(Y)our Secret Season: Have a better winter

Specials & special things to do this winter. Plus daily wins

Last updated: Tuesday, 2 June 2026

Over the next three months (June to August 2026), we’ll help you rethink how you experience winter in the Western Cape. By sharing uniquely rewarding experiences, places, and products that come into their own during this season, which we call (Y)our Secret Season. 

Because we know you are looking for memorable reasons to leave the house. Special places and winter specials for date-night ideas, things to do over the school holidays, and cosy restaurants and wine estates to linger longer.

Like under-R100 brunches, rooftop saunas and yoga, nature stays, accommodation and indoor games for rainy days. You’ll find these and more in our ever-growing list of special things (and winter specials) to do this winter. Plus a chance to win an experience every single day in July.

STAY + BERTUS BASSON DINNER SPECIAL

A snug suite with a fireplace; a massive deck for winter sunsets, wine tastings of 5-star John Platter’s wines; and a long dinner at a Bertus Basson restaurant define The Bothey’s winter escape packages. It includes the stay, a tasting of the award-winning The Bothey wines, and a six-course chef’s tapas dinner at Spek & Bone. See why foodies, golfers and wine lovers choose this Somerset West stay. 

Winter special: Midweek (3 nights/2 guests) and weekend (2 nights/2 guests) winter escape packages
Price: R5 500 for 2 nights/2 guests (includes wine tasting & dinner). R7 500 for 3 nights/2 guests (includes wine tasting & dinner)
Availability: 5 June to 30 August 2026
Booking: Direct bookings only via 083 795 2868 (Katja Leinberger) and 083 928 8900 (Marcel Hartman)

Lynn's View, 5 Paradise Road | Somerset West | @bothey_sa | Image: The Bothey

DEGUSTATION MENU AT FINE DINING ICON 

Aubergine's winter degustation menu is a chance to experience the restaurant's 30-year fine dining legacy at its most seasonal. Inside, with velvet booths, soft jazz and one of the city's most impressive wine collections, guests can enjoy a three-course menu of amuse bouche, a bread course and coffee petit fours (plus an optional wine pairing), Read why Aubergine is Cape Town’s fine dining gem.

Winter special: Winter degustation menu
Price: From R895 for a 3-course menu (R1 375 with wine pairing)
Availability: 25 June to 30 September 2026
Booking: Call 021 461 9727 or book via Dineplan

115 Hope Street | Gardens | @auberginecapetown | Image: Aubergine

THE GREAT KIDS WINTER ESCAPE 

When the weather’s miserable and the kids are climbing the walls, the Aquarium is the great escape. During the school holidays, the Two Oceans Aquarium is extending its opening hours (until 6pm), so families have more time to wander and rediscover everything under the ocean, from the jelly gallery, penguins, touch pools and giant predator tank. We’ve got the inside scoop on Two Oceans Aquarium.

Winter treat: Extended school holiday hours
Price: R130 for kids 4 to 13. Free for under-3s. R280 for adults, R210 for pensioners and students
Opening hours: Daily from 27 June to 20 July; 9am to 7pm
Booking: Via Two Oceans Aquarium’s website

Dock Road (by the Watershed) | V&A Waterfront | @2oceansaquarium | Image: Two Oceans Aquarium

20% OFF A NATURE GETAWAY

Our reader discount (CPTMAG-ROOIKAT) gives you discounted access to Rooikat Safari Collection’s Salt Mine, a boutique on the West Coast Private Game Reserve. It’s built for slow winter stays, with fireplaces, private hot tubs, board games, and kitchens stocked with herbs, cookbooks and fynbos teas. You can also pair your stay with a private game drive (at a separate cost).

