It has been said of De Waterkant: “Give a Gay a paint brush and he creates a miracle“. Consisting of a series of cobbled streets, the brightly coloured slave cottages have been magically renovated into some of the most sort after real estate in Cape Town. This suburb is the beating heart of Cape Town’s prominent gay scene but attracts all types of travellers.
- Marvel at the beautifully restored houses and cottages
- Close to the V&A Waterfront and the City Centre
- Friendly village atmosphere, courtyards & outside dining
- Party in some of the city's hottest nightclubs and bars!
- Get to grips with Cape Town's thriving gay scene
One of the safest suburbs in central Cape Town, De Waterkant parties until the wee early hours of the morning. With clubs, bars and restaurants, it attracts visitors, both straight and gay, from all over the world. De Waterkant is within safe walking distance of both the centre of Cape Town and the Waterfront, at a fraction of the cost of what it would cost to stay in the Waterfront.
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De Waterkant is one of the most vibrant suburbs in Cape Town with plenty of places to eat and drink and party. From early morning coffees and Uitsmijter at Dutch, to lunch at Andiamo in the Square, to evening dinner at Tank, post dinner drinks at Manhattan, and dancing the night away at Bronx. Here are just a few of our personal favourites.
Dutch
Decorated in Dutch Orange and on Napier Street why not visit and consume a"uit-smijter" (pronounced "out-smay-ter," it means "bouncer"), a plate consisting of two buttered slices of bread, topped with either ham or roast beef, atop which is then a fried egg or two!
Andiamo
Situated in the Cape Quarter, Andiamo is an Al Fresco dining experience. Serving Pizza, Pasta, Deli, Anti Pasta, Salads – nothing beats sitting here during the day and watching the beautiful people come and go. Meet for a coffee or a full course meal, the atmosphere in the Cape Quarter is beguiling
Nose Bar Wine Bar
Also situated in the Cape Quarter, Nose Bar is THE restaurant to choose in De Waterkant if you enjoy your wines. Serving all wines by the bottle and glass, its fantastic to allow the well trained staff to par your meal with the most appropriate wine. Fantastic salads, steaks, and burgers.
Tank
As its name suggests Tank has a large fish tank right in the middle of the restaurant. Specialising in seafood and sushi, the restaurant is modern and has great service. We highly recommend that you try the Crazy Boy Sushi – which is a California Roll, dipped in Tempura Batter, deep fried and drizzled with Japanese Mayonaise and Sweet Chilli Sauce… delicious !
Maxim Café
Escape the hustle and bustle of De Waterkant and join chef Anna Ridgewell at Café Maxim. Definitely not for those on a Low Carbohydrate Diet, Café Maxim specializes in Poilâne Bread a French delicacy enjoyed by kings and queens. Enjoy a Tartine, one of their homemade cakes or simply sip a glass of French bubbly !
Manhattan
Definitely one of the simplest restaurants in De Waterkant, but still one of our absolute favourites. Go here and discover their fantastic burgers. Traditionally a gay bar, Manhattans is known for having fantastic entertainment.