Richard Holmes

As if the mountain, oceans, vibrant city and dynamic culinary scene weren’t enough to keep you busy, Cape Town also brings the goods when it comes to a jam-packed schedule of concerts and events. We're tapping into all the vibes with our updated and expanded Events Guide to Cape Town. Across the city, you’ll find live music, vibey markets, special shows and fun events that are a total jol (that’s a ‘party’, in local lingo). Here's our hand-picked selection of the hottest events to head for in the Mother City. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Cape Town🍝 The best restaurants in Cape Town🏖 The best beaches in Cape Town🛍 The best shops in Cape Town🏠 The best Airbnbs in Cape Town 🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town Richard Holmes is a travel writer based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Welcome to Mother Sippy, where we shine a light on the talented winemakers, brewers, distillers and mixologists that make sure the Mother City never goes thirsty! From new wine releases to taprooms pouring perfect pints, Mother Sippy is your guide to all that’s good and great in Cape Town’s world of drinks. Ah, Bordeaux, the most renowned of French wine regions. The Left Bank. The Right Bank. Cabernet, merlot and white wine blends that will make you weep with joy. Prices that will turn those tears into sadness. Happily, Fairview rides to the rescue with the latest addition to their innovative Regional Revival series: Fairview’s homage to the classic wine regions of Europe, reimagined through a distinctly South African lens. Each wine in the series draws inspiration from Old World styles and grapes, but adds a distinct local character. This year, it’s the turn of Bordeaux, with the release of the Altesse 2024, a crisp white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon—the classic combination for a ‘Bordeaux White’. Inspired by the sea breezes and high-altitude vineyards of Darling, and modelled on classic Bordeaux whites, this is a wine where terroir does all the talking. Photograph: Fairview The name Altesse is a tip of the hat to the two key aspects of the terroir that shape the wine: altitude and sea. With grapes harvested from vineyards near Darling, the vines on the hills above Yzerfontein soak up cool Atlantic breezes and enjoy long ripening days. The result? A vibrant, li

After legal battles and infighting, followed by a few more years of construction, the site that was once The River Club finally opened in late 2024 as Riverlands. It’s a mixed-use development combining office, retail, and restaurant spaces, alongside a strong cultural hub celebrating the First Nations of the Cape, the people who grazed cattle and settled on the grassy plains between what are today the Black and Liesbeek Rivers. While a corporate tech headquarters dominates the skyline (and conversation) at Riverlands, it’s certainly not just a precinct for office workers and apartment residents. Instead, across the expansive site, you’ll find a host of wonderful restaurants, a thoughtful shopping experience in the mall, and a lovely riverside walk that is open to the public and completely free to access. Whether you come for a bite to eat, some cultural insights, or retail therapy, it’s a vibrant, multifaceted new addition to Cape Town. Here's how to spend your time and money down by the riverside...

With the flurry of public holidays in the past month, it’s easy to forget that there’s another important date just over the horizon of this week... Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day dates back more than a century, beginning in the United States largely due to the efforts of one Anna Jarvis. After the death of her mother in 1905, Jarvis campaigned for a national day to honour mothers for their love, sacrifice, and care. The first celebration of Mother’s Day in the United States occurred in 1908, and in 1914, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared it a national holiday. In South Africa – along with the United States and Canada – Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. That’s this Sunday, 11 May 2025, by the way! However, it’s not the same around the world. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, ‘Mothering Sunday’ is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, which fell on 30 March 2025. In France, it falls on the last Sunday in May, and Norway goes completely left-field with the second Sunday in February. But when you celebrate is perhaps less important than ensuring that you do. While a home-cooked meal or serving breakfast in bed (as well as doing the dishes, don't forget) is a fine way to honour your mother figure, Cape Town also offers plenty of fabulous events and special offers if you want to celebrate in style. Here are some of the best Mother’s Day deals in town… Mother’s Day Magic at Wilde Vy Bistro Head for the most delicious new addition to the Durbanville winela

Want to know where the locals love to go? In this exclusive series on Time Out Cape Town, ‘Local Intel’ taps into some of the city’s best-connected characters to unearth the corners you simply can’t miss in the Mother City. As famous for his physical presence as his always-hilarious on-stage flipchart routine, Alan Committie is one of Cape Town’s best-loved performers. Whether he’s bringing the belly-laughs in a one-man show or hosting international comedy festivals, Alan balances razor-sharp wit and off-the-cuff comic timing that has audiences rolling in the aisles. His eight-year stint as the star of the Broadway hit ‘Defending the Caveman’ clocked up nearly 1000 performances around South Africa, and his own hugely successful sequel – ‘Love Factually’ – remains a hit at corporate and charity events. Although best-known for his comedy shows, Alan is a trained actor – and was also once a teacher, did you know that? – who often trades the laughs for more serious theatre. He has won a host of awards for both comedy and theatre and was most recently on stage as Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie's ‘BLACK COFFEE’, which played at Theatre on the Bay before moving to Montecasino in Johannesburg. He will also do another Poirot whodunnit at Theatre on the Bay in June 2026! His one-man show ‘Comedy Gold’ will be returning to Kalk Bay Theatre in the second half of 2025 and will debut a brand-new stand-up show at Theatre on the Bay from 17 December 2025. But where will you find Alan when

