Long Street

Photo courtesy Mark Holtzhausen

If you’re looking for fun vibes and an excuse to stay out all night, visit Long Street, party capital of the Mother City.

Long Street has a wonderful energy and it’s one of Cape Town’s best spots for browsing during the day or a big night out on the town.

Start off at Mama Africa’s (+27 (0)21 424 8634) for sundowners and an early evening meal – try out the ostrich steak or the Mozambican peri-peri prawns. Long Street Café (+27 (0)21 424 2464) is an institution and a great place for dinner or sundowners or both. For something a little more exotic, pop into Mesopotamia (+27 (0)21 424 4664), a Kurdish kitchen on the corner of Long and Church Streets. Another great favourite is Masala Dosa (+27 (0)21 424 6772), a southern Indian restaurant that brings a touch of Bollywood to Long Street.

For an evening out, The Dubliner (+27 (0)21 424 1212) is just the place. Choose a cigar from around the world as you sip on cocktails and listen to live jazz. Zula Sound Bar (+27 (0)21 424 2442) is a fantastic venue for live music and comedy, as well as the odd poetry reading.

Chrome (+27 (0)83 700 6078/9) on the corner of Pepper Street is popular with the young crowd, while The Purple Turtle (+27 (0)21 423 6194) is frequented by fans of alternative and heavy-metal music. Fiction (+27 (0)21 424 5709) is fashioned on classic literary works, and offers a combination of music styles and a mix of DJs.

For those who don’t want to miss a second of the excitement, you can always book into the Grand Daddy (+27 (0)21 424 7247) for independent travellers and experience the good vibes of Long Street just up the road.