone wants to be right now. Then, we narrowed down the selection with the insight and expertise of city editors and local experts who know their cities better than anyone else. To create and rank the final list, we considered factors including community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life. In 2023, our neighbourhoods are more global than ever before. The rise and rise in post-pandemic digital nomadism has led to an explosion of brand-new community spaces, multi-purpose culture centres and more cafés than we can count on two hands. But while most of these neighbourhoods have experienced a transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local at heart. Slick new developments and cool cafés might bring in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real.  The world’s coolest neighbourhoods this year are, therefore, places with big personalities. Each area’s diversity is reflected in its food, culture and festivals. Community is key: local

The seas around Cape Town are beautiful, no doubt about it. But what’s also not in any doubt is that they’re pretty darn cold. Even if you drive across to the False Bay coast on what locals call the ‘warm’ side of the peninsula – beaches like Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Boulders – you’re still looking at water temperatures that may see you shopping for a wetsuit before you take your next dip. So if you’re not made of such stern stuff you’ll want to make sure you have a hotel that offers a decent pool. Because summer in Cape Town is hot, and a few lazy day poolside are all but essential when you’re on holiday. And if there’s a great view and a decent cocktail bar thrown into the mix? Then you’ll be even happier. These hotel pools tick all the right boxes for making the most of Cape Town’s sizzling summer days.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best tidal pools in Cape Town🍝 The best restaurants in Cape Town🏖 The best beaches in Cape Town🛍 The best shops in Cape Town Born and raised in the city, Richard Holmes is a travel writer based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Frozen or shaken? Reposado or blanco? Salted rim or a dusting of spicy tajin? Tumbler or wide-brimmed margarita glass? However you choose to enjoy yours, there’s no doubting the universal appeal of the Margarita. Like most of the best things in life, the Margarita is a simple creation: tequila, lime juice and ‘triple sec’ orange liqueur. Of course, the quality of ingredients makes all the difference. Using high-quality blanco tequila is essential, or opt for reposado for a smoother sip. Cointreau is considered the best choice of triple sec behind the bar. Lime juice? Well, you’ll want them freshly squeezed, if you can.  The exact origins of the Margarita are hard to pin down –­ Diffords Guide does a good job of trying – but the name is often attributed to socialite Margaret Sames. In 1948 she shook up Cointreau, tequila blanco and fresh lime juice, served in a glass with a rim of salt, and proclaimed: ‘A Margarita without Cointreau is not worth its salt.’ However you like to sip it, here are our five favourite bars for a fabulous margarita in the Mother City... RECOMMENDED: 🍷 The best bars in Cape Town 😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🛏 The best Airbnbs in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town

The Time Out Market is a unique global concept that aims to celebrate the authentic flavours, foods and chefs of a city under a single roof. It all began with Time Out Market Lisbon in 2014, and since then has expanded to include markets in global foodie hotspots as diverse as New York, Boston, Montreal, Chicago and Dubai (with the likes of Porto, Prague, Abu Dhabi, Osaka and some other very cool cities in the pipeline).  In each city a team of Time Out Market professionals and local editors hand-select the best chefs, bartenders and cultural happenings from across the city. Then we bring them all together under one roof to create an unmatched food, wine and culture experience that offers a snapshot of the very best that city has to offer.   

Within days of Ramenhead opening in Cape Town in 2022 there were queues out the door, as hungry locals lined up for the best noodles in the city. That’s not surprising, as Peter Tempelhoff, Ashley Moss and Jennifer Hugé – the culinary creatives behind Ramenhead, and award-winning FYN restaurant – scoured Tokyo and Osaka for time-honoured ramen recipes, returning with the first (and only) Yamato noodle machine in Africa. The trio brings that same passion and focus to Time Out Market Cape Town, with Ramenhead’s seaside outpost offering a compact list of Asian plates and slurpable ramen bowls.   RAMENHEAD MENU   Tori Chintan R240 (Light broth of chicken with soya sauce) Tori Katsu Curry R250 (Rich creamy style chicken curry ramen) Kids Ponyo ramen R140 (Half-portion of chicken tori chintan) Sesame & Mushroom R240 (Double dashi style vegan)   Ramen add-ons Ajitamago egg R20 Extra noodles R30 Gluten-free noodles +R30 Nekomanma R40 (Bowl of Ishikawa rice for leftover soup)   Rice bowl Chashu Don R210 (Spring onion, BBQ-glazed pork burnt ends, sesame)   Snacks Karaage R145 (Tokyo-style friend chicken, miso mayonnaise) Pork gyoza R130 (Potstickers with green chili ponzu) Cabbage gyoza R120 (Potstickers with spicy ponzu peanut sauce)   Dessert Purin R95 (With seasonal fruit and fragrant shisho syrup)  

