Got cabin fever? These cosy activities and must-visit spots in the Cape Town CBD are the answer! Passionate Capetonian Liza Perold loves helping people experience the city in a meaningful way. Here are her curated suggestions to spend winter days in town.
1 WARM UP AT LIGHTHOUSE HOLISTIC
There’s no better way to ease into a grey Cape Town morning than with a sauna session or yoga class at Light House Holistic Wellbeing, a wellness club. Or just settle in at their in-house café for a warm drink and a light bite with a view over the city. It’s the kind of comfy, restorative ritual these cold winter mornings call for. Visitors are welcome to pre-book sessions online or in person.
📍 6th floor, The Barracks, 50 Bree St
🌐 www.lighthouseholistic.co.za
2 LUNCH AT HEMELHUIJS
Head to Hemelhuijs for a serene and season-inspired lunch. Chef patron Jacques Erasmus presents sophisticated yet down-to-earth café fare with a South African flavour. The beautiful menus, and the curated art on the walls, set the scene. Then, indulge your senses at the Hemelhuijs home store across the way where you’ll find custom-designed lifestyle items, exquisitely crafted ceramics, homeware and table linen, artisanal pantry staples and more. I’m a huge fan of their home scents!
📍 71 & 74 Waterkant St
🌐 www.hemelhuijs.co.za
3 DINNER AND A SHOW IN THE EAST CITY
The District Six Homecoming Centre’s programme of shows runs year-round. The winter line-up, especially at The Star Theatre, is fabulous. Expect live music tours, jazz, multi-media theatre productions, storytelling and more. The East City is packed with restaurants for every vibe. Some of my favourites include Galjoen, Downtown Ramen, and Lunacy.Dinner and a show, done right!
📍 15 Buitenkant St
🌐 www.homecomingcentre.co.za
4 A COSY SELF-CARE DAY
Start your morning with breakfast at Victoria Café inside the historic Cape Town Club. One of the city’s oldest institutions, the club’s grand interiors and open fireplaces make it the perfect spot to warm up on a cold winter’s morning. From there, make your way to the indulgent Grotto Spa at The Capital 15 on Orange Hotel. This underground wellness sanctuary offers a curated menu of bespoke experiences from skin and body treatments to massage therapy and grooming. With its moody interiors and sumptuous design, it’s unlike anything else in town and offers the perfect self-care day.
📍 Victoria Café, 8 Queen Victoria St
🌐 www.thecapetownclub.com
📍 Grotto Spa, The Capital 15 on Orange,
Cnr Orange St & Grey’s Pass
🌐 www.thegrottospa.co.za
5 ART, BUNS, AND CLAY ON BREE
Start at the Corner Store on Bree, where you’ll find a beautifully curated collection of African design brands including Dear Rae. The coffee and cardamom buns from Lion’s Bread come highly recommended. From there, take in the excellent art at WHATIFTHEWORLD. End the day at Clay Café in the City and paint ceramics while enjoying a glass of wine and tapas with friends. We all need a creative way of spending a grey day.
📍 Corner Store on Bree, 164 Bree St
🌐 www.thecornerstore.co.za
📍 Clay Café in the City, 199 Bree St
🌐 www.claycafe.co.za
📍 WHATIFTHEWORLD, 16 Buiten St
🌐 www.whatiftheworld.com
ABOUT LIZA PEROLD
Liza Perold is a Cape Town-based content creator and curator who is passionate about helping people experience Cape Town, especially the CBD, in a more meaningful way. Her work sits at the intersection of travel, storytelling, and sustainable local development – encouraging people to explore responsibly and support small, independent brands. She also shares daily snippets of Cape Town life on Instagram, offering her followers a genuine look at the city’s evolving culture, creativity, and charm. Visit www.lizaperold.com to download her guides of the city’s suburbs, or her YouTube series.
IMAGES: Liza Perold