Holidays in Cape Town are usually jam-packed with sight-seeing and winding your way around the city’s many tourist attractions but if you have one of those days where all you can manage is a leisurely stroll and a spot of lunch, nothing beats a relaxed ramble around Kalk Bay. We found it was a delightfully decadent way to pass the time in an area famed for its artsy charm and scenic coastal beauty and definitely gets our vote for being one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Cape Town.
Set against a mountainous backdrop with sparkling ocean views Kalk Bay is a vibrant seaside village brimming with creativity and charming coastal character. With a picturesque harbour peppered with colourful fishing boats and a trendy buzzing high street it’s the kind of place that draws you in and makes you want to simply explore and discover at a slow and gentle pace.
It’s roughly a half an hour drive from Cape Town to Kalk Bay, but we decided to take the train which not only offers a relaxed way to soak up the magnificent scenery along the False Bay coastline, it’s also the most affordable way to get there with tickets costing just R11–R13. You can take a direct train from Cape Town Station to Kalk Bay every 30 minutes, with a journey time of approximately 58 minutes and whether you drive or take the train the scenic views along the way are equally as stunning. Upon arriving at the train station in Kalk Bay we found it was the perfect spot to begin our afternoon of laid-back exploration. With an alluring assortment of bohemian boutiques, vintage bookstores, art galleries, antique shops, quaint cafes and some of the Cape’s most iconic restaurants, stepping out onto the main street was a real feast for the eyes.
If you are an art lover, Ink Box Art is a light and airy exhibition space showcasing the very best of South African art while Kalk Bay Modern Gallery brims with contemporary Southern African art, ceramics, textiles and jewellery, and the perfect place to source high end curios and gifts.
At Jane Valken you’ll find unique hand spun and hand stitched clothing featuring cottons and silk blends in the colours of the sun reflecting the morning and evening light. One handloom garment takes up to 27 days to complete with motives woven into the fabric.
Catacombes offers the very best of boho-chic with dazzling pieces from around the world. In addition to evening dresses and handmade jewellery you’ll find a kaleidoscopic array of exotic items like antique Indian handbags, Mexican-print jeans, Peruvian pom-pom-adorned shoes, silk saris and Middle Eastern kaftan-inspired beachwear.
For homeware enthusiasts, Casa Boho is an exhilarating wonderland filled with South African and Moroccan ceramics, locally crafted Mungo throws, bamboo and cotton towels as well as brightly coloured kikois and wraps. Their beauty products are sourced locally, 100% organic and contain only natural ingredients with marine, herbal, plant and mineral bases. They also stock exquisite hand block-printed linen and tablecloths sourced from the Indian subcontinent in a dazzling array of colours and textures.
Situated in the old historic post office building, the Kalk Bay Trading Post is a bit of an Aladdin’s cave and while it’s filled to the brim with some good old-fashioned tat it’s also a treasure trove of antique furniture and memorabilia. From retro vintage signs and old comic books, if you’re a bargain-hunter, you’ll find it difficult not to buy something.
Whatnot & Chinatown offers a delightfully bizarre browsing experience, where crockery of every shape, size and colour adorns the walls, and every inch of floor and table space. Even if you are not into dainty porcelain teacups with matching hand-painted saucers, it is a sight to behold. Located just up from the main road, just follow the yellow brick road painted on the sidewalk to the front porch.
If you’re into vintage bookstores Quagga Rare Books is a renowned antiquarian bookshop and gallery in Kalk Bay with an assortment of fascinating rare books, maps, prints, and unique art objects like 17th-century sea charts, ethnographic artifacts, and even mounted animal specimens.
For gorgeous and distinctive handmade jewellery, homeware and clothing check out Soul Design, Miss Mrs & Friends, Kalk Bay Co-op, Mzuri Mamas, and Saint Sienna.
Situated along both sides of the main street, every nook and cranny is filled with incredible stores and historic buildings so it’s impossible to list them all, but you are guaranteed to find a cornucopia of handmade South African products that include everything from soaps and essential oils to wooden carvings, shweshwe bags and leather craftwork.
There are a couple of iconic South African eateries in Kalk Bay which, on their own are a rite of passage when visiting the Cape. Restaurants like the Brass Bell, Cape to Cuba and Kalky’s are all institutions here.
While we started our day with coffee and pastries at the stylish Sirocca Café we opted for lunch at Cape to Cuba. Perched right on the edge of the ocean and harbour, Cape to Cuba offers breathtaking views and a unique dining experience. Before lunch, we settled into the restaurant’s Hemingway Bar with its sandy floors and Afro-Cuban beats to sample their legendary cocktails. The Jo Ma Se Martini was an inspired choice but was just pipped to the post by the delicious Mango Chilli Margarita.
When you step inside the restaurant, you’re instantly transported into a vibrant, Cuban-inspired oasis with an eclectic mix of Cuban memorabilia, vintage posters, and eccentric trinkets and the menu is just as eclectic with a mix of Caribbean, Spanish, and African flavours. From the tapas style starters to the seafood straight from the harbour next door, you are really spoilt for choice.
The lobster burger, diablo rum burger and Cuban pulled pork sandwich were all winners.
After lunch, we decided to grab an ice cream and take a stroll along the harbour. The Ice Café is famous for its unique handmade ice cream with unusual flavours like Coconut, Liquorice, Cinnamon and Peanut Butter and the bustling harbour is a great spot to watch the local fishermen bring in their daily hauls and marvel at the adorable Cape Fur Seals who call the harbour home.
With ice creams in hand we set off for the famous red-and-white-striped lighthouse – situated at the tip of the bustling pier and ended our day with some Instagram-worthy photos of a perfect African sunset.
No trip to Cape Town would be complete without exploring Kalk Bay’s hidden gems. It’s more than just a simple outing; it’s a journey of discovery and relaxation where every stop reveals something magical. If you are tempted to put Kalk Bay on your Cape Town bucket list, get in touch with us. We can design a trip that is exactly right for you, offer expert travel advice, and manage all the bookings and logistics.
Call UK 01233 80 27 27 or visit our website www.bestofsouthafricatravel.co.uk
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A spectacular 2 weeks in South Africa
We are just back from a spectacular 2 weeks in South Africa. We took our 8 year old son back having visited on our own 10 years ago and we all had one of the best holidays. We wanted our son to see "the real Africa" at the same time as doing the usual touristy things (including a very patient …
