The Ultimate Girls' Trip Guide to Cape Town

Table of Contents

Atlas and Appetite contains affiliate links. If you click or make a purchase through an affiliate link, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Privacy Policy for details.

A table set for dinner on a deck in Scarborough, Cape Town. The ocean and the sunset are visible in the background.

I love a girls’ trip, and having grown up in Cape Town, I’m convinced there’s nowhere better for one. Cape Town has everything you want from a girls’ trip – white sand beaches, vineyards, sushi, spa days, and shopping. Cape Town is fun, perfect for photos, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Whether you’re planning a full itinerary or just need a nudge to get the group chat moving, here’s everything you need to plan the perfect girls’ trip to Cape Town.

Beach Days and Vineyards: What to Actually Do in Cape Town

Views from Beau Constantia, a wine farm in Cape Town. Wine farms are perfect for a girls' trip to Cape Town. — Views from Beau Constantia

Any trip to Cape Town requires a beach trip and a wine farm visit, but these are especially important on girls’ trips. For the beach, go to Clifton 4th Beach, or Llandudno Beach, which are less touristy. Alternatively, for a beach without stairs (they can be killer on a hot day!) and with restaurants across the road, go to Camps Bay Beach. You get pizza or sushi for takeout and have it on the beach, and then go for sundowners at Caprice at the end of the day – perfection. Keep in mind that you can’t drink alcohol on the beach in South Africa.

A note on water temperature: the water on this side of the coast is notoriously cold, so swimming here is more “dip a toe” than “fully submerge”. Even so, I think this side is better because the beaches are nicer, it is closer to the city, and shark sightings here are very rare (nobody likes a shark on a girls’ trip).

For wine tasting close to the city centre, head to Constantia Glen or Beau Constantia (or both!), two of the newer, smaller wine farms in Constantia. They are both set high in the valley, and they have stunning views, which make for perfect group photos.

For lunch, if you feel like something casual, Constantia Glen does the best cheese and charcuterie boards in Cape Town. Alternatively, for something slightly more upmarket (but by no means stuffy – this is Cape Town, after all), there is an excellent Cape Town restaurant called Chef’s Warehouse, which serves a tapas tasting menu designed for sharing. It has an outpost at Beau Constantia, which is absolutely fantastic, and where I’ve only ever had great experiences. The menu changes seasonally and is incredibly inventive. The decor is modern and minimalist, and you can enjoy views of the vineyards through the floor-to-ceiling windows while you have your lunch.

If you’re venturing further afield, a visit to Franschhoek, a winelands town about an hour away from Cape Town, is probably my favourite girls’ trip activity. The Franschhoek winelands are stunning – green, manicured, and very bougie. But the best thing about Franschhoek is the Wine Tram, an absolutely delightful hop-on-hop-off tram or tram-bus, which travels between different wine farms.

There are several tram routes to choose from, and you pick the one you want in advance when booking your tickets. My current first choice is the Orange Line, which stops at Babylonstoren, Boschendal, and Vrede en Lust, which are all great wine farms. If you’re staying longer in Franschhoek, Babylonstoren also has an excellent spa and several restaurants, and is a great spot for a girls’ trip.

Cape Town Workouts You’ll (Almost) Enjoy on a Girls’ Trip

I’ve been surprised on girls’ trips over the last decade or so that everyone is up and about before 8 am, discussing what morning exercise to do – a sure sign that you’re not students anymore! Cape Town has no shortage of brilliant exercise classes, complete with what often seems like an alarming number of very beautiful people.

Join the locals for a run or a walk on the Sea Point Promenade, or go for a hike. Lion’s Head is the most popular, although people are sometimes surprised at how steep the beginning section of the hike is. It does get easier after the initial stretch, but if you prefer something flatter, do the Lion’s Head contour walk or the Pipe Track. It is very important, for security reasons and also for general mountain safety, that you should never hike alone – make sure you go in a group.

For exercise classes, if you like yoga, go to the OG Cape Town yoga studio, Yoga Loft. They have a massive studio with huge windows looking over De Waterkant, and very friendly and encouraging instructors – I have great memories of after-work yoga sessions there. For barre classes, the best options are The Movement Lab or Breathe Barre. If you like HIIT classes, go to SWEAT1000 in Sea Point, which is a lot like Barry’s Bootcamp (warning, don’t go if you’re not quite fit, I was on the edge of delirium in this class).

Local Boutiques, Jewellery Shops, & Cape Town’s Best Swimwear

All girls’ trips involve some retail therapy, and you don’t need to leave the City Bowl to find great options. South Africa’s clothing industry has had a huge uptick in the last few years, and I now buy almost exclusively local brands when I’m home.

