Ishani Chetty

With a simple scroll on social media, you are bound to see an advert for a Labubu or its unfortunate and fake counterpart, the Lafufu, pop up.  While some may gawk at these items in utter disgust or confusion as to why everyone and their mother is after one, there are a large number of individuals who are trolling the internet to find where they can purchase one.  Now, Labubu’s aren't the only items that have piqued the interest of collectable fans, with blind boxes becoming all the rage across the world. As with all trends, there are some retailers and online resellers that are charging through the roof for these adorable yet questionable creatures (in their many forms, we are not just referring to Labubu’s here).  As the love for blind boxes has made its way to Cape Town, we take a closer look at why it has become so popular and how best to authenticate purchased items to ensure you are getting your money's worth. What's in the box (cue Brad Pitt's lines from the movie Seven)?  Blind boxes are just as the description indicates, they are sealed boxes that contain a collectable figurine, toy or plushie.  A good comparison would be lucky packets or dips, the ones we would receive as kids after a friend's birthday party, but blind boxes are more than that, with an added layer of collectability and premium quality. The joy of opening up the lucky packet to find out what trinkets and delights you got is providing that same feeling to blind box fans across the world.  But who is b

Some might say matcha tastes like grass (usually those not yet inducted into the somewhat cult-like following - and full disclosure: I’ve been a card-carrying member since long before the craze hit). But love it or not, there’s no denying that this vibrant green tea is having a serious moment, and Cape Town is catching on fast.Made from shade-grown tencha leaves that are steamed, dried and stone-ground into a fine powder, matcha is prized not just for its earthy flavour but also for its antioxidant punch and gentle, slow-release caffeine kick.With a wave of new matcha spots popping up around the Mother City, we’ve sipped our way through the best to bring you this guide to where to get your next emerald elixir fix - hot, iced or mixed into a latte. Let’s just say, when it comes to matcha, we’re anything but 'matchalant'. Here are Cape Town’s top spots for your next matcha moment. RECOMMENDED: 😋 The best indoor activities for kids in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town

Winter is in full swing, and the icy cold days call for a delicious bowl of hearty and wholesome goodness. Entering from stage right, to rescue you from those winter blues and keep you nice and toasty (and full), is a bowl of delightful ramen. Bringing together the best of both worlds, a flavourful broth, freshly made noodles, meat of your choice (usually pork, beef or chicken, I know how this sounds, similar to what air hostesses ask you on your long-haul flight, but we promise it is more than just that) and other toppings including boiled eggs, spring onions and other carefully paired finishings, ramen is one of the ultimate comfort foods. Our pick of top ramen spots in Cape Town will have you slurping up the last bit of the broth and searching frantically for the noodles (only to forget you ate them all because it was just that good). A slurp-tastic ramen adventure awaits! RECOMMENDED: 😋 The best indoor activities for kids in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town

Located in the forested hills of Hout Bay, Phakalane Spirit Spa can be summed up as an integrative holistic lifestyle sanctuary. It is more than a space for zen and relaxation as it blends time-honoured ancient healing practices with cutting-edge science-backed health practices. As the rolling gate opens, while unassuming at first glance, it is hard to believe you are just 30 minutes from the fast-paced city life of the Mother City.  Founded by Claudia Rauber and now owned by designer and wellness entrepreneur Nikolas Cramer Klett, Phakalane is designed to create an immersive space dedicated to holistic well-being.  As you make your way through the main entrance, a sense of serenity washes over you, amplified by the surrounding sounds of nature... birds chirping mingled with leaves brushing gently.  What are the rooms like at Phakalane? I stayed in a room within the main house, the Hummingbird - a warm and inviting space with a queen bed and an en-suite bathroom that featured both a bath and a shower.  A true highlight? The view from the bathroom windows offers a near 360-degree view of the expansive and thriving forests surrounding the main house.  As a social media manager and a journalist, I rarely switch off from the world, which can sometimes be concerning, even to me. I always keep my phone at hand, scrolling endlessly as the screens warp me.   But lying on the bed and looking at the ceiling, I thought to myself: 'This is a chance for me to fully switch off.'  While I m

Whether you’re sipping an early morning coffee on Darling Street, stepping out of the Golden Acre at midday, or catching the golden light across the Grand Parade in front of the City Hall at sunset, you'll hear a sound that's more than a century old - and impossible to ignore.   After nearly a decade and a half of silence, the iconic City Hall clock is not only ticking but striking once again - revived in all its Westminster-style glory. Installed in 1905 by legendary British clockmakers JB Joyce & Co. (yes, the same company behind Big Ben), the tower clock has been restored to its original splendour thanks to a meticulous six-month project led by the City of Cape Town, local engineer Marius Schoeman and self-taught horologist Alexios Vicatos.   @timeoutcapetown The City Hall clock and bell chime is ticking in perfect time following its restorations which kicked off 6 months ago. We had an exclusive look at the clock chimes and tower that is a core part of the city’s heritage. #TimeOutCapeTown #capetown #tiktokcapetown #visitcapetown #capetownsouthafrica #capetowntravel #timeoutexclusive ♬ original sound - Time Out Cape Town    The project brought a wave of nostalgia for many, including Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis's grandmother-in-law, who grew up in Woodstock and remembered shopping in town on Saturdays, the clock’s bells echoing in the background. “She got glassy-eyed when I told her it would ring again,” he shared at the ceremony marking the c

The new kid on the Kloof Street block is Aruba. Offering diners an experience that merges Mediterranean food with a Caribbean twist, Aruba's tapas-style menu and laid-back setting is the perfect addition to the thriving dining scene. Founded by two friends, Daniel Kruger and Murray Hunter-Smith - who share a passion for food and restaurants, Aruba came to life from a dream that was once thought to be impossible. "I had been thinking about it for a really long time, but I never thought it was going to happen because property in Cape Town is really hard to find. Unless it was the right property, I wouldn't have wanted to do it. I was driving down the road one day and I saw that this property was up for rent. I was out with Murray the one night and said, ‘Murray, I have an idea, come meet me for coffee tomorrow morning’," shares Daniel. Daniel adds that although they faced challenges at the start, their perseverance to create a space that embodies what they love the most about dining came to life. "It was a long process of deciding what we wanted to do because we didn't get an interior designer or anyone to help us with the design. We sat together every day and decided what we would do. As a result, everything in the restaurant has been thought out by the two of us and we got it made specifically to match what we wanted." Murray adds: "We sort of built the place that we both like to sit, eat and drink at." Time Out Cape Town The restaurant concept Aptly named Aruba, Daniel emp