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From getaway & food specials to little luxuries like waffle fries
Last updated: Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Winter in Cape Town is magical. There’s so much to experience that’s more special because it’s winter, or that you can only experience because it’s winter.
Like hot chocolate tastings, 55% off cosy getaways with hot tubs, cheeky anime condoms for when cuddling escalates, and more. These are 40 of our favourite specials, treats and lekker local products to make your winter.
Plus, with our Secret Season campaign, you could win some of these experiences. It’s 30 days of giveaways and winter specials. Scroll down to see how to enter.
There’s a new fried chicken plug. Casero Homestyle is in Grassy Park on the main road (you can’t miss their signage). They’re coming through with a family share box for R320. Inside: Six chicken tenders, six sliders, six wings, fries, coleslaw, garlic bread, and two dips.
Winter treat: Family feast box
Price: R320
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 12pm - 9pm; Friday, 12pm - 1pm & 2pm - 10pm; Saturday, 10am - 10pm; Sunday, 11am - 6pm
97 on 5th Avenue | Grassy Park | @casero_homestyle_chicken | Image: Casero Homestyle Chicken
From family favourite spots to date night treats, the V&A Waterfront is back for another year of their Neighbourfood specials, where you can get deals like R300 for a meal for two at Den Anker, 50% off sushi and cocktails at Sevruga and daily specials at Gibson’s. This is the full list of the winter food specials at the V&A Waterfront.
Winter special: Discounts on 40 food spots around the V&A neighbourhood
Price: Varies for each special
Availability: Varies for each special
V&A Waterfront | @vandawaterfront | Image: V&A Waterfront
Warning: Order this cocktail and you’ll be handcuffed to it. The castle of good hope is Don Julio Blanco-based and topped with Fanta Grape foam. Or try the one with the paintbrush (you get a glitter paintbrush and swirl it in your drink to change the colour). It's just one of the outrageously inventive cocktails at fable.
Winter special: Happy hour cocktails
Price: From R75
Availability: 5pm - 7pm on Thursday, 4pm - 7pm on Friday and Saturday, all day Sunday
Corner Bree Street & Wale Street | City Centre | @fablecpt | Image: fable
This WhatsApp group sends you weekly accommodation specials. It’s from Conservio, a booking platform that focuses on feel-good getaways in nature. They have conscious stays like houseboats, where you sleep right in the middle of a river, and geodesic stardomes in an eco mountain reserve. See how to join Conservio’s WhatsApp group and get up to 55% off nature stays.
Winter special: Weekly specials, some up to 55% off
Price: Varies depending on accommodation & special
Availability: All year
Various locations in South Africa | @conservio | Image: Conservio
Pear Tree has a three-course meat, chicken and sushi and wine pairing, and a vegan offering too. There’s pink falafel tacos, rice balls with bean salsa, and cauli nuggets with oriental dressing. Paired with Lomond Syrah, Pear Tree Chenin, and 7 Springs Pinot Noir, each with bold notes to match the dish. See more must-try dishes at the inventive Pear Tree.
Winter treat: Food and wine pairing mat
Price: R170
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 9pm
Marine Drive | Hermanus | @peartreehermanus | Image: Pear Tree
Every day after 3pm, you can visit the Aquarium at a special discount. There’s so much to rediscover about this magical place, like Africa’s only above-ground kelp habitat, or the Jelly Gallery with jellies so rare they don’t have scientific names yet. This is everything at the Two Oceans Aquarium that you might not have known about.
Winter special: After 3pm special
Price: R200 for adults (usually R265); R147 for children 14 to 17 and pensioners (usually R195); R90 for children 4 to 13 (usually 120)
Availability: All year
Dock Road | V&A Waterfront | Cape Town | @2OceansAquarium | Image: Two Oceans Aquarium
Char’d Grill’s famous meat appreciation platter has three different steak cuts – one unusual cut, like a caveman rib or skirt, and two common cuts like sirloin or ribeye. You get both dry and wet-aged cuts, as well as marrow bone, snails, garlic bread, mac and cheese balls, and onion rings. It's the ultimate meat feast at Char’d Grill & Wine Bar.
