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Richard Holmes

Richard Holmes

Contributor, South Africa

Richard Holmes is a travel, food and lifestyle writer based in Cape Town. As well as Time Out, he has written for Travel+Leisure, The Independent, The Guardian, Taste magazine, AFAR, BBC Travel, Skift and many in-flight publications around the world. When he’s not jetting off on assignment, you’ll usually find him exploring Cape Town’s food scene or waxing up his surfboard for a session at his local break.

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Articles (17)

The 11 best Indian restaurants and curries in Cape Town

The 11 best Indian restaurants and curries in Cape Town

While Cape Town’s much-adored Mediterranean climate also finds its way into many of the city’s kitchens, in this multicultural city you won’t struggle to find an excellent curry when the mood takes you. Whether you’re after classic Indian dishes or the local flavours of Cape Malay cuisine, you’ll find an array of eateries – ranging from the unassuming to the extravagant – dishing up well-priced and sometimes-fiery fare. Start with these ten favourites, selected by our local writer. RECOMMENDED:😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town🛍 The best markets in 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.

Les 14 destinacions més infravalorades del món

Les 14 destinacions més infravalorades del món

Voleu fer del 2023 l'any per viatjar a un lloc diferent? Aquí tenim alguns suggeriments bastant espectaculars. Hem demanat a la nostra xarxa de periodistes i editors de viatges que responguin quin és el destí turístic més ignorat del món. La llista conté des de petites illes i pobles de costa fins a enormes llacs i grans paisatges, i constitueix una gran inspiració per viatjar.Què és, exactament, allò que fa que un destí estigui infravalorat? Estem parlant de llocs que no apareixen sovint a les llistes de viatges? Llocs que no reben la seva part justa de turisme? Llocs que són joies ocultes fora de les rutes turístiques i que ofereixen excel·lents alternatives (o també tranquil·les) a llocs populars de la mateixa regió? Les destinacions d'aquesta llista pertanyen com a mínim a una d'aquestes categories. Des del veí ignorat de Bali fins a una àrea verge de bellesa natural a Zimbàbue, aquests són els llocs més infravalorats del món per viatjar aquest any. NO T'HO PERDIS: Les 10 millors destinacions per viatjar el 2023

The 12 best museums and galleries in Cape Town to explore

The 12 best museums and galleries in Cape Town to explore

Across its 350-plus years as a port city – and a few thousand more as the home of semi-nomadic indigenous tribes and pastoralists – the Western Cape has a rich and colourful history to discover. From the unadorned beauty of ancient rock art to the arrival of colonial settlers, and right through to the city’s vibrant art scene of today, Cape Town’s galleries and museums paint an expansive picture of the city’s complex cultural history. Here are the venues in which to start your journey, selected by two local writers. RECOMMENDED: ☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town🥣 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town This article was recently updated 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 and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.

The best clubs and nightlife in Cape Town

The best clubs and nightlife in Cape Town

You may have spent your day in Cape Town sampling fabulous fish and chips, checking out safaries and strolling through museums, but after dark, Cape Town shows off its cosmopolitan character. Doors begin to open everywhere, from laid-back lounges to underground techno clubs, so if you come alive when the sun goes down, the streets of the Mother City have plenty to offer. Our local writer has rounded up the best of the city's party scene, so you know where to start and end your night out in the capital. Here are the best clubs and nightlife spots in Cape Town right now.   RECOMMENDED: 😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🍷 The best wine farms in and around Cape Town🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town🏖 The best beaches in Cape Town ☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops 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 best fish and chips in Cape Town

The best fish and chips in Cape Town

​​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 12 best bars in Cape Town

The 12 best bars in Cape Town

With its unrivalled coastal scenery, it’d be easy to believe that Cape Town’s cocktail offering is about little more than seaside sundowners. But come nightfall, the city’s bars spring to life, with world-class mixologists tapping into a burgeoning craft spirits scene to create authentic experiences rooted in South Africa’s ‘Mother City’. If you’re exploring Cape Town and find yourself thirsty, these are the watering holes to check out. RECOMMENDED: 🍷 The best wine farms in and around Cape Town 😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🛏 The best Airbnbs in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

The best affordable restaurants in Cape Town

The best affordable restaurants in Cape Town

Cape Town is often ranked amongst the world’s most affordable holiday destinations, but it still pays to keep an eye on your spending when dining out. Happily, alongside the city’s no-expense-spared fine dining destinations, you’ll find an array of affordable restaurants to make your budget stretch further. Here’s our pick of where to fill your boots, without emptying your wallet. RECOMMENDED: 😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🍸 The best bars in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops 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 and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.

The 11 best shops in Cape Town

The 11 best shops in Cape Town

Cape Town is a global city, fusing vibrant African flair with European savoir faire, and that cosmopolitan character is on full display in the city’s shops. From the inner-city to the seaside, Cape Town’s shopping precincts and characterful suburbs offer no end of retail therapy. Not sure where to start? Try these ten must-visit stores, selected by a local writer. RECOMMENDED:☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town🥣 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town This article was recently updated 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 and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.

The 14 best hotels in Cape Town

The 14 best hotels in Cape Town

There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to finding a bed in Cape Town, with South Africa’s ‘Mother City’ offering everything from high-end boutique hotels at eye-watering prices to budget backpackers’ stays dishing up local intel and cheap dorm beds. Thankfully, there’s also everything in-between, with some great options that make the most of the city’s astounding natural beauty. If you’ve been dreaming of a room with a view, you’ve come to the right city, as you’ll discover in the handpicked choices of our local writers, below. RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Cape Town😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🏄‍♀️ The best beaches in Cape Town🛍 The best markets in Cape Town🖼 The best museums and galleries in Cape Town Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

The 10 best markets in Cape Town

The 10 best markets in Cape Town

Cape Town has no shortage of chic malls and glitzy boutiques if you’re looking to shop up a storm, but the heart of the city is found in its vibrant markets, hosted anywhere from open lots to cavernous hangars, from wine estates to suburban gardens. Do as locals do and use these markets for fresh produce, artisan goods, clothing and so much more. Here’s our selection of the best in town, picked by two local writers. RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Cape Town🍽 The best restaurants in Cape Town☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town🏖 The best beaches in Cape Town🍕 The best pizza in Cape Town Ishay Govender and Richard Holmes are travel writers 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 and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.

The 13 best things to do in Cape Town right now

The 13 best things to do in Cape Town right now

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 bars in Cape Town🍴 The best restaurants in Cape Town🐧 The best beaches in Cape Town🏡 The best Airbnbs in Cape Town

The 11 best restaurants in the Cape Winelands

The 11 best restaurants in the Cape Winelands

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.