Attending a wedding in Cape Town, South Africa, the other guests and I explored the city’s many attractions. Several people in our group also used the trip to meet clients and business partners they had not seen in person before.
© RON BERNTHAL
The groom is from the Johannesburg region, roughly a two-hour flight from Cape Town, so many of his friends and family traveled from there. The bride’s family flew from Brussels, where they live, and the couple, Marcel and Birgit, along with friends from the New York area, came from the United States. Everyone arrived several days ahead of the ceremony, giving the group time to enjoy the city.
Known as the Mother City, Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city, with a cultural history that spans more than 300 years. My last visit dated back to 1989, a year before Nelson Mandela’s release from Robben Island, and the city has changed considerably since then.
New hotels and restaurants have opened, the Waterfront district has been revitalized, and the Cape Town International Convention Centre, which opened in 2003, helped attract many international visitors. While some South African cities have struggled economically during the country’s political transition, Cape Town’s dramatic setting on the southern tip of Africa remains a major draw for both leisure and business travelers.
The wedding party found plenty to do in and around the city. Many guests enjoyed the redeveloped V&A Waterfront, named after two harbor basins created between the late 1800s and early 1920s—one honoring Queen Victoria and the other her son, Prince Alfred. At the Waterfront the group admired the restored red-and-white clock tower from 1882, took a spin on the Cape Wheel with its 30 enclosed, air-conditioned cabins rising about 141 feet, and visited Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa), which opened in 2017. Much of the Waterfront’s commercial development has happened since 1988.
Several guests took the ferry to Robben Island and toured the Robben Island Museum, an experience that offers historical perspective and was recognized in the Leading Tourist Attraction category at the World Travel Awards in 2023.
HOTOS: © ANNA OM | DREAMSTIME.COM
Other guests, some with children, took bus tours or drove rental cars to scenic spots like the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of the Cape Peninsula, about a 1.5-hour drive. Another group rented a van and drove to Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town, roughly 45 minutes from the city, to see the African penguin colony—the only penguins native to the African continent. Boulders Beach is part of Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area and tends to be uncrowded on weekdays, much to the delight of children who enjoy watching the penguins dart across the sand.
A ride on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway was a highlight for many. The five-minute ascent takes visitors up to Table Mountain’s summit at about 3,563 feet above sea level, where sweeping views of the city and coastline await.
The wedding itself was held at a winery near the charming town of Stellenbosch, about 30 miles (45 minutes) from Cape Town. South Africa has 22 official wine regions, and the Stellenbosch area, with its rolling vineyards, often reminds visitors of California’s Napa Valley. Its proximity to Cape Town made it easy for guests to spend extra time exploring Stellenbosch’s shops, cafés, restaurants and the historic Stellenbosch University campus, as well as enjoying wine tastings.
For guests who wanted to combine work with pleasure, meeting local startup founders was straightforward. Cape Town hosts around 225 emerging companies—the most of any South African city and second only to Lagos in Africa. In recent years the city has produced several notable startups and a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, attracting interest from visitors and investors alike.
Overall, Marcel and Birgit’s destination wedding in Cape Town was a success, and their friends and family left with fond memories of a city that proved to be an excellent host.
LODGING
AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Opened in 2018, this stylish 188-room hotel offers a fitness center, outdoor pool, bar, 24-hour front desk, four meeting rooms and a daily buffet breakfast at AC Restaurant. It sits within walking distance of the Cape Town International Convention Centre and the V&A Waterfront.
Dockrail Road, Foreshore, Cape Town
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Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town
This iconic sugar-pink, 198-room luxury hotel has welcomed guests since 1899. Located in the upscale Gardens neighborhood near Kloof and Bree streets, it is known for high tea and an intimate Chef’s Table dining experience.
76 Orange St., Gardens, Cape Town
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The Silo Hotel
Opened in 2017 inside a restored silo building, the Silo Hotel occupies upper floors above Zeitz MOCAA. The 28-room hotel features floor-to-ceiling convex windows with views of the waterfront and Table Mountain, and rooms display artworks from the owner’s collection.
Silo Square, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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DINING
Chefs Warehouse
Now located in the historic Bailey Building, Chef Liam Tomlin’s restaurant serves inventive tapas-style dishes such as salt-and-pepper squid with chili and pineapple, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, and a signature risotto.
The Bailey, 91 Bree St., Cape Town
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Marco’s African Place
A 220-seat venue popular with locals and visitors, Marco’s offers African and Mediterranean dishes with live music. Menu highlights include kudu steak with mushroom sauce, oxtail curry, and sweet desserts like Mama’s brandy tart.
15 Rose Lane, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town
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The Nines
A rooftop restaurant with a large deck and ocean views, The Nines serves contemporary takes on South African classics—think spatchcock roast chicken, lamb loin cutlets, grilled local shellfish, plus cocktails and desserts.
Ninth Floor, Station House, 19 Kloof Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
$$–$$$
INFO ON THE GO
Cape Town International Airport handles international and domestic flights and sits about 12 miles from the V&A Waterfront, roughly a 20-minute drive along well-maintained highways. There are limited nonstop U.S. flights to Cape Town, so many travelers connect through Johannesburg on a short domestic flight. Taxi fares from the airport to the Waterfront or Convention Centre typically range from about $13–16, and rideshare services such as Uber and Bolt operate in the city. Major car rental companies are located at the airport’s Transport Plaza and Central Terminal building, accessible via pedestrian tunnels. Travelers familiar with Cape Town’s public transport system may opt for bus and rail connections to reach their destinations.