Photograph: Gabi Zietsman
Want to party with the students, hippies and Southern Suburbians who prefer walking to their favourite bar? Cape Town’s Observatory is one of the most central neighbourhoods in the city, home to academics and activists and a big thrifting scene. I have lived a large part of my Cape Town life here, and once you’ve done that, it can be hard to leave.
You’ll always be able to find a special or three, and while driving its small roads and confusing one-ways requires a deft hand and tiny car, on foot you can easily spend an entire day in Observatory – grab good coffee in the morning, browse the thrift stores, snack at a cafe for lunch, listen to old-school music or get a tattoo in the afternoon and start your evening with a draught beer before finding a pizza or Asian fusion cuisine to fill up the stomach. If you’re looking for a late night on the weekend, you’re bound to find a DJ or band to entertain you into the wee hours of the morning. That’s what Observatory is all about!..