Welcome to Mother Sippy, where we shine a light on the talented winemakers, brewers, distillers and mixologists that make sure the Mother City never goes thirsty! From new wine releases to taprooms pouring perfect pints, Mother Sippy is your guide to all that’s good and great in Cape Town’s world of drinks. There are some things in life that you can always rely on. And no, I don’t mean death and taxes. A Toyota Corolla is one. The summer southeaster in Cape Town is definitely another. And in the world of wine, it’s Alto Rouge: a wine that has long been guaranteed to over-deliver on quality and complexity and impress with its affordable price point. It’s the kind of bottle you know you can take to a friend’s braai or dinner with your in-laws, and everyone will be happy. And in terms of value for money, Rouge has long been a showstopper. And by long, I mean long. In fact, 2024 marks the 100th vintage of Alto Rouge, a farm that has quietly and consistently produced some of the best red wines on the Helderberg.   The farm dates to 1919, when the farmer Hennie Malan bought a portion of the historic Groenrivier farm and established Alto. Joined by his son Manie Malan, a pioneering viticulturist and winemaker, they planted an array of red grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cinsaut, Gamay Noir, and Pinot Noir. And Manie Malan was a man with a vision: of blending robust Cabernet Sauvignon with fruit-forward Shiraz and Cinsaut. It proved to be a smart move. He put

South Africa’s wine-making may fall into the ‘New World’ category but in fact its vinous heritage dates back more than 300 years! Many of the Cape’s greatest wine farms are less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, so it’s not hard to justify a day trip. But if you do need one more reason, here it is: scattered amid the vineyards you’ll find many of South Africa’s top restaurants, dishing up inspired bistro fare and elegant fine dining. Check your appetite (and the depth of your pockets) and tuck in.  RECOMMENDED: 😋 The best restaurants 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 TownPlanning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

From the concert stage to the community activism that has defined her more recent career, Zolani Mahola is a much-loved thread in Cape Town’s cultural tapestry. Perhaps best known as the vocal powerhouse at the front of the beloved pan-African band Freshlyground – and, of course, on Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’ anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup - Mahola has played a key role in defining the sound of South African music over the last two decades. And while ‘the one who sings’ is still to be found on stage, lately this proud Capetonian is carving out a new chapter in life, blending uplifting music with environmental advocacy and powerful storytelling. She has opened for B.B. King in Paris and voiced a character in Zambezia. In October 2024, she took the stage at New York’s Carnegie Hall for the 30th anniversary of South African democracy. She’s also involved with two major film projects, including a nature-focused collaboration with My Octopus Teacher director Pippa Ehrlich. In short, Mahola’s career goes beyond labels, borders, or genres. In Cape Town, she’s a voice for causes as diverse as marine conservation, music education, and gender equity. If you’re lucky, you’ll still find her on stage creating joy and justice through music and song. In this exclusive Local Intel, Zolani shares the places and spaces across Cape Town where she refills her creative cup. MORE CELEBS SHARE THEIR LOCAL SECRETS Singer Matthew Mole on his favourite coffee shop Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis shares his

With the Atlantic Ocean on the doorstep and Table Mountain National Park as the ‘back garden’, it’s little wonder Cape Town is hailed as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. But beneath the visual spectacle there’s a rich cultural and historical tapestry to be discovered. Centuries of history as a trading port have given Cape Town a cosmopolitan multiculturalism that fuses warm African hospitality with Mediterranean charm. It’s a city where you’ll spend your days outdoors and your nights enjoying the city’s legendary culinary scene. Not sure where to start? Don’t miss these must-do experiences handpicked by a local writer.  RECOMMENDED: 🛏 A guide to where to stay in Cape Town🍴 The best restaurants in Cape Town🐧 The best beaches in Cape Town🏡 The best Airbnbs in Cape Town🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town Richard Holmes is a travel writer based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Let’s be clear: Cape Town has a lot of bad pizza. Bland pizza. Doughy pizza. Cold pizza. Undercooked pizza. Overpriced pizza. Pizza that would make a nonna weep. But from the city to the suburbs, amidst the sea of forgettable takeaways and underwhelming eateries, there are some absolute gems. Pizzerias where the wood-fired oven is lovingly tended and the dough is given the respect it deserves; where seasonality is celebrated, and local produce – and producers – are championed. So when that pizza craving hits in the 'Mama City' (and it will), look no further than these talented pizzaioli, picked by local writer Richard Holmes who set out to update and expand our list of the best pizza restaurants in Cape Town. RECOMMENDED:  😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🍣 The best sushi in Cape Town🍷 The best wine farms in and around Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town🛏 Where to stay in Cape Town Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

