Hi, I’m Helen from Lakeside which is located on the False Bay coast in Cape Town.
LAKESIDE IS BEST KNOWN FOR … the wetlands and vlei – a bird watchers and paddler’s paradise! As you enter Lakeside, the Zandvlei trust has established a pavement garden that has not been without blooms since it was planted, and which indicates the edge of the wetlands. A quiet pathway passes a pond and there is a bench that overlooks the lovely Nature Reserve.
GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Muizenberg Beach with the beautiful mountains or colourful beach huts as a backdrop.
THE BEST VIEW PICTURES can be taken from Boyes Drive – the views are magnificent.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, WE LIKE TO walk our two dogs along Muizenberg Beach or, the Zandvlei Lake offers a number of activities including yachting, windsurfing and canoeing! Hiking in the Silvermine Nature Reserve are firm favourites too.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, WE LIKE TO visit the cute shops in nearby Kalk Bay and stop off for lunch at one of the many restaurants. The drive along Boyes Drive from Lakeside sets the tone; the glorious views of Muizenberg Beach, the streams coming off the mountain, the signs for the many mountain hikes and trails and then off course the bobbing fishing boats in Kalk Bay Harbour all remind me why we love living in this part of the Cape…
I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT Lakeside IS … anytime – even though winter might be a bit wet and windy it’s a perfect time to eat hearty meals and drink red wine next to a cozy log fire.
MY FAVOURITE BREAFAST SPOT IS Sostanza at the Old Bakery Centre in Lakeside – the most delicious croissants and sublime cappuccino…
FOR LUNCH, I SUGGEST Olympia Café in nearby Kalk Bay – talk a stroll along the pier afterwards!
MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IS Polana in Kalk Bay; try the chicken livers, spare ribs, ciabatta wrapped in Parma ham .. actually anything off their tapas menu is tasty!
BEST LATE NIGHT SNACK FROM Bella Pizza!
IF YOU WANT TO MEET LOCALS, GO TO any of the local restaurants. The Brass Bell in Kalk Bay is a firm favourite with locals and has panoramic views of the sea and the Kalk Bay Harbour. The restaurant specializes in seafood, whilst a variety of alternative meals are also on offer.
Lakeside’s BEST KEPT SECRET IS it’s a quiet, friendly neighbourhood. Its also close to everything – 10 minutes along Boyes Drive to Kalk Bay and Simons Town, over Ou Kaapse Weg to Noordhoek and a mere 25 minutes into the City Centre.
OUR FAVOURITE THING TO DO WITH FRIENDS IS have lunch at Chapmans Peak Hotel in Hout Bay – again, its only 15 minutes away … we are so close to everything here in Lakeside.
TO RELAX AND RESTORE MY SOUL, we collect mussels at Scarborough beach – the drive from Lakeside to Scarborough is beautiful and the dogs love exploring the rocks!
IF YOU’RE FEELING ADVENTUROUS try walking and mountain biking at nearby Silvermine Nature Reserve. The park straddles the mountain, from the winding Ou Kaapse Weg (Old Cape Road) on the Tokai, Constantia and Westlake side of the mountain, over the peak of the mountain, and into Noordhoek, Sun Valley and Fishhoek, overlooking the ocean.
OUR FAVOURITE WALK OR DRIVE is along Boyes Drive – the view is simply magnificent.
OUR FAVOURITE WHALE-WATCHING SPOT IS from Boyes Drive. If you aren’t whale watching then turn to face the mountain and see if you can spot any rock climbers!
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN? A FUN OUTING IS the Scratch Patch in Simon’s Town. Kids will also enjoy the beaches, a camel ride at Imhoff Farm, playing with the animals at Higgeldy Piggeldy Farmyard in Noordhoek, seeing the Penguins at Boulders Beach … or any one of numerous Kid-friendly activities on the False Bay Coast. (See suggestions here: Things to Do with Kids in False Bay).
BEST CHEAP AND CHEERFUL OUTING IS walking up in the mountains or a visit to any one of the beautiful beaches or explore the numerous villages on this side of the coast. The False Bay coast is a continuous collection of seaside villages and hamlets, their narrow avenues lined with quirky and quaint shops, restaurants and pubs.
WHEN MONEY IS NO OBJECT, I like to wine and dine at any of the fabulous restaurants in the Constantia Winelands! Some favourites are La Colombe at Constantia Uitsig, Buitenverwachting and Peddlars on the Bend.
WHEN I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, I donate clothes to Lakeside Clothing.
I Love Lakeside because the people are friendly, the amenities are excellent and its close to pretty much everything. The views of the mountains are superb and we are a skip away from a Blue Flag beach – what more could you ask for?
Useful Lakeside Links
- Lakeside Attractions
- Lakeside Accommodation
- False Bay Attractions
- Things to Do in False Bay
- False Bay Accommodation
- Cape Town Accommodation
Desirable Digits
Rushton Plumbers +27 (0)83 256-6623
Sostanza +27 (0)21 788-2411
Olympia Cafe +27 (0)21 788-6396
Polana +27 (0)21 788-4133
Bella Pizza Lakeside +27 (0)21 788-3032
The Brass Bell +27 (0)21 788-5455
Chapmans Peak Hotel +27 (0)21 790-1036
Scratch Patch +27 (0)21 786-2020
Camel Rides at Imhoff +27 (0)21 789-1711
Higgeldy Piggeldy Farmyard +27 (0)21 783-2007
La Colombe +27 (0)21 794 2390
