Name: Carolynne Higgins (Travelling Caro)
Blog address: travellingcaro.wordpress.com
City: Cape Town City Centre
Best weekday breakfast: I simply love "Dear Me" in Longmarket Street. It''s more like a large pantry than a restaurant. With a variety of health food, freshly baked bread and innovative dishes, Dear Me is a secret haven for health freaks. The atmosphere is fresh, airy and light. A bit like their delectable dishes.
Date night ideas: Date nights should a unique and fun experience. Forget the dimly lit restaurants and go for something different. A great idea is to grab a bite to eat at the bohemian style Bombay Bicycle Club. It''s romance with a twist. Here you''ll find intimacy coupled with touch of madness. Quirky intimate is how I would describe the atmosphere.
Local midweek eatery: Gourmet Boerie on Kloof Street offers a gourmet twist to an otherwise standard Boerewors roll. This eatery created the opportunity for tourists to sample the classic, traditional boerewors in a trendy/hipster setting. Order a locally brewed craft beer and choose between a variety of "boerie" toppings. The place is buzzing. I highly recommend the Creamy gorgonzola sauce with poached pear, caramelised pecan nuts and rocket. Your hips won''t thank me, but your stomach will.
Best coffee in Cape Town: This would have to be the industrial style Truth coffee shop on Buitenkant Street. It''s a place which attracts an artistic mix of people and cultures. With a variety of brews served in a New York loft living kind of atmosphere; it offers a completely different vibe to the standard coffee shop. This is top of the "coffee culture" list. A word of advice? Their coffee is superb. Don''t ruin it with heaps of sugar.
One must-do / must-visit: I am going to stick with the food theme - I''m always hungry! I love The Kitchen in Woodstock. It''s a tiny place with the best sandwiches in the WORLD. They make their sandwiches with love and it''s just lovely. Locals flock to this eatery for, quite possibly, the best cafe style food for reasonable prices. Order the hot chocolate - the mug is the size of a bowl !
Best escape from the crowds: Spend some time soaking up the pristine night skies during the day. Huh? I am referring to the Cape Town Planetarium. Attend one of the shows, learn about the stars and just soak up the silence while being transported to a different world.
Cape Town''s best sushi: Beluga offers half price Sushi and cocktails from 12 noon until 7 in the evening. Where else can you get a seared Tuna salad for R42? Beluga is smart casual and attracts a trendy crowd. It''s not pretentious but I wouldn''t rock up there covered in beach sand.
Top Cape Town shopping: If you want a collection of tourist nick nacks then make your way to the African inspired Greenmarket Square. Although quite commercial, it''s still worth a visit and it''s the original curio market in Cape Town. For more trendy shops with a collection of African inspired clothing I highly recommend exploring both Long Street and Kloof Street. From surf shops, to local designers and vintage stores; it has something for everyone.
Best Cape Town sundowners: Why not watch the sunset from the top of Cape Town''s iconic landmark, Table Mountain? My favourite thing to do is take the 17:00 cable car going up and return on the last cable car. There''s a certain sense of excitement that comes from waiting for them to call all the stragglers for the last car. You''ve drunk your champagne, watched the sunset and you can see the city at night. The cable car is roughly R215 per adult. Far cheaper than the bottle of Moet you will more than likely take with you in your wicker picnic basket.
Best market in Cape Town city: You have to try the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock for a vibey wanna-be-cool atmosphere. Great food, cocktails and music surrounded by hipster shops. A place to be seen. However, if you want an off-the-beaten track bohemian experience then I recommend eating at the City Bowl Market open on Thurs evenings and Saturday mornings. It''s housed in a museum of a building and has a relaxed, hippy atmosphere about it.
Best child friendly restaurant: Take the family to eat and play at the Deer Park cafe
in Vredehoek. Complete with jungle gyms, a park, swings and slides; the Deer Park cafe is a great place to unwind. Parents can enjoy simple bistro food while their little ones get rid of their energy on the jungle gyms.
Top family friendly activity: Take the family for a scenic walk along the Pipe Track, which is part of the Table Mountain National Park hiking trail. Expect views of Camps Bay, Bakoven and the incredible Lion''s Head. It''s an easy contour path that starts at the Kloof Nek Parking lot.
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