After more than a decade abroad, chef Luke Lawrence Barry is back on home soil and firing up the culinary experience at Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel. As the storied hotel’s Executive Chef, Barry returned to Cape Town last year after 12 years sharpening his knives and honing his craft in both Hong Kong and the Middle East. "I’ve always appreciated and respected what Mount Nelson does and represents," he says. "This majestic property possesses 125 years’ worth of history that I feel I need to uphold." And Barry has certainly reinvigorated the offering, from the revived Oasis Bistro to the al fresco dining experiences at The Fountain by Planet Bar where Mediterranean and flame-grilled fare are served on the famous lawns. But when he’s not behind the pass, you’ll find Chef Luke exploring Cape Town’s food scene with the curiosity of a local and the palate of a professional. “My goal is to eat out as much as I can,” he laughs. From bacon sandwiches at Oranjezicht Market to playful chef collabs at Chefs Warehouse, this is a man who knows his way around both fine dining and a good braai. Here’s where the chef eats out on his days off... MORE CELEBS SHARE THEIR LOCAL SECRETS Musician Mandisi Dyantyis on finding inspiration in the city Designer Paul van der Spuy on the best fashion and Old Fashioned Where designer Sindiso Khumalo shops for gifts Where songster Will Linley heads for burgers and beaches The GoodLuck guide to Cape Town! Art concierge Michael Tsepo Jacobs

With the Atlantic Ocean on its doorstep, it’s no surprise that Cape Town is awash with wonderful seafood restaurants. And while there are plenty of high-end eateries creating edible art with local seafood, sometimes all you want is a good ol' portion of fish and chips. And not just any old fish and chips – a plate where the fish is fresh, the batter is crispy and the chips come swimming in vinegar. And if it’s eaten with a sea view? So much the better. Luckily, there’s no shortage of places supplying just that in the city dubbed the ‘Tavern of the Seas’. Read on for our local writer’s pick of the very best. RECOMMENDED: 🍽 The best restaurants in the Cape Winelands🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town🍷 The best wine farms in and around Cape Town🍕 The best pizza in Cape Town This article was written by Richard Holmes, a travel writer based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

The Time Out Market is a unique global concept that aims to celebrate the authentic flavours, foods and chefs of a city under a single roof. What began in 2014 with Time Out Market Lisbon has become a global phenomenon, and in 2023 Cape Town became the first city in Africa to host a Time Out Market. Located in a renovated historic building in Cape Town’s popular V&A Waterfront precinct, Time Out Market Cape Town brings together more than a dozen of the city’s top chefs, serving up a diverse menu of dishes that find inspiration both in Africa and beyond. Alongside the food, a dedicated wine bar showcases the acclaimed New World wines of South Africa, while a trio of bars serves up everything from local craft beers and artisan spirits to signature Time Out Market cocktails. It’s a vibrant space of communal tables – with plenty of outdoor seating dishing up amazing mountain and harbour views – with an easy ordering and collection system. Our How To Order guide and FAQs will answer all your questions about a visit to Time Out Market Cape Town. 📍 For everything you need to know about Time Out Market Cape Town, visit our homepage.   

The Time Out Market is a unique global concept that aims to celebrate the authentic flavours, foods and chefs of a city under a single roof. What began in 2014 with Time Out Market Lisbon has become a global phenomenon, and in 2023 Cape Town became the first city in Africa to host a Time Out Market. Located in a renovated historic building in Cape Town’s popular V&A Waterfront precinct, Time Out Market Cape Town brings together more than a dozen of the city’s top chefs, serving up a diverse menu of dishes that find inspiration both in Africa and beyond. Alongside the food, a dedicated wine bar showcases the acclaimed New World wines of South Africa, while a trio of bars serves up everything from local craft beers and artisan spirits to signature Time Out Market cocktails. It’s a vibrant space of communal tables – with plenty of outdoor seating dishing up amazing mountain and harbour views – with an easy ordering and collection system. Our How To Order guide and FAQs will answer all your questions about a visit to Time Out Market Cape Town. 📍 For everything you need to know about Time Out Market Cape Town, visit our homepage.   

While her eponymous restaurant in the V&A Waterfront is already hugely popular for its elevated take on South African cuisine, The Siba Deli dishes up a more relaxed culinary experience, all while retaining Siba’s focus on freshness. Look out for a subtle infusion of local flavours in everything from her wholesome salads and delicious dips, to traditional sticky wings and spicy chakalaka sauce.   THE SIBA DELI MENU Starters Sticky chicken winglets and salsa mayo R135 Charred corn ribs in creamy coconut sauce R80 Siba’s famous chakalaka with a chimichurri dressing R80 (a side for mains and starters)  Siba’s signature quiche R95  Mains Our Salads Tuscan artichoke, chickpea, sundried tomato, crispy capers, parmesan salad with a tangy vinaigrette R165 Maple glazed baby rainbow carrots, roasted beetroot, wild rocket feta salad on a bed of hummus with a chimichurri dressing R130 Miso-glazed roasted sweet potato bowl with sautéed courgetti spirals, mixed cabbage, tahini-dressed broccoli R175 Spicy and zesty Asian pickled spiral cucumbers with edamame, sugar snap peas, salad on a bed of baby spinach leaves R110 Roasted butternut, couscous, red pepper and feta salad with pickled red onion and creamy dressing R165 Our toppers Lemon, garlic and parmesan chicken kebabs R60 Teriyaki trout R70 Braised beef short rib R80 Roasted miso mushrooms and aubergine kebab R60 Soy and chimichurri tofu kebab R50 Dessert Granadilla and lemon curd baked cheesecake R95  (vegan option available)  Water

