Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo © Jacques Strauss

With the World Cup rapidly approaching, football fever has started warming up the cold Cape of Storms. If you haven’t been to Cape Town before you will be forgiven for not knowing the extent of the cold season here on the southern tip of Africa. The winters are traditionally cold and wet, but with the buzz surrounding the World Cup, residents and the few tourists who are already here are paying no mind to the weather. For the first time ever, the World Cup is being played on African soil and there is a great sense of pride flooding the country.

I call Cape Town home and couldn’t think of a better place for tourists to visit. Cape Town offers everything a visitor could want, and more. With gorgeous scenery, vibrant nightlife, and some of the best shopping in the country, it is without a doubt a ‘must see’ for any traveler.

During the World Cup there will be a lot to do football wise, but what are tourists to do when there are no games to watch? Here is a breakdown of places to see and things to do, one that you won’t find in travel books.

One of the Cape’s hidden gems, Diaz offers cold beer, spicy prego, and a fantastic atmosphere. The ‘taverna’ is located in the heart of the city and can be a little tricky to find, but once found is completely worth it. Whether you fancy some trinchado, a prego roll (a steak roll with a distinctly South African sauce with a touch of spice), or perhaps a 600g rack of tender ribs, Diaz Tavern most definitely delivers. The sign of a good restaurant in my opinion is that it’s always busy, and Diaz tavern is, always. With two big screens that will undoubtedly be showing all of the World Cup matches, Diaz tavern could be the starting point of a spectacular, beautifully Cape Tonian evening.

Just up the road from Diaz Tavern is one of the city’s premier live music venues. With the cream of the South African (and sometimes international) crop performing regularly, music lovers that visit the city have to spend a night Assembly. There will be bands performing every weekend and the cover charge rarely exceeds R60, which to traveling Europeans equates to roughly 6 Euro. If you like watching live music or just a good night out, Assembly delivers. DJs provide said entertainment during the week if watching live bands isn’t really your thing, and Assembly caters for a wide range of tastes and its popularity speaks for itself.

The last of my recommended stops is in every single tourist book ever written – after its completion of course – yes, it’s the Waterfront. 

A stone’s throw from the Green Point Stadium (pictured above), the V & A Waterfront has been popular among tourists and locals as long as it’s been in existence. The shopping is as good as it gets in Cape Town, and it ranges from curios to art, and even high-end fashion (for the ladies). However, stay away from franchise restaurants, not because there is anything wrong with them, but because the Waterfront boasts many a hidden gem.

One such gem is arguably my favorite pub in Cape Town, Mitchell’s. With one of the biggest selections of beers on tap anywhere in the city ranging from ales to stouts and including even a locally brewed bitter (Bossun’s – try it, it’s awesome), Mitchells’ has something for everyone’s taste. Their menu is also solid with a host of great meals at even better prices. It’s simple: if you are in Cape Town, a visit to Mitchell’s is mandatory.

I will be keeping you up to date from Cape Town during the World Cup, so if you have any questions comments or want to hook up for a beer, leave me a comment, and I’ll try my very best to help out. In a nutshell, if you are coming to South Africa for the tournament, you have to see Cape Town, once you’ve been here, you’ll understand.

by Young Germany-Blogger Rick Bosch