Local Intel: Werner Voigt

Located in the CBD inside the old long building connecting Darling and Longmarket streets, this was once the famous Wellington Fruit Growers Market dating back to the 1930s. I have fond memories as a child growing up in the 80s and 90s because this was the place my grandparents visited to stock up on Christmas treats such as chocolates, nuts, dried fruits, and those pink candy-coated peanuts.

The Eastern Food Bazaar has been operating for over a decade and is a street food, canteen-style eatery offering the most delectable and scrumptious Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cuisine. In my opinion, this place is a must to visit if good quality street food is your thing. Even if it is not your vibe, you have to go at least once or twice to sit down, and allow the fantastic aromas of smoky chicken tandoori, curries, and biryani, butter naan bread and everything in between fill your nostrils. Whether sitting down or ordering a takeaway, this eatery is one of my “go-to” places, especially if I don’t feel like cooking, don’t want to buy fast food on a Friday night or if I need to host unexpected family or friends. The atmosphere is always pleasant with seating areas right there where the food is prepared or upstairs if you prefer something quieter. I usually order the chicken biryani or lamb rogan josh with butter naan or basmati rice.

Darling/Longmarket Street, Cape Town

There’s nothing honest about me when I visit this secret little spot situated on Wale Street in the CBD. I say this because I don’t keep my word when I go there for a coffee only. It’s not very honest of me to order cakes, chocolates, and more chocolates to take home. Let me just say that I love this ‘Dishonest’ café for three main reasons.

ICYMI: The best chocolate shops in Cape Town!

One, Honest Chocolate is a perfect spot to have a quick meet with a friend or work colleague, as most of us have something to do in town quite often. Two, the rustic courtyard tucked away at the back reminds me of the lovely cafés in Paris and Barcelona I’ve been privileged to experience with my beautiful wife. And thirdly, of course, the fact that they honestly make an effort to ensure the cacao beans they source from Tanzania are organically produced, roasted and ground locally by themselves, which all translates into making the most beautiful assortment of handmade chocolates. I love that the business's ethos is producing ethical chocolate from bean to mouth. The honest truth is in the tasting. Go, see, and taste for yourself.

64A Wale Street, Cape Town

Capetonians are spoilt for choice when it comes to scenic walks and activities, and I don’t think we really appreciate what we have on our doorstep. The walk from Three Anchor Bay to the Sea Point promenade is well known and often quite crowded for obvious reasons.

Over the years, I have become fonder of walking in the opposite direction, and when I’m walking with my wife or children, the walk doubles up for light shopping or a coffee at the V&A Waterfront. It really is a lovely stroll and just feels less rushed or pressured to complete, perhaps because there are fewer fast walkers, runners, and bodies flexing muscles.

There is a neat gravel and timber walkway along Haul and Jetty Streets to the Breakwater Lookout Point, where you are sure to spot the resident population of Heaviside dolphins, especially during winter. If the Waterfront is too crowded for your liking, take a coffee flask and park off for a while before walking back.

The Cape of Good Hope at Cape Point is regarded as a deeply spiritual and powerful location but in order to have a more immersive experience of what feels like the edge of the world, I have come to appreciate the 34km overnight hiking trail as the crown jewel of Cape Town’s hiking trails.

What makes the Cape mountains and coastline here so “crazy beautiful” is when one takes time to really take in the changes in landscape features, and particularly the diversity of the vegetation along the trail. I am forever fascinated by our mountain and coastal fynbos, the strandveld, seasonal wetlands and vleis, rocky shores and sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and the breathtaking panoramic views of the ocean in hues of deep blue, green and turquoise. All these you won’t be able to appreciate on a quick day visit. At the overnight hut, make sure you rise before the world wakes up, sit quietly and wait for sunrise.

Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape Point

I am a keen kayak fisherman and one of my favourite – and certainly safest – spots to go kayaking is Long Beach. This stretch of sandy shoreline is stunning, and whether from the beach or atop a kayak, the beautiful views of the mountain, harbour, and open ocean are quite special, especially very early mornings as the day breaks.

Due to the sheltered bay, the sea is generally calm, the wind is moderate, and the surf is gentle, which provides excellent conditions for launching small watercrafts, and the clear water with sandy bottoms makes for one of the very best scuba diving training locations, even at night! I spend hours under an umbrella or on my kayak and find that this little bay offers the kind of serenity that is so needed by all of us.