Want the scoop on the most creative ice cream in the Mother City? You’ll find it at Unframed, thanks to the innovative flavour creations dreamt up by founder Yann Rey. Ever wondered what lemon-infused olive oil and white chocolate ice cream might taste like? Here’s your chance to find out. Every flavour combination is crafted from scratch, in small batches and from quality ingredients, drawing heavily on what’s fresh and in season in the Cape. No surprise then that Unframed has been rated amongst the world’s greatest ice-cream parlours. UNFRAMED MENU   Scoops 1 Scoop R49 2 Scoops R79 3 Scoops R89   Indulge Tasting Flight R99 (5 flavours) Sundaes R109 (3 scoops, toppings, whipped cream)   Waffles Waffle R59 (Icing sugar, whipped cream) + Extra Scoop R25 + Extra topping R10  

South Africa may fall into the so-called ‘New World’, but the country’s winemaking heritage dates back more than three centuries, with the first wines pressed here as far back as 1659. All of which means there’s a long and complex history to South African wine, and though you may be familiar with white Burgundy, or Left Bank Bordeaux, understanding the strengths and stars of the Cape’s diverse vineyards requires expert insight. That’s where chef Matt Manning comes in, bringing Bree Street’s hugely popular Culture Wine Bar to Time Out Market Cape Town. The extensive wine list includes an impressive range offered by the glass, allowing you to sip your way from the cool-climate vineyards of Elgin and big-hitters of Stellenbosch to the pioneers breaking new ground in the Swartland. Culture Wine Bar captures the best of the Cape in the glass.

The menu of Asian restaurants in Cape Town may be small, but if you know where to look you’ll find some real gems, with talented chefs putting their own spin on the classics. How Bao Now is a great example, with two of the city’s top chefs – Matt van den Berg and Carla Schulze – bringing authentic Cape flavours to a concise menu of Asian plates at their Woodstock outpost of How Bao Now. Fluffy bao buns are, as you might have guessed, the star of the show, and at Time Out Market Cape Town this creative duo brings a local perspective as they plate up exclusive flavour combos such as crayfish bao infused with Cape Malay flavours and a coconut and curry furikake, or wagyu sando-bao with a chilli crunch mayo, tonkatsu and pickled cucumber.   HOW BAO NOW MENU Baos Wagyu Sando (2 in a portion) R170 (Panko bao, wagyu, tonkatsu sauce, chilli-crisp kewpie) Flaming Chicken R105 (Fried thigh, XO, peanut crumb, Szechuan dressing) Fried Fish R100 (Hake, pickled red onion, Thai red curry dressing, nuac cham) Kimchi Pork R105 (Sous-vide pork belly, kimchi, miso mayo, Asian dressing) Banana Blossom (Vegetarian) R100 (Pickled red onion, Asian dressing, XO, herbs Kiddies Chicken Bao R65   Bao Special Cape Malay Crayfish R200 (Curry aioli, coconut furikake, vadouvan XO, lime)   Bites Crack Peanuts R45 Andry Edamame

YARD began as a cult classic in the inner-city, as famous for its idiosyncratic service as the delicious fare. And now Eugene Smith brings his inimitable approach to pizza to Time Out Market Cape Town. Atop their signature hand-stretched dough you’ll find four classic YARD flavours flying out of the ovens. Whether your poison is New York pepperoni, barbecue chicken, spicy Italian salami or the heady mix of blue cheese and caramelised onions, expect the generous pizzas from YARD to come standard with a side order of their (in)famously cheeky service. YARD MENU Select your: Dough Style N = Neopolitan R = Romano NY = New York (45cm) C = Californian Please note: Neapolitan & Romano-base pizzas come with Fior de late cheese. New Yorker and California-style bases come with grated mozzarella cheese Sauce White Alfredo Italian Tomato Pesto Signatures Juicy Chick N245/R275/C225/NY465 (Choose Sauce, Pizza Warehouse BBQ Sauce, Mozzarella, Slow Roasted shredded Chicken, Feta and Peppadews) Sweet Baby Blue (Vegetarian) N190/R230/C180/NY375 (Choose sauce, Mozzarella, Blue cheese crumbled, Caramelised onions and fresh wild rocket) Italian Favourites Autumno (Vegetarian) N180/R185/C175/NY314 (Choose Sauce, Mozzarella, Italian herbs, Mushrooms, red onions, Baby Spinach finished with a crack of black pepper) Artigiano N210/R220/C205/NY400 (Choose sauce, Mozzarella, Artichokes, Roasted red peppers & Pepperoni) Capricciosa N180/R190/C175/NY340 (Choose sauce, Mozzarella, Salami, Kalamat

