Cape Town's Kalk Bay among the world’s coolest neighbourhoods in 2026

Kalk Bay on Cape Town’s False Bay coast has been named one of the world’s 40 coolest neighbourhoods for 2026 by Time Out.

The small coastal village ranks 31st on the magazine’s 2026 list and is the only South African neighbourhood included.

Time Out highlights Kalk Bay’s working fishing harbour, independent shops, cafés, restaurants, galleries and strong local character. Its location also makes it a useful stop for travellers exploring the Cape Peninsula.

Kalk Bay is close to Muizenberg, St James, Fish Hoek, Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach. The village itself is compact enough to explore on foot, with the harbour, Main Road and Dalebrook Tidal Pool among the main attractions.

Kalk Bay can also be reached from Cape Town by train, although travellers should check current Metrorail services before travelling.

The Time Out ranking puts further international attention on a part of Cape Town that has long been popular with locals and visitors. For travellers planning a Cape Town trip,Kalk Bay makes a useful addition to a Cape Peninsula itinerary.

Getting there

Kalk Bay sits about 25–30 km south of Cape Town’s city centre along the False Bay coast, roughly a 40-minute drive via the M3 and M4, although journey times can be considerably longer in peak traffic.

Kalk Bay can also be reached by train from Cape Town on Metrorail’s Southern Line, which follows the False Bay coast via Muizenberg and St James. Services currently operate through Kalk Bay, with trains continuing to Simon’s Town on weekdays. However, schedules and weekend services can differ, so travellers should check the latest timetable before travelling. 

Best time to visit

September and October are among the better months for whale watching in False Bay, when southern right whales can be seen close to shore. The elevated coastal road around Boyes Drive offers good views across the bay.

Cape Town's spring and summer months, roughly September to March, generally offer favourable conditions for exploring the Peninsula. However, weather can change quickly, so a light jacket or windbreaker is useful throughout the year.

 

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Cape Town: Beach section and tidal pools between Dalebrook and Kalk Bay temporarily closed! [update #4]

update (14 January 2023): The beach between Dalebrook and Kalk Bay, including the Dalebrook tidal pool, has reopened. Water samples taken for water quality testing indicated the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines.

update (11 January 2023): Dalebrook tidal pool has been temporarily closed again. The beach section between the tidal pools, fron Dalebrook to Kalk Bay, remains closed until further notice. The temporary closure is due to a sewer overflow, and the cause is still under investigation.

update (10 January 2023): The tidal pools in Kalk Bay and Dalebrook reopened on 09 January 2023. However, the beach section between the tidal pools, from Dalebrook to Kalk Bay, remains closed until further notice.

The City of Cape Town has announced that the beach section between the tidal pools in Kalk Bay and Dalebrook, including the tidal pools, have been temporarily closed until further notice. The temporary closure is due to a sewer overflow, and the cause is being investigated. The City of Cape Town's City Health is taking water samples on a daily basis for water quality testing until such time as the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines. We'll keep you posted!

 

Time Out: Two streets in South Africa are among the 30 coolest streets in the world!

Time Out, a global media outlet that inspires and enables people to explore and enjoy the best of the city, has just released this year’s Time Out Index. As part of the global survey, Time Out asked 27,000-plus city-dwellers which specific streets they think are the coolest in the world. According to the Time Out Index, 7th Street in Melville, Johannesburg, and Main Road in Kalk Bay, a suburb of greater Cape Town, are among the 30 coolest streets in the world. 7th Street in Melville was named 12. coolest street, while Kalk Bay's Main Road was awarded the number 22 spot. Congrats!

7th Street, Melville, Johannesburg:
"cocktail in hand, a whiff of quality food in the air, the hum of casual diners and street drinkers chatting around you. There’s always a discernible buzz."

• Eat: Xai Xai Lounge (Restaurant)
• Do: Liquid Blue Cocktail Bar (Bar)
• Buy: Amateur artists line the pavement here, selling all sorts of eye-popping artworks.

Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town:
"the dream spot for an afternoon mooch in the sun"

• Do: Brass Bell Restaurants and Pubs (Seafood restaurant)
• Eat: Kalky’s (Fish and chips restaurant)
• Drink: Olympia Café (Deli Restaurant & Bakery Shop)

Time Out's 30 coolest streets in the world:

1. Smith Street, Melbourne
2. Passeig de Sant Joan, Barcelona
3. South Bank, London
4. San Isidro, Havana
5. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles
6. Witte de Withstraat, Rotterdam
7. Rua Três Rios, São Paulo
8. Haji Lane, Singapore
9. Rua Rodrigues de Faria, Lisbon
10. Calle Thames, Buenos Aires
11. Krizíkova Ulice, Prague
12. 7th Street, Melville, Johannesburg
13. Cat Street, Tokyo
14. 30th Avenue, New York
15. Levinsky Street, Tel Aviv
16. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
17. Gran Vía, Madrid
18. Calle Ocho, Miami
19. King Street, Sydney
20. Rua de Miguel Bombarda, Porto
21. Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City
22. Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town
23. Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
24. Rue Tiquetonne, Paris
25. Mariannenstrase, Berlin
26. Calle José Gálvez, Lima
27. Seaport Boulevard, Boston
28. Jægersborggade, Copenhagen
29. Allen Avenue, Lagos
30. Star Street, Hong Kong
    

South Africa: Two neighbourhoods have just been named among the coolest in the world

According to the American business magazine Forbes, two of the coolest neighborhoods around the world are Maboneng, located in the south-eastern side of Johannesburg's CBD, and Kalk Bay, located on the False Bay coastline of Cape Town. The list, compiled by Forbes contributor and travel writer Ann Abel and her favourite travel experts, also includes Sants in Barcelona (Spain), Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. (USA), Amsterdam Noord in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Getsemani in Cartagena (Colombia), Plekhanov in Tblisisi (Georgia), Casco Viejo in Panama City (Panama), District 5 in Saigon (Vietnam), Keramikos in Athens (Greece), Seonggsu-dong in Seoul (South Korea) and Pilsen in Chicago (USA).


Forbes describes Maboneng as follows:

“A no-go zone until the end of Apartheid in 1994, Johannesburg’s Maboneng has since transformed into a lively urban area with blossoming art and culinary scenes,” says Biggs Bradley. The compact neighborhood is known for cultural attractions like the Museum of African Design, Arts on Main—a complex that was previously a series of dilapidated buildings and now has many cool galleries—restaurants and boutiques. The culinary offerings are widely diverse, with restaurants that specialize in everything from Ethiopian cuisine to health food. “One of the best spots for a meal is Che Argentine Grill, which offers delicious specialties like empanadas and a live tango band on weeknights.” (src.)

Forbes describes Kalk Bay as follows:

“A seaside haven slightly removed from the bustle of Cape Town, the former fishing village Kalk Bay is attracting more than just the local surfer community” says Marchant. “Blanketed with quaint cafes, rustic fishing boats and colorful storefronts, this vibrant harbor neighborhood is recently the talk of the city. Olympia Café, a standby for locals, is an ideal launching pad for a day of False Bay coastline exploration. An intricate origami installation created by Kalk Bay local Sanae Sawada decorates the walls of the iconic café, which is just steps from the charming seal-invaded wharf.” (src.)

The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series Ep. 12 - Simon's Town & Cape Point

Cape Town Tourism has released a new episode of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" featuring the historic town of Simon's Town, located on the shores of the False Bay, as well as an trip down to the famous Cape Point, a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula. Previous episodes of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" include Kalk Bay, Cape Town CBD, Woodstock, Constantia, Somerset West, Langa, Khayelitsha, Durbanville, Blouberg, the Bo-Kaap and Mitchell's Plain.



"The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" was launched by Cape Town Tourism in 2015 to promote and highlight Cape Town's diverse suburbs. The first three episodes were released in September 2015, another three in March 2016, the seventh episode on 15 January 2017, the eigth episode on 07 March 2017, the ninth episode on 04 May 2017, the tenth episode on 16 August 2017, the 11th episode on 16 May 2018 and the the 12th episode on 12 June 2018.

The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series Ep. 11 - Mitchells Plain

Cape Town Tourism has released a new episode of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" featuring Mitchells Plain, a township located on the Cape Flats on the False Bay coast between Muizenberg and Khayelitsha. Previous episodes of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" include Kalk Bay, Cape Town CBD, Woodstock, Constantia, Somerset West, Langa, Khayelitsha, Durbanville, Blouberg and the Bo-Kaap.
 