Winter special: 20% discount on midweek stays between 1 May and 31 July 2026
Price: R7 680 for three nights/4 guests (20% off the actual price)
Availability: Monday to Thursday until 31 July 2026
Booking: Via Rooikat Safari Collection’s website

West Coast Private Game Reserve | Yzerfontein | @rooikatsafaricollection | Image: Rooikat Safari Collection

ULTIMATE RAINY-DAY GAME

When the weather's bad, HintHunt is the go-to indoor adventure. You can choose from multiple themed escape rooms, like attempting a prison break, recovering stolen royal jewels, or stepping into a superhero-inspired mission. The sets are impressively immersive, with cinematic design, clever puzzles and just enough pressure to keep things exciting. Our team has tried them all, and we unpack HintHunt’s epic escape rooms.

Winter treat: Escape rooms
Price: R395 per person on weekdays, R445 per person on weekends
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 10am to 7.30pm; Friday to Saturday, 10am to 8.30pm; and Sunday, 10am to 5.30pm
Booking: Via HintHunt’s website

Watershed, 17 Dock Road | V&A Waterfront | @hinthuntafrica | Image: HintHunt

COMFORT FOOD BY THE SEA FROM R90 

What is the perfect meal after a winter walk on the beach? It might be the butternut ginger soup with a steamed bun and salsa chicken curry with pickled ginger rice and naan on Milk on the Beach’s winter menu. There’s also chicken polenta with cream cheese and roasted red pepper in a light harissa creama, seafood miso broth, and a beef and ale stew with herb mash. The restaurant is our best-kept seaside secret.

Winter treat: New winter menu
Price: From R90
Opening hours: Daily, 8am to 8pm
Booking: Via Milk on the Beach’s website

1 Atlantic Drive (by the main beach), Onrus River | Onrus | @milk_onthebeach | Image: Milk on the Beach

STEAKHOUSE BURGERS FOR R95  

People travel from across the province for Char’d's dry-aged steaks, and this winter special might be the perfect excuse to discover it for yourself. For just R95, you get any of the burger classics, like a bacon cheeseburger, pulled beef burger, crispy chicken burger or a plain cheeseburger for under R100. If you want something even more meaty, you could try the unusual cuts and sides of the meat appreciation platter.

Winter special: R95 burger special
Price: R95
Availability: Daily, 12pm to 3pm
Booking: Via Char’d website

Shop 4 | Hermanus Waterfront | @chardhermanus | Image: Char’d Grill & Wine Bar

NEW WINTER MENU LAUNCH 

Pear Tree, with its fireplace, plush seating and easy Hermanus charm, has a new winter menu built for comfort. Think sticky Korean ribs with sesame and coriander, surf and turf with prawn bisque and pomme purée, and a thick cauliflower blue cheese soup with garlic ciabatta. For dessert, the brandy apple pecan pudding with vanilla ice cream feels like a warm hug. See why Pear Tree is our favourite hidden bistro in Hermanus.

Winter treat: New winter menu dishes
Price: From R75
Opening hours: Daily, 9am to 9pm
Booking: Call 028 313 1224 or email info@peartree.co.za

Marine Drive | Hermanus | @peartreehermanus | Image: Pear Tree

AFRICA'S BEST BEER + DAILY SPECIALS

Fresh off winning Best Beer in Africa, Woodstock Brewery is one of those places that comes into its own for winter. The brewery has big screens for live sport, regular live music, and a beer hall that keeps things buzzing. The daily specials help too: Half-price burgers on Mondays, curry with a free lager on Tuesdays, schnitzel specials on Wednesdays, and giant rib-and-wing platters on Thursdays while live bands play in the beerhall. Saturdays are reserved for steak feasts, and Sundays end with beer-battered hake and chips. Read more about Woodstock Brewery’s craft beer.

Winter special: Daily food specials
Price: From R62.50 for burgers
Availability: Daily, 11am to 10pm
Booking: Call 021 203 3045

252 Albert Road | Woodstock | @woodstockbrewery | Image: Woodstock Brewery

FREE NIGHT MARKET (WITH GLÜHWEIN)

Intaka Island turns into a glowing winter night market after dark throughout winter. The event features a large heated stretch tent, glowing fires, and live acoustic music drifting along the canals. You can expect comfort food like Spanish paella, tacos, shawarmas and seafood platters paired with glühwein, craft beer and wine.

