British Newspaper Declares Cape Town the Greatest City in the WORLD to Visit Right Now

The Telegraph newspaper in the UK has declared Cape Town, South Africa, “the greatest city in the world to visit right now”. Of course Capetonians already knew that, but it always feels so good when the rest of the world acknowledges it… and the compliments for Cape Town are bursting in this particular Telegraph article, starting with the fact that not only has Cape Town and the surrounding winelands returned to pre-pandemic normal, but that it’s “positively revamped and recharged”! Kudos to Wesgro, City of Cape Town, the Western Cape government, as well as local businesses and residents who are making their home thrive!

Travel writer Simon Parker says that “after two years of local lockdowns and international red listing, the city of wine and waves is back with a pop and a fizz.”

With both BA and Virgin reinstating their direct flights to Cape Town, and United Airlines resuming its New York – Cape Town route (3 non-stop flights per week from 5 June), tourism is fast increasing and making up for the approximately R200-million per day lost revenue that Cape Town suffered during the bleak times.

The Telegraph highlights Bree Street’s bars and restaurants, Camps Bay, Muizenberg Beach, the Winelands, and while lamenting those businesses that closed because of the pandemic, the paper celebrates the new businesses and restaurants, refurbishments and “a city abuzz”.

British tourists (that includes SA expats in the UK!!!) are encouraged to visit right now (or now now) with “braai-friendly weather forecast until at least May”.

The Telegraph recommends staying at The Winchester Hotel, which has been modernised; The Marly boutique hotel in Camp’s Bay, 12 Apostles (“clinging to the south-facing slopes of Table Mountain National Park”) which recently launched the Apostles Braai outdoor dining area; or Labotessa which boasts a garden terrace “that wouldn’t look out of place in Paris or Milan”… and is just a 30-second walk from Fyn Restaurant, which was recently named one of the Planet’s 50 Best.

For eating and drinking, the Telegraph suggests the very cool rebranded (and now family-friendly) Cabo Beach Club at its new location (V&A Waterfront), formerly Shimmy Beach; Tomson in Bree Street for Cantonese-style street food; Homespun at the Andros (where you can tuck into an ‘edible candle’ that tastes like smoky boerewors; The Royal Oyster Bar which opened on Bree Street in September; and Pier (V&A) which opened in December with prices a bargain by European standards.

For a city escape, the Telegraph highlights Brookdale Estate – a 165-acre estate in Cape Dutch style which opened to the public in 2021 and can sleep up to 12 adults; The Alphen, an 18th century Constantia hotel which has been refurbished (and includes a 15-metre heated pool); award-winning Delaire Graff between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek; and working farm Boschendal, a must-see!

For more info on all the above, read the Telegraph article here.

P.S. If you’re travelling from the UK: you’ll need a negative PCR test result to enter SA.