Back on the streets: Cape Town

Bree Street, City Centre

Bree Street has long been the city’s centre of fun. On its upper side is uber-chic restaurant  Between Us, fabric and homeware store Skinny laMinx, and the new Clay Cafe in the City, where you can get creative while eating. You’ll find photographer and part-time barista Pang Isaac making his specialty coffee at Rook Cycles. Further down there’s a constant buzz at Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room, a home-from-home for many creatives, while Max Bagels and funky clothing and lifestyle store Duck Duck Goose have hole-in-the-wall outlets. At Heritage Square you’ll find chef Liam Tomlin and co serving up excellence at Chef’s Warehouse Winebar & Pinchos, at the Middle Eastern-inspired Mazza, and at LOCAL at Heritage Square. Stop at 43 Bree Street for a sensory treat at luxury boutique KLûK CGDT, Cape Cobra Leathercraft, and Ciani Jewellers. 

Harrington Street, City Centre

Here, quirk meets glamour. The fast-moving queue outside New York Bagels is testament to the quality of its coffee, bagels, and cheesecake. Above the deli is jeweller Pichulik Atelier, and across the road is NUDE FOODS, a zero-waste grocery store. While SurfaRosa is a funky drinking hole, you’ll get real grit and an extensive Portuguese menu at Dias Tavern, burgers at Lefty’s, and fine nose-to-tail dining at Belly of the Beast. Vintage with Love’s third-floor sorting warehouse is open to fashion lovers twice a week.

Yew Street, Salt River

This is a short street but it’s packed with interesting places. At the Cultivate Collective, an inclusive wine initiative founded by Zahira Asmal, you’ll find a serious wine collection, as well as wine-makers serving up masterclasses and great conversations. Ceramicists Andile Dyalvane and Zizipho Poswa have relocated Imiso Ceramics Studio here, hosting workshops and residencies. For meals, try Nolz Kitchen and Table Seven, or cook with friends at Jade de Waal’s Food Jams at SOUTE Studio. On the corner of Yew and Hopkins is Cape Town’s first licenced small-batch distillery, Hope Distillery. Book a tasting. 

Palmer Road, Muizenberg

If the wind is blowing at Surfers Corner, you can find refuge — and solid servings of pizza — at Joon, where the cake selection is also great. Next door is textile artist Gina Niederhumer’s studio and shop. If you’re self-catering or cooking at home, you’ll find an excellent slab of free-range meat at Edsons Butchery. Roots Bar, just off Palmer Street, is a rasta shop selling artwork, books, and herbal products. You’re bound to have an interesting conversation. 

King Langalibalele Drive, LangaThe Langa Township Heritage Museum, or Dompas Museum, is a reminder of the grim cruelty of the pass laws. But the next block is a different experience. A hub for tourists, who shop for local craft and arts, the Guga S’Thebe Arts and Cultural Centre has studios for designers and makers, including the upcyclers at Our Workshop, while the hall hosts jazz events. Sundays at Jordan Ways of Cooking are famous for good food, good vibes, and regular live performances. The electronic music-focused Bridges for Music Academy is nearby.

• From the November issue of Wanted 2021.