Hidden Cape Town

23rd November 2021

Cape Town is a port city on South Africa’s southwest coast, on a peninsula beneath the imposing Table Mountain. Slowly rotating cable cars climb to the mountain’s flat top, from which there are sweeping views of the city, the busy harbour and boats heading for Robben Island, the notorious prison that once held Nelson Mandela. There are many hidden delights to explore in and around the city.

Cape Town has a huge amount of beautiful natural sites, probably more than any other city in the world. One of the best spots is the Silvermine Nature Reserve. Although technically speaking, it makes up part of the Table Mountain National Park, it still seems to be one of the best-hidden gems in Cape Town. If you love outdoor activities, then this is the place to go; there are great hiking and mountain biking trails all over the park, as well as the opportunity to do some swimming in the Silvermine Reservoir.

The Woodstock area of Cape Town is a serious contender for the coolest neighbourhood in the whole city, the place has a unique, creative culture that brings with it plenty of independent cafés, super trendy restaurants and a whole load of street art! During the daytime, there’s plenty of shopping that includes everything from local artisans to unique vintage shops. As well as this, Woodstock has some of the very best nightlife in Cape Town, you’ll find loads of bars that give a glimpse into the diverse nature of the city.

When tourists come to Cape Town, they look for a great beach and most go to Camps Bay. It’s beautiful in its own right, but it can get a bit crowded. Just a little further along you’ll find Bakoven Beta Beach. It’s one of Cape Town’s hidden gems and one of the most beautiful beaches (and certainly beta than Camps Bay)! It has remained as it is for many years and is largely bypassed by the crowds. Just be aware that this privacy means that there aren’t going to be any public facilities like toilets, but the view alone makes up for this!

The Centre for the Book is a stunning building dedicated to all things book (perfect for TripfFiction!), and is one of the finest examples of Edwardian architecture in the city – the ceremonial hall was based on an ancient Greek theatre, and the dome rises 56 feet with a base made from Paarl granite. It hosts writing workshops for talented writers and outreach programmes to disadvantaged communities. The domed hall is also for hire as a venue. It’s a great place to just wander around.

They are a bit less of a secret than they used to be, but did you know that you can explore some of the hundreds of water tunnels beneath the city? The streams of water running off Table Mountain (apparently as much as 1.5 million litres per day) head underground into a myriad of brick tunnels that date back to 1652. These tunnels used to supply Company Gardens and passing ships with fresh water. As the city expanded, the canals were used to transport sewerage until 1895, when they were arched over and forgotten. Tours can be arranged. It’s quite an experience!

Finally, you may want a drink! We recommend The Secret Gin Bar, located behind an unassuming door on Wale Street. Pop into the speakeasy-style courtyard after hours for an artisanal gin cocktail (the basil bash is delicious but they also do great alcohol-free drinks) and mingle with locals, while enjoying the dimly-lit atmosphere, and eclectic decor (inspired by its history as a morgue!). It is a great place to relax and wind down after a busy day.

We hope you enjoy your visit to Cape Town – either in reality or virtually. It’s a brilliant place. Get yourself in the mood by clicking here to see our curated list of Ten Great Books set in the city.

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