Local Intel: Matthew Sterne

This is such a fun, quick route and the perfect after-work adventure; either for a trail run or hike. Start at the Devil’s Peak parking and follow your way to the Saddle, where you take a side contour path and then down to the ruins of an old fire look-out shelter on the ridge. It’s got great views of the city bowl and is a bit away from the more popular routes, so feels a little wilder. The perfect balm at the end of a busy workday.

[Ed: A great addition for our guide to the Best Hiking Trails in Cape Town!]

They’ve slowly been improving this small park on the Sea Point Promenade, and it has been getting some attention on social media recently with its launch of the SaunaHaüs Sauna & Cold Plunge, but I really like going for a cup of coffee from Deluxe and choosing between the bagels, smoothie bowls and cooked breakfasts on offer from the different outlets. They have these wooden loungers there which are great to recline in and soak up the morning sun and enjoy the salty ocean breeze. It must be the closest dining spot to the ocean in Sea Point.

Sea Point Promenade, between the Putt-Putt and Mouile Point lighthouse

The smash burger craze is at its peak in Cape Town and there are so many great options but Le Pickle in De Waterkant is hands down my favourite. They make their own buns and their burgers are delicious. I love Le Godfather with mozzarella, pickles and smoked tomato aioli, but I actually find myself ordering the tasty chicken smash burger more and more these days. They also serve beers, have a soft serve machine and big screen TVs so are a great, casual hangout spot too.

[We agree: Le Pickle is a new addition to our guide to the Best Burgers in Cape Town!]

I’ve been poking my head into the Book Lounge for years and love the independent bookstore vibe they have. You know they genuinely love what they do and – judging by all the book launches they do there – they’re a pillar of the literary community in Cape Town. To know when the book launches are on, you can sign up to their newsletter.

71 Roeland St, Cape Town

Pencil Ceramics offers a great way to slow down with their fun Wine & Clay evenings. With jazz on in the background and a glass of wine nearby, you get to mould your own coffee cup. That makes for a cool memento but the process (and playing on the wheel) is a wonderfully relaxing experience. Beyond these evenings, there are also beginner wheel classes and monthly memberships on offer.

Buchanan Square, 160 Sir Lowry Rd, Woodstock

We’ve been exploring the East City in depth in recent months as we’ve just launched our Cocktail & Speakeasy Tour there and I have discovered an insatiable love for the falafels (actually made in the Egyptian style) from the Lebanese Bakery. I’m a sucker for a good special and their Tuesday 2-for-1 offer on falafel sandwiches is a steal. If you’re ever in the East City on a Tuesday at lunch time, this is the spot for you. But any day is good to be honest.

7 Constitution Street, East City

[Ed: We love the East City too! Check out our complete East City guide over here]

Recently under new ownership, by the same team who have seen the ramen restaurant Bodega become such a cult hit in the city, Ganesh has reclaimed its title as a pillar of the Obs community. Not only is their Thai menu mouthwateringly delicious – I love the Moo Ping grilled pork belly skewer – but they also host a range of amazing and eclectic music events there too. To showcase some of the more intimate shows, they have created a listening room upstairs.

38 Trill Road, Observatory

There’s a very special feeling one has upon arrival at La Cotte. It’s so serene and beautiful, with an elegant design and well-thought-out garden, that you can’t help but let out a deep, relaxing breath. This is our lunch stop on the Franschhoek Wine Walk and the guests inevitably take on this warm glow of satisfaction after every lunch. Their Franschhoek trout with miso is delicious and has proven to be the most popular item on the menu. Extra tip: their millhouse coffeeshop recently re-opened (in South Africa’s oldest watermill) and has won awards for its pastries.

24 La Cotte Street, Franschhoek

Lying between Camps Bay and Llandudno, this secluded beach cannot be seen by passing cars so it was only as an adult that I ventured down the steps to discover this beautiful little cove. Scattered boulders break the waves to create a sedate swimming area, and it’s also well protected from the wind, so it lives up to its name. On a good day, when the beach isn’t too full and the water is just right, it can look like a movie set.

[Ed: Can’t find Cosy Bay? Try one of our picks for the Best Beaches in Cape Town]

It’s interesting to consider what you look for in a hike, but if it is views you want then one route stands above all others in my eyes. The beauty of it is that you start on top of Ou Kaapse Weg so your effort goes into covering distance (17km) and not struggling up a steep slope. After parking at Silvermine Gate 2, you follow the river trail towards Silvermine Dam, then on towards Elephant’s Eye and past it to the summit of Constantiaberg where you get a panoramic view of the entire Cape Peninsula. This is a one-way trail, so you follow the path down the other side all the way into Hout Bay and can end with a beer and warm meal at Constantia Nek. If you’re smart, you would have parked there in the morning and Ubered to the start of the trail. It takes around seven hours and makes for a long day on the mountain but is well worth it! You can see a short video of the trail here.