Eat, Explore and Experience

As the symbol of Cape Town, and recently designated one of the “New Natural Wonders of the World,” Table Mountain is a must-see destination. Ride to the top on the funicular or, for the more ambitious, hike to the summit.

Either way, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the City Bowl, Robben Island, the entire Cape Peninsula, and even False Bay, which you see from your guest room at Blue On Blue Bed and Breakfast.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and site of important South African history, Robben Island is an important part of any Cape Town itinerary.

The importance of Robben Island lies in its rich and gut-wrenching history. Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, spent 18 years in prison on Robben Island. But he was not alone. A virtual who’s who of anti-Apartheid activists were held at Robben Island.  Don’t plan too many other side trips on this day. With a 45-minute water crossing each way and an emotional guided tour of the prison hosted by a former inmate, be aware that this trip could require some contemplative recovery time afterwards.

While most people associate penguins with Antarctica, Cape Town has its own colony at Boulders Beach. We consider them the smartest of all penguins. Rather than endure subzero temperatures and blistering winds, they lounge on sandy shores and enjoy the warm waters of False Bay. What could be better?

Boulders Beach is also a family-friendly swimming destination where children can climb on the huge rounded boulders, splash in the tidal pools, or swim in the clear ocean water. Given the R65 entry fee for conservation, the beach is generally not crowded.
To learn more about the endangered African penguins, visit the Boulders Visitors Centre where a guide will share interesting information about Cape Town’s brilliant beach dwellers.

The Western Cape produces world-class wines thanks to fertile soil and a conducive climate.  From Blue On Blue Bed and Breakfast, the Constantia winelands are just a short drive and can easily be enjoyed in a half day. For those wanting to venture to the more famous and spectacular mountain-encircled vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschoek, allow a full day.

If you plan to sample wine during your visits, we suggest that you arrange a guided tour right from the front steps of our B&B, allowing you to sample wine, enjoy fabulous cuisine and gaze at the majestic scenery without having to trouble with driving.  

Thousands come to the Cape each year hoping to see one of nature’s most  magnificent creatures, the Southern Right whale. Calving takes place on the coast near Hermanus in the winter months. Between September and early December, a favorite activity of guests at Blue On Blue B&B is gazing out the guest room window to catch whales spouting or slapping their fins in False Bay. They have been known to come right to the water’s edge of St James Beach…so close you feel you can reach out and touch them! Feel free to email us about whale watching tours.

If you are walking the streets of Cape Town, it’s hard to miss the red double-deck City Sightseeing buses. With hop-on-hop-off access, they offer an easy way to get around the city and beyond.

The red tour takes approximately 2 hours and includes a dozen stops at points of interest such as Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay, and Long Street. If you plan to take the funicular to the top of Table Mountain, be sure to get tickets from your bus driver. The red tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with Cape Town if your time is limited.

Alternatively, for those who wish to spend full day, the blue tour is the most scenic and includes stops farther from the City Bowl: Constantia winelands, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and Hout Bay.

St James, Kalk Bay and Muizenberg offer an array of cuisines within 15 minutes walking distance or a very short drive from Blue On Blue B&B.  As you might expect, fresh seafood is a featured ingredient on many menus because of the proximity to False Bay.  The majority of restaurants in this area are owner managed, small, informal, and offer good quality food. Here are a few of our favorites, starting with the closest.

If you’re hungry and want convenience, Octopus’ Garden sits 200 metres away at the foot of our hill just to the left of Sandhurst Road. The menu offers a variety of local and Mediterranean dishes, including pizza, in a casual atmosphere with a full bar and sometimes live music.

Turning right onto Main Road takes you toward Kalk Bay, where you will find plenty of casual fare, including pizza (Satori), organic offerings (Kalk Bay Café), seaside dining (Brass Bell), ice cream (Ice Café) and more.  A few hundred metres more takes you to these:

Olympia Café offers excellent food all day – breakfast, lunch and dinner – as well as coffee and baked goods, which you can eat in or take away from their bakery (around the corner – great to get prepared food for your day trips). Open daily 7am-11pm.

If you like fish & chips, Kalky’s is our pick. Sitting at the edge of Kalk Bay’s working port, the selections, most of which are line fish caught by hand, are brought in fresh daily. Kalky’s is frequented by families and locals in a casual atmosphere.

There are several other respected seafood restaurants – Harbour House and Live Bait – in the same compound if the lines at Kalky’s are long or you prefer slightly more formal dining.