It’s a burger bar, but not as you know it – and that’s thanks to the creativity of prolific restaurateur, chef and TV personality Bertus Basson. With a brace of popular restaurants across the Cape, Basson is passionate about celebrating homegrown South African flavours and culinary traditions. At De Vrije Burger you can count on having your hands full with his next-level burgers made with free-range beef and homemade buns.    DE VRIJE BURGER MENU Burgers: De Vrije Burger R125/R155 with tjips (180g Free Range Beef, Double Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles) De Jonge Burger R115/R145 with tjips (180g Free Range Beef, Double Cheese) Die Bennie Griessel R125/R155 with tjips (180g Free Range Beef, Double Cheese, mustard pickle) De Vrije Vegetarian R115/R145 with tjips (Bo-Kaap-inspired falafel burger, double cheese, all the trimmings) A complimentary De Vrije Roomys with every burger purchased.   Add on: Smoked chilli sauce: R12.50 Melrose and Biltong: R35 Bacon - 3 rashers: R30   Extras: Hand-cut Tjips: R45 Have it: BBQ spice dusted: +R7.50 Cheezy: +R25 Peri-Peri: +R17.50 Onion Rings: +R45 Basson and Son soft drinks: R40  

John Van Zyl is a chef who likes to fly under the radar. Don’t expect TV shows, branded cookware or product endorsement deals. Rather, he just quietly goes about his business serving up some of the best food South Africa has to offer. Until recently you had to drive for an hour from Cape Town to taste Van Zyl’s cooking, and the winelands setting in the Elgin Valley is certainly a wonderful way to take a deep dive into the small plates he’s cooking up at The Melting Pot. And while his Elgin restaurant remains worth the trip for its concise menu of globally-inspired small plates, at Time Out Market Cape Town he brings a whole new take on the Melting Pot experience. Here, Van Zyl turns his focus to the Cape’s bountiful seafood while drawing plenty of inspiration from his own travels abroad. That could mean tuna sashimi with fermented black bean dressing, coconut and mint, through to beer-battered hake sliders with smoked potato purée and (of course) a best-in-class tartar sauce. In a city famous for its seafood, Van Zyl sets the bar high with his concise menu of superb small plates.   THE MELTING POT SEAFOOD MENU Linefish Sashimi R140 (Fermented black bean dressing, coconut, mint) Peruvian Mixed Seafood ceviche R145 (Butternut purée, tortilla chips) Beetroot-cured Salmon R140 (Mint & dill yoghurt dressing, dill pickled cucumber) Chargrilled Octopus R135 (Cauliflower purée, bacon shrimp XO dressing) Fried Fish Tacos R120 (Smoked potato aioli, tartar sauce, house pickles, shredde

The menu of Asian restaurants in Cape Town may be small, but if you know where to look you’ll find some real gems, with talented chefs putting their own spin on the classics. How Bao Now is a great example, with two of the city’s top chefs – Matt van den Berg and Carla Schulze – bringing authentic Cape flavours to a concise menu of Asian plates at their Woodstock outpost of How Bao Now. Fluffy bao buns are, as you might have guessed, the star of the show, and at Time Out Market Cape Town this creative duo brings a local perspective as they plate up exclusive flavour combos such as crayfish bao infused with Cape Malay flavours and a coconut and curry furikake, or wagyu sando-bao with a chilli crunch mayo, tonkatsu and pickled cucumber.   HOW BAO NOW MENU Baos Wagyu Sando (2 in a portion) R170 (Panko bao, wagyu, tonkatsu sauce, chilli-crisp kewpie) Flaming Chicken R105 (Fried thigh, XO, peanut crumb, Szechuan dressing) Fried Fish R100 (Hake, pickled red onion, Thai red curry dressing, nuac cham) Kimchi Pork R105 (Sous-vide pork belly, kimchi, miso mayo, Asian dressing) Banana Blossom (Vegetarian) R100 (Pickled red onion, Asian dressing, XO, herbs Kiddies Chicken Bao R65   Bao Special Cape Malay Crayfish R200 (Curry aioli, coconut furikake, vadouvan XO, lime)   Bites Crack Peanuts R45 Andry Edamame