Winter treat: Meat appreciation platter for two
Price: R395
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 11:30am to 10:30pm
Shop 4 | Hermanus Waterfront | @chardhermanus | Image: Char’d Grill & Wine Bar
Winter means more cosy nights in. Cuddling, watching Netflix, and sometimes more. The Engrave Slave’s anime condoms (think Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z and Demon Slayer) are proudly made in Cape Town and even come with flavoured lubricants. They make for a cheeky, and actually useful, gag gift for your friends.
Winter product: Anime condoms
Price: R20 per condom
Buy it: Buy in store or on The Engrave Slave’s website
26 Salisbury Road | Kenilworth | @the_engrave_slave | Image: The Engrave Slave
Spier is hosting soup and wine pairings in their tasting room. There’s a white bean and truffle soup paired with Creative Block 5 2021; charred tomato with a parmesan toastie and Seaward Chardonnay 2024, and pumpkin velouté with goat’s cheese foam and 21 Gables Pinotage 2020. See 21 more things to do at Spier.
Winter special: Soup and wine pairing
Price: R180
Availability: Until 30 September 2025
R310 Baden Powell Drive | Stellenbosch | @spierwinefarm | Image: Spier Wine Farm
Bold prints, bright colours, inclusive sizes, and funky designs. Yep, that’s Me&B. An iconic mother-daughter clothing brand that’s all about making fashion accessible and fun for every type of body. Their winter jumpers are fluffy, made from 100% acrylic for a super soft feel, and come in sizes XS to XXXL.
Winter product: Size-inclusive jumpers
Price: From R800
Buy it: Me&B’s website
Claremont, Woodstock & Stellenbosch | @me_and_b | Image: Me&B
On Thursdays the classy cocktail lounge Harrington’s becomes all about tacos and tequila. There’s 2-for-1 tacos (chicken, steak, fish or veg), and when you order any main meal, you can get bottomless margaritas. Look out for when the staff wear sombreros: Avion and Olmeca tequila shots are half price.
Winter special: Tacos, tunes and tequila Thursdays
Price: Tacos from R65, bottomless margaritas for R200 when you order a main
Availability: Every Thursday
61b Harrington Street | Cape Town | @harringtonsct | Image: Harrington Street
Because South Africans love to braai, even in winter. Donkey Long Tongs are extra-long, handmade tongs designed for open-fire cooking and braais. Braai masters will love that it has food-grade stainless steel, oak handles, and even a built-in bottle opener.
Winter product: Braai tongs
Price: R900
Buy it: Donkey Long Tong’s website
48 Marine Drive Service Road | Paarden Eiland | @donkeylongtong | Image: Donkey Long Tong
This rock ‘n roll brewery has half-price burgers every Monday. There’s options like the chicken zinger or sauce burger, with sides like triple-cooked fries, Bavarian potato salad, or a pretzel with mustard mayo. You could also get a free pint or two of Woodstock Brewery lager if you try one of the other food specials at Woodstock Brewery.
Winter special: Half-price burgers every Monday
Price: From R55
Availability: All year
252 Albert Road | Woodstock | @woodstockbrewery | Image: Woodstock Brewery
Cards for Conversation is a card game with deep questions that help you connect, like “what moment in your life do you think shaped you the most?” and “what did your parents teach you about love?” It’s lovely for dinner parties or relaxed nights in with your partner (they have a Couples Edition).
Winter product: Card game
Price: R499
Buy it: Cards for Conversation’s website
Various stores in Cape Town | @cardsforconversation | Image: Cards for Conversation
This coffee shop is loved for its unpretentious energy and is a go-to for promenade runners and dog walkers. We love the brunch special, where you can get eggs benedict and a cappuccino for R99. Plus, it’s won Best Coffee in Cape Town for three years, thanks to the signature Isabella blend. It's why people keep coming back to mischu.
Winter special: Eggs benedict and a cappuccino
Price: R99
Availability: Daily, available from 6.45am to 3pm
85A Regent Road | Sea Point | @mischucoffee | Image: mischu
Whale watching starts late June in Hermanus, so this is the best time to stay at Little Villa. It’s a family-friendly house with eight bedrooms (takes up to 12 adults and/or children), an outdoor pool, braai and picnic area and more. Bookings can be made by emailing @nicolette@ideascartel.com.