South Africa was a late-bloomer when it comes to picking up on the artisan coffee trend, but in 2006 that began to change. That was thanks to the founders of Origin Roasting, who slowly introduced a curious Cape Town to the concept of hand-roasted beans, single-origin coffee and the fact that, no, milk didn’t need to be super-heated. Origin kick-started a juggernaut, and today the city is brimming with adventurous micro-roasters, hipster baristas and seriously good coffee. Honestly, if you’re drinking a bad cup in Cape Town you have only yourself to blame. But if you don’t know where to start in the search for a good brew, make it Nøsh Café. Created by Origin co-founder Joel Singer, Nøsh Café offers a unique coffee experience, brewing up three of the city’s finest artisan roasters – Origin, Truth and Tribe – in a single location. At Nøsh Café Singer brings his signature passion to the Time Out Market Cape Town, showcasing the Mother City’s vibrant coffee culture in all its guises.  And to accompany that cortado? Alongside the coffee, at Nøsh Café you’ll find a menu of all-day breakfasts and an eclectic collection of light meals and baked goods that take global inspiration and serve it up with a friendly neighbourhood feel. NØSH CAFÉ MENU Breakfast Bialy Breakfast Bun R115 (Bialy, aromatic beef patty, fried egg, house-made tomato jam, fresh tomato, hot sauces for the brave (jalapeño or habanero) Shakshuka - Merguez|halloumi R135 (Two free-range poached eggs, fragrant tomato s

Within days of Ramenhead opening in Cape Town in 2022 there were queues out the door, as hungry locals lined up for the best noodles in the city. That’s not surprising, as Peter Tempelhoff, Ashley Moss and Jennifer Hugé – the culinary creatives behind Ramenhead, and award-winning FYN restaurant – scoured Tokyo and Osaka for time-honoured ramen recipes, returning with the first (and only) Yamato noodle machine in Africa. The trio brings that same passion and focus to Time Out Market Cape Town, with Ramenhead’s seaside outpost offering a compact list of Asian plates and slurpable ramen bowls.   RAMENHEAD MENU   Tori Chintan R240 (Light broth of chicken with soya sauce) Tori Katsu Curry R250 (Rich creamy style chicken curry ramen) Kids Ponyo ramen R140 (Half-portion of chicken tori chintan) Sesame & Mushroom R240 (Double dashi style vegan)   Ramen add-ons Ajitamago egg R20 Extra noodles R30 Gluten-free noodles +R30 Nekomanma R40 (Bowl of Ishikawa rice for leftover soup)   Rice bowl Chashu Don R210 (Spring onion, BBQ-glazed pork burnt ends, sesame)   Snacks Karaage R145 (Tokyo-style friend chicken, miso mayonnaise) Pork gyoza R130 (Potstickers with green chili ponzu) Cabbage gyoza R120 (Potstickers with spicy ponzu peanut sauce)   Dessert Purin R95 (With seasonal fruit and fragrant shisho syrup)  

It’s a burger bar, but not as you know it – and that’s thanks to the creativity of prolific restaurateur, chef and TV personality Bertus Basson. With a brace of popular restaurants across the Cape, Basson is passionate about celebrating homegrown South African flavours and culinary traditions. At De Vrije Burger you can count on having your hands full with his next-level burgers made with free-range beef and homemade buns.    DE VRIJE BURGER MENU Burgers: De Vrije Burger R125/R155 with tjips (180g Free Range Beef, Double Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles) De Jonge Burger R115/R145 with tjips (180g Free Range Beef, Double Cheese) Die Bennie Griessel R125/R155 with tjips (180g Free Range Beef, Double Cheese, mustard pickle) De Vrije Vegetarian R115/R145 with tjips (Bo-Kaap-inspired falafel burger, double cheese, all the trimmings) A complimentary De Vrije Roomys with every burger purchased.   Add on: Smoked chilli sauce: R12.50 Melrose and Biltong: R35 Bacon - 3 rashers: R30   Extras: Hand-cut Tjips: R45 Have it: BBQ spice dusted: +R7.50 Cheezy: +R25 Peri-Peri: +R17.50 Onion Rings: +R45 Basson and Son soft drinks: R40  

John Van Zyl is a chef who likes to fly under the radar. Don’t expect TV shows, branded cookware or product endorsement deals. Rather, he just quietly goes about his business serving up some of the best food South Africa has to offer. Until recently you had to drive for an hour from Cape Town to taste Van Zyl’s cooking, and the winelands setting in the Elgin Valley is certainly a wonderful way to take a deep dive into the small plates he’s cooking up at The Melting Pot. And while his Elgin restaurant remains worth the trip for its concise menu of globally-inspired small plates, at Time Out Market Cape Town he brings a whole new take on the Melting Pot experience. Here, Van Zyl turns his focus to the Cape’s bountiful seafood while drawing plenty of inspiration from his own travels abroad. That could mean tuna sashimi with fermented black bean dressing, coconut and mint, through to beer-battered hake sliders with smoked potato purée and (of course) a best-in-class tartar sauce. In a city famous for its seafood, Van Zyl sets the bar high with his concise menu of superb small plates.  THE MELTING POT SEAFOOD MENU Linefish Sashimi R140 (Fermented black bean dressing, coconut, mint) Peruvian Mixed Seafood ceviche R145 (Butternut purée, tortilla chips) Beetroot-cured Salmon R140 (Mint & dill yoghurt dressing, dill pickled cucumber) Chargrilled Octopus R135 (Cauliflower purée, bacon shrimp XO dressing) Fried Fish Tacos R120 (Smoked potato aioli, tartar sauce, house pickles, shredded

