Situated on the Atlantic shore, you can find the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town. It’s no secret that the V&A Waterfront is the most frequented mall in the Cape, thanks to its assortment of top-notch dining establishments, designer boutiques, and high-end hotels.
In this guide, you will find some of the best things to do at V&A Waterfront.
The V&A Waterfront has it all whether you’re looking for thrilling outdoor adventures, the best restaurants, accommodation, or things to do with kids, couples or alone.
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Here are some of the best things to do at the V&A Waterfront:
1. Enjoy dinner with amazing seaside views
The V&A Waterfront offers a selection of more than 80 restaurants and cafés. There are numerous restaurants and pubs in Cape Town that you may choose from, whether you’re looking for a fast snack and a cup of coffee, a meal while taking a break from shopping, an after-work drink, or a leisurely fine-dining experience while admiring the breathtaking scenery.
2. Admire Cape Town with a bike ride around the City
Explore one of the most beautiful cities in the world on two wheels. The Silo District is home to Up Cycles, Cape Town’s first drop-and-go bike rental shop. Their unisex, single-speed, backpedal city bicycles are made in the Netherlands and come in all sizes. Just rent a bike and bring it back to any Up Cycles station when you’re finished (Camps Bay, Sea Point and V&A Waterfront).
Times: Monday – Sunday, 8:30 am – 8 pm
Cost: From R80 per bike
Contact: 074 100 916
Store location: Silo 5, Silo District, V&A Waterfront
3. Take off from V&A Waterfront on a private helicopter tour
Take to the sky with a Hopper Flight from NAC Helicopters and witness the true beauty of the Cape Peninsula. With Daddy’s Deals get yourself an experience like no other at a discount! Check out our latest offer with NAC Helicopters now.
Times: Monday – Sunday, 8 am – 6 pm
Duration: 12 minutes
Address: E Pier Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001
4. Purchase locally produced art, clothing, and accessories at The Watershed.
Around 150 distinctive, artisanal, and proudly local small and medium enterprises are housed in this bright and open street-style retail space. These businesses sell textiles, gifts, jewellery, curios, ceramics, apparel and accessories, furniture, and other home goods.
Times: Monday – Sunday 10.30am, 12pm, 3pm, 5pm
Address: E Pier Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001
5. Get involved in your favourite activity at Battery Park
The V&A Waterfront’s urban park serves as a gateway to and from Cape Town’s central business district. Kids and adults will be kept busy for hours with the scooter path, skatepark, multi-court (for netball, basketball, and soccer), stand-up paddleboarding, and canoeing in the canal. Bring a picnic basket and spend the entire day there.
Cost: Free (but you’ll need to pay for parking, which is free on weekends)
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, 7 am – 7 pm
Contact: 021 408 7600
Where to find it: Battery Park, Between Cape Town CBD and The V&A Waterfront
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Deals in & around V&A Waterfront!
6. Visit the Aquarium
Unsurprisingly, this one-stop shop for all things aquatic is one of Cape Town’s best tourist sites with live ocean displays of seahorses, octopuses, rays, turtles, and fish of all kinds and sizes. There are more than 350 species on show, with the underwater tunnel at the I&J Ocean Exhibit, the African penguin colony, and the Save our Seas Shark Exhibit are among the highlights.
Times: Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 6 pm, Saturday & Sunday, 9 am – 6 pm
Cost: R200 (adults), R150 (SA pensioners, SA students, children 14 – 17 years), R95 (children 4 – 13 years), Free (under 0 – 4 years)
Contact: 021 418 3823
Address: Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8002
7. Kayak just off the shore of the V&A Waterfront
Try out one of The Mother City’s top adventure activities by yourself or with fellow outdoorsmen – the kayak holds a maximum of two people.
See a host of marine life, notably dolphins, sunfish, penguins, and whales if you’re lucky. Rest assured; you’ll never again be so close to the animals as you will on this tour – have your camera ready!
Times: Monday – Sunday, 9 am — 5 pm
Duration: One hour
Cost: R350pp (with a guide)
Visit the Silo District at the V&A Waterfront
One of Cape Town’s newest hotspots, the Silo District at the V&A Waterfront, has a lot to offer. The area provides something for everyone, from cutting-edge art to exquisite cuisine and top-notch shopping. Cape Town is quickly evolving into one of the coolest cultural destinations in the world thanks to recent additions like the Silo District.
8. The Yard
This new store-cum-bistro bar is located in the brand-new Silo District and offers a dining and shopping experience all under one roof. This interesting open-plan contemporary setting serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At The Yard in Cape Town, there are chalkboard specials and a buffet to pick from. The menu options range from elegant dining to relaxed café fare. A selection of premium chocolates, jams, cheeses, and charcuterie are also available in the deli section. Whether you are shopping, dining, or both, there is always something new to discover.
