Secret spots + things to do in the Western Cape

Secret forest cafés, wine bars behind bookshelves & more

Last updated: Monday, 25 August 2025

Every city and small town has its best-kept secrets, some hiding in plain sight and just around the corner. From a bar behind a bookcase and a designer boutique with a secret location, to undiscovered free tours, here’s our (constantly growing) selection of hidden gems in the Western Cape.

WORKSHOPS IN A FLORAL PLAYGROUND 

The Flower Café offers relaxing, creative, and connection-focused workshops with flowers, teaching you how to create fairy-like terrariums, silk flower crowns, kids' magic gardens, flower dreamcatchers, and more. You’ll find decadent cakes and other bites here, too. Book ahead.

Hours: Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm; Saturdays 9am - 1pm

4 Milner Street | Paarden Eiland | Flower Cafe | Image: Flower Cafe

SECRET MOROCCAN-FEEL DESIGNER BOUTIQUE  

Coast & Koi is a secret boutique that designs and handcrafts silk kimonos and paglamas, luxe athleisure, and artisan accessories and footwear. Moroccan tea and appetisers are served as part of the experience while browsing and chatting to designer and owner Caryn Wilensky-Sherman, who can help curate your look or create a custom design. 

Hours: By appointment only 

Secret location in Sea Point, by appointment only | Coast and Koi | Image: Coast and Koi 

CUDDLES WITH KITTIES 

Cat Heaven is the first cat rescue café in Africa and a proud non-profit. For R30 per hour, visitors are invited to play and cuddle with any of the 22 resident cats. You can buy snacks for them here and feed them (at the manager’s discretion). The café offers indoor and outdoor seating, and a range of cakes, coffees, and sandwiches.             

Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10am - 4:30pm; Saturday 10am - 2pm

35 Bright Street | Somerset West | Cat Heaven | Image: Cat Heaven

SECRET AFRICAN WINE BAR

Nkula is a new, proudly black-owned wine and cocktail bar hidden behind a bookshelf on Long Street. Owner Simbi Nkula has dedicated the wine menu to black-owned South African wines only: A first in Cape Town. Wine tastings (six wines) happen between 1pm - 6pm on all open days, while cocktail tastings (six cocktails) take place on Tuesdays from 1pm - 1:30am.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 1pm - 2am

188A Long Street | Cape Town CBD | @nkula_cpt | Image: Nkula

VINTAGE FINDS FOR GUYS

Located in the CBD’s popular St George's Mall, opposite the new Checkers, the SWIS Vintage Store is filled with high-quality, gently-worn clothes for men and women. It’s pretty unusual to find so much stock for men at a vintage store - browse a variety of jackets, shoes, shirts, and more. 

Hours: Monday - Friday 7am - 5:30pm; Saturday 7am - 4:30pm; Sunday 10am - 4:30pm  

Shop no. 4 | St. George’s Mall | 108 Strand Street 3 | CBD | @Facebook | Image: SWIS Vintage Thrift Store

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN FOR LESS  

Juicy, flavour-packed crispy fried chicken, chicken burgers and saucy wings are exceeding all lekker expectations in Grassy Park. Plus, there’s a weekly special: Grab two crispy chicken burgers for R99 every Wednesday. Or feed the whole crew with the Feast Box for R319.90, which includes 6 tenders, 4 sliders, fries, 6 wings, 2 dips, slaw, and mini garlic bread.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 12pm - 9pm; Friday 12pm - 1pm and 2pm - 10pm; Saturday 10am - 10pm; Sunday 11am - 6pm 

97 5th Avenue | Grassy Park | Casero | Image: Casero

TRADITIONAL DUTCH DELISH

This photogenic Stellenbosch bakery serves up traditional Dutch sweet treats like stroopwafels (two crispy waffle-like cookies sandwiched together with syrup and smothered in your choice of sauces and toppings), poffertjies (super soft, melt-in-your-mouth flapjacks, also with toppings of your choice) and bacon and cheese pannenkoeken (thin pancakes). 

