Situated on the foreshore of Cape Town, just a short walk from the CBD, the Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront, or just the Waterfront as it known to locals, is so much more than a shopping centre, and has become a tourist destination in its own right. In addition to shopping and hospitality, amongst other activities, there is boat cruises, helicopter trips, gyms, pirate ships, cave golf, a big wheel, museums, an aquarium and the largest modern art museum in Africa - the Zeitz MOCAA. Still a working harbour, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront extends over a large area making it perfect for an afternoon of serendipitous wandering and browsing both inside the centre and outside through it is many annexes and attractions. Shopping wise it caters for most budgets, with over 450 outlets from the local finds like Master Wires-and Beadcraft’s African Curios and Imani Jewel’s African gemstones in the Watershed Design Shed to the high end super luxury offerings situated in the exclusive ‘Platinum Mile’ shopping area of the centre. It has a staggering 80 restaurants and cafes. From coffee shops to cocktails at sunsets to fine-dining experiences, the V&A has hospitality covered and then some. With an array of attractions for kids, by day it is the perfect place to bring the family for a safe and fun day out. After dark the Waterfront comes alive with a different kind of buzz with its multiple bars and venues offering live music and entertainment till late in the evening.
Often referred to as Africa’s answer to the Tate Modern, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, built over nine floors, with 100 gallery spaces, is the largest art museum in Africa. It is also home to the largest collection of African contemporary art in the world. A renovated grain silo, which was once the highest building in Africa, the architecture on the outside is nothing short of spectacular. This is matched inside with an award winning design that is bold, bright and contemporary. It makes maximum use of natural light that gives the building a spiritual feel as if you inside an industrial post-modern cathedral. The art featured is a who’s who of the African and its diaspora modern art scene and the gallery has been getting consistently rave reviews.
As well as galleries there is education rooms, a restaurant, reading rooms, a rooftop sculpture garden and a bookshop. Located in the V & A Silo district, it’s just a short stroll from the V & A Waterfront. Under 18s are free.
The Two Oceans Aquarium is literally the one stop shop for the enchanting and beguiling underwater world of the Southern Oceans. Their immense underwater tunnels and ultra wide viewing galleries, transport you physically to a magical place of wonder and amazement. A dazzling assortment of aquatic life of all shapes and sizes and with colours across the spectrum demonstrate the incredible diversity of life below the ocean. More than just a gallery, the Two Oceans Aquarium is an interactive and educational experience for kids and big kids of any ages. The feeding times are not to be missed, with sea turtles, rays, guitarfish and the ragged-tooth sharks all being fed by scuba diving keepers right before your eyes. Or for a more cute, experience check out the penguins getting their twice daily feed of shrimp and fish. For the more adventurous there is also the opportunity to get close and personal with the delightful northern rockhopper penguins for a once in a life time experience. For the very adventurous there is the chance to scuba dive through turtles, stingrays, kelp forest and giant sea bamboo. And for the extremely adventurous you can scuba dive with sharks. Some scuba experience is required.
For the kids there is an array of educational activities, including the touch pool with hands-on interaction with kelp, starfish, anemones and crabs, the Microscope Exhibit and a kids play area with puppet shows, arts and crafts and puzzles.
Established in 1988, the V&A Waterfront is one of Africa’s most visited destinations with twenty-four million annual visitors. It is located in the oldest working harbour in the southern hemisphere, with the astounding Table Mountain as its backdrop and views of the ocean, city bowl and mountain peaks.
In this harbour you will find The Alba, a floating seventy-two-seater restaurant specifically designed to be extra stable in choppy waters and allowing you to have a properly unique floating fine dining experience.
Options available to you are exciting things like Bubbly Brunch Cruise, Lavish Lunch Cruise, Afternoon Cocktail or the Decadent Dinner Cruise.
The friendly and super service-oriented staff are on hand to help make your wedding, corporate cruise, gala event or family outing unforgettable. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows for the exceptional views and fully air-conditioned for your comfort, this vessel is designed for comfort and great food and wine.
Established in 1988, the V&A Waterfront is one of Africa’s most visited destinations with twenty-four million annual visitors. It is located in the oldest working harbour in the southern hemisphere, with the astounding Table Mountain as its backdrop and views of the ocean, city bowl and mountain peaks.
In this harbour you will find The Alba, a floating seventy-two-seater restaurant specifically designed to be extra stable in choppy waters and allowing you to have a properly unique floating fine dining experience.