Winter special: 36% off group bookings
Price: R16 000 per night (R2 000 per night for eight people)
Availability: Ends 31 August 2025
12 Sunnybrae Crescent | Hermanus | @littlevillahermanus | Image: Little Villa
Yip, that’s what HintHunt’s Marble escape room is being called. It took four years to complete, was worked on by set designers from internationally-renowned TV shows, and has loads of easter eggs for Marvel fans. Our team tried it and HintHunt’s newest escape game feels just like stepping into an Avengers movie.
Winter treat: Marble escape room
Price: R395 on weekdays, R445 per person on weekends
Opening hours: Monday - Thursday, 10am to 7pm; Friday and Saturday, 10am to 8.30pm; Sunday, 10am to 5.30pm
Watershed | 17 Dock Road | Cape Town | @hinthuntafrica | Image: HintHunt
Serendipity Creamery’s flapjacks are warm, melt-in-your-mouth stacks topped with white chocolate and berries or a chocolate-and-Oreo combo. This sweet treat is new to their halaal menu. There are savoury options too like Philly cheese steak bagels.
Winter treat: Drip flapjacks
Price: R110
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 9am - 6:30pm; Friday to Sunday, 9am - 7pm
Belvedere Square | Corner Keurboom & Belvedere Roads | Claremont | @serendipitycreamery_cpt | Image: Serendipity Creamery
Cape Town’s newest wine bar, which is hidden behind a bookshelf on Long Street, spotlights black-owned wineries and wine makers. The tastings include six wines, changing with what they have in stock, and are available on weekdays from 1pm to 6pm (on Mondays they’re available until closing).
Winter treat: Wine tastings
Price: R390
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 1pm - 2am
188 Long Street | City Centre | @nkula_cpt | Image: Nkula Cocktail & Wine Boutique
Earth Water Fire Pottery’s whimsical mugs are just too cute. They come in various designs: Cats, whales, adorable mushrooms, and even Hobbit houses. Each is one-of-a-kind and great for your morning cuppa or evening hot chocolate.
Winter product: Nature and fantasy-inspired handmade mugs
Price: R450
Buy it: Order via Earth Water Fire’s Instagram
Online store | @earthwaterfirepottery | Image: Earth Water Fire Pottery
The new Museum of Illusions is it on social media right now for trippy “what the heck” moments. There are over 50 installations. Think optical illusions, photo ops, and up to 90 minutes of just plain trickery. The family bundle (two adults and two children’s tickets) works out to 15% off.
Winter special: Family ticket bundle
Price: R770, book via the Museum of Illusions website
Availability: All year
10 Kloof Street | Gardens | @museumofillusions_capetown | Image: Museum of Illusions Cape Town
Yes, there are plenty of smashburger places in Cape Town, but this is the only one that serves chicken smashburgers. Their R99 Le Chicken special comes with a burger, fries and a drink. Double chicken patty, cheddar, pickles, Le sauce and a house bun? Say less.
Winter special: Le Chicken & fries
Price: R99
Availability: Every day while stocks last
Quarter Lifestyle Village | 8 Jarvis Street | De Waterkant | @lepickle_za | Image: Le Pickle
Girls' night just got an upgrade at Baikt Ceramics. Workshops run on Saturdays from 6pm to 7.30pm. All the clay, chaos and catharsis for R390, which includes all materials, a guided session, firing, glazing, and a carafe of red or white wine.
Winter special: Girls' night clay workshop
Price: R390pp
Availability: All year
7 Beckham Street | Gardens | @baikt_ceramics | Image: Baikt Ceramics
Vocap is a local headwear brand that’s built on a love for South African gees. Their beanies have typical Capetonian slang like “eish”, “howzit” and “bliksem”. Our favourite? “Vol kak”. They even have beanies for kids, although we suggest something more polite, like “be lekker”.
Winter product: Beanies
Price: From R180
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Online store | @vocap_sa | Image: Vocap
Parents, this one’s for you. Rush’s weekday special lets kids jump non-stop for R215. A regular two-hour session usually costs R260, so this deal’s a steal if they’re bouncing all day. If you need to work while they play, you can set up at one of their charging stations and work remotely while they tire themselves out. A win is a win.
