Durbanville is not your average Cape Town neighbourhood. Surrounded by farms producing wine and wheat, there is so much more going on than the daily school run. Explore this neighbourhood, filled with great experiences for everyone to enjoy!
LOVE CAPE TOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD SERIES
From a mountain biker’s paradise to a hub for art, see Cape Town’s Durbanville like you’ve never seen it before in Cape Town Tourism’s Insider’s Guide to Durbanville.
Distance from Cape Town to Durbanville:
29,4 km (around 30 minutes)
WHERE TO EAT: RESTAURANTS AND BARS
THE DURBANVILLE WINE ROUTE
Exploring the wine route will require a day or two all on its own. There are so many farms to choose from and each one has many great things to offer its visitors. Some have unique pairings (such as chocolate and wine or pizza and wine), while others are perfectly suited to families thanks to useful facilities for kids and parents alike.
There are 12 farms in the valley and all are worth exploring – Altydgedacht, Bloemendal, D’Aria, DeGrendel, Dimersdal, Durbanville Hills, Hillcrest, Klein Roosboom, Meeredndal, N’Tida, Phizante Kraal and Signal Gun.
For more information on these farms and what’s happening in the Durbanville Wine Valley, click here.
EAT@ALTYDGEDACHT
This rustic eatery is open Monday to Saturday for breakfast and lunch. In the warmer months, you can sit outside under the trees, while a 300-year-old building is where the inside seating is. Specialties include homemade favourites such as chicken pot pie, but the menu changes according to the season and can be paired with the farm’s delicious wines.
Website: www.eatataltydgedacht.co.za
BON AMIS
Meaning “good friends” in French, Bon Amis is a relaxed café at Bloemendal Wines. The restaurant is open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 09h00. Closing time varies depending on the day. The overall vibe is casual and the menu is made up of breakfast, brunch, burgers, french, seafood, steakhouses, tapas bars and vegetarian cuisine.
Website: www.bonamis.co.za
POPLARS RESTAURANT
This is a popular stop along the Durbanville Wine Route and is a cosy fine-dining venue. The restaurant has various rooms that can be used for smaller, private functions. For the evenings, there are blazing fires in beautiful open fireplaces, while in summer, guests can enjoy the shaded garden area or the backyard braai area where there is often live music. On the menu, you will find Italian-inspired dishes and an array of mezze boards. Arrive early for some delicious breakfast options, with light lunches available later on.
Website: www.poplarsrestaurant.co.za
DEGRENDEL RESTAURANT
Using locally sourced ingredients, DeGrendel Restaurant changes it menu on a daily basis, depending on what’s available. There’s always something new to taste and unusual things on the menu such as brandy and coke ice-ream and liquid popcorn. The restaurant is about to undergo some renovations, so it’s bound to look even more stylish.
Website: www.degrendel.co.za
DIEMERSDAL FARM EATERY
Chef Martin De Kock uses regionally sourced produce on the menu at Diemersdal to create delicious French, Spanish and Asian-inspired dishes. The herbs and some of the vegetables that are used in the kitchen are grown in the on-site garden, while the pickles, preserves and bread are all homemade. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on most days and is known for its tasty Sunday buffets.
Website: www.diemersdal.co.za
DURBANVILLE HILLS RESTAURANT
The restaurant sits in a large open room with big windows that provide beautiful views of the vineyards and Table Mountain. There is an outside deck for the warmer days and a children’s area that will keep the young ones entertained. The kitchen is headed up by Louisa Greeff and is open for breakfast lunch and dinner on selected evenings. There are picnics available during summer.
Website: www.durbanvillehills.co.za
HILLCREST RESTAURANT
With an informal and relaxed feeling about it, Hillcrest restaurant comes across as unpretentious and is the perfect setting for a lazy morning or afternoon. The establishment is open for breakfast and lunch and is headed up by chef Debbie who makes use of fresh products daily. The food is Mediterranean with a South African flair.
Website: www.hillcrestfarm.co.za
CAFÉ RUBY
Situated on Klein Roosboom wine farm, Café Ruby is a quaint little eatery that serves up all the homemade goodness that we remember from our childhood. The café is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 08h30 to 15h30. The outside area provides the younger ones with a play area while the adults kick back and enjoy the delicious meals.
Website: www.kleinroosboom.co.za
CROWN RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR
Situated on Meerendal Wine Estate, Crown Restaurant and Wine Bar is a stylish establishment that offers a wide variety of dishes from breakfasts to burgers and steaks and so much more. The menu changes with the season and is kept fresh and delicious.
Website: www.crownrestaurant.co.za
CASSIA RESTAURANT
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Cassia Restaurant offers up sweeping views of the Ntida vineyards where it is based and serves up great food. The cuisine is a mix of Asian fusion, French, Italian, Spanish and sushi.
Website: www.cassiarestaurant.co.za
TABLES AT NTIDA
Tables at Ntida is an alfresco restaurant that serves Mediterranean foods as well as great tapas platters. There is a cosy fireplace for the colder months with outdoor seating when the weather is warmer. The restaurant is child and wheelchair-friendly.
Website: www.tablesatnitida.co.za
KE-MONATE RESTAURANT
This great little eatery on Signal Gun Wine Farm has fun-themed evenings to suit all tastes. Tuesdays are Indian-themed, so think curries and spicy treats, Wednesdays you get tasty Italian food, while Thursdays are Mexican-themed. Each of these comes paired with recommended wines to compliment the food on offer. The free-beer-Fridays sounds great with a free 350 ml beer with any pizza and on Saturdays you get two standard pizzas for just R120.
