Kalk Bay Guide

Kalk Bay truly is one of the loveliest neighbourhoods in Cape Town. It seems that I’m not the only one sharing this sentiment as it was named one of The 12 Coolest Neighbourhoods Around The World by Forbes magazine in July 2018. Kalk Bay is a quaint seaside town littered with an abundance of lovely coffee shops and eateries, has two beautiful tidal pools, a gorgeous harbour, a world class ice cream cafe and the best fish and chips in False Bay. If you’ve read my recent blog posts you’ll see I’ve been writing recommendations for the greater Deep South area of Cape Town. Check out these blog posts for my Deep South Guide and Muizenberg Guide. Here my top Kalk Bay recommendations.

Dalebrook Tidal Pool

No visit to Kalk bay would be complete without a dip in the Dalebrook Tidal Pool. This delightful tidal pool is the perfect spot for a fresh sunrise swim or cool off after a summer day in the sun. it can get quite busy on weekends so if you’re looking for a quieter spot check out Woolley’s Tidal Pool on the other side of Kalk Bay. For details on how to find it and other tidal pool ideas check out my blog post on the Best Tidal Pools in Cape Town.

Olympia Cafe for Croissants

Olympia Cafe is such a divine little spot in Kalk Bay and makes some of the best bakes around. You can either sit down for brekkie and a cuppa or head round to the backside bakery and stock up on fresh croissants, sourdough loaves, baguette, churros (!!!) and hazelnut danishs (yum, I’ll take a few of those, thanks!). A little birdie told me that if you’ve there nice and early (like on your way to an early morning dive) you can grab yesterday’s pastries for mere pennies. Let me know how that goes if you give it a try.

R10 coffee at Salt before 9am

No croissant is complete without a coffee and Salt makes a mean cuppa for as little as R10 before 9am. And it’s only a few spots down from Olympia. So why not grab a takeaway coffee from Salt and a croissant from Olympia after your early morning swim at Dalebrook?

Lekker for lunch

If the early morning vibe in Kalk Bay isn’t for you then there are plenty of lovely lunch spots to choose from. Lekker has a wide range of different dishes including some veggie options. The decor is quirky and fun and it is also a great spot for a drink before your night out at Brass Bell. Lekker has Happy Hours 3-6pm daily.

Lucky Fish for the best fish & chips

Lucky Fish is ultimate fish and chips or calamari and chips spot! Growing up in the fishing town I have had a nuuuuumber of fish and chips over the years from Mariners Wharf, Fish on the Rocks and Muriel’s Munchies. But in my humble opinion Lucky Fish is the best of the best! The portions are generous, the chips slappy, batter crispy and beautifully seasoned. They get a 10/10 from me! Kalky’s just down the way is also great but I personally prefer Lucky Fish.

Live Bait

If you’re more of a sushi person then look no further than Live Bait. They have a wonderful half price sushi special on Wednesday to Friday 12-4pm. They have plenty of other options like seafood pastas, burgers, fish and chips, and grilled calamari dishes making it a great choice for a more special occasion lunch or dinner. They have the most gorgeous location with big windows that look out over the ocean.

Walk along the Harbour Wall

While you’re at one of the Harbour restaurants be sure to take a stroll along the harbour wall and check out all the fishing boats, seals and watch as the local fishermen bring in their catch.

Ice Cafe

After a yummy lunch or a hot day at Dalebrook Tidal Pool you’re going to need to do yourself the biggest favour and head over to Ice Cafe. Ice Cafe is arguably the best ice cream spot in Cape Town. Places like Creamery and Kristen’s Kickass Ice Cream have recently come out tops with their new and original flavours. But if you’re looking for proper, authentic Italian gelato then this is your spot.It has been visited by the likes of Jamie Oliver and he has also given it a big thumbs up! I have frequented Ice Cafe a lot over the years and in compiling this blog post I had to have a giggle at juts how many photos I had to choose from because there are so many! So please enjoy perusing the countless icecreams I’ve had at Ice Cafe.

Browse the artsy boho shops and many antiques stores

Kalk Bay is home to many lovely boho shops and a proper antiques store. All of them are located along the main drag of Kalk Bay so spend your afternoon walking along the main road popping in and out of whichever shops float your boat. There are also a number of lovely local flower sellers with the most gorgeous blooms.

Cape to Cuba

Kalk Bay can also be a splendid place for a bit of nightlife. Cape to Cuba is a colourful spot with traditional Cuban food (on the pricey side though) and a vibey bar. During normal times they have Sunday live music with happy hours 5-7pm and 9-11pm.

Live music at the Brass Bell

The ultimate spot for a party in Kalk Bay is the Brass Bell. While COVID-19 has definitely meant the Brass Bell hasn’t been running the way it usually does, during times of normality it has many lovely live music events and Wednesday night karaoke. Their Facebook page is probably the best spot to keep an eye out for what’s on and when.

Kalk Bay Theatre

If you’re a theatre fan then the Kalk Bay theatre is a lovely little theatre with great local talent. End off your super day in Kalk Bay with a play at the Kalk Bay Theatre.

I hope this comprehensive guide has been helpful in planning your next day out adventure to Kalk Bay. If you’re looking for more Deep South hidden gems then check out this blog post on the Deep South or this blog post on Muizenberg.

If you’re planning on staying in Kalk Bay then check out Chartfield Guesthouse or Kalk Bay Guesthouse.

For more Cape Town adventures why not check out my blogs on Tandem Paragliding in Cape Town, Cape Town Cafes That’ll Give You All The Bali Vibes, Best Sunset Spots in Cape Town, Best Tidal pools in Cape Town, The Bo-Kaap, Lion’s Head Full Moon Hike or my Top 10 Hikes in Cape Town .