Clifton, Atlantic Seaboard
Glamorous Clifton is home to jetsetters and celebrities and it isn’t hard to see why they choose these views and these beaches. Sheltered from the wind by the slopes of Signal Hill and facing into the sunset, Clifton’s four sandy beaches are the chic place to hang out for Cape Town’s in-crowd in summer, with charming narrow steps and passageways winding down from Victoria Road to the beach in between the cottages. There’s no need for gym when your step training is already built into your beach routine! Glamorous villas are intermingled with simpler beach bungalows (Clifton started off life as a summer escape for Cape Town early in the last century) the lower ones opening straight onto the sands, higher ones enjoying unparalleled sunset views.
From Clifton it’s a short drive into central Cape Town for sightseeing and restaurants, even closer to Camps Bay for trendy eateries and chic bars and to Sea Point for colourful local character, plenty more good food and the famous promenade. Head to the V&A Waterfront for upmarket shopping, dining, entertainment and boat trips. The MyCiTi bus conveniently connects all these hotspots but with wheels you can explore further afield too. Drive past Camp’s Bay to discover hidden beaches and coves below the dramatic Twelve Apostles mountains, visit Mariners Wharf and World of Birds in Hout Bay and make time for winding along the incredible scenic Chapman’s Peak drive and visiting the rest of the Cape Peninsula.
Leave enough unscheduled time for barefoot on the beach mornings, lazy lunches, sultry sundowners cooled by sea breezes and leisurely afternoons soaking up the endless views from your private deck or swimming pool. Clifton is all about living the good life, with halcyon days of sun and sand, whether you choose a quirky gem of a bungalow, a romantic hideaway or a lavish family villa.