Winter treat: Intaka Island Winter Night Market
Price: Free entry
Opening hours: Last Friday of every month until 28 August 2026, 4pm to 9pm
Booking: Via Quicket

Intaka Island Eco-Centre | 1 Park Lane | Century City | @centurycity_za | Image: Century City

DISCOUNTED CLUBHOUSE MEMBERSHIPS 

Light House Holistic turns winter workdays into something far more appealing, with a heated rooftop sauna, mountain views and a calm indoor-outdoor workspace. A R160-day pass includes workspace access and a R60 café credit, while the R890 monthly membership adds classes, sauna sessions and lounge access. There’s also a three-month unlimited option with aerial yoga, guest passes and event discounts. Read more about the memberships at Light House Holistic.

Winter special: Winter Day, Winter Club & Winter Key memberships
Price: From R160 for a day pass
Availability: 1 June to 31 August 2026
Booking: Via Light House Holistic’s website

6th Floor, The Barracks | 50 Bree Street | @light_house_holistic | Image: Light House Holistic

3 WEEKLY SPECIALS, 1 ADDRESS      

Harringtons in East City makes winter socialising easy. Wednesdays are Wine & Dine nights, with a three-course dinner and five wine tastings for R375pp. Fiesta Fridays have a two-course dinner and two tequila cocktails for R330 before DJs take over from 9pm. Celebrating a birthday? Book a Saturday booth and pre-order catering to get complimentary Altos margarita cupcakes.

Winter special: Wine & Dine Wednesdays, Fiesta Fridays and birthday booth specials
Price: From R330pp
Availability: Weekly ongoing specials
Booking: Via Harrington’s website

61b Harrington Street | Cape Town | @harringtonsct | Image: Harrington Street

BRUNCH FOR UNDER R100

Few winter rituals beat a walk along the Sea Point Promenade followed by coffee at mischu, with their award-winning Isabella blend, which has been voted Best Coffee in Cape Town for three years running. That, and it has one of Cape Town’s most reliable breakfast deals: Eggs benedict and a flat white for under R100, made with their signature Isabella blend. Beyond the coffee, mischu has also become a launchpad for local cafés.

Winter special: Eggs benedict and a cappuccino
Price: R99
Availability: Daily ongoing special, available from 6.45am to 3pm
Booking: Via mischu’s website

85A Regent Road | Sea Point | @mischucoffee | Image: mischu

WEEKEND DINNER SPECIALS     

Some places are special because of what they serve. Firehorse is special because of why it exists. After a fire destroyed Vergelegen's beloved Stables restaurant, Firehorse was created. With a warm marquee setting and many Stables favourites still on the menu, it's an especially rewarding winter stop. This season, stay after sunset for two-for-R225 burger nights on Thursdays, beer-battered hake and tartare sauce Fridays (R195) and 300g sirloin steak Saturdays with pepper sauce and chips (R225).

Winter special: Weekend dinners
Price: From R195pp
Availability: Friday to Saturday, 8.30am to 5pm & 6pm to 8.30pm; Sunday, 8.30am to 5pm
Booking: Via Vergelen’s website

Lourensford Road | Somerset West | @vergelegen_wine_estate | Image: Vergelegen Wine Estate

(Y)OUR SECRET SEASON   

Cape Town does not shut down in winter. Because we know you're still looking for places to eat. Families need things to do during school holidays. Friends need cosy moments, couples date nights. Young people still want to party at night.

You’re looking for more intimacy. More connection.

More intentional discovery. We don’t call it winter. We call it (Y)our Secret Season.

Every day from 1 July to 31 July 2026 we’ll spotlight a special place that shines in winter, and you get the chance to win it as an experience. Enter on our Instagram from 1 July 2026.

 

 

 

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EXPLORE THE CITY 

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Discover the secret and hidden gems in the Western Cape.

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Your guide to what’s on in Cape Town this weekend.

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