South African Airways plans to spread its wings with a clutch of new flights, including two exciting new routes out of Cape Town. Travel News by TNW is reporting that SAA’s Chief Commercial Officer Tebogo Tsimane confirmed the new routes at the recent Travel Indaba held in Durban. The most exciting route on the horizon is a direct seasonal flight between Cape Town and Mauritius, set to launch in November 2025. Just in time for a summer escape, this new route offers a smoother way to reach the Indian Ocean island, without the usual Johannesburg layover. Air Mauritius already offers a direct service from Cape Town, and increased competition will hopefully see fares fall. Also, the scheduling of the Mauritius flight is a nightmare start to an island holiday: an 11:35pm departure from Cape Town, a night with little sleep, and an early morning – 6:40am – arrival at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Let’s hope the SAA schedule is a little less brutal!  Also on the cards is a direct Cape Town to Durban service, although no launch date has been confirmed yet. This route has been missing from SAA’s schedule for years, and its return will make cross-country hops easier for both business and leisure travellers. Again, you could use FlySafair (their R11 sale was a massive hit!) or Airlink (check out their Gaborone flights too) right now, but more competition will mean more options, and hopefully cheaper flights. Cape Town isn't the only city receiving attention. Other up

Whether you like yours shaken in a martini or mixed with a tonic, here in Cape Town, we have certainly enjoyed the fruits of the craft gin revolution. Take a look at the shelves of your favorite liquor store (Liquor City in Claremont is my go-to, and hard to beat) and you'll find dozens of options. From Karoo-inspired infusions to fynbos-forward flavor bombs, distillers are pushing boundaries each and every day. But, with choice comes a dilemma: which of them is any good? Well, here's a good place to start. At the recent 2025 World Drinks Awards , KWV walked away with two top honors in the gin category. KWV? The people who make brandy and wine? Yes, the very same. At the awards KWV's XXO 20-Year-Old Brandy was also named the world's highest-scoring aged wine brandy. But let's keep our eyes on the juniper-infused prize, as it turns out that KWV's Master Distiller, Pieter de Bod, is a dab hand at gin too. So much so that the KWV Imagin Classic London Dry Gin was crowned South Africa's best gin in the Classic category. Crafted in small batches, this citrus-bright, juniper-forward gin is as classic as you could hope for. It's no stranger to the podium, either: this is its sixth international gold in three years. Not content with just one award, the Cruxland Black Winter Truffle Gin won the same for the Contemporary Style Gin category. This bold and earthy statement gin is made with Périgord truffles grown in South Africa. It's a modern favorite and an eight-time international gol

Set on its own private island within the V&A Waterfront, the One&Only Spa has reopened with a celestial-inspired makeover that adds a sprinkle of stardust to your urban sanctuary. And no, it’s not just for hotel guests! With the new décor taking its cue from the Southern Cross constellation (look up and you’ll see it in the skies above Cape Town year-round), the revamped spa guides guests on a journey of inner alignment and outer luxury. Think a soft palette of greys and blues complemented by star-like light installations twinkling overhead. This is a place to turn up, tune in, and bliss out.  The new look is courtesy of design studio Muza Lab, the same crew who were behind the fabulous rethink of the One&Only Hotel’s main restaurant, ROOI. Slip into the mood in the serene reception space, which now features a striking rope installation by design duo John-Henry and Mimi Roberts of Kent and Lane. Copper constellation lighting drives home the starry theme, while multi-textured walls lend the treatment rooms a quiet magic. Over in the vitality pools, look up: the ceiling is a galaxy of soft, glowing stars. Photograph: One&Only Cape Town Beyond the beauty, the spa still delivers serious substance. There are 13 treatment suites, a Relax Room, thermal suites for all genders, and two pools designed to help you fully unplug. Product-wise, expect the best: ESPA, Biologique Recherche, and Bastien Gonzalez all make an appearance on the treatment menu. About that spa menu: as you’d exp

There's no shortage of great hotels in Cape Town, but the Cape Cadogan is one of my favorite inner-city addresses, with some seriously stylish decor and private spaces, from the elegant bar and pool courtyard, to one of the best restaurants in Cape Town at Upper Union. And now the Cape Cadogan has expanded its offering, with the opening of the Stable Suites. There are 10 Stable Suites in the newly converted buildings located on King Street, a quaint lane that is one of the last remaining cobbled streets in the area. Stables Suites are the most spacious accommodation category at the Cape Cadogan, featuring generous living areas with interleading, triple, and two-bedroom options that are a great option for multi-generational families and business travelers. And while the Cape Cadogan is usually off-limits to younger travelers, the Stable Suites mean that families can enjoy the hotel for the first time. "This development represents more than just new rooms – it's about creating environments where multiple generations can share meaningful experiences while still maintaining their own sense of space," says Robert More, CEO and custodian of MORE Family Collection, which owns Cape Cadogan. Young guests at the Stable Suites will find activity boxes suited to their age waiting on arrival, along with beach kits ready for family outings. A curated 'Out and About' list is offered to help families explore child-friendly activities around Cape Town, while Upper Union Restaurant now offers

