Summer eating in Cape Town means one of two things – braais and picnics. There are several great locations in the city to spark up a fire for a braai, but if you’re looking for a uniquely Capetonian picnic, look no further than one of these top spots.
If you’re looking for a trendy, easily accessible and idyllic picnic then pack your basket and head down to one of the four beaches at Clifton. Although alcohol is prohibited on public beaches, you’re free to pack as many snacks and other beverages as you like. The beaches tend to fill up quickly in the summer, especially the Fourth Beach. So if you’re seeking tranquility, consider braving the stairs down to the First or Second Beach.
Like Clifton, Llandudno Beach is a perfect late afternoon location for a picnic. This dog-friendly beach has a perfect vantage point over the Atlantic, and its relative inaccessibility makes it more exclusive than other beaches closer to the city.
If you’re looking for cover on a hot summer’s day, there are several picnicking possibilities in the cooler Newlands Forest. Although you’re free to relax in a clearing alongside the mountain stream, there are also fixed sites you can use. If you’re willing to put in extra effort, you’ll find a massive, fixed wooden bench on the contour path at the start of the Newlands Ravine hike.
Newlands Forest, Table Mountain National Park, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa
Newlands Forest | © Andrew Thompson
Boschendal Wine Estate has been offering some of Cape Town’s most popular prepared picnics for several years now, and it’s not hard to see why. The grounds of this Franschhoek estate are particularly picturesque, and there are options to take the lavish picnic to the lawns or at one of the tables beneath the trees. Picnics are sold per person, and there are also children sized picnics available.
R310 Pniel Road, Groot Drakenstein, Franschhoek, South Africa, +27(0)21 870 4200
Boschendal Wine Estate | © Andrew Thompson
If you prefer a picnic with an aerial view, pack a bag and head to the Table Mountain. You can either stop somewhere appealing as you hike to the top, or take a shortcut via the cableway. There are dozens of amazing picnic spots on the way up, as well as on the summit. Furthermore, if you forget any essentials at sea level, there is a restaurant at the top, so don’t fret.
Table Mountain Cableway, Tafelberg Road, Cape Town, South Africa
Warwick Wine Estate was one of the first wine estates in the Cape to offer gourmet catered picnics, and they’re still a firm favourite among locals and visitors. The picnics take place on the lush lawn alongside the dam, and are child friendly. The estate also provides umbrellas and cushions for your comfort, but if you want more than that, there is the option of prebooking a private picnic pod that can seat up to 12 people.
Warwic Wine Estate, R44, Stellenbosch, South Africa, +27(0)21 884 4410
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