Visit Cape Town and Enjoy the Wonders of Bree Street
Whether you’re heading to Cape Town on business, or you’re spending a week in the city on holiday, soaking up the sunshine and taking in the incredible sights, chances are you’ll be searching for ideas for a great night out on the town, or somewhere to eat out.
In 2024, Bree Street was voted one of the coolest streets in the world by Time Out Magazine. When you look at the boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars that are up and down the busy boulevard, it’s easy to see why.
Not only is Bree Street one of the world’s coolest streets, but it’s also made it onto the Conde Nast Traveller's Best Food Cities list, which consists of just 15 global streets.
The busy street is the centre of restaurant culture in the city, catering to your food desires whatever they may be. From locally sourced foods inspiring a six-course tasting menu of intense flavours at Merchant Bar & Grill, to the latest trend in Cape Town that is tasty ramen at YATAI Ramenbar, or the subtle simplicity of a succulent steak or rich truffle mac and cheese from Iron Steak & Bar, you can find all of it, and more on Bree Street.
The street is home to venues that attract the after-work crowd, detoxing after a day in the office, making many of the locales the perfect place to take in the city and enjoy the ideal night out.
Of course, it’s not just about the food. The atmosphere is what makes Bree Street the popular destination it is. The wider-than-usual street is lined with vibrant bars and coffee shops, unique boutiques and galleries, offering a variety of drinks, snacks, and entertainment.
If you really want to see Bree Street at its most vivid and exciting, then head to the street on the first Thursday of the month for First Thursdays. Every gallery, museum, and boutique around Cape Town opens its doors for free, including Bree Street. They offer food samples and drinks to the visitors that gather, who can then take their time wandering through the museums and galleries to look at the wonders on display.
While it’s true that Bree Street is a vibrant location full of incredible boutiques and eateries, it is also one with extraordinary architecture. As you walk along the street, you’ll see everything from 18th century Cape Dutch at Jan de Waal House, to a development that will eventually be the first biophilic development in Africa, a combination of modern architecture and sustainable botanical design.
As well as being a culinary paradise, Bree Street is home to an incredible collection of diverse galleries hosting exhibitions throughout the year.
The Artists Gallery Cape Town is a stunning space that was established by a group of contemporary South African artists who wanted to show their work in a single space. It hosts exhibitions regularly, highlighting the importance of art in the native home of its artists.
A little further down the street is the multi-purpose gallery space that is Youngblood-Africa Gallery. A meeting space where artists can gather and display their work, whether that’s contemporary portraits, photography or a large multimedia installation, it has a home at the Youngblood-Africa Gallery.
Whether you’re interested in modern art, stunning black and white photography, or are fascinated with unusual multimedia installations, you can find it at one of the many galleries that line Bree Street.
We can all agree, I am sure, that there is nothing like enjoying the peace and quiet of a traffic free location and that’s exactly what you’ll get on Bree Street every Sunday thanks to a new initiative launched in October 2024. The street is closed to cars, giving pedestrians the chance to explore and enjoy everything Bree Street has to offer on foot.
Wherever you’re headed in Cape Town, you can be sure Bree Street warrants a visit. A lively location in the centre of the city, full of wonderful restaurants and casual cafes as well as incredible galleries, it’s not only a great destination on First Thursdays, but the spot to head to for a great breakfast or an aromatic coffee.
If you are planning on staying in Cape Town check out our brand-new aparthotel, Charles Hope Cape Town. With stylish studios and spacious one-bedroom apartments all fitted with fully equipped kitchens and relaxing bathrooms, and a location close to the vibrant city centre, with rooms overlooking Bree Street, it’s the place to be.
To find out more about Charles Hope Cape Town, or book a stay, reach out to our team today. Email reservations@charleshope.co.uk or call +44 (0)203 983 6300.