9. The Zeitz MOCAA
The Zeitz MOCAA, Africa’s largest art museum, is the Silo District’s true star. It is an institution of the highest calibre that displays the amazing art of Africa and its diaspora. The museum is worth visiting only for its architecture. The structure is built of curving concrete lines, and light enters through the cylinder-shaped constructions. It is housed in the ancient grain silos, which were constructed in the 1920s and provide visitors with a breathtaking cross section of the former industrial site.
10. Granary Café
Contemporary Cuisine in an Extraordinary Space. The Granary Café offers a distinctive dining experience. Liz Biden’s hotel interiors’ cozy, diverse, and modern design is carried over into the menu.
11. Si! Cantina-Sociale
At this chic tapas restaurant, you can receive filling pub food from a variety of grills, entire veggies, seafood, meat, flatbreads, and vibrant vegan dishes. This is an excellent choice for food and drinks with a group because of the sharing-style menu, which accommodates numerous dietary needs. Additionally, there are televisions for sporting events and a big bar for those extended evenings.
12. Stay at the mesmerizing Silo Hotel
The Silo Hotel raises the bar for opulent lodging in Cape Town. A unique, five-star luxury hotel rising above the V&A Waterfront and encircled by the Mother City’s natural beauty.
The historic grain silo complex’s grain elevator part is where The Silo Hotel has been constructed, taking up six levels above Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.
The Silo Hotel is a celebration of creativity, fashion, design, and architecture. A tribute to modern luxury and timelessness while providing the highest degree of individualized service characteristic of The Royal Portfolio.
13. Enjoy the best of Radisson RED at the V&A Waterfront
The Radisson RED, an artistic and unique hotel with views of Table Mountain and the Waterfront, is located in the Silo District. With free wifi, a TV, a sound system, and large windows to take in the views, the rooms have everything you could possibly need.
It also features one of Cape Town’s best rooftops and is definitely worth checking out if you are in & around the Silo district.
More things to do at the V&A Waterfront
14. Paddleboard through the V&A Waterfront’s majestic canals
During a three-kilometre round through the picturesque canals of the V&A Waterfront, test your balance with the stand-up paddleboarding. A quick orientation will be given to you before you leave, and all necessary equipment and the services of an experienced guide are supplied.
Cost: R220 per person
Opening times: Monday – Friday, 10 am – 3 pm; Saturday & Sunday, 9 am – 2 pm (April – September)
Monday – Sunday, 8 am – 6 pm (October – March)
Note that: Children younger than nine years should be assisted by an instructor (additional charge of R90) or a parent.
Where to find it: Battery Park, V&A Waterfront (parking access from Alfred Road, just behind City Lodge)
15. Catch a jog starting at the V&A Waterfront
This running route is a beautiful way to get your daily dose of cardio because it has the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Table Mountain on the other. The 5 kilometer run begins at Ferrymans Tavern and ends at the well-known Table Bay Hotel.
16. Experience a boat ride
On this brief harborside cruise, observe the residents of the Waterfront going about their daily activities: seals basking in the sun, gulls flying overhead, and visitors and locals shopping, dining, and having fun. As you bob around the waterfront, knowledgeable guides will impart their knowledge of the Mother City.
Get discounted prices with deals on offer for boat rides around the V&A Waterfront
17. Eat at the V&A Food Market
The Waterfront is home to a host of popular eateries as well as the V&A Cuisine Market, which is renowned for its mouthwatering street food, craft beer, and live music. There will undoubtedly be something to sate your appetite, whilst supporting the best of small local businesses at a crucial time.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm
Contact: 021 418 1605
Where to find it: Old Power Station, Building 19, Dock Road, Pierhead, V&A Waterfront
18. Waterfront Amphitheatre
The Waterfront Amphitheatre, located in the centre of the V&A Waterfront and surrounded by all the stores, restaurants, and pubs, is one of the greatest locations.
While visiting, you might catch an amazing live dance or band performance. Watch the children playing in the well-equipped playground next to the amphitheatre while you relax and take in the scent of the ocean.
Accommodation deals near the V&A Waterfront
19. Get you & a loved one a stay at Kaya Stay
Whether you’re a Capetonian looking for a break without having to travel, or a tourist wanting to experience the best of The Mother City, the apartments at Kaya Stay are the perfect base from which to do it.
These self-catering apartments offer easy access to Cape Town CBD, the V&A Waterfront, and the myriad of bars and restaurants littered around this buzzing hub!
20. Overlook the canals at 702 Canal Quays
Stay in the hub of the waterfront and enjoy all that it has to offer. Living here means easy access to fantastic restaurants, shops, spas and fun activities in Green Point, V&A Waterfront and De Waterkant.
Frequently Asked Questions about The V&A Waterfront
What can you do for free on the Waterfront?
Access to the park is free and includes a world-class skateboard park, basketball court, picnic area, a scooter track and a variety of eateries.
What type of attraction is V&A Waterfront?
The V&A Waterfront has it all, including fantastic restaurants, amazing boutique stores and world-class accommodations with views of the ocean and mountains.
