Café Caprice

Café Caprice is one of the best-known bars on the Camps Bay strip, the line of restaurants and bars along Victoria Road that faces the beach and the Atlantic. It describes itself as a beachfront spot where golden hour melts into night, and it has long been a place where Capetonians and visitors come to watch the sun go down over the ocean with a drink in hand.

The day starts gently, with the venue opening for breakfast and lunch, and the pace picks up as the afternoon goes on. By sunset the terrace is usually full, and later in the evening dinners turn into dancing, particularly at weekends and in the summer season, when the atmosphere becomes a party. The bar is the focus, with cocktails, wine and beer, and food is served through the day.

Café Caprice opens from 12:00 to midnight on Mondays, from 09:00 to midnight from Tuesday to Thursday, and from 09:00 to 01:00 from Friday to Sunday. Reservations are strongly recommended for a terrace table at sunset, especially in December and January, and can be made by phone or email. Expect queues and a lively crowd on summer weekends.

This is a sociable, see-and-be-seen kind of place, and it suits groups of friends and couples who want a buzzing night out by the sea. It is not the place for a quiet drink at peak times. Dress is smart casual, and you will feel at home in summer clothes, but bring a jacket for later, as the evening wind can be cool even in summer.

Camps Bay is about 15 minutes by car from the city centre, over Kloof Nek or along the coast via Sea Point and Clifton. MyCiTi buses run along Victoria Road during the day, but at night it is easier and safer to use a taxi or ride-hailing service. Parking along Victoria Road is very limited at busy times. Combine an evening here with a late-afternoon walk on Camps Bay beach or a sunset hike on Lion's Head beforehand.

If you prefer to avoid the busiest hours, come for a late breakfast or lunch, when the terrace is calmer and the beach views are just as good. Weekday evenings outside the peak holiday season are also more relaxed than Friday and Saturday nights in summer.