Winter date ideas for couples, families and friends

Free arcade bar, famous Cape Malay cooking class, & more

Last updated: Monday, 13 October 2025 

Winter is the perfect weather for cosy dates, like a sexy night out at a hidden speakeasy or wine tasting in a cave. And dates don’t always have to be romantic. Your friends will love Cape Town’s first arcade bar with free games, and kids can make their own chocolate bars at an artisanal chocolate store.

SLEEPOVER AT THE ICONIC AQUARIUM  

Did you know you can have a family sleepover at the aquarium? These take place every quarter, with a puppet show, craft activity, a movie, and hot chocolate station. You also receive a free welcome drink and buffet breakfast. Make sure to bring a picnic supper, your own mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, and a change of clothes. Sleepovers are exclusive to members. See more details on memberships and other specials at the Two Oceans Aquarium. 

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 6pm, Saturday + Sunday, 9am - 6pm
Cost of membership: R630 for adults, R488 for teens, pensioners and students, R310 for kids aged four to 13

Dock Road | V&A Waterfront | aquarium@aquarium.co.za | @2OceansAquarium | Image: Two Oceans Aquarium

FAMOUS CAPE MALAY COOKING CLASS  

If you’ve watched Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix, you might know of this cooking class. Faeeza hosts Cape Malay cooking classes in her Bo-Kaap home. You’ll learn how to make things like samoosas, chilli bites, bobotie and curry. More famous guests at Faeeza’s Home Kitchen include Roger Federer, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; Saturday, 9am to 4pm
Cost: From R550 per person

Chiappini Lane | Bo-Kaap | Cape Town | @faeezashomekitchen | Image: Faeeza’s Home Kitchen

MAKE HANDCASTS WITH A FRIEND OR PARTNER

This new activity, which has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, is the first of its kind in Cape Town. At 2handsy you and a loved one can create your own hand castings. All the materials you’ll need are included in your ticket. The venue changes weekly and there’s also food, games and drinks vouchers included at 2handsy. 

Hours: Saturdays & Sundays, from 12pm
Cost: Packages from R395 for adults and R195 for kids (under 12)

Various locations | @2handsyexperience | Image: 2handsy

MAKE YOUR OWN CHOC BARS 

It’s the artisanal chocolate shop that’s gone viral online. Rapt is a whimsical wonderland where you can make your own box of handmade “bon bombs”, try nitrogen ice cream or sip a hot chocolate with bruleed marshmallows. Kids will love the build-a-bar station (with fillings like nuts, sweet caramel, candy and dried cranberries) at Rapt on Buitenkant Street. 

Hours: Monday, 9am to 6pm; Tuesday to Saturday; 9am to 9pm; Sunday, 9am to 4pm
Cost: Varies

39 Buitenkant Street | Cape Town City Centre | Cape Town | @raptindulgence | Image: Lindsey Appolis

FREE CLASSIC ARCADE GAMES 

Cape Town’s first bar arcade is great for an affordable date. There’s both classic arcade games and gaming consoles on display. You can play childhood favourites like Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, Terminator and they’re free to play when you buy a drink. There’s also a soda gun on tap and popcorn. Plus it’s open till 2am so you can enjoy a late night at Barcadia. 

Hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays, 1pm to 2am
Cost: Free to play when you buy a drink

62 Hout Street | Cape Town | @barcadiaza | Image: Barcadia

SEXY NIGHT OUT AT A SECRET BAR

This hidden speakeasy was once a Victorian warehouse. Inspired by the USA’s prohibition era, there’s jazz playing and cosy mood lighting. While Art of Duplicity was initially only disclosed through word of mouth, you can now make a booking. Each booking comes with a password, prompts and the address.

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 6pm to 2am
Cost: Varies 

Hidden location | @art.of.duplicity | Image: Art of Duplicity

TASTE 130+ TEAS IN PLUMSTEAD 

A tea tasting at Nigiro Teacafe includes an introduction to the various teas and their origins, and a discussion on tea culture. There’s over 130 flavours to try like Piña Colada, French Kisses, and Lady Grey. There’s also food paired with tea, like a honeybush poached egg crêpe with a liquorice-coco herbal infusion, at Nigiro Teacafe. 

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm; Saturday, 9am to 3pm; Sunday, 9am to 2pm
Cost: R150pp

71 Gabriel Road | Plumstead | @nigiroteacafe | Image: Nigiro Teacafe

DRINK WINE IN A QUIRKY, COSY CAVE

There’s a 300-year-old boutique winery in Durbanville that has 6 unique caves where you can taste wine exclusively with the apple of your eye. Lean into each other in The Kitchen or Versaille nook and listen to the stories of the farm’s vines and wines. Plus, you can have lunch, walk its trails, and picnic at Klein Roosboom.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm; Friday to Sunday, 10am to 6.30pm
Cost: Tastings from R90

Klein Roosboom | Durbanville | @kleinroosboom | Image: Klein Roosboom

CUDDLE IN A BOOK NOOK  

Liberty Books, in Elgin, offers 3 unique bookstore experiences, but it is the main bookstore romantics will be drawn to. It’s in a little house next to Peregrine Farmstall, it’s warm, colourful and has arch windows and tiger-print wallpaper. It curates bespoke libraries that will have you browsing for hours. The best part? There’s a cosy (and super Instagrammable) reading nook, the perfect spot to snuggle up together and read.

Hours: Daily, 8am to 5pm
Cost: Free entry, book costs vary

Liberty Books | Grabouw | @libertybooksza | Image: Tasneem Kadwa

By Sarah Williams

---

MORE WAYS TO ENJOY WINTER

These are 40 of our favourite specials, treats and lekker local products to make your winter

We’ve found over 25 ways to spend a rainy day.  

Discover your city with our guide to week(end) activities.

---

Loved discovering this?  Make sure you get our popular weekly newsletter. Follow and like us on Twitter ❤ Facebook ❤ LinkedIn ❤ Instagram ❤ Pinterest for updates.