Giorgio Nava is a household name in the Mother City, as beloved for his mellifluous Italian accent as his deft hand in the kitchen. A staple of the city’s restaurant scene for the past 20 years, Nava first entranced locals with his elegant Italian fare at 95 Keerom, and stylish café experience at Caffé Milano. So when he brought that Italian palate and perspective to the world of flame-grilled fare, the city sat up and took notice. Since opening in the city’s legal district in 2008, Carne has set the bar for Nava’s remarkable steak dishes served in a minimalist Italian tradition, with a field-to-table philosophy that’s focused firmly on provenance. Salt, pepper, olive oil and the finest quality free-range cuts… that’s all Nava needs to make a little Milanese magic. Nava brings a pared-down menu to the Time Out Market Cape Town, offering a perfect snapshot of just why Carne has become a stand-out in the city’s restaurant landscape for more than 15 years. CARNE MENU Antipasti Arancini R80 (fried rice balls filled with mozzarella, tomato and herbs) Burrata Mozzarella R130 (Salad of tomato, burrata mozzarella, capers, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil)   Sides Fried baby potatoes R45 Tomato & Cucumber salad R45   Sauces Béarnaise R35 Mushroom R35 Green pepper R35   Pasta Ravioli Porcini Mushroom and Ricotta R120 (Porcini mushrooms and ricotta ravioli topped with browned butter, crispy sage and parmesan) Ravioli Spinach and Ricotta R125 (Spinach and ricotta ravioli topped wi

YARD began as a cult classic in the inner-city, as famous for its idiosyncratic service as the delicious fare. And now Eugene Smith brings his inimitable approach to pizza to Time Out Market Cape Town. Atop their signature hand-stretched dough you’ll find four classic YARD flavours flying out of the ovens. Whether your poison is New York pepperoni, barbecue chicken, spicy Italian salami or the heady mix of blue cheese and caramelised onions, expect the generous pizzas from YARD to come standard with a side order of their (in)famously cheeky service. YARD MENU Select your: Dough Style N = Neopolitan R = Romano NY = New York (45cm) C = Californian Please note: Neapolitan & Romano-base pizzas come with Fior de late cheese. New Yorker and California-style bases come with grated mozzarella cheese Sauce White Alfredo Italian Tomato Pesto Signatures Juicy Chick N245/R275/C225/NY465 (Choose Sauce, Pizza Warehouse BBQ Sauce, Mozzarella, Slow Roasted shredded Chicken, Feta and Peppadews) Sweet Baby Blue (Vegetarian) N190/R230/C180/NY375 (Choose sauce, Mozzarella, Blue cheese crumbled, Caramelised onions and fresh wild rocket) Italian Favourites Autumno (Vegetarian) N180/R185/C175/NY314 (Choose Sauce, Mozzarella, Italian herbs, Mushrooms, red onions, Baby Spinach finished with a crack of black pepper) Artigiano N210/R220/C205/NY400 (Choose sauce, Mozzarella, Artichokes, Roasted red peppers & Pepperoni) Capricciosa N180/R190/C175/NY340 (Choose sauce, Mozzarella, Salami, Kalamat

If there’s a singular flavour to Cape Town, then it is surely found in the kitchens of the city’s Cape Malay community. Incorporating both European and Asian culinary influences – a blend borne of trade and colonialism – Cape Malay cuisine speaks to the colourful history of the Cape. And few chefs offer an experience as unique as Anwar Abdullatief, a pioneer in the city’s nascent Halaal fine-dining scene. At Barakat Abdullatief – together with his wife; TV star and celebrity chef Yolani Abrahams – flips Cape Malay cuisine on its head with a thoroughly contemporary take on traditional plates. From slow-braised osso buco to traditional tomato bredie, Barakat shares the flavours and fables of the Cape’s homegrown culinary identity.   BARAKAT MENU Samoosa R12 (Masala steak crispy onion/ Potato, cheese & danyah/ Smoked snoek & apricot) Koesiesters R10 (Warm Cape Malay 'Donut') Boeber R40 (Sweet warm spiced milk beverage with vermicelli, sago & toasted almonds) Lighter meals 'Bobotie' R80 (Sweet curried beef mince in egg custard, topped with a chickpea shard, with homemade chutney & toasted coconut) Crispy tempura'd Malay chicken 'sosatie' R80 (Skewered cubes of chicken with peach, capsicum & red onion, fried in spiced tempura batter served with a cucumber & onion salad, sambal & flaky butter roti) Mains Snyboontjie Bredie (Vegetarian) R110 (Stewed green beans & potato in an onion-based sauce served with basmati rice) Cabbage Food (Vegetarian) R110 (Chargrilled cabbage profile with