Winter special: All-day bounce pass
Price: R215
Availability: Valid until 25 July 2025
25 Stegman Road | Claremont | @rushclaremont | Image: Rush Extreme
Retro Club Thrift’s quarter zips come in thick and lightweight options, ideal for layering or keeping warm on the move. They’re easy to wear for active days, running errands, or walks around the city. Each is made from sherpa or 100% cotton corduroy, crafted using mostly dead-stock fabric sourced in Cape Town.
Winter product: Quarter zip jackets
Price: From R800
Buy it: Retro Club Thrift’s website
Various locations and online store | @retro.club.thrift | Image: Retro Club Thrift
Every Thursday at 6pm, Cellar Collective hosts free wine tastings where you can try six different wines. They’ve got a big collection with labels like Bellevue, Beaumont, and Keermont. And the food? Rave reviews. It’s mostly small plates like oysters, dumplings, and fish carpaccio.
Winter special: Wine tasting
Price: Free
Availability: Every Thursday from 6pm until further notice
111 Sir Lowry Road | Foreshore | @cellarcollective_winebar | Image: Cellar Collective Wine Bar
This traditional drink, sold by street vendors in Turkey, is available at Saray, a Turkish eatery in the V&A Waterfront. Sahlep is a warm, creamy, cinnamon drink. The main ingredient, sahlep powder, is made from the dried roots of wild orchids. Other winter favourites to try at Saray include elma cay (apple tea) and kahve (Turkish coffee that comes with Turkish delight).
Winter treat: Turkish warm drinks
Price: R18 - R40
Opening hours: Sunday - Thursday; 11am to 11pm; Friday and Saturday, 11am to 11.30pm
Shop G01 Clocktower Building | V&A Waterfront | @saray_restaurant_ct | Image: Saray
In case the name didn’t give it away, this bistro and bar is delightfully Wes Anderson-inspired with dusky pink ceilings, soft blue walls, and a dramatic Grand Budapest Hotel mural. The three-course winter special includes mussels, steak frites, crème brûlée, and more.
Winter special: Three-course winter special (lunch or dinner)
Price: R395
Availability: Valid until 31 August 2025
55 Shortmarket Street | City Centre | @wesbistrobar | Image: The Wes Bistro & Bar
We bet you’ve never had gluhwein like this before. Mead is the world’s oldest alcoholic drink, created by the Khoi San and made popular in TV series like Game of Thrones. Cape Town Meadery’s mead gluhwein is sweet and infused with traditional spices and citrus. You just need to heat it gently on the stove.
Winter product: Mead gluhwein box
Price: R300 for a 3L box
Buy it: Cape Town Meadery’s website
27 7th Avenue | The Old Timber Yard | Maitland | Contact details | Image: Cape Town Meadery
At Radisson Cape Town Foreshore’s signature restaurant, this classic dessert is decadent and comes with espresso, chocolate and raspberry ice cream. The rest of the menu is hearty and comforting with lamb ragu pasta, hake puttanesca, and more Italian must-tries at Filini restaurant.
Winter treat: Triple chocolate tiramisu
Price: R85
Opening hours: Daily, 6.30am to 10pm
29 Heerengracht Street | Foreshore | @radissonhotelcapetown | Image: Radisson Cape Town Foreshore
At the Shimansky showroom, you get to don a uniform and polish a real diamond in their workshop. Your guide will help you transform a rough diamond into a polished gem using a polishing machine and a magnifying glass. You can also adorn yourself in diamond jewellery and do a craft gin tasting at the Shimansky Diamond Experience.
Winter treat: Diamond Rockwell Experience
Price: Free to R1 900pp for the full diamond experience
Opening hours: Daily, 9am to 6.30pm
Corner of Prestwich & Alfred Streets | Green Point | @shimanskyjewellery | Image: Shimansky
Lekker Dutch’s poffertjes, a traditional Dutch dessert, are a must-try. These mini pancakes are fluffy and dusted with icing sugar. For that lekker layer of comfort, you can add toppings like crushed Oreo, speculaas (spiced shortcrust biscuit), or caramel fudge.