Hours: Monday - Sunday 12pm - 9pm 

61 Plein Street | Simonsplein Centre | Stellenbosch | Lekker Dutch | Image: Lekker Dutch 

FREE SHARK EDU-TOUR - GREAT FOR KIDS

Book ahead for a free tour that’s fun for kids and fascinating to adults, too. At the Save Our Seas Shark Education Centre you can hold huge shark jaw bones, touch small sea creatures in a pool, and interact with 3D displays about sharks and marine life. Make a day of it and visit Dalebrook Beach across the road afterwards.

Hours: Book ahead for specific tour times

28 Main Road | Kalk Bay | SOS Shark Education Centre | Image: SOS Shark Education Centre 

BARGAIN LUNCH IN THE BURBS

Did you know that Polsmoor Prison in Tokai has a restaurant the public can visit? Cheese and tomato toasties come in at just R8.50, alongside affordable, reliably good breakfasts and generous portions of steak, ribs, or fish and chips. The food is cooked and served by low security prisoners and allows them to gain work experience for after their release. 

Hours: Monday - Sunday, 8am - 1pm

Informal Road | Pollsmoor | Tokai | Department of Correctional Services | Image: Natalia Joynt Paizee

PEEP THE PENGUINS

Set next to the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Table View, SANCCOB rescues and rehabilitates African penguins (a critically endangered species) and other seabirds. While volunteering is for adults only, there are tours every hour (11am or 3pm are feeding times). The centre is filled with interesting interactive displays, too. Entry is R60 for adults and R50 for kids aged 6 -12.

Hours: Monday - Sunday, 8am - 5pm

22 Pentz Drive | Table View | SANCCOB | Image: SANCCOB

SWEET PANCAKE DEAL 

Young entrepreneur Taleah Ismail is bringing mouth-watering mini pancake goodness to Rondebosch. Soft, fluffy and smothered in your choice of sauces and toppings, these sweet treats are gaining attention on Instagram. Order through Whatsapp and collect.

Hours: Friday 6pm - 8pm; Saturday 10am - 5pm; Sunday 10am - 12pm 

3 Girvan Road | Rondebosch | @flippinminiscpt | Image: Flippin Minis

HERMANUS’ MOST SPECIAL CAFÉ 

This café was started to challenge stereotypes. It is manned by people who are intellectually challenged, who work there to gain hospitality skills and grow their confidence by chatting with customers and jotting down orders. See how you can support Only Specials café’s mission to empower the intellectually challenged.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm


16 Dirkie Uys Street | Hermanus | @only_specials_cafe | Image: Only Specials

OLD SCHOOL DINER ON ROUTE 62

This retro diner has become legendary for its gourmet milkshakes and antiques. The outside area is adorned with an old Caltex sign, retro petrol pumps, wine barrels and vintage motorcycles, all from an era passed by. There’s home foods like vetkoeks, frankfurters and curries. And lots of other special finds at Diesel & Crème on Route 62. 

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am - 5pm

2 Tennant Street | Barrydale | @dieselandcreme | Image: Diesel & Crème

LATE NIGHT SECRET

It’s a gorgeously-grunge gem tucked away in one of the coolest courtyards, Dunkley Square. It feels like you’re stepping into a scene from Pulp Fiction, with classic movie posters on the walls. Upstairs there's a retro arcade machine and pool table. Find out why locals love the happy hour specials and woodfired pizzas at Roxy Late Night.

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 8am to 2am; Sunday, 11am to 10pm

14 Wandel Street | Gardens | @roxylatenight | Image: Saarah Gierdien

GLASS MUSEUM (IT’S FREE)

Hidden in the winelands at Glenelly Estate is a glass museum with over 600 pieces of glass art from around the world (some from the 1st and 2nd Century). You could see pieces from artists like Salvador Dali and Italian glassblower, Lino Tagliapietra. Plus, there’s a French-style bistro on site. Learn more about one of the largest privately-owned glass collections in the world.

