Rentals Cape Town

These essential pastimes will all be carried out on the landward side of Victoria Road of Camps Bay. Non-stop, it would take an average human 10 minutes to walk this whimsical commercial drag. But then that average human would be missing the point: there are many reasons to stop along this little route.

- Sea, sand, palms, rocks and people can be had from virtually every seat -

Shopfront and pavement with the two lanes of tarmac dividing these from the palm tree lined Camps Bay beach ( planted in the early 1900’s to make it look like Brighton) create both a stage and vantage point for the easy going crowd. The full cinemascope experience: sea, sand, palms, rocks and people can be had from virtually every seat and table in any of the establishments.

And nestled against the kerbs are the higher than usual concentrations of open topped sports cars, Hummers with cryptic personalised number plates (Mervyn02 ?) and camp clusters of Harley Davidsons: yes that is one of the riders at the juice counter drinking a dairy free pomegranate smoothie with a wheatgrass shot on the side.

- So what's on the menu in Camps Bay -

The restaurants, sidewalk cafes and cocktail bars along Victoria Road present a dense array of choice. Sea views are standard and most establishments sprawl themselves out onto the pavements but have indoor seating should shade or shelter be needed.

So what’s on the menu? To try and cram the imaginative diversity of well crafted Camps Bay menus into a nutshell is very difficult and a bit of a sin but here goes anyway…

Strong inclinations to the Mediterranean with Portuguese and Spanish influences very much in place. Naturally sea food is well represented in the confident Cape style and by the prolific presence of sushi counters in many of the restaurants. Africa has its say with imaginative yet accessible dishes of springbok or ostrich. There’s some far Eastern stuff. If pizza and pasta is your bag then you won’t find better Italian restaurants in Cape Town. Prices range from decent middle-of-the-road to expensive without being fear-inducing.

- Some restaurants to try in Camps Bay -

• Sandbar - popular, fresh and outdoor, good for lunch, sunset drinks and easy evening eating. tel +27 (0) 214388336 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Caprice - trendy sunken lounge and laptop crowd by day. No laptop needed at night. tel +27 (0) 214288315
• Paranga - High end and casual dinner and drinks with dramatic décor. tel +27 (0) 214380404 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Col’ Cacchio - Huge array of fine and imaginative gourmet pizza, decent pasta. tel +27 (0) 214382171 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Primi Piatti - Slick chain of Italian restaurants that serve consistently high quality dishes that come out promptly. Fresh ingredients, slightly out of main clutch of restaurants. tel +27 (0) 214382923 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Cape Town Fish Market (CTFM) - Upmarket family fish and sushi shop: part of a chain. tel +27 (0) 214381866 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Kauai Health Food and Juice Co - Carrot juice, wheatgrass shots, smoothies with all manner of herbal and therapeutic add-ins, healthy fast food in sandwich and wrap format. tel +27 (0) 214384607
• Nandos - Ordinarily wouldn’t deserve a mention. Massive chicken franchise whose advertising campaigns, and the décor of their Camps Bay beachfront outlet are way more appealing than their food. tel +27 (0) 214385600 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Café No 16 - Upstairs in the Promenade Centre above the Pick ‘n Pay Supermarket. Unique coffee shop and deli with good soup and baked goods. tel +27 (0) 0214382322
• Vida e Caffe - You get a mini Lindt 70% cocoa coffee with every cup of coffee purchased at this Portuguese themed soon-to-be-upon-every-intersection coffee chain. Chourico and egg rolls are good. Quirky Portuguese translations of things like “The friend of my grandmother enjoys to play swingball”, may be learned here. tel +27 (0) 214245829 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Trattoria Luigi - Sit in the small walled courtyard under the fragrant frangipani off the main beach strip. My favourite Camps Bay place. You guessed - the food is of an Italian persuasion: solid and full-flavour stuff.