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City Bowl

Cape Town City Bowl

The beating heart of the Mother City

The compact, mountain-ringed centre of Cape Town, packed with culture, food and easy access to Table Mountain.

Read more about Cape Town City Bowl

The City Bowl is the natural amphitheatre at the heart of Cape Town, cradled by Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak, Signal Hill and the Atlantic. It takes in the CBD, the historic Bo-Kaap, Gardens, Tamboerskloof and the buzzing Kloof Street and Bree Street precincts. This is where Cape Town’s café culture, museums, nightlife and mountain trailheads all meet within a few walkable kilometres.

Explore Cape Town City Bowl

Attractions

Bo-KaapCape Town's historic Cape Malay quarter
Cape Town City Hall & Grand ParadeCape Town’s Edwardian civic landmark, facing the oldest public square in the city
The historic Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town
Castle of Good HopeCape Town’s 17th-century pentagonal fortress and a layered museum of colonial history
Church Square in Cape Town City Centre with historic buildings and the slave memorial
Church SquareThe city block where Cape Town’s church, courts and slave market met
A bronze equestrian memorial on a domed stone colonnade in the Company's Garden, with Table Mountain rising behind it and visitors walking on the paths.
Company’s GardenA historic green oasis in the heart of the city, dating back to 1652.
Greenmarket SquareA cobbled city-centre square in use since the 1690s, with a craft market on top of it.
Groote KerkSouth Africa’s oldest congregation, in an 1841 church beside Church Square
The Bree Street frontage of Heritage Square in Cape Town, with the Cape Heritage Hotel at its centre.
Heritage SquareA block of the old town that Cape Town nearly cleared for a parking garage
Iziko Planetarium and Digital DomeThe most advanced digital planetarium in Africa, with 360 degree full dome shows.
Iziko South African National GallerySouth Africa's national art museum, on Government Avenue in the Company's Garden.
Kloof CornerA mountainside panorama over the City Bowl, without the summit
Koopmans-de Wet House at 35 Strand Street, Cape Town, showing the Neoclassical front with its fluted pilasters, pedimented upper storey and raised klinker stoep.
Koopmans-de Wet HouseA Cape townhouse begun in 1699 and refronted in the 1790s, currently closed for conservation

Activities

ArcheryTraditional bows, foam animals in the trees, and a sport with a famously low barrier to entry.
Guided E-Bike Tours, Ebike Cape TownPedal assist turns Cape Town’s hills into scenery, from the Bo-Kaap to Chapman’s Peak.
Historical City Tour, Walk Cape TownNinety minutes through the old city on foot, three times a day, no booking.
Scootours Table MountainGuided downhill scooter runs on Table Mountain, with a passenger option for younger children.
Sky-Hi RideA high-speed drop ride on the 28th floor of Hotel Sky, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h above Cape Town’s city centre.
Table Mountain Abseiling, Cape Town AbseilA 112 metre controlled descent off the top of Table Mountain, with no experience needed
Tandem ParaglidingRun a few steps off Signal Hill with a pilot behind you and the city drops away underneath.
Taste of Cape Town, Eat Like a LocalFour and a half hours and six to eight stops through owner-run kitchens in the city centre.
Vintage Sidecar Tours, Cape Sidecar AdventuresA chauffeured 1950s military sidecar, a leather jacket and goggles, and the Atlantic Seaboard in front of you.

Hiking Trails

India Venster to Upper Cable StationA scramble up the front face of Table Mountain that involves real climbing and above average fitness. Extremely difficult to descend, and a route for experienced hikers.
Kloof Corner HikeA short, steep sunset trail on Table Mountain's lower slopes, with panoramic views over Lion's Head, the city and the Atlantic.
Lion’s Head HikeSANParks’ spiral walk to the 669 metre summit, about two kilometres up from Signal Hill Drive.
Platteklip GorgeThe most direct route to the summit — a steep, stepped climb with sweeping views over Cape Town and Table Bay.

Venues

126 Cape Kitchen and CafeCape Malay cooking at the Hyatt Regency, Buitengracht
Addis in Cape Ethiopian RestaurantEthiopian dining on Loop Street since 2007
Anthony’s Golden CupCoffee roastery and counter, 59 Loop Street
Bouchon Wine Bar and BistroHout Street, City Bowl
Butter City BowlLoop Street, City Bowl
Clarke’sAn all-day Bree Street diner, open from seven in the morning.
Dos-TeaTea room at the Hyatt Regency, Buitengracht
Grub & VineChef Matt Manning’s Bree Street bistro, with a seasonal menu that changes regularly.
Heavenly Spa by WestinThe Westin Cape Town, Convention Square, Lower Long Street
HemelhuijsWaterkant Street, City Bowl
Honest Chocolate CafeChocolate cafe and courtyard, 64A Wale Street
J Wellness Circle at Taj Cape TownTaj Cape Town, Wale Street

Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit
October to April for warm, dry weather
Entry Fee
Free
Getting Around
Very walkable. MyCiTi buses and Uber are widely available. Parking is easier in the evenings and on weekends.
Good For
first-timers, food lovers, culture, nightlife

Highlights

  • Walkable access to Table Mountain trailheads
  • Historic Bo-Kaap and vibrant Kloof Street dining
  • Museums, galleries and nightlife in one compact area

Frequently asked questions

Is the City Bowl walkable?

Yes, most attractions, restaurants and trailheads are within a few kilometres.

Where should I stay?

Gardens and Tamboerskloof offer guesthouses and hotels close to the action.

Request Cape Town City Bowl

Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back to you with availability and options.