Hamish’s guidebook to the best Kalk bay and surrounds has to offer
Our favourite things to do in our area
This is a set of lekker (enjoyable) things to do in our area
We like to walk from our home with the dogs, either along Boyes drive or via the Vlei to the Striped horse for a beer on a Friday night. We can watch the surfers coming off the water and relax with a beer.
58 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Striped Horse
12 York RdWe like to walk from our home with the dogs, either along Boyes drive or via the Vlei to the Striped horse for a beer on a Friday night. We can watch the surfers coming off the water and relax with a beer.
An easy walk from our house (there's a map in the guide book), this is a good place to spot pied kingfishers, spoonbills, and a host of other residents. During the right time there are usually flamingos too. A circular walk will take you almost all the way to Muizenberg, where steep stairs lead back to Boyes drive and back home.
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Zandvlei Nature Reserve
An easy walk from our house (there's a map in the guide book), this is a good place to spot pied kingfishers, spoonbills, and a host of other residents. During the right time there are usually flamingos too. A circular walk will take you almost all the way to Muizenberg, where steep stairs lead back to Boyes drive and back home.
Food Scene
Opposite the Striped Horse, these guys serve great breakfasts and you can watch the sea from here.
56 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Empire Cafe
11 York RdOpposite the Striped Horse, these guys serve great breakfasts and you can watch the sea from here.
Get there early to buy their bread. baked fresh every day, it's a great hope in the wall
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Real Bread Co
4 Killarney RdGet there early to buy their bread. baked fresh every day, it's a great hope in the wall
Great calamari & a lovely spot to just relax overlooking the ocean. Very local. We love the old restaurant (this is the original place). Every few years a massive storm rolls in and wipes out some part of this iconic place. I guess they claim on insurance and it get rebuilt. There are tidal pools around the restaurant which are also nice to swim in if you're not self-conscious.
239 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Brass Bell Restaurants and Pubs
Main RoadGreat calamari & a lovely spot to just relax overlooking the ocean. Very local. We love the old restaurant (this is the original place). Every few years a massive storm rolls in and wipes out some part of this iconic place. I guess they claim on insurance and it get rebuilt. There are tidal pools around the restaurant which are also nice to swim in if you're not self-conscious.
More upmarket than the brass bell, Harbor House is a lovely place to have dinner. Book early to get a sea side table.
270 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Harbour House Kalk Bay
Main RoadMore upmarket than the brass bell, Harbor House is a lovely place to have dinner. Book early to get a sea side table.
This is a secret. We lived in the area for 5 years before we wandered in here for a Saturday morning breakfast. it's a beautiful house and the food was good. Together those make it worth the visit.
42 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Casa Labia Café
192 Main RdThis is a secret. We lived in the area for 5 years before we wandered in here for a Saturday morning breakfast. it's a beautiful house and the food was good. Together those make it worth the visit.
A great place to have breakfast. Do it!
However, for good breads an croissants and other baked goods, go round the side of the building ( the carpark side), there's a door that you can buy all their goods to take home.
261 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Olympia Cafe
134 Main RdA great place to have breakfast. Do it!
However, for good breads an croissants and other baked goods, go round the side of the building ( the carpark side), there's a door that you can buy all their goods to take home.
This is an awesome place to pop into after your tidal pool swim. Outside seating comes with blankets and an outdoor fireplace, which is needed especially in winter after the cold tidal pool swim over the road.
They have a nice menus of very different options, including honey comb on toast, pork belly breakfast and the big farmers breakfast.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dalebrook Cafe
20 Main RdThis is an awesome place to pop into after your tidal pool swim. Outside seating comes with blankets and an outdoor fireplace, which is needed especially in winter after the cold tidal pool swim over the road.
They have a nice menus of very different options, including honey comb on toast, pork belly breakfast and the big farmers breakfast.
It feels like a dive, but it's actually pretty good.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ohana Cafe
23 Main RdIt feels like a dive, but it's actually pretty good.
Set back from the ocean it's one of the nicer places to have breakfast. because it's above the road, you have a nice view over the ocean - if you get there early enough to get a window table.