Sushiya is a restaurant greater than the sum of its parts. While chef Peter Tempelhoff – also behind Ramenhead at Time Out Market Cape Town – and chef Shin Takagi – owner of a two-star Michelin restaurant in Kanazawa, Japan – are both hugely accomplished chefs and restaurateurs in their own right, when they decided to collaborate on a new restaurant, greatness was pretty much guaranteed. Sushiya at Time Out Market Cape Town takes the shape of an upscale 'sushi shop', offering authentic yet contemporary Japanese sushi. The menu is made up of small dishes with classic pickled and preserved Japanese-style vegetables, a variety of modern nigiri platters, a platter of maki, and temaki and gunkan maki infused with local and classic Japanese flavours. Beyond the considered cuisine, Tempelhoff and Takagi also use Sushiya to showcase their dedication to sustainable sourcing, craftsmanship and tradition.   SUSHIYA MENU    Small Plates Nasu Dengaku R120 (roast aubergine, katsuobushi, miso, sesame) Tuna Tataki R170 (peanut chilli ponzu, sesame tempura, daikon) Tsukemono Sea R65 (salt fermented Napa cabbage, ginger, radish, carrots) Vegetable Kakiage Tempura R95 (ginger tentsuyu)   Makimono Shrimp Uramaki, inside out R235 (8 pcs shrimp, avocado, sesame tempura, katsuobushi flakes, yuzu gel) Fish Uramaki, inside out R220 (8 pcs spicy white fish, pickled daikon, wasabi) Maguro Temaki, new style hand R160 (2 pcs lean tuna, chives, truffle & ajitamago purée) Otoro Temaki, new style hand R22

Chef Hitesh Panchal steps up from his previous V&A Waterfront location in the Makers Landing incubator hub to take up a coveted place at Time Out Market Cape Town. At Kapoochka – which Panchal runs with his two sons – this entrepreneurial chef dishes up a contemporary take on Indian street food, with a creative focus on more-ish pani puri. Considered the king of street food across India, pani puri are crispy hollow balls of dough, deep-fried and filled with potato, lentils, three chutneys and a spiced water, and at Kapoochka you’ll find a delicious array of savoury and sweet creations. KAPOOCHKA MENU Traditional Poochkas Paani Puri (4pc) R75 (Crispy puri filled with spiced potatoes, chickpeas and lenls, topped with a coriander and mint chutney, a tamarind chutney and served with chilled spiced water) Dahi Batata Puri (4pc) R80 (A crispy puri filled with spiced potatoes, chickpeas and lentils, topped with a coriander and mint chutney, a tamarind chutney and topped off with creamy sweetened yoghurt, vermicelli and a chaat masala tuile) Prawn Pop Puri (4pc) R115 (Crispy fried puri stuffed with spicy garlic butter prawns, a garlic and chilli aioli, garnished with Katsuobushi and sesame seeds) Mixed Tasting Platter (6pc) R125 (Combination platter of all the above favourites: 2 x Paani Puri, 2 x Dahi Bata Puri and 2 x Prawn pops) Dahi Samosa R55 (Punjabi samosa served on a bed of chickpea masala, dressed with our signature sauces, vermicelli and pomegranate seeds)   Main Dishes Mas