I grew up in a fishing family; my father and uncles were all rock and surf anglers, and my grandparents were langanas (people who sold fish, acting as intermediaries between fishermen at the harbour and consumers). I spent school holidays and weekends with my grandparents, travelling in their bakkie to the various harbours and also the sandy beaches where they bought fish from the boats and trek fishermen.

Get out and explore: 13 reasons to visit Kalk Bay!

Kalk Bay harbour is very close to my heart and no doubt equally special to many Capetonians. I’ve pulled snoek here by their tails five per hand, and carried sloere bossies vis (fish bunches) from the harbour to the bakkie. Hard work, but most enjoyable as a schoolboy. From one generation to the next, I’ve been visiting Kalk Bay not only for the fishing and harbour atmosphere, but also for the interesting characters hanging around, and of course for the popular seafood dishes. When we visit as a family, we often sit down at the famous Kalky’s Fish shop or get a takeaway from Lucky Fish and Chips on the breakwater side of the harbour and then sit on the harbour wall. It’s the culture of a working harbour and the excitement when boats return from sea that I’m drawn to. It’s a happy place for me and the memories made over all the years that make Kalk Bay very different to any other harbour around the Cape.

Since I love scenic countryside driving, I often take the family over the mountain into the Breedekloof Valley. For me a regular stop, often combined with a weekend away, includes the tranquil Bosjes farm. 

It’s a lovely estate, gorgeously framed by the Waaihoek and Slanghoek mountains, which form part of the majestic Hex River mountain range. Vineyards, fruit orchards and fynbos surround the farm but at the heart of the estate one can spend hours wandering around the tastefully landscaped and mostly indigenous gardens. I also love the thoughtfulness of incorporating a children’s play area, the boombrug (tree bridge or a canopy walkway) and the meditative atmosphere created by the special features found in the garden. 

One of my favourite places to visit at Bosjes is the chapel with its unusual sculptural design, which really is a form of biomorphic architecture inspired by the undulations of the hills and mountains of the valley. I find the countryside atmosphere to be mentally calming and Sunday lunch at the Bosjes Kombuis or Bosjes Spens features of the best country cuisine, pastries and desserts to be found in the region.

Off R43, Breede River Valley

This is one of my top stops for breakfast, and the service and quality of food have been so consistent over the years I’ve been visiting. The staff are super friendly and so confident that I’ll have a great time each time! The meals at Liquorice & Lime are sizeable and so beautifully presented it looks like artwork. My wife takes pictures of everything, the beautiful seating and wallpaper – with us in the shot, of course – and then when my breakfast arrives, I must divorce myself from ‘digging in’.

She says I must wait until she’s taken the best shots of my plate... only about thirty-eight photos! It’s situated in Gardens on Kloof Street and offers a wide variety of light meals, cakes, desserts and perfectly brewed coffee. There is also a charming deli where you can shop for something special for your mother-in-law!

162 Kloof Street, Cape Town

Babylonstoren is an old, restored Cape Dutch farm, which operates as a working farm that produces its own fruit, vegetables, herbs, meats, breads, and wine to delight visitors, whether one visits for the day or stays overnight in any of the luxurious accommodation offerings on the farm. The philosophy is simple, yet sophisticated, put to work with love, kindness and in harmony with the earth and seasons.

I love the fact that as a visitor, you’re allowed to pick and enjoy fruits in season which I find rather delightful. There are also several sections dedicated to indigenous South African gardens based on the Cape biomes and a special display house for seasonally flowering plants, a spice house and a geological rock display garden. But perhaps let me not give too much away. Rather go see for yourself if you haven’t been. It’s a sort of therapeutic, spiritual and sensory experience that, apart from the most wonderful meals one can enjoy at the three unique restaurants, makes you want to come back for repeat visits.

Simondium Road, Franschhoek

This market has an earthy organic feel to it, and everything on display and for sale looks inviting and almost ‘polished” but not in an artificial way. The products are just so good, especially the fresh vegetables and food products.

I love the fact that there is a pleasing assortment of items organized and laid out with care to be visually appealing with an essence of quality and uniqueness as opposed to ‘same of the same’. There is such a great variety of items on display from home décor items, artworks, body and wellness products, lifestyle, outdoor living, nature inspired gifts, food, wine, health products and even treats and gifts for your furry friends. I love the chatty atmosphere as a place for friends and family to meet up and catch up, and the food is especially enjoyable.

Dock Road, V&A Waterfront