OVERVIEW:

We arranged a last minute trip to Cape Town first week of January and we got more than we bargained for. We were longing for sunshine and as Cape Town summer starts in January we got temperatures above 30 degrees everyday! In February and in March temperature goes up to 40 degrees so January may be better timing. However, don't dream about diving in and swimming in the ocean; it is ice cold (around 8 degrees!). Only the surfers with wet suits dare to jump in the water.
Weaker Rand also provided for one of the cheapest "luxury" holidays we ever enjoyed.
Cape Town has breathtaking natural attractions, Blue Flag beaches, verdant vineyards and other scenic wonders. The iconic Table Mountain was inaugurated as one of the world's new seven wonder of nature in 2012. [Image]
WHERE TO STAY:

We were late in booking our hotel in the beginning of their summer season so we had limited choices. You should stay either in Camps Bay or at the vineyards which are the safest and nicest areas in Cape Town.
The Marly

We stayed at the Marly Hotel which has 11 rooms and is located in the heart of everything in Camps Bay. The service was five star and the ocean facing rooms have spectacular views. On the website it seems like they have a pool but the pool is as big as your bathtub so don't expect much. The owner of the hotel owns 4 Restaurants in Camps Bay (Paranga, Zenzero, Umi, la Belle) which are located in the same complex as the hotel. (Londoners would know: the Japanese tapas restaurant Kurabuto in London belongs to the same guy) [Image]
[Image]
[Image]

Pod
Our good friends stayed at the Pod Hotel in Camps Bay and they really liked this cool little boutique hotel (17 rooms). We had drinks there and enjoyed the sunset. [Image]
Belmond Hotel Mount Nelson and the One & Only are big chain hotels but not recommended. There are lots of good choices if you prefer renting a house; our friends with three kids rented a private villa in Clifton Bay.
WHERE TO EAT:

The Codfather in Camps Bay is apparently the most famous restaurant of Cape Town. It is a super low key restaurant serving amazing fresh fish. The prices are unbelievably cheap. Book your table for dinner.  [Image]
[Image]
[Image]
Caprice Club (you may also like Lucca in Istanbul and The Botanist in London) is always the most crowded place in Camps Bay; go there for lunch or drinks with snack during the amazing sunset. [Image]
The Bungalow has a unique position as the only restaurant in exclusive Clifton, with nothing between it and the Atlantic Ocean. Go there for lunch or dinner.
[Image]
The Grand Cafe is located very close to Waterfront near the ocean. This place reminded me the Blue Marlin in Ibiza. Very lively mood, easy food with nice view. I would go there for lunch on a sunny day. [Image]
The Test Kitchen is known as the best restaurant in South Africa. ... Michelin starred restaurant ranked as World's 28th Best Restaurant. It is unlikely to find a table but try anyway. 
If can not find a table try Pot Luck Club, which is the sister restaurant but with more relaxed atmosphere.
Willoughby and Co is in the V&A Waterfront and is great for quick sushi, known as the best sushi in Cape Town. 
For lunch you can try Round House which is highly rated.
Harbour House in Kalk Bay is great for lunch when you are doing the Peninsula Tour (see below)
WHERE TO SWIM:
Camps Bay is the most popular beach and it is overcrowded so we didn't spend a day but we took our places on the beach for the sunset. Every sunset is another amazing painting on the sky.
[Image]
[Image] We went to Llandudno Beach which is 10 minute drive from Camps Bay and it is quite and great for relaxing. You will see lots of surfers there. There is a lady renting sunbeds and umbrella but do not expect anything fancy.  [Image]
[Image] Muizenberg Beach is also a very popular and crowded one but the 50 shades of blue is breath taking. [Image]
[Image]
TO VISIT:
The Peninsula tour:
Visit Cape of Good Hope and the Boulder Beach to meet with the African penguins. Make sure to take the drive from Chapman's Peak, this is a fantastic scenic drive. You will stop often to take photos. The best thing is to stop for lunch in Harbour House in Kalk Bay. [Image]
[Image]
[Image]
[Image]
[Image]
[Image]
Vineyard Tour:
Stellenbosch is one hour drive from Cape Town and it hosts the best vineyards. Unfortunately we couldn't find any room but I would stay one night in Stellenbosch to enjoy the wine country to the fullest. According to your budget and your style check out Babylonstroren (this place is known as Africa's Versailles, fairy tale atmosphere) or Graff Delaire (super posh and fascinating). You can join cellar tour and wine tasting almost in every farm.
In Babylonstoren there is the Babel Restaurant which should be booked way advanced and the Greenhouse Restaurant which is an informal picnic-style and the guests are seated on a first come, first serve basis. If you stay in the hotel check out the spa. [Image]

[Image]
[Image]
La Petite Ferme is another vineyard and it has spectacular view facing the mountains covered with vineyards. Lunch is hihgly recommended. [Image]
[Image]
[Image]
We finalized our tour in Delaire Graff Estate. This is the poshest and the most upper scale one. If you would like to have lunch or dinner in...call them now; it is really hard to find a table. [Image]

[Image]
[Image]
Table Mountain Tour: The iconic Table Mountain was inaugurated as one of the world's new seven wonders of nature in 2012. For action lovers trekking is an attraction. If you are in the relaxing mood you can take the cable car and enjoy the myriad view. During our stay the wind was very strong so they did not allow us to go up. Hope you find a calm day.
Helicopter Tour: Highly recommended. Our good friends used NAC, but at the VA Waterfront there are quite a few companies.
Adrenalin lovers: Diving in with the cage in the shark point as an attraction. I can't stand to watch on TV.
What will remind me of Cape Town: Incredible sunsets [Image]
Do's and Dont's:

Do make advance bookings of your hotel and restaurant reservations - during summer everywhere is crowded. Take a good quality camera to capture the scenic beauties of Cape Town. Buy wine for very good prices.
Don't rent a car (unless you are a die hard fan of driving), instead use taxi&private cars with driver which are very affordable and just enjoy the ride. It's right hand vehicle drive and the roads are scenic so its good sitting back and enjoying the ride. Uber works very well and it's super cheap. Otherwise ask your hotel or the restaurant to call a taxi for you (it is safer). Especially for the vineyard visit and the Peninsula tour (including Cape of Good Hope, Penguins on Boulders Beach) hiring a driver is highly recommended. We used a good company, called abu@cpc247.com (driver called Noor accompanied us for 2 days and he was great, partner of the company). [Image] Don't expect to experience "out of Africa" moments in Cape Town. You will feel more like in Florida (beaches) or California (vineyards) rather than in Africa.
Special thanks to Pırıl & Igno Van Waesberghe, Vanessa & Ceki Boz, and Hakan Ipekci for sharing the best recommendations with us. Check out www.moodaway.com.
For more photos and videos, also visit instagram account @eatandtravelandlove (https://instagram.com/eatandtravelandlove/)