Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
If you ask me, De Waterkant is one of the most underrated neighbourhoods in Cape Town. It’s a super central area but with tons of personality and charm. Oh, and it’s super safe – I should know, I lived here for a year.
You don’t hear as much about this cute little enclave as you do with other neighbourhoods, and I honestly don’t know why! In my opinion, it’s one of (if not THE) best parts of the city to stay in. It’s the perfect pick if you’re looking for somewhere with excellent amenities but that doesn’t feel too busy and touristy.
So, without further ado, let’s get into my complete guide to De Waterkant.
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Where is De Waterkant?
De Waterkant is a small enclave sandwiched between Green Point, the Waterfront, and the CBD. It’s one of the most central areas of Cape Town, but it’s way safe and a lot more charming than the city centre.
It’s super close to a lot of the city’s best nightlife, and you can walk to the Waterfront and Bo Kaap from here. It’s also a 10-minute Uber ride from Sea Point and 15 minutes from Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. You can also walk to the city centre in about 5 minutes during the daytime – you’ll still want to take an Uber at night.
I’ve included a map below to give you an approximate overview of the area!
Why Stay in De Waterkant?
I actually lived in De Waterkant for a year, so I can confirm it’s an amazing place to stay!
It’s very pretty, with lots of cute boutiques and cafes to check out. It’s also very safe, and I never had any issues while living here. I would even walk to the supermarket after dark, which I’d never do anywhere else in the city.
De Waterkant is also welcoming for members of the LGBTQ+ community, with several gay bars around. And last but not least, it’s ideally located within easy reach of all of the city’s best attractions! There’s free parking around but if you’re not hiring a car, you won’t end up spending a ton on Ubers here, either.
What are the Best Things to Do in De Waterkant?
Shopping
De Waterkant is home to the Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village, which is one of the best shopping malls in Cape Town. There are a few big brands here but it’s mostly home to boutiques, and you can find bespoke items like sound bowls and beautiful sculptures, or even go for a vitamin drip at the IV clinic.
Dinner and Drumming Experience
If you want to experience African food and culture in one fell swoop, then I highly recommend this dinner and drumming show! You’ll learn about the Djembe Drum and even get a chance to play this West African instrument yourself! There will also be singing, dancing, and some incredible cultural costumes that you’re unlikely to see anywhere else in Cape Town.
Best of all, you get a 14 course dinner that showcases dishes from all over the continent. Yep, you read that right, 14 courses! The menu does change seasonally but some examples of what you might get to eat include roosterkoek (grill cakes), Moroccan stew, and passion fruit ice cream with African biscuits.
This is such a fun and unique thing to do in Cape Town, and the restaurant is just a minute’s walk from De Waterkant, so it’s the perfect thing to do while you’re staying here. And I’m not the only one who thinks it’s a great way to spend an evening – you can read 200+ glowing reviews here!
You can book this awesome dinner show here, with free cancellation!
Take Photos
If you look at the Cape Town geotag on Instagram, you’ll see a lot of photos of Bo Kaap. However, De Waterkant is just as pretty and it’s definitely safer to be waving your phone around here. So if you want to do a photoshoot #forthegram, I would recommend doing it in De Waterkant instead!
Get Active
There are a couple of boutique fitness studios here in De Waterkant. One is Yoga Life, which offers excellent classes, including a free one on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday evenings.
De Waterkant is also home to two CrossFit gyms – Motley Crew and Oxygen Functional Fitness. I also love the classes at SpinHaus, which has a ton of different themed rides, awesome instructors, and a very inclusive ethos.
Where to eat and drink in De Waterkant?
- The Charles is an amazing cafe, restaurant, and BnB. I love coming here for breakfast, and I always get the croissant French toast. It’s temporarily closed for renovations but I’m hoping it will be open again soon!
- Cafe Chiffon is an elegant cafe that serves beautiful drinks and desserts. I’m not usually a fan of tiramisu, but the one here is delicious.
- The Piano Bar at The Grey Hotel is also a nice place to grab a drink. They have a small outdoor section that looks down over Jarvis Street, and they serve free popcorn, too!
- Kong Fu Dim Sum and Sushi does great lunch specials and yummy wonton soup.
- Yen’s Vietnamese Street Food is one of my favourite restaurants ever! It’s super cute and the only place in Cape Town that serves authentic Vietnamese food. I lived in Vietnam for years, so I know the food here is the real deal!
Where to go out in De Waterkant?
As I mentioned earlier, De Waterkant is a LGBTQ+ hotspot in Cape Town. Even though this area is pretty small, there are a couple of gay bars around. One of the main ones in Cafe Manhattan, which is a bar-slash-restaurant that’s usually open until 1 am. It’s cheap and chilled out!
If you want to dance until the wee hours, head to Pink Candy. Formerly known as Pink Panther, they blast Cher here all night long. There’s a cover charge of R100, and it’s one of the few places in Cape Town that I actually think warrants this. If you love cheesy tunes, you can’t go wrong here.
Where to stay in De Waterkant?
Cape Finest Guest House – $$$
Cape Finest Guest House is located on Loader Street, which is actually my old street! So I can tell you that it’s super quiet and tucked away, but you’re only a 2-minute walk from De Waterkant’s shops, cafes, and restaurants. Happy days!
It’s an airy and elegant guest house with friendly hosts and a cute little rooftop pool with views of Table Mountain – not bad. You can enjoy a glass of wine with a view up here at the end of the day, and I love the chic, modern decor of the entire property.
Rooms here start at R3,300 per night. Read the glowing reviews and book this beautiful stay here!
De Waterkant Apartments – $$
The De Waterkant Apartments are perfectly placed for café hopping, boutique shopping, and evenings out. It’s an ideal base if you want to be central without staying in a busy hotel zone!
The apartments themselves are modern and well set up for both short and longer stays, with air-conditioning (win) and fully equipped kitchens that make settling in easy. A lot of the units also open onto balconies or terraces with city views, and there’s a lovely pool which is perfect for cooling off on hot summer days.
Studios start at around R2,000 per night. Find the best deals over at Booking.com!
The Grey Hotel – $
The Grey Hotel is a stylish boutique stay in the heart of De Waterkant. It’s beloved locally thanks to its rooftop Skybar, which boasts an outdoor pool and incredible views of Table Mountain. It’s perfect for sunset drinks in the warmer months!
One thing I love about this hotel is the fact that the rooms are individually styled, which gives the hotel a lot more personality than a generic chain property. And the location can’t be beaten – you’re on one of the area’s main streets, right across from the Cape Quarter Mall and its plethora of shops and cafes.
Prices here start at R1,200 per night. Check availability and book your stay here!