Cape Town's Colorful Past & Cosmo Present

Cape Town, situated at the Southern Western mostCuisine to the hot and spicy dishes of "Cape Malay"
tip of the African continent, is a magical place, thecuisine.Expert chef's have created "fusion" menu's to
perfect holiday destination and filled with majestic,combine these rich and varied flavors of our past and
natural beauty.in so doing have made a place for them in our
Today Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city, firstpresent.Cultural and religious differences are
discovered by Bartolomeu Diaz a Portuguese explorercelebrated wherever you venture on the Cape
in 1487 whilst searching for a sea route to India. DiazPeninsula, whether passing through the narrow cobbled
named it The Cape of Storms and returned tostreets and colorful houses of the Cape Malay
Portugal triumphant at having rounded the AfricanQuarter in the "The Bo-Kaap" or visiting the awe
continent and the Portuguese rulers subsequentlyinspiring St' Georges Cathedral in the City Center, you
changed the name to The Cape of Good Hope.will always be warmly welcomed. Cape Town is home
In 1652, a Dutch man, Jan van Riebeeck working forto many open air markets, which offer a wide
the Dutch East India Company, founded a post atselection of merchandise from traditional African
Table Bay. The first establishment under Vanpaintings and wood carvings to a varied selection of
Riebeeck was aimed at supplying fresh water andtraditional foods like Cape Malay curries and Samosas
fruit to crews, but in 1657, it was realized that theto organic jams and home brewed beers, and as usual
gardens were not sufficient so The Company beganall cultures are well represented.
to assign land to Independent Dutch Settlers.TheThe modern Waterfront development is in the heart of
Settlers were to set about growing wheat for theCape Town's dockland and is South Africa's most
Company's use and in order to do so; they importedvisited destination. Visitors here are treated to the
slaves from Ceylon, The Dutch East Indies (Malaysiamodern convenience of sophisticated shopping with all
and Indonesia), Madagascar and Mozambique. By 1717the international brands such as Jimmy Choo, Gucci
the slave population had grown to such a degree thatand Burberry being represented alongside those of the
they outnumbered the free population.local designers Marion and Lindie and the popular Nicci
By 1679, settlers from Germany and France arrivedBoutiques. Home wares are well represented too with
and so began the growth of a more eclectica selection of retail shops stocking everything from
population of settlers. In 1688 one hundred and sixtyCarol Boyes silver and pewter ware to hand painted
four Belgian and French "Huguenots" arrived at Thetable linen and fine bone china. Outside in the open air
Cape and brought with them extensive wine makingamphitheater, you will experience a program of music
experience and so began the foundations of our winewhich varies between string quartets, traditional Zulu
industry. At this stage, the German settlersdrumming and dancing to the loud street rappers with
outnumbered the Dutch settlers; however Dutch wastheir own unique blend of rap and Kwaito.Then there's
spoken until gradually a variation of the Dutch languagethe extensive selection of restaurants, some on the
known as Afrikaans developed. The mingling of thesequaysides, others situated in the malls overlooking
settlers resulted in what was known as the AfrikanerTable Mountain and or Table Bay, here you will find a
or Boer.menu to suit every taste and here again each culture
Cape Town is today home to the descendants ofis well represented! Wine bars serving hundreds of
these first settlers, and together with a diversewines by the glass offer wine lists and experienced
population of immigrants from other countries, Xhosa's,sommeliers to assist you every step of the way, and
Zulu's and many other indigenous tribes, forms aWhiskey lovers are not left out, The Bascule Bar has
vibrant and eclectic mix of people. The culturalan impressive selection of over 400 that could keep
differences are tangible, and the democracyyour palate happy for weeks!
embraced by all is evident in the colorful mix of peopleAround every corner, whether in the wine lands or the
who peacefully share this beautiful city which lies atcity streets, Cape Town will enthrall you with her
the foot of Table Mountain.beauty, her people are warm and welcoming and her
Each group of people bring not only their unique culturalcultural diversity is celebrated tangibly, but don't take
history to the mix, they bring their tastes and flavorsmy word for it, come, taste, smell, meet, greet, see,
too which has resulted in a plethora of restaurantsexperience and celebrate with us!!
offering everything from traditional French Nouvelle