With views across the marina to the city and Table Mountain, not to mention some darn fine food, COY has fast become a go-to restaurant for savvy gourmands in the city. Now this popular fine-dining destination is shifting down a gear on the weekend, with the new SunDAZE offering: a Sunday-only concept that launches this weekend, 18 May 2025! Unlike the more refined tasting menus on offer most days, SunDAZE serves up a set-menu – no changes or substitutions please! – meant for sharing. Created by co-head chefs Teenola Govender and Geoffrey Abrahams, SunDAZE is all about nostalgic flavours and experimental dishes developed exclusively for this new weekly occasion. “With SunDAZE, we wanted to create something relaxed but still considered — a meal made for chefs, families, and anyone needing a proper Sunday reset. It’s thoughtful food in good company, without overthinking it,” explain Teenola and Geoffrey. So what’s on the table? Expect a curated set menu built around fire-driven cooking, that will change regularly with the whims of the chefs. But that could begin with marinated olives, amagwinya brioche with smoked sirloin, and Diablo flatbreads with hummus. Then dig into mains like whole roasted fish with Ras el Hanout and charred limes, followed by a decadent 64% Manjari crémeux with scorched meringue for dessert. SunDAZE costs R490 per person (minimum booking of two) with vegetarian and pescatarian options available. SunDAZE is available for lunch and dinner seatings. Sun

Cruise fans, start saving! MSC Cruises has confirmed that the MSC Opera will be returning to South African waters for the 2025/2026 season, and while it will spend most of the summer home-ported in Durban – sailing to Mozambique and beyond – there will be a string of dedicated departures out of the Mother City in March and April 2026, departing from the Cape Town Cruise Terminal. After completing her Durban season at the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal, MSC Opera will cruise into Cape Town on 27 March 2026 with a special three-night at-sea repositioning voyage. From there, she’ll launch three round-trip sailings from Cape Town to Walvis Bay, Namibia, before concluding her local season with a return sailing to Durban on 14 April 2026. But it’s the themed cruises out of Cape Town that are set to make waves for local cruise fans. First up is the Bok Boot 2026 cruise (30 March - 4 April): a five-night sailing hosted by Bok Radio featuring live performances from top local artists. While the line-up is to be confirmed, expect festive vibes all the way to Namibia. Let’s hope this sells better than Steve Hofmeyr’s cancelled performance at Cape Town Stadium! Preer smooth tunes to treffers? The Love Jazz Cruise (4-9 April) is a jazz-lover’s dream. Hosted by Clarence Ford, this itinerary includes performances from top jazz artists and culminates in an exclusive jazz festival under the stars amid the dunes of the Namib Desert. Rounding off the Cape Town run is the ever-popular Oppiwater K

One of the city's most iconic running events celebrated a major milestone this weekend, as a sold-out field of 15,000 runners will hit the tar for the 10 th edition of the Absa Run Your City 10-kilometer road race. The race sets off from Woodbridge Island in Milnerton at 9 am and proceeds towards the finish line on Lower Long Street in the CBD. Along the route, you can expect a colorful crowd of elite athletes, weekend road warriors, and spectators soaking up the spirit of Cape Town. It's a flat, fast course offering postcard views of Table Mountain, and with live music, cheer zones, and a festival-like atmosphere, the race is as much fun for spectators as for runners. Who it's not fun for is drivers, as many roads remain closed to traffic for much of Sunday morning. Some major roads on the route – or intersecting with the route – will be closed for several hours on Sunday. These include: The N1 inbound from the Marine Drive off-ramp Marine Drive (between Loxton Road and Boundary Road) Marine Drive (between Boundary Road and the N1 off ramp) Heerengracht Street (between FW De Klerk Boulevard and Walter Sisulu Avenue) Long Street (between Hans Strijdom and Wale streets) Adderley Street (between Hans Strijdom and Strand streets)  You can find the full list of road closures over here. And if you're running, don't forget that a MyCiTi Park & ​​Ride service will shuttle runners from Grand Parade to the start line, operating from 5:30am to 8:20am. Post-race shuttles return from

About four seconds. That was my record playing the ‘Flappy Bird’ game, which kept more than a million hopeful flyers entertained during the FlySafair ‘MegaSale’ on Wednesday. The annual sale from low-cost carrier FlySafair has become a calendar event for South Africans searching for a cheap-as-chips airfare, and this year the airline offered 50,000 tickets at just R11 per seat. Last year it was R10, but, hey, inflation. What’s most impressive is that the R11 includes airport taxes! On a typical flight from Cape Town to OR Tambo International Airport, airport taxes and aviation levies would usually account for R875 of the fare. So it’s no surprise that the FlySafair website—or, rather, the waiting room established to prevent the site from crashing—hosted over 1.4 million visitors during the sale. This year, the final tally for the waiting room was 1.484 million people, slightly down from last year’s figure of 1,713,980. With the sale kicking off at 9am, it’s no surprise that traffic peaked in the first two hours, but the final ticket was sold at 4:12pm. Flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town are the most popular each year, with 24% of the tickets on sale allocated to this route. This is followed by Johannesburg/Durban, Durban/Joburg, Lanseria/Cape Town, and Cape Town/Durban.  “Since we ran our first birthday sale in 2015, we have sold 315 000 tickets between R1 and R11,” said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair. It’s thanks to the support of our team and cus