"The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" was launched by Cape Town Tourism in 2015 to promote and highlight Cape Town's diverse suburbs. The first three episodes were released in September 2015, another three in March 2016, the seventh episode on 15 January 2017, the eigth episode on 07 March 2017, the ninth episode on 04 May 2017, the tenth episode on 16 August 2017 and the 11th episode on 16 May 2018.

The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series Ep. 10 - Bo-Kaap

Cape Town Tourism has released a new episode of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" featuring the Bo-Kaap, an area of Cape Town situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre. The former township is an historical centre of Cape Malay culture in Cape Town and has always been a multicultural area. Previous episodes of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" include Kalk Bay, Cape Town CBD, Woodstock, Constantia, Somerset West, Langa, Khayelitsha, Durbanville and Blouberg.


"The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" was launched by Cape Town Tourism in 2015 to promote and highlight Cape Town's diverse suburbs. The first three episodes were released in September 2015, another three in March 2016, the seventh episode on 15 January 2017, the eigth episode on 07 March 2017, the ninth episode on 04 May 2017 and the tenth episode on 16 August 2017.

The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series Ep. 9 - Blouberg

Cape Town Tourism has released a new episode of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" featuring Blouberg, a suburb located along the shores of Table Bay. Previous episodes include Kalk Bay, Cape Town CBD, Woodstock, Constantia, Somerset West, Langa, Khayelitsha and Durbanville. 



"The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" was launched by Cape Town Tourism in 2015 to promote and highlight Cape Town's diverse suburbs. The first three episodes were released in September 2015, another three in March 2016, the seventh episode on 15 January 2017, the eigth episode on 07 March 2017 and the ninth episode on 04 May 2017.

The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series Ep. 8 - Durbanville

Cape Town Tourism has released a new episode of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" featuring Durbanville, a suburb located in the northern outskirts of Cape Town. Previous episodes include Kalk Bay, Cape Town CBD, Woodstock, Constantia, Somerset West, Langa and Khayelitsha. 

"The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" was launched by Cape Town Tourism in 2015 to promote and highlight Cape Town's diverse suburbs. The first three episodes were released in September 2015, another three in March 2016 , the seventh episode on 15 January 2017 and the eigth episode on 07 March 2017.

Cape Town Tourism continues "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series"! (video)

Cape Town Tourism has released a new episode of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" featuring Khayelitsha, the largest and fastet growing township in South Africa. Previous episodes include Kalk Bay, Cape Town CBD, Woodstock, Constantia, Somerset West and Langa. 

"The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" was launched by Cape Town Tourism in 2015 to promote and highlight Cape Town's diverse suburbs. The first three episodes were released in September 2015, another three in March 2016 and the seventh episode on 15 January 2017.

Videos: "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series"

update (22 March 2016): Cape Town Tourism has released three new videos featuring Constantia, Somerset West and Langa! Enjoy!

Cape Town Tourism has just launched the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" through which it wants to promote and highlight Cape Town's diverse suburbs. Following the current global trend of tourists wanting to visit and experience cities "like a local", the videos are made to uncover the true nature of each area, to discover what the locals love and what hidden gems lie beneath the surface. So far three videos about Kalk Bay, Cape Town CBD and Woodstock have been created; another three are planned to be published before the end of 2015. How do you like the videos? We will add the following three videos to the playlist below as soon as they are up on youtube!

Whale watching hot spots in Cape Town and surrounds

Every year between June to November, Cape Town and its surrounding areas are becoming some of the best land-based whale watching spots of the world. It is the time when the Southern Right Whales are migrating from the heir icy feeding grounds off Antarctica to warmer climates off South Africa.
Southern Africa's coast is exactly what the whales need during this time of the year.The shallow, sandy-bottomed and sheltered bays are perfect for mating, calving, nursing their young and resting.


View Top five whale watching spots in Cape Town and surrounds in a larger map

The top spots to watch whales in Cape Town & surrounds are:

• Road between Llandudno and Bakoven
• Hout Bay area (you will need a powerful pair of binoculars)
• Chapman's Peak Drive
• Road between Scarborough and Kommetjie
• Cape Point
• Road from Boulders to Smitswinkelbaai
• Coastal road between Fish Hoek and Simon's Town
• Glencairn
• Fish Hoek
• Road to Fish Hoek to Kalk Bay
• Boyes Drive from St James to Kalk Bay
• Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els
• Hangklip, home to the Kogelberg Biosphere
• Hermanus