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Courtyard Café
48 Main RdSet back from the ocean it's one of the nicer places to have breakfast. because it's above the road, you have a nice view over the ocean - if you get there early enough to get a window table.
Yeah. This is a new(ish) place with good food and a nice vide. Get there early of book because it gets busy. When we were last there they didn't have a liquor license so you could BYO with no corkage charge. That may still be the case!
Food is good at a reasonable price in a lekker spot.
Beira Mar Portuguese Restaurant
151 Main RdYeah. This is a new(ish) place with good food and a nice vide. Get there early of book because it gets busy. When we were last there they didn't have a liquor license so you could BYO with no corkage charge. That may still be the case!
Food is good at a reasonable price in a lekker spot.
A good place to grab an ice-cream on a hot summer's day. See tips elsewhere to avoid traffic in getting your ice-cream
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ice Cafe
92 Main RdA good place to grab an ice-cream on a hot summer's day. See tips elsewhere to avoid traffic in getting your ice-cream
Nice chilled vibe with reasonably nice food that's moderately priced.
236 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Live Bait Muizenberg
Sidmouth RoadNice chilled vibe with reasonably nice food that's moderately priced.
Their Bistro 1684 is great for breakfast and offers excellent tapas in a relaxed atmosphere. It is a little on the pricy side but well worth the visit.
If you're looking for their more upmarket offering, then Tryn offers great food for the price. Lovely views over the Steenberg / Muizenberg mountains and across the vineyards.
66 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Steenberg Estate
Their Bistro 1684 is great for breakfast and offers excellent tapas in a relaxed atmosphere. It is a little on the pricy side but well worth the visit.
If you're looking for their more upmarket offering, then Tryn offers great food for the price. Lovely views over the Steenberg / Muizenberg mountains and across the vineyards.
Beaches
Despite the south easter, Dalebrook is still a great place to relax and jump in the ocean. We love the crowd and it's almost always calm enough to have a swim. Afterwards, getting a coffee or having breakfast at the Dalebrook café over the road is a great finish to the start of a day!
66 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dalebrook Tidal Pool
Dalebrook RoadDespite the south easter, Dalebrook is still a great place to relax and jump in the ocean. We love the crowd and it's almost always calm enough to have a swim. Afterwards, getting a coffee or having breakfast at the Dalebrook café over the road is a great finish to the start of a day!
This beach is indeed dangerous to swim at most of the time. However on the days when there's been no wind and the sea has calmed down, it's a glorious place. It's one of the few beaches you can take your dogs during high season (though please ensure you pick up after your dog)
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Danger Beach
This beach is indeed dangerous to swim at most of the time. However on the days when there's been no wind and the sea has calmed down, it's a glorious place. It's one of the few beaches you can take your dogs during high season (though please ensure you pick up after your dog)
This is a wonderful beach to take a swim and walk the dog. It's pretty sheltered most of the time and really safe to swim at. There are no life guards, so please take care when swimming here. It's generally uncrowded too - which makes it nice.
Generally we tip the car-guard R5 when we leave, but that's not necessary.
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Glencairn Beach
Main RdThis is a wonderful beach to take a swim and walk the dog. It's pretty sheltered most of the time and really safe to swim at. There are no life guards, so please take care when swimming here. It's generally uncrowded too - which makes it nice.
Generally we tip the car-guard R5 when we leave, but that's not necessary.
This is a nice pool with the iconic multi-coloured changerooms. If you don't swim here, certainly take photos.
Early evening it's also a really nice place to hang out. Right behind those changerooms is a lovely park bordering on the ocean. It's such a magical place to sit and be mesmerized by the ocean - and see some Oystercatchers too!
46 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Playa St James
Main RoadThis is a nice pool with the iconic multi-coloured changerooms. If you don't swim here, certainly take photos.
Early evening it's also a really nice place to hang out. Right behind those changerooms is a lovely park bordering on the ocean. It's such a magical place to sit and be mesmerized by the ocean - and see some Oystercatchers too!
