The Durbanville Hills cellar, only 20 minutes from the city centre, is synonymous with Cape Town. Here you can enjoy breath-taking views of Table Mountain, Table Bay and Robben Island. The cellar is modern and, taking its cue from the Castle of Good Hope, a triangular lookout named the 'Bastion' ploughs forward like the prow of a ship into the vineyards below, a theme repeated on the smaller wooden deck linking the tasting area to the Renosterveld garden. The relaxed indoor and outdoor areas of the cellar offer artisan cheeses, breads and meats, biltong or chocolate wine pairing, or breakfast, lunch and dinner in the newly refurbished restaurant.
In Cape Town's city centre, an underground tour of Cape Town in the subterranean throughways that dates back to the mid 1600s offers an adventure. Cape Town was known in the early days as 'Little Amsterdam', in a time when canals and rivers acted as routes of travel and supplied the Company Gardens and ships with fresh water. The tunnels are located under the busy streets of the city centre and a guided tour starts at the Castle of Good Hope.
The Biscuit Mill in Woodstock has become somewhat of an institution with a collection of arts, craft, fashion and design shops. On Saturdays, the bustling, vibey Neighbourhoods market has organic and fresh foods either to enjoy there or to take home. Staying in Woodstock, the edgy gallery 'What if the World' is next. The gallery provides a platform for emerging young artists to exhibit their work during regular art events and workshops.
The Book Lounge in Roeland Street is a magical literary world where rare books, poetry readings and story telling meet. Have a coffee in the lounge area, speak to the knowledgeable staff and find the joy in paging through their selections of the latest fiction and non-fiction books.
Just up the road, the Labia Theatre on Orange Street is the oldest independent art-repertory cinema in South Africa, showing independent movies, foreign films, historical cinema and other alternative art circuit films. It is also the only cinema where you can relax and enjoy a drink from the bar whilst watching a movie! Once you have explored your cultural side, head to Long Street for trendy shopping and restaurants. It is one of the best places for a night out offering everything from elegant dining to clubbing.
Finally, Cape Town's natural beauty is there to breathe in, so take a bike ride along the Sea Point promenade, hike up Lion's Head on a full moon night for an incredible moonlit view of the city or soak up the sun at Camps Bay beach.