My favourite local clothing stores in Cape Town are Mungo and Jemima and Hannah Lavery, both in the Waterfront, and Sitting Pretty, in the Gardens Centre. All of them stock clothing which is perfectly Cape Town – linen and cotton dresses, jumpsuits, tops and shorts, a lot of neutrals, and they’re all beautifully made. My other favourite local store is Poetry (although it is not an independent brand like the first three). I also love Country Road, an Australian brand, which stocks similar delightful neutrals and is known for its excellent tailoring. You haven’t had a Cape Town girls’ weekend if you haven’t gotten matching Country Road sweatshirts or canvas tote bags!

For high-end local athleisure clothing, go to Burnt, and for swimwear, try local brand Beachcult, both in the Waterfront. I also love Seafolly in the Waterfront (although that’s not local).

Cape Town also has a lot of really great local jewellery stores, and their prices are excellent compared to international brands. Famke sells 9ct gold stacking rings at the best price I have seen in Cape Town. I also love Moxie, Dear Rae, and Black Betty, which all have stores in the Cape Town city centre. Black Betty also does “zapping”, which is their version of permanent welded bracelets, perfect for a girls’ trip. If you like silver jewellery, Spirit Jewellery in the Waterfront is the best place to find it.

Other homegrown brands I love, which are not in Cape Town, are Kolmio Jewellery (I have a very soft spot for them as I bought my wedding earrings here) and Anna Rosholt. If you’re around for long enough and staying at a hotel, you might be able to do an online order. My absolute favourite SA store is Sweetpeas Handmade, which stocks all kinds of delicious leather sandals and every lovely linen creation you can imagine (note, they make everything to order, so the orders typically take several weeks – it may best to visit their physical store in Durban, if you happen to be going there).

Spa Days, Gin Mani-Pedis, & Girls-Only Zen in Cape Town

The island at the One and Only Hotel at the V&A Waterfront, with the canals in the foreground. Cape Town's spas are a must do on Cape Town girls' trip. — The One and Only Hotel

It wouldn’t be a girls’ trip without a spa day, or at least a group mani-pedi. My friends and I love full afternoons at the spa. We always get massages (there’s no better way to bond with your bestie than during a couples’ massage), arrive early to have a swim and use the spa facilities, and then spend hours hanging around in our gowns afterwards, having drinks and lunch.

My favourite spa in Cape Town is the One and Only. This is particularly good for a girls’ trip, because the spa facilities are separated by gender, so we can have pretty unhinged girl talk (as you do). They have absolutely stunning gardens where you can laze around after your treatment. There is a complimentary spa buffet, but you can also order lunch and drinks from the hotel if you feel like something less healthy (we always do).

As an alternative, we recently discovered the spa at Cellars Hohenort in Constantia. Cellars Hohenort is a Cape Town icon, with a very quiet luxury vibe. Well, what a gem it was – swimming pools are like hen’s teeth in Cape Town in December, so finding a spa which would let non-hotel guests have a swim in the pool was a huge win.

For hair, nails, and waxing, I love Dante in Sea Point – the treatments are excellent, the therapists are lovely, and they have a section dedicated to group bookings. They can also provide drinks, as well as a custom gin bar if you request it in advance. We celebrated a bachelorette party here once, and it honestly felt more like a hotel spa than a nail salon.

For lashes, I like Trinity Lash Studio, where I got my wedding lashes done. I’d never had lashes done before, and I was nervous about having my eyelids messed around with for several hours. As it turned out, there was no need to worry – Yolin was so professional and the treatment was so relaxing that I actually fell asleep(!).

Coffee and Croissants: Cape Town Breakfast Spots

First things first, coffee is very important in Cape Town, and you can’t blink without coming across a coffee shop. My favourites are Rosetta, Pauline’s, Deluxe, and Origin. On our most recent trip home, we discovered Plato, which seems to have popped up everywhere, and also makes great coffee.

For quick breakfasts, get bagels at Kleinsky’s in Seapoint, or croissants at Jason Bakery (on Saturdays, they have cronuts with a flavour that changes every week – beyond indulgent).

For sit-down options in Sea Point, go to Jarryd’s, Maggy Lou’s, or Arthur’s Mini Super. In the city bowl, go to Clarke’s, Mulberry and Prince, or Hemelhuijs.