In summer, when the South Easter (the Cape doctor) is pumping beaches on our side of the city (False bay) are generally not terribly fun. But if you go to Clifton 4th beach it's a windless place to have a picnic and enjoy the sunset.
The Atlantic is a VERY cold ocean but on a hot day it's actually not that bad. Sadly it's a way to get there from our house but it's certainly worth the effort.
387 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Clifton 4th Beach hotel
Fourth Beach PromenadeIn summer, when the South Easter (the Cape doctor) is pumping beaches on our side of the city (False bay) are generally not terribly fun. But if you go to Clifton 4th beach it's a windless place to have a picnic and enjoy the sunset.
The Atlantic is a VERY cold ocean but on a hot day it's actually not that bad. Sadly it's a way to get there from our house but it's certainly worth the effort.
This loooong beach is great for walking of dogs, has excellent surfing in winter (lots of places to rent wetsuit and board and even a surfing instructor if need be) and is a lovely place to relax and unwind.
Note that dogs should be on leads if you start at the pavilion, but going a little further (crossing the mouth and parking in that parking lot) the dogs needn't be on-lead and can run down the beach as you walk down towards the Gordon's bay side of the bay. Please take bags to pick up after your pooch though, as kids play on the beach.
253 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Muizenberg Beach Club
165 Main RdThis loooong beach is great for walking of dogs, has excellent surfing in winter (lots of places to rent wetsuit and board and even a surfing instructor if need be) and is a lovely place to relax and unwind.
Note that dogs should be on leads if you start at the pavilion, but going a little further (crossing the mouth and parking in that parking lot) the dogs needn't be on-lead and can run down the beach as you walk down towards the Gordon's bay side of the bay. Please take bags to pick up after your pooch though, as kids play on the beach.
Sightseeing
Voted as one of the top destinations worldwide, Kalk bay is a not-to-be-missed attraction while you're in our area. It has a host of shops and eateries that are worth visiting. It's very quaint, but be warned. in high season it gets terribly busy and driving through it can take upwards of 30 minutes. Get there early!
I'll post elsewhere about other attractions within Kalk bay.
485 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kalk Bay
Voted as one of the top destinations worldwide, Kalk bay is a not-to-be-missed attraction while you're in our area. It has a host of shops and eateries that are worth visiting. It's very quaint, but be warned. in high season it gets terribly busy and driving through it can take upwards of 30 minutes. Get there early!
I'll post elsewhere about other attractions within Kalk bay.
Consejos para la ciudad
Facilidad para moverse por la casa
Hillrise road walk from Boyes drive to the beach
This is a lot of stairs - I count 178, HOWEVER, it avoids all the traffic along Main road to get to the beach. Park on Boyes with half the car on the sidewalk - it's allowed - just leave enough room for people walking on the sidewalk too :-)
Then walk the beautifully cool stairs in the shade all the way down to main road, cross and walk to St. James or Danger beach - or a bit further to Dalebrook tidal pool. It's a lot of stairs coming back, but it's not terrible.
Formas de ahorrar
Ice-cream while saving on time in traffic
The Ice Cafe is located IN Kalk bay. Great place to grab an ice-cream on a hot day. Last I was there they only too cash (beware). However the real problem is getting there because the traffic backs up along main road towards the Fish Hoek side of Kalk bay so you may end us sitting in traffic JUST to get that ice-cream.
My hot tip is to park around Danger beach area and walk the flat, easy ~1km to the ice cafe, then stroll back enjoying the ocean and the mountain and eating your prize.
Antes de que te vayas
Outdoor movies
In summer, Gallelo Outdoor movies (https://thegalileo.co.za/) show a variety of movies at venues around the city. They're all over the place but we especially like the Kirstebbosch and Waterfront venues. They're picnic occasions but if you don't have time to pack a picnic, you can buy food and drink there. We generally take a picnic and blankets (but you can hire blankets from them too) and it makes for a lovely evening out.