Website: www.signalgun.com
PHIZANTEKRAAL RESTAURANT
New to Phizantekraal farm is the restaurant that sits in a 1769 cow shed. The cuisine is contemporary country style and casual. The menu is often changed according to what fresh ingredients the chef can get their hands on.
Website: www.phizantekraal.co.za
BAKESH FOOD AND WINE
With a relaxed atmosphere and food for every craving, Bakesh has become a local favourite in the Durbanville area. Situated in a heritage building, Bakesh has comfortable inside and outside eating areas and can host various types of functions.
Website: www.bakeshfood.com
SOET BISTRO
Making a statement on the corner of Oxford Street and Wellington Road is Soet Bistro with its stylish exterior. Soet offers great coffee, delicious baked cakes and sweet treats as well as fresh foods such as homemade burgers.
Website: www.soetemporium.co.za
WHERE TO PLAY
MOUNTAIN BIKING
A popular area for mountain biking, Durbanville has a number of trails to tackle and has something to challenge riders of all skill levels. There are routes on most of the wine farms with Meerendal, Bloemendal and Hillcrest being popular choices. There are also trails at Majik Forest, Contermanskloof and Hoogekraal.
Website: www.tygerbergmtb.co.za
TYGERBERG NATURE RESERVE
Tygerberg Nature Reserve is a great little hideaway just outside of Durbanville in Welgemoed and is heaven for outdoor fanatics. This nature reserve is perfect for hiking, trail running, bird watching, picnicking or simply just a walk through nature. There is an entry fee and they don’t accept debit/credit cards at the gate, so be sure to go prepared.
Website: www.capetown.gov.za
DURBANVILLE NATURE RESERVE
A gem in the area, the Durbanville Nature Reserve is home to the critically endangered Swartland shale renosterveld and the Cape Flats sand fynbos meet. Filled with fynbos – endangered and unique to Cape Town, the nature reserve is perfect for nature and animal lovers. Bird watchers should be on the lookout for the Cape sugarbird, lesser double-collared sunbird and Cape spurfowl. There are walking trails and wheelchair-friendly pathways. There are also picnic spots for those who want to relax with friends or family.
Website: www.capetown.gov.za
DURBANVILLE ROSE GARDEN
This gorgeous 3,5-hectare piece of land is filled with 500 varietals and 4 500 rose bushes. There is a tea garden, beds of miniatures, beds of medal winners and so much more on offer. It’s a truly beautiful and tranquil place.
Website: www.capetown.gov.za
DURBANVILLE GOLF CLUB
If you want to hit the greens, then pop through to Durbanville Golf Club. Sitting on the slopes of the Durbanville Hills, the golf course has a fantastic view and is open to members and visitors. The club often hosts events so check out their website for more details.
Website: www.durbanvillegolfclub.co.za
WHERE TO STAY
FEATHER’S LODGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL
This luxurious boutique hotel has 20 modern suites with en-suite bathrooms. There are different sizes and styles to suit the guest and all rooms have air-con, WIFI access, and other essentials.
Website: www.featherslodge.co.za
WELLSPRING GUEST HOUSE
Looking for some time away where you can recuperate and re-energise? Wellspring Guest House offers all this and more with two guest houses for those wanting a relaxed holiday as well as hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, mobility care and other health and beauty experiences for those who need some extra attention due to pain and injury.
Website: www.wellspringblue.com
RUSLAMERE HOTEL
With 50 luxury bedrooms, nine conference venues, a day spa and wellness centre, indoor and outdoor pools and a gym, Ruslamere Hotel is clearly capable of meeting the needs of all its guests. There is also an on-site restaurant – the Rusty Oak – for guests to enjoy.
Website: www.ruslamere.co.za
KOLPING GUEST HOUSE
Kolping is a four-star accommodation establishment with B&B as well as self-catering facilities. They also pride themselves on the conference venues that they offer.
Website: www.kolpingguesthouse.co.za
RONDERKUIL
This tranquil accommodation is on a farm and has both B&B and self-catering facilities. The establishment is situated so that guests can enjoy nature walks, do some bird watching and generally just relax and enjoy their surroundings.
Website: www.rondekuil.co.za
CLOUDS GUEST HOUSE
Clouds is a 3 star graded guest house that offers free wifi, great hospitality, secure parking and a laundry service. It’s close to shopping centres and only 20 minutes from the airport.
Website: https://www.clouds.co.za
DEO GRATIA GUEST HOUSE
This country-feel accommodation establishment offers four double en-suite bedrooms, a family unit, a self-catering unit and a self-catering suite. There is a Jacuzzi and a pool on-site as well as a jungle gym for the children.
Website: www.thecapehome.co.za
D’ARIA GUEST COTTAGES
There are 12 cottages with 24 rooms on the estate. The self-catering cottages are quaint and full of character and perfectly suited to families, friends or the business traveller. All rooms are air-conditioned and guests have access to a laundry service, catering and satellite television.
Website: www.daria.co.za
ASK A LOCAL
Nobody knows Durbanville better than a local. When you’re in town be sure to visit the closest VIC in Somerset West where staff can help you really uncover the magic on offer in Durbanville and its surrounds. Also, be sure to visit www.durbanvillewine.co.za for all the ins and outs on what is on offer in the Durbanville Valley.
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