Ice Cream, Waffles & Afternoon Tea: Sweet Stops to Add to Your Itinerary

Three girls holding ice cream sandwiches from Crumbs and Cream in Cape Town. Girls' trips to Cape Town require ice cream. — Ice cream sandwiches at Crumbs and Cream

Girls’ trips require a visit to at least one ice cream shop, fact. One of the best in Cape Town is Crumbs and Cream, which makes quite life-changing ice cream sandwiches (the Seapoint one has swings which you can sit on for cute photos!). I also love The Creamery, and they have the best waffles I’ve had. For a local chocolate shop, go to Honest Chocolate Cafe (and there’s a gin bar in the back…).

People don’t usually associate Cape Town with afternoon tea, but I’ve had some of my best and most memorable afternoon teas at Cape Town hotels with my friends. The OG is the Mount Nelson (affectionately known as the Nellie) – pick this if you want an iconic, historical hotel, with chequered floors and piano music. For something more modern, but no less fabulous, go to the One and Only, or see my other favourite afternoon tea spots here.

Cocktails, Sushi, and Instagrammable Dinners: Where to Eat and Drink in Cape Town

A view of the yachts in the harbour at the V&A Waterfront. The restaurants at the Waterfront have beautiful views for lunch or dinner. — Lunchtime views at the V&A Waterfront

For lunch, if you’re not at a wine farm, have a picnic at Kirstenbosch, South Africa’s most beautiful botanical gardens. Alternatively, you can’t go wrong with lunch at one of Cape Town’s markets. The best one in the city is the OZCF at the Waterfront (only open on weekends), but I also love the Mojo Market in Seapoint and the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay on the weekends.

Cape Town’s sushi scene is also excellent. For sushi and cocktails with stunning harbour views, go to Sevruga, or its sister restaurant, Beluga, which has a legendary sushi and cocktails special from 16:00 to 18:00 on weekdays. Another great spot, although it lacks good views, is Willoughby and Co (try the 4×4, my desert island dish).

Cape Town was made for girls’ trip dinners. You want a place that hits the perfect trifecta of being Instagrammable with a great vibe, loved by locals, and serving delicious food, and Cape Town has no shortage of these.

For Italian tapas, an exciting cocktail menu, trendy decor, and a fun crowd, go to Club Kloof on Kloof Street (get a Paloma, or three). For upscale Mexican tapas and equally fabulous cocktails, go to Hacienda on Bree Street (order the guacamole, which is made at your table). For Greek food, the shiny new kid on the block is Ouzeri. For Japanese fusion and a very slick vibe, go to Nikkei, also on Bree Street, complete with an amuse bouche served on a bonsai tree!

After dinner, go for drinks at The Athletic Club and Social or the Gin Bar if you’re near Bree Street. On Kloof Nek, go to Cape Town’s OG wine bar, Publik, or join the hipsters at The Power and The Glory (fondly known as P&G). If you’re on Kloof Street, go to Asoka for cocktails – there is a tree growing out of the ground in the middle of the bar, which is great for photos.

Safety in Cape Town for Female Travellers

Cape Town is mostly safe, including for female travellers, but you should take precautions and be aware of your surroundings. When I’m home in Cape Town, I don’t walk around alone at night (in fact I don’t even do this with a companion), I make sure I am aware of my surroundings, I don’t hike alone, and I stick to well-populated areas – if I’m ever alone and feel unsafe, I leave.

I always tell women going to South Africa that the only taxi service I recommend for use at home is Uber, and I enable all the safety features on the app (irrespective of where I am). When I take an Uber home alone at night, I always ask the driver to wait until I get inside before leaving, and they have always been happy to oblige. I would also do this if I were taking an Uber to a restaurant alone at night, if there were no people around outside.

See more of my tips on how to stay safe in Cape Town here.

Cute Hotels & Airbnbs Perfect for a Cape Town Girls’ Trip

I usually think the best options for girls’ trips are Airbnbs, because you want a lounge for morning coffee and movie nights, not to mention it’s easier to get dressed when you’re inevitably swapping outfits. If you prefer hotels, choose a quirky boutique one. Have a look at the Pineapple Hotel in Seapoint, Gorgeous George in St George’s Mall, and Noah House in Tamboerskloof.

When the girls’ trip finally makes it out of the group chat

When the girls’ trip finally makes it out of the group chat (I promise, it can happen!), Cape Town is the perfect place. It’s got everything: beaches, wine farms, shopping, and spas, along with friendly locals, good vibe, and amazing food.

So send this post to the group chat, start planning your swimsuit lineup and all-linen outfits, and have a look at my other Cape Town recommendations here.

The Ultimate Girls’ Trip Guide to Cape Town