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am - 5pm; Sundays, 10am - 3pm

Ida’s Valley | Lelie Street | Stellenbosch | @glenellyestate | Image: Glenelly Estate

COFFEE & PASTRIES AT A DEAF-RUN CAFE

ILOVECOFFEE is the only coffee brand roasted, packed, brewed and served by members of the Deaf community with 70% of workers being deaf or hard-of-hearing. At the Claremont branch you can enjoy various bites from bagels and quiches to sweet treats like the white chocolate cheesecake. 

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm; Saturday, 8.30am to 2pm

103 Garfield Road | Claremont | @ilovecoffeegroup | Image: ILOVECOFFEE

WINE FARM WITH LAVENDER PICKING 

Canettevallei Lavender and Wine Farm is Stellenbosch’s own little piece of France, with a 3 hectare family farm that’s been around for over 300 years. Here you can pick your own lavender bunches for R50 from June to October, taste exclusive wines from winemakers and buy an assortment of products including cottons, linens and lavender honey, preserves and cordials.

Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10am to 5pm

Stellenboschkloof Road | Stellenbosch | @canettevallei | Image: Canettevallei

SMALL TOWN FARMER’S MARKET

This farmer’s market in the mountains has roosterkoek, homemade kombucha, and handmade dairy products from the area (like butter and cheese) – it’s like a mini Oranjezicht market (except it's not in Cape Town). Piket-Bo-Berg Farmers Market is hosted the last Saturday of every month (except during December).

Hours: Last Saturday of every month, 9am - 12pm

Piketberg | @piketbobergfarmersmarket | Image: Piket-Bo-Berg Farmer’s Market

FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD DELI

This neighbourhood deli in Green Point is easy to miss, but impossible to forget. It’s an ode to olden day corner stores that are driven through community. Cushty Deli has been around since 2018, and quickly became a popular spot among the locals who live around the corner. It’s easy to lounge there all morning, with its fresh pastries, all day breakfasts, coffee, superfood smoothies and harvest-style lunches. It’s fully operational during loadshedding and has free wifi. 

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7am - 5pm; Sunday, 7am - 3pm

6 Street George Road | Green Point | @cushtydeli | Image: Cushty Deli

LITTLE VINTAGE RECORDS STORE

The little door on Long Street that holds a lot of history and a big reputation. It even featured in the Oscar-winning "Searching For Sugar Man" documentary. What does its shelves hold? Disco, boogie, jazz, metal, hundreds of 80s singles, soul, reggae, blues… you name it. You can spend hours browsing through the old records, books, comics and even cassettes at Mabu Vinyl.

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 8am - 4pm

285 Long Street | Gardens | @mabuvinyl | Image: Mabu Vinyl

AVIATION MUSEUM (FREE ENTRY)

It’s like Top Gun in Cape Town. The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum at Satellite Ysterplaat is the second-largest military aviation museum in the country. See varied collection of exhibits covering the full period of the SAAF's existence, including aircrafts, weapons, engines and uniforms. 

Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 7am to 3pm; Saturday, 8.30am to 12pm

Piet Grobler Street | Ysterplaat Airbase | Cape Town | Image: @chloehuttonxx

RUSTIC SCONE SHACK WITH ANIMALS

Homemade jams, pecan nut pie and scones are just some of the treats offered at The Scone Shack. Situated near Cape Point Reserve, this rustic outdoor cafe has animals that roam free. Meet piggies like Rasher or Bacon, and maybe Rooster the chicken will pop by your table while eating your breakfast. The scones are baked in a one-of-a-kind wood burning oven and jams are made in a potjie, with sweet flavours like black plum, pineapple and apple and cinnamon. 

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm; Saturday + Sunday, 8am - 4pm

Lalaphanzi Farm | Plateau Road | Cape Point | @scone_shack | Image: Travelling Gypsy

DESERT PADSTAL WORTH THE STOP

If you’re travelling on the N7, you can’t miss this bright orange padstal just outside Piketberg. Desert Rose Farm Stall is a sweet reminder of days gone by, with its 1950’s diner eatery, old wares and homemade pancakes. Kids can play on the jumping castle and jungle gym while parents enjoy the no-fuss menu with savoury pancakes, saamies and craft beer. Or just pop into the shop and fill up with fresh fruits, snacks and other goodies. 

