The Colors and Art of the Mother City

Travel Story

The Mother City, as Cape Town is known in South Africa, had been on my "bucket list" for a very long time. Having heard friend after friend praise the spectacular scenery of the Table Mountain high above the City Bowl and the wine regions of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl was intriguing enough, but when I read about the city's growing reputation as a design hub and saw images from the design masterpiece that is the Zeitz MOCAA museum, I was convinced. It was time to visit. The city did not disappoint. From the first morning when I opened the hotel blinds to the sight of the Table Mountain and Lion's Head, I was hooked. City lovers are sure to fall in love with the cute, colorful homes of De Waterkant and Bo Kaap, street art lovers can venture out to Salt River and Woodstock to explore the latest work of graffiti artists and contemporary art lovers like me can peruse the many galleries, from the big names like Goodman Gallery, Stevenson Gallery, and What If The World, to the more design driven places like Southern Guild. The Zeitz MOCAA is a must and the new Norval Foundation sculpture garden in Muizenberg is well worth a visit as well. History buffs can stop by the District Six museum or (assuming they don't forget to plan ahead as tours sell out) make the trip out to Robben Island to dive into an unforgettable piece of the country's history. Finally, foodies will enjoy the tasty creations of market at Old Biscuit Mill, the Pot Luck Club, the Test Kitchen, the Black Sheep, La Colombe, and many other local hotspots. Friendly advice: make a reservation far in advance - places get booked quickly!