Winter treat: Poffertjes
Price: R49
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 12 pm - 10 pm
61 Plein Street | Stellenbosch Central | Stellenbosch | @lekkerdutch | Image: Lekker Dutch
If you’re a pensioner, you get 10% off any spa treatment at Roodebloem Spa. The discount is available every day of the week, just present a valid pensioner’s card. Their treatment menu includes a variety of massages, from hot stone to aromatherapy, and purifying and cellular regeneration facial treatments.
Winter special: 10% pensioners discount on any treatment
Price: Treatments from R350
Availability: All year
51 Roodebloem Road | Woodstock | @51_onroodebloem | Image: Unsplash
Obi is that trustworthy Japanese gem and has been a favourite for over eight years. They’re serving a Bento Box lunch that’s an absolute steal: Miso soup, four prawn California rolls, four vegetable tempura, one salmon rose, salmon nigiri and tuna nigiri.
Winter special: Bento Box lunch deal
Price: R100
Availability: Everyday from 12pm - 2pm, all year
Shop 2 | 14 Long Street | City Centre | @obirestaurant | Image: Obi Restaurant
We can still eat ice cream in winter, right? Mr Smalls’s waffle fries, long thin strips of waffles, are topped with caramel, chocolate sauce and ice cream (the half portion is huge). You’ll feel like a kid in a candy store because their shelves are stocked with all sorts of imported goodies.
Winter treat: Half-portion waffle fries
Price: R70
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday & Sunday, 9 am - 10 pm; Friday, 9 am - 12 pm & 2 pm - 10:30 pm; Saturday, 9 am - 10:30 pm
87 Belgravia Road | Athlone | @mr_smalls_southafrica | Image: Mr Smalls ZA
Little Stream is one of the southern suburbs’ favourite family eateries. You can order a farmhouse breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms and grilled tomato on a croissant) and get a free rise and shine breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon and a fried tomato). Make sure to visit the gardens with giant whimsical statues for kids to explore at Little Stream.
Winter special: Free rise and shine breakfast with a farmhouse breakfast
Price: R165
Availability: Valid until 31 August 2025
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Klein Constantia Road | Hope of Constantia | @littlestreamconstantia | Image: Foodblog Cape Town
Hot cross bun, sticky naartjie and rooibos pinotage are just some of the flavours you can taste at Enmasse’s tea café. You pick any four teas to try, and you can browse the cute teapots and timers at their shop afterwards. It’s in the V&A Watershed by HintHunt and Playdate; just use the Timeout Market entrance.
Winter special: Tea tasting
Price: Free
Availability: All year
123 Hope Street | Gardens | V&A Watershed | @enmassetea | Image: Unsplash
Revved Up Café’s hot chocolate tasting was such a hit last winter, they’ve brought it back with four new flavours: White chocolate truffle, cherry white chocolate, unicorn fluff, and Aero Peppermint. Each is paired with a biscuit, and you can explore the impressive motorbike display afterwards.
Winter special: Hot chocolate tasting and cookie pairing
Price: R109
Availability: Daily until further notice
112 Buitengracht Street | City Centre | @revvedupcafe | Image: Revved Up Cafe
The Grotto Spa in Gardens has a special that includes a hot drink, steamy Rasul (heat, steam, and mud treatment to cleanse the skin), hot stone massage, and access to all spa facilities. There are even sleeping pods. The voucher is valid for three years and can be redeemed for any treatment.
Winter special: Drink, rasul, hot stone massage, and access to all spa facilities
Price: R1 500pp
Availability: Treatments redeemable until 31 August 2025
The Capital 15 on Orange | Gardens | @thegrottospa | Image: The Grotto Spa
Everyone’s skin gets dry in winter. Swiitch beauty’s winter set has a hydrating mist, water gel serum, barrier-repair sleeping mask, and lip salve. It’s a simple routine to keep skin soft and moisturised. We love that founder Rabia Ghoor was only 14 when she started swiitch beauty, and it's now being sold around the world.
Winter product: Winter skin set
Price: R699
Buy it: Swiitch beauty’s website
Online store or The EGG Store at Cavendish | @swiitchbeauty | Image: Swiitch Beauty
Our Secret Season campaign runs for the entire month of July. We do it to support brilliant small and local businesses in what’s often their toughest season, and to bring you joy during the winter months. There’s daily prizes, treats and reader specials. Hand-picked by us. See how you can win with (y)our Secret Season:
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