For all of the creativity in Cape Town’s restaurant landscape, a common complaint – often justified – is that indigenous African cuisines and culinary traditions are sidelined in favour of fine dining that looks to Europe, Asia and North America for inspiration. But not so at MLILO 'Fires of Africa', where chef Vusi Ndlovu brings a truly pan-African experience to the menu, interpreting the many ways that cultures across the continent have incorporated a lick of flame and kiss of smoke into their cooking. At MLILO you’ll find an elevated take on the traditional Zulu shisanyama barbecue, a taste of Senegal in the lamb didi, or the Kenyan classic nyama choma – thinly sliced beef – with a fresh kachumbari salad. It’s a brave and bold new approach to creating world-class cuisine imbued with the unmistakeable flavours of Africa.   MLILO MENU uMbhona R65 (Classic street corn grilled, inspired by the streets of Mombasa) Broccoli R65 (Charred broccoli, miso pickled peanuts,  drizzled with maafe sauce) Brochette of Dakar R110 (Baguette filled with Yassa onions, grilled chicken dusted in kan kan spice, chilli & lettuce) Pepe wings R110 (Grilled chicken wings seasoned with the flavour of pepe) Pork/Chicken Suya R110 (Grilled pork/chicken skewers marinated in homemade suya spice blend and brown butter served with plantain ketchup) Nyama Choma R110 (Thinly sliced beef with chunky kachumbari) iPlate R195 (South African braai plate: beef chuck/lamb chop, chicken wing & boerewors) Lamb

Want the scoop on the most creative ice cream in the Mother City? You’ll find it at Unframed, thanks to the innovative flavour creations dreamt up by founder Yann Rey. Ever wondered what lemon-infused olive oil and white chocolate ice cream might taste like? Here’s your chance to find out. Every flavour combination is crafted from scratch, in small batches and from quality ingredients, drawing heavily on what’s fresh and in season in the Cape. No surprise then that Unframed has been rated amongst the world’s greatest ice-cream parlours. UNFRAMED MENU   Scoops 1 Scoop R49 2 Scoops R79 3 Scoops R89   Indulge Tasting Flight R99 (5 flavours) Sundaes R109 (3 scoops, toppings, whipped cream)   Waffles Waffle R59 (Icing sugar, whipped cream) + Extra Scoop R25 + Extra topping R10  

Moonchild. MonoNeon. Judith Sephuma. Mi Casa. Thandi Ntuli. Hilton Schilder. Tunde from Lighthouse Family. Mervyn Africa. These are just some of the artists heading for the Mother City in May when the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) lights up the Cape Town International Convention Centre on May 3 and 4, 2024. With a combination of African musical royalty tuning up alongside some of the world’s biggest names in the world of jazz and soul music, the 2024 festival – the first in four years after a pandemic-induced pause – looks set to be one of the most memorable. 'The 2024 festival experience is a nuanced anthem to where the world finds itself at present,' says Lindsay Rhoda, Head of Talent at espAfrika, founders and organisers of the CTIJF. 'At the crossroads of a new age, with a progression of artists adding their authentic and musical signatures to the messages of those who have already set the message.' This year those signatures will include the smooth vocals of Tunde Baiyewu – most famous as part of UK group Lighthouse Family – and alternative R&B group Moonchild (USA). Also from across the Atlantic, Grammy-winning bassist virtuoso and experimental musician MonoNeon brings his unique existential jazz-funk to the party, whilst Francesca Biancoli adds a contemporary melding of jazz and neo-soul. Award-winning drummer and composer Darshan Doshi brings his trio to the Cape, featuring saxophonist Mark Hartsuch and bassist Tony Grey. But South Africa is brimming w

Whether you’re into cosplay or classic comics, anime or live-action, Comic-Con Cape Town promises a visual feast of popular culture at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. And with just a few weeks to go until the event, the organisers have revealed the headline artists you’ll have the chance to meet and mingle with.  Top of the bill is actor Sean Gunn, perhaps most famous for his roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kraglin and as the on-set Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Also not be missed is Lesley-Ann Brandt, who appears as Mazikeen on the hit television series Lucifer. Brandt is also set to appear in the upcoming Walking Dead 6-episode spin-off released this year. Comic-Con Cape Town has announced the return of Veronica Taylor, who fans will recognise – by her voice, at least – as the original English voice of Pokémon's Ash Ketchum. But it’s not only global stars that will be in attendance for the weekend focus of the event. Attend on the Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday of the festival (April 27, April 28, and May 1) and you’ll have the chance to bag an autograph from 10 cast members of the Netflix live adaption of One Piece. That includes homegrown talent like Aidan Scott (Helmeppo), Langley Kirkwood (Axe-Hand Morgan), Alexander Maniatis (Captain Kuro) and others. Beyond the cosplay displays and exhibitor booths, Comic-Con Cape Town also plays host to the Cape Town International Animation Festival. This year the star speaker will be

