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Cape Town’s East City Ranked 19th Coolest Neighbourhood in the World!

Cape Town CBD is totally vibing with one of the coolest neighborhoods on the planet!

The East City Precinct has scored a hip 19 on the 2024 cultural chart! This dynamic neighbourhood is a magnet for local artists and ambitious digital nomads and hipsters “working” from one of the many trendy co-working spaces in the area.

What makes a neighbourhood cool?

Time Out Magazine‘s criteria of a cool neighbourhood reads: “Craft breweries, natty wine bars and street art are well and good, but the world’s best, most exciting and downright fun neighbourhoods are much more than identikit ‘hipster hubs’. They’re places that reflect the very best of their cities – its culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink – all condensed in one vibey, walkable district.

Fine Art & Cape Culture

Rich with history and creativity, the East City serves as a melting pot where traditional Cape culture intertwines with contemporary art.

District Six Museum

Where history meets hilarity in a delightful mash-up of culture and chaos! Here, you’ll discover the tales of a vibrant community that once thrived amidst the drumbeats of life, only to be disrupted faster than you can say “gentrification!”

StateoftheART Gallery

A whirlpool of contemporary creativity and modern art awaits at StateoftheART on Buitenkant street. Go for the art, stay for some coffee and cake!

KAT KULT KOLLEKSIE

If you are a cat person with a coffee and cookie addiction, get ready to embark on a unique urban safari by donning your cat eyes for the KAT KULT KOLLEKSIE showcase, featuring an extraordinary collection of cat-centric art and decor that is arguably the most extensive and enchanting in Cape Town—and perhaps all of South Africa. The exotic exhibition features over 200 cat-themed creations and provides a unique opportunity to meet and mingle with three real indoor Mother City Cats, all while sipping and snacking on drinks and treats from the cat-curated menu. Hiding in the attic of one of the oldest and historic buildings on Buitenkant street, the eccentric feline attraction is rumoured to welcome cats of all kinds around the clock while allowing humans who fancy felines to visit by appointment only.

Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch

TRUTH COFFEE

Start your day in East City with a caffeine fix at Truth Coffee, where the single-origin beans are so rich and flavorful, they start screaming at the sight of sugar. Nestled in a steampunk wonderland, you’ll feel like you’ve wandered into an alternate universe where coffee is king and the only thing more roasted than the beans is your sense of humour.

George’s Coffee

COFFΣΣ OF THΣ GODS, crafted with lots of love for those on the run.

New York Bagels

Rise to the occasion, get in line and join the que to snag a hole-y bagel from New York Bagels on Harrington Street.

Charly’s Bakery

Grab a slice of cake or quirky cupcake from Charly’s Bakery to satisfy your sweet tooth and blow your diet!

Electric

Where the healthy breakfast and brunch bowl tastes so good, it will make you forget all about last night’s breakdancing attempts at Harringtons Cocktail Lounge.

Downtown Ramen

Scoop up the comforting flavors of shoyu ramen and fluffy bao at Downtown Ramen.

Mamacitas

TEQUILA! The end.

Pizzasaurus

A Slice for Everyone! At Pizzasaurus, every bite is a journey back to a simpler, more joyous time

Fancy Food & Feasts

Mavericks

If you find yourself battling late-night munchies (and horny) in the wee hours of the morning, make your way to Mavericks, where the kitchen stay open till 3:30 a.m. Mavericks is the only restaurant of its calibre serving fine food (and juicy thighs) at this hour in the city.

The Cousins Trattoria

Grab a fork, set aside your carb worries, and create unforgettable memories at one of Cape Town’s historic Italian gems. Claiming to serve the only true homemade pasta in town, the proof is on the plate served by one of the dashing Cousins.

Galjoen

For a fancy feast that’ll have you sending home postcards from Cape Town, with love, book a seat at Galjoen for sustainable seafood extravaganza where the only thing fresher than the fish is the wit of our waitstaff!

Belly of The Beast

If meat is more your thing, then the Belly of The Beast is where you’ll meet your tribe.

Bustling Bars

Tommy’s Chop Shop

Sip on the finest whiskies, cocktails, and local beers at Tommy’s Chop Shop, because hey, hydration is key!

SurfaRosa

Ranked as one of Cape Town’s most beloved dive bars, SurfaRosa is the place where everybody should know your name…or else you’re LAME!

Dust & Dynamite

Swing by Cape Town’s premier country and western saloon, where you might just discover some local diamonds in the rough or at least a few glittery folks who’ve had one too many cocktails and think they’re all stars!

Hemp Hotel

Unwind in style at the tallest building and apart-hotel made out of Hemp in the world. The Neighbourgood on 84 Harrington is the perfect spot to cool down and rest your head after a fun-filled day in the East City.

The eateries and attractions mentioned above merely scratch the surface of what awaits visitors to East City. Whether through striking visual art, engaging performances, or culinary delights, East City invites you to immerse yourself in a space where creativity thrives and cultural dialogue flourishes.

Top 20 Coolest Neighbourhoods On Planet Earth In 2024

1. Notre-Dame-du-Mont – Marseille, France

2. Mers Sultan – Casablanca, Morocco

3. Pererenan – Bali, Indonesia

4. Seongsu-dong – Seoul, South Korea

5. Kerns – Portland, USA

6. Stokes Croft and St Paul’s – Bristol, UK

7. Chippendale – Sydney, Australia

8. Príncipe Real – Lisbon, Portugal

9. Glória – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

10. Windsor – Melbourne, Australia

11. Zabłocie – Kraków, Poland

12. Little River – Miami, USA

13. Saint-Henri – Montreal, Canada

14. Punavuori – Helsinki, Finland

15. Gakugeidaigaku – Tokyo, Japan

16. Thao Dien – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

17. Flatbush – New York City, USA

18. Friedrichshain – Berlin, Germany

19. East City – Cape Town, South Africa

20. Belleville – Paris, France

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