Qatar Airways is ramping up the in-flight experience on its Cape Town route, with the launch of a Boeing 777 service to the Mother City featuring in-flight Starlink Wi-Fi Doha-based Qatar Airways operates the world’s largest fleet of Starlink-equipped Boeing 777s, and from 1 June, one of the airline’s seven weekly flights between Cape Town and Doha will be operated by one of these next-generation aircraft. “We are just a few aircraft away from completing a full fleet-wide upgrade of our Boeing 777s,” said Group CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. “This is a bold step in our journey to redefine connectivity in the skies.” That will make it the first Starlink-enabled service on this popular long-haul route. The remaining flights will continue on the Airbus A350 that is used at present. But there’s more good news: Qatar Airways is already busy upgrading its entire A350 fleet with Starlink! And while you’d expect to pay a hefty fee for in-flight Wi-Fi at speeds fast enough for streaming, gaming and remote working, Qatar Airways’ Starlink service is complimentary across all cabin classes; a first for any airline in the Middle East and Africa. Qatar Airways flies up to 28 times a week between South Africa and Doha, with daily service from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. The addition of next-gen connectivity on select flights marks another win for digital nomads and streaming-savvy travellers heading to Doha and beyond. Franschhoek will host Africa's first Montreux Jazz Festival!

For a city that's never short on good food, the menu of meaty options in central Cape Town has a new entry that's well worth a visit. In the space once home to the much-loved Savoy Cabbage, Bo-Vine in the City is the urban twin to the ever-popular Bo-Vine steakhouse in Camps Bay, a popular fixture on the seaside strip. At Heritage Square Bo-Vine brings a big-city contemporary elegance that's evident from the moment you're greeted at the door by the maître d'. Exposed brick walls hint at the centuries of history, while steel staircases and Bo-Vine's signature graffiti style of decor deliver a hit of contemporary cool. While it's a large restaurant, the tables are spread across the ground floor, a side room, and a mezzanine, so it never feels too busy. There's a choice of seating options on offer, but I've never met a banquette I didn't like. Happily, at Bo-Vine, there's plenty of choice, from cozy nooks to long rows of tables ideal for people-watching. And judging by the clientele in the week leading up to the Jazz Festival, this is a place to see and be seen as much as it is to dine. Bo-Vine takes their meat seriously, and while we ease into the evening over cocktails – Old Fashioned, perhaps a touch sweet; and an excellent Negroni – our waiter comes by to showcase what's on offer. Vegetarians, look away now, as you'll be presented with a wooden board of the day's cuts: hefty tomahawk, marbled wagyu, and sizeable T-bones, among others. And the waiters here are on point when i

 You might recall the online mayhem of previous years, when travellers went mad for the chance to bag a cut-price FlySafair fare. And to be fair, it is a pretty darn good deal. Starting at 9am on May 7, 2025, FlySafair will sell 50,000 seats across its domestic flight network for R11 each. Eleven bucks! That’s the same price as a litre of milk, a Bar-One, or 22 Chappies! Perhaps even more impressive is that the fare includes the airport tax. On a typical flight from Cape Town to OR Tambo International Airport, airport taxes and aviation levies account for R875 of what you would usually pay! The sale takes place exclusively on FlySafair’s website – flysafair.co.za – and, as with previous sales, prospective flyers will have to take a number in a virtual waiting room to ensure the FlySafair website isn’t overwhelmed by demand. Once (or if) you’re let out of the waiting room and onto the site, you’ll have 10 minutes to complete your booking, so start checking your diary for dates. To pass the time, the airline states that you will be able to play a new waiting room game, Flappy Plane. Nice. “The waiting room helps to manage the traffic to the website, while also giving everyone a fair chance to access the sale,” says Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair. “The waiting room works like a lottery and will allow people access randomly. So some people might only wait a few minutes to get in, while others may wait longer. It all depends on when you’re selected to enter.”

Mark your calendars for March 2026... Franschhoek is poised to hit a global high note as the first African destination to host the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival. Founded in Switzerland in 1967, the Montreux Jazz Festival has grown into an international celebration of jazz, blues, rock, and soul, becoming one of the most renowned music festivals in the world. It attracts nearly 250,000 music fans to the shores of Lake Geneva each summer. "We are delighted to see this dream come to life," says Mark Goedvolk, Founder of MJF Franschhoek. "Hosting the Festival in Franschhoek offers a unique opportunity to bridge cultural divides and create meaningful connections between emerging South African artists and the world's top international artists and music industry leaders." The festival will also strengthen ties between tourism and culture in the valley. "We are thrilled to have Franschhoek chosen to host this iconic festival," says Ruth McCourt, CEO of Franschhoek Wine Valley. "This marks a monumental milestone not only for the valley but for the entire continent." Plans for the festival's debut edition will be finalized later this year, but music-lovers can look forward to a curated collection of international and local talent. And we do mean local... the festival plans to partner with the Uncorked Music Academy at Franschhoek High School, aligning with the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation's mission to empower young talent. "We are very excited to bring the Montreux Jazz Festival to