It was a wild and stormy weekend in Cape Town, but that didn’t scare away the hundreds of gin lovers who flocked to Muizenberg’s Gember Distillery on Saturday, April 6, for the Cape Cheers Gin Festival. And while there was music, food, fun times and plenty of gin, the punters were also there on business: bagging a Guinness World record for drinking gin! With musicians including Sunset Sweatshop and Sons of Selassie on stage to get the crowd in the swing of things, 12.50 pm saw things take a serious turn as Guinness World Records adjudicator Mbali Nkosi took the stage to start the record attempt. The rules stated that all participants in the record attempt must taste their gin at precisely the same time. 'No mean feat when you have over 400 people laughing, cheering, sipping and swirling,' said accredited spirits judge Cathy Marston, one of the local independent witnesses and stewards assisting Mbali. Once the gin had been sipped and the numbers tallied, the results were in: a tie! Remarkably, the current (or perhaps, previous?) record for the largest gin-tasting event in a single venue was set on October 13, 2018, when 423 participants sipped gin at Bar Plata in Aarhus, Denmark.  And in Cape Town on April 6? Exactly 423 participants were tallied again, giving Two Gingers Gin a Guinness World Record for equalling the existing achievement. Who was the one taster who bailed on attending, I wonder? ‘This was a thrilling attempt because the results came right down to the wire,” sa

2024 marks 125 years since Cape Town’s storied Mount Nelson Hotel first opened its doors to discerning guests, and as part of the birthday celebrations this inner-city icon has unveiled a landmark display of artworks in collaboration with the Norval Foundation’s Homestead Collection. The works by 16 artists will be on display until 16 October 2024, gracing the walls of Mount Nelson’s lounge, bar, reception, conservatory and lobby spaces. All of which means you don’t have to be an overnight guest to enjoy this unique art exhibition! Curated by Heinrich Groenewald and Shona van der Merwe of RESERVOIR Projects, the collection of artworks is intended to offer a unique perspective on the concept of ‘Mother City’, the nickname for Cape Town. The curated collection of works includes a range of mediums, from painting to photography and relief sculpture, with work from artists including Mia Chaplin, Nicholas Hlobo, Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Dada Khanyisa, Kapwani Kiwanga, Zanele Muholi, Cassi Namoda, Gregory Olympio, Athi-Patra Ruga, Gerda Scheepers, Berni Searle and Brett Charles Seiler. ‘It’s a great honour to share part of the Homestead Collection with guests of Mount Nelson. As a leading 20th-century South African art collection dedicated to an expanded narrative, these works speak to the hotel’s reverence for its past and its insistence on being part of the future,’ says founder of the Norval Foundation, Louis Norval. Stop in for a meal, or sneak a peek en route to sundowners at Pla

Families and train-spotters alike were thrilled when Ceres Rail announced it was relaunching its popular day trip from the V&A Waterfront to Simon’s Town. Almost six years after the last sightseeing steam train ran on the route, Ceres Rail rebooted this family-friendly scenic adventure in late-March. And travellers must have found it a hoot, because Ceres Rail has announced three new dates for the steam train outing.  Taking full advantage of the upcoming public holidays, Ceres Rail will now offer journeys on Saturday, April 27 (Freedom Day); Wednesday, May 1 (Workers’ Day); and Saturday, May 18. The train departs from the railway siding alongside the AC Hotel by Marriot in the harbour precinct at 9am, before steaming out through the suburbs of Cape Town. Onboard you’ll find a fully licensed bar and a dining car offering coffee and snacks. But get back to your seat by Muizenberg, where the railway line runs metres from the ocean. It’s one of the world’s most scenic railway journeys, and the vintage loco will slowly chuff its way along the coastline, travelling through the seaside suburbs of Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and Glencairn before arriving in the historic naval village of Simon’s Town at around 11.30am. From Simons’ Town railway station it is an easy one-kilometre walk into town, where passengers will have a few hours to discover the Naval Museum, hop on a harbour tour or enjoy lunch. The train departs Simon’s Town at 2.30pm, arriving back in the city approximately three hour