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7am - 5pm

Corner of N7 & Koringberg turn off | Koringberg | Facebook | Image: Lara van Zyl

COFFEE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

Giant stacks of hay mark the spot at this coffee shop, which is truly situated “tussen niks en nerens” on the R44 between Hermon and Wellington. Morale Coffee To Go has everything from coffee to frozen drinks, breakfast buns and boerie rolls. There are chairs set out where you can enjoy your coffee with a stunning view of the mountains.

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7am - 5pm

R44 between Hermon and Wellington | @moralecoffeetogo | Image: Arne van Rendburg

SMOKEHOUSE IN A HIDDEN VALLEY

Have you ever tasted traditional Texan barbecue? Tucked away outside the Elgin Valley, just past Paul Cluver Wines, is a hidden smokehouse of any meat-lover’s dreams. Hickville Smokehouse serves everything from tacos and nachos to beef brisket and smoked ribs. Enjoy the scenic view of the valley from the veranda, while kids play on jungle gyms and slides. 

Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 10am - 4pm; Saturday + Sunday, 9.30am - 5pm

N2 | Elgin | @hickvillesmokehouse.elgin | Image: Hicksville Smokehouse

FRESHLY-BAKED ROOSTERKOEK  

This unassuming petrol station just off the R27 in Yzerfontein has a little secret in a bright blue container. Roll down your windows, and the smell of freshly baked roosterkoek will be enough to entice you to make it a pit-stop. Route R27 Roosterkoek, a rustic eatery for hungry travellers, has over 16 filling options, from simple butter to boerewors and relish. Get it with a side of moerkoffie (served in a tin cup) or add some fresh biltong to your padkos.

Hours: Monday to Sunday; 8.30am - 5pm

West Coast Road between Darling and Yzerfontein | Facebook | Image: Sarah Jarvis

SECRET CAFE IN A FOREST

Half the fun of the Secret Forest Café is finding it. Hidden in Tokai Forest, this family-run coffee stand welcomes joggers, cyclists and families going for a morning stroll (that are lucky enough to find it, at least). Reward yourself with a cup of coffee and freshly baked croissants or gourmet bagels. Plus, some doggie treats for your furry friends. 

Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 7am - 1pm; Saturday + Sunday, 7am - 3pm

Tokai Forest | Sweet Valley | Cape Town | @thesecretforestcafe | Image: Secret Forest Cafe

ANTIQUE STOOR (SEE FOR FREE)

If you love vintage trinkets and old wares, then you can’t miss this museum in Paarl. There’s two huge sheds that house fascinating collections of old wares, from veteran motors and vintage furniture to old petrol pumps and sewing machines from the 1900s. The coffee shop serves farm-style food, like “ouma se kerrie vetkoek” and moerkoffie – plus there’s a kiddies play area and farm animals that roam the grounds at Toeka Stoor.

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 9am - 4pm

Domaine Brahms Wines | Paarl | 076 914 5714 | @nostalgietoekastoor | Image: Toeka Stoor

HIDDEN CAFE IN A CHURCH

There’s a little coffee shop tucked away inside the entrance of the Central Methodist Mission on Greenmarket Square. Heaven Coffee is something of a haven in the community, with visitors from the CBD, office workers and those who are just curious. There’s one small table located at the foot of the stairs, making for an epic Instagram pic. Grab a coffee and croissant on the go or enjoy the solace of the church on a rainy day.

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7.30am - 5pm

38 Burg Street | Cape Town City Centre | @heavencoffeect | Image: Heaven Coffee

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DISCOVER MORE IN THE WESTERN CAPE

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50 things you need to add to your bucket list.

Check out these new and curious bookstores.

There’s always something new to discover.

Visit this pixie and fairy filled magical village for R40. 

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