The first governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, made time in his busy schedule to establish the Capes first wine estate, Groot Constantia. Luxury, in other words, has been part of the Cape Town social landscape since its very inception.
Firmly established as a destination for the worlds jet set, Cape Towns historical elegance is now more than matched by the citys penchant for contemporary chic.
Wine and Dine
These days, a visit to a wine estate is a chance to experience both. Most of the Capes wineries are a short drive from Cape Town, but there are some excellent estates in the city.
Buitenverwachting, Constantia Uitsig and Governor van der Stels Groot Constantia all make elegant wines right in the forested suburb of Constantia. If youre looking for luxury dining, Cape wineries have expanded into haute cuisine and generally have outstanding restuarants. Constantia Uitsigs
La Colombe might be the most lauded winery restaurant in the country.
Cape Town tends to dominate the fine dining accolades in South Africa. The
Eat Out Top 10 best restaurants list is always heavily populated by Cape eateries, with highest honours in 2009 going to La Colombe.
Classical haute cuisine
Another perennial favourite, with a long established reputation for classical excellence,
the Roundhouse in Camps Bay offers unfussy fine French cuisine expertly paired with fine wine. Discriminating diners with a sweet tooth will delight in the restaurants famous desserts.
For fine international and local cuisine served in a relaxed atmosphere,
Mint restaurant, located in a sumptuously restored dining room at the Taj Hotel, is tasteful, intimate and consistently interesting.
Exotic elegance
An exciting addition to the Cape Town gourmet scene, the
Bombay Brasserie serves five-star Indian with a heavy dash of elegance. If you are unfamiliar with fine Indian cuisine, youre in for a treat. Serving some of the best Indian food outside of India, Bombay Brasserie uses fresh traditional ingredients to create truly memorable dishes.
Why sweat it?
Cape Town has plenty of great walks and hiking trails. But for a more stately way to travel, consider taking the
cable car up Table Mountain.
Another five star travel option is to take a sunset champagne cruise. Sipping sundowners while the sun goes down over Table Mountain is, frankly, the only way to take to the sea. Boat operators at the V&A Waterfront arrange short sunset boat cruises. For a taste of the playboy lifestyle, a yacht off Clifton Beach substitutes nicely for cruising the French Riviera.
If youre looking for a five star adrenaline rush,
Fantastic Racing gives you the chance to drive a real Formula 1 car round a track! Set your own best time or race your friends around the Cape Towns Killarney racing track.
After a day of activities, youll want some five star luxury pampering. The
Jiva Spa is a unique spa experience, employing ancient Indian spiritual techniques with the latest spa technology. This is by far the most luxurious way to attain inner harmony.