Whether you fancy yourself a salty sea dog, or simply love watching yachts run before the wind from the harbour breakwater, it’s good news for the city that the iconic Cape to St. Helena Yacht Race returns in 2024. Originally known as the Governor’s Cup – named for the governor in charge of this remote mid-Atlantic island – the race dates back to 1996. That’s when the former captain of the RMS St. Helena mail ship watched the fleet cross the start line of the Cape-to-Rio yacht race. Inspired, Captain David Roberts imagined a similar race from Cape Town, long known as the ‘Tavern of the Seas’, to the remote British Overseas Territory of St. Helena, the British-owned island that his mail ship sailed to until 2018. Roberts’ vision came to life in 1997 with the start of the first-ever Governor's Cup race, and since then it has become a cult classic on the annual sailing calendar, held every two years. ‘We’re excited to be part of this incredible event,’ says David Garrard, Vice-Commodore of the Royal Cape Yacht Club. ‘And with just nine months to go, we are working closely with St Helena Tourism to stage this iconic yacht race. We look forward to a good fleet and sharing this tremendous event with the world.’ This year’s race will see a mixed fleet of sailing yachts tackle the 3060-kilometre journey across the South Atlantic, with entries closing on November 1, 2024 and the start date set for December 26, 2024. ‘This race is a great opportunity for St Helena. We're proud to be a

April is your last chance to soak up the silver screen magic of the Galileo Open Air Cinema until the long summer evenings return at the end of he year.  With the chill of a Cape winter approaching, the 12th season of this popular al fresco cinema theatre comes to an end, with a line-up of classic flicks and adventure films to entice you out into the autumn air. 'Brit Rock' – showing at Kirstenbosch Gardens on Wednesday, April 3 – is a special showcase featuring five of the UK’s top climbing and adventure films, but the final weeks of the Galileo season are also packed with much-loved classics, including Dirty Dancing (April 20), Jumanji (April 25) and Grease (April 27). There’s also the chance to reboot ‘Barbenheimer’ under the stars, with Barbie on April 18, and the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer on April 24. Tickets start from R140 per person, and Galileo’s usual offer of discounted tickets and free birthday entry continues in the last weeks.  Visit the Galileo website for the complete schedule and ticket bookings. Check out our complete list of the Best Birthday Freebies in Cape Town!

Set less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, the !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre has long been one of the most popular cultural day trips from Cape Town, offering unique insights into the history, heritage and culture of the indigenous San people of southern Africa. Now the launch of two new luxurious accommodation options makes !Khwa ttu a must for an overnight escape from the city. The heart of !Khwa ttu is the interpretive centre, where three museums and galleries focus on the origin stories of the San as Africa’s First People, the conflicts of colonisation, and the traditions and cultural memory of the San. But set just a short walk from the exhibition spaces you’ll now also find the new Hilltop Huisies: six chic two-person units gazing out over the 850-hectare reserve. With the hilltop setting you’ll sit out on your private patio, a glass of West Coast wine in hand, as jackal buzzards and yellow-billed kites soar below you, and panoramic sunset views here come standard. Indoors, the space is decorated in a minimalist Scandi-chic style, with splashes of colour courtesy of authentic San artworks. Units are well-equipped for self-catering – hello air-fryer! – with a sheltered courtyard for enjoying a braai beneath the stars. Not sure what’s for dinner? You can bring it all yourself, but !Khwa ttu also offers a choice of dinner baskets (pre-order essential) which range from generous braai packs to home-made lasagne, traditional sorghum salad with pickled cucumber, or a vegeta

With the summer heat cooling off, it’s the ideal time for a balmy evening in the city enjoying all that the April edition of all that First Thursdays has to offer. Capetonians Michael Tymbios and Gareth Pearson launched the art, design and urbanism project in Cape Town in 2012, and since then First Thursdays has become something of an institution in the city. And the concept is simple: On the first Thursday of each month inner-city galleries, shops and design studios stay open until late in the evening (usually around 9pm), allowing art loving locals and curious tourists to wander from gallery to restaurant to trendy boutique to cocktail bar.  An official guide is curated for each month, with the programme made available online at first-thursdays.co.za the week before the event. But, look forward to a few dozen galleries, bars and restaurants laying on special events and unique exhibitions that celebrate African creativity. And for the April event – on Thursday, April 4 – visitors can look forward to an additional special programme in the Silo District, part of a quarterly series of events in this corner of the V&A Waterfront. The main attraction at the Silo District is Zeitz MOCAA – one of Time Out’s best galleries in Cape Town – with half price admission (R125) from 6pm to 9pm. Current exhibitions include SALA; Mame-Diarra Niang: Self as a Forgotten Monument; Seekers, Seers, Soothsayers; Seismography of Struggle; and Past Disquiet, with guided exhibition tours, a DJ set in