Options available to you are exciting things like Bubbly Brunch Cruise, Lavish Lunch Cruise, Afternoon Cocktail or the Decadent Dinner Cruise.
The friendly and super service-oriented staff are on hand to help make your wedding, corporate cruise, gala event or family outing unforgettable. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows for the exceptional views and fully air-conditioned for your comfort, this vessel is designed for comfort and great food and wine.
Yacoob Yachts has a flotilla of vessels suited for every age group and designed to make your oceangoing adventures an absolute pleasure. The four vessels that operate out of Quay 5 in the Victoria &Alfred Waterfront are Ameer, Tigresse, The Jolly Roger and Tommy the Tugboat. These vessels offer daily cruises along the beautiful Cape Town coastline, or for the younger pirates and tug boat captains, harbour trips and immersive, fun experiences. Ameer and Tigresse are luxury yachts that go further afield and are available for staff parties, birthdays, weddings, or any other celebration you may want to book them for.
The Jolly Roger (featured in the image above) is available for kids parties and there are a variety of packages you can book in advance (trips outside the harbour walls are weather dependant), including awesome activities like a Pirate Pledge, face painting and treasure hunts.
Tommy the Tugboat is for our littlest of sailors, offering harbour trips through Cape Town's working harbour, where they can take in the sights like the many large seals and the fishing fleets and pleasure crafts.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
– Mark Twain
Step aboard this 76-foot custom-built luxury catamaran, built to the highest code prescribed by South African Marine Safety Authority, Passenger Ship Class VI. With the customary twin-hull catamaran configuration this yacht features a saloon area on the bridge deck level, and a flybridge on the upper deck. On the deck is a large bar, with enough seating for fifty-two.
Upstairs, on the flybridge, the VIP area of the yacht offers seating for sixty-one and unobstructed views, you’ll feel on top of the world from here with the wind singing through the rigging.
Built to entertain, The Mirage is hosting the Forever Summer Concert Series this summer and have a variety of acts and bubbly sponsorships that will ensure an amazing experience on the waters.
There are few attractions in Cape Town that can rival the appeal of the Two Oceans Aquarium. Named after the fact that we have both the Atlantic an Indian Oceans meeting on the southernmost tip of the continent.
It seems that this beautiful showcase has been designed with children and adults equally in mind, with child-height benches and viewing ports abounding left, right and center.
Now you have the unique opportunity to experience the beauty of the deep in the depth of the night. Did we mention music? Oh yes, Texx and the City has managed to curate the best music to enjoy in the midst of shark infested waters.
For four nights from May to August 2019, the Aquarium will host eight stellar bands: Shadowclub, Manu Grace, Dangerfields, Twin Weaver, Manny Walters, Luh’ra, The Steezies and Androgenius will be creating the musical backing track to one of the most spectacular night-time experiences you could ask for.
Located in the beautiful Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (which we have covered extensively in previous posts) you can take part in the amazing Shimansky Diamond Experience. You’ll find it in the Clock Tower and it is yet another unique, beautiful and intriguing destination based one one of the cornerstones of what made South Africa internationally known.
Sometimes austere, sometimes lavish, the museum invites you to learn about the history of diamond mining in South Africa, a history steeped in culture, appropriation, violence and at times restitution.
You will also be entertained by live cutting of gems by the skilled gem cutters/polishers of the Shimansky factory, it is a truly absorbing experience, especially when they are hard at work on a piece of oh-so-rare Tanzanite.
Also in the tour you will find some imagery and descriptions of some of the worlds largest and most famous stones unearthed here in South Africa.
The V & A Waterfront is not only a mall by the ocean, it is a hub of various arts, crafts and most importantly to us, food!
The V&A Food Market is a site of constant activity, innovations, smells, sights, sounds and culinary excellence. In the building that was once the Old Power Station from 1882, 42 vendors ply their trade daily.
These include The Creamery, Cape Town Spice Market, Gorgeous Nuts, Tunisian Delights, Gourmet Pantry, Bubble Tea Company, Mex It Up, Sushi to Go, Le Chocolatier, Truth Coffee, Wharf Craft and Vagabond Kitchens.
Two bars serve up a huge array of craft beer and artisanal gins and once you have your plate and cup, there are a lot of tables, benches and umbrellas to sit at and enjoy.
Also, you will be right next to the Red Shed Craft Workshop, an absolute must-see, and the rest of the working harbour and mall.