Easter weekend in the Mother City means four laid-back (holi)days filled with hot cross buns and pickled fish, Easter egg hunts and lamb sizzling on the Sunday braai. Make the most of the long weekend – remember it’s a four-day beak! – by heading over to the Time Out Market Cape Town for delicious Easter treats, and a surprise guest!  Photograph: Time Out Market Cape TownNosh Easter treats Chocolate overload at Nøsh Nøsh has fast become a local favourite in the Time Out Market Cape Town, drawing a crowd with its artisan roasted coffee as much as its brunch plates and hand-crafted bakes. And to satisfy your chocolate cravings, from March 25 until the end of Easter Weekend Nøsh will be serving two very special creations. Their OTT Cookie sees the world’s most more-ish chocolate chip cookie given an extra Easter boost with baked-in speckled eggs. Those colourful eggs are the star of the Easter bundt cake too; a feather-fluted sponge cake drizzled with rainbow-bright icing and topped with speckled eggs.   Photograph: Shutterstock Bond with the Bunny Young guests will love the chance to meet the Easter Bunny this weekend. Stop by the Market on Saturday, March 30, for the chance to grab a pic with our on-site celeb. The Bunny will be on hand for photos between 11am – 2pm, with a face painter following close behind for any young fans who want to look the part too. Photograph: Claire Gunn Photography Chocolate dreams are best eaten frozen Is there a better way to finish off a f

The Hyatt Regency Cape Town has launched a special Iftar buffet for the month of Ramadan. Located in the heart of the city centre, bordering the historic Bo-Kaap neighbourhood famed for its rows of colorfully-painted houses, this five-star hotel is the first Hyatt-branded property in Cape Town. Taking its inspiration from both the Indian cuisine and the fragrant Cape Malay cooking historically associated with the Bo-Kaap district, this special Iftar buffet promises a feast of traditional and contemporary dishes. Start with a plate of samoosas, spring rolls and – of course – dates, before discovering the inventive starter options, including a tabbouleh salad with pomegranate dressing. The main courses are a hearty offering, from masala-grilled steak and curried baked fish to a vegan potato and chickpea coconut curry. For dessert, the chai cheesecake with fresh berries is sure to be a standout or opt for traditional Indian soji, made with cinnamon and cardamom. The Iftar buffet costs R300 per person (children under 12, R150) and will be available in the hotel’s 126 Cape Kitchen & Café for the month of Ramadan, which is expected to end around April 9, 2024. The buffet menu offering is available to both in-house guests and local diners and is served every day between 6pm and 9pm. The hotel is also equipped with prayer facilities, and the kitchens are certified Halal. Don't miss the Ramadan collab between Barakat x YARD at Time Out Market Cape Town!

The stars of Broadway and the West End are coming to Cape Town this April, as ‘Finding the Light’ takes to the stage of the Artscape Opera House for a limited run of six shows only! Audiences are in for a treat with songs from much-loved productions including ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Company’, ‘Into the Woods’ and many more. Accompanied by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, some of the world’s most famous musical theatre numbers will be performed by local stars Jonathan Roxmouth, Lynelle Kenned, Lucy Tops and Tshepo Ncokoane performing alongside Broadway and West End sensations Nikki Renee Daniels, Kim Criswell, David Habbin and Michael Xavier. And if that wasn’t enough, local comedian Marc Lottering will be the host for the evening, bringing his special brand of Cape humour to the event. But this event is about more than a night at the theatre: all proceeds from the Cape Town shows will benefit the Kolisi Foundation, set up by Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi, and his wife Rachel, in 2019 to tackle some of the toughest challenges facing South African communities. There are only six performances available, and tickets are set to sell out fast! Bookings via Webtickets. Stay in the loop with our guide to the best events in Cape Town...