Hout Bay

Hout Bay harbour.

Hout Bay appears to be a little harbour village but is actually a suburb of the South African metropole Cape Town.

Get in

Hout Bay is situated at the west side of the Cape Peninsula. You can get there by car, following the road along the west coast of Peninsula. From the Cape Town city centre drive to Camps Bay and from there all along the sea. You can also get there from the east side of the Peninsula and from the Cape of Good Hope.

Park your car at the parking lot by the harbour.

Republic of Hout Bay Hout Bay is not only famous for its fresh fish and harbour, but also as the "Republic of Hout Bay". Passports of the Republic of Hout Bay wete made as a publicity stunt. There is an urban legend a that one man travelled to many countries in the world, without anybody noticing his false document. There is no record of any of them being actually accepted by any foreign customs post as genuine.)

See

The harbour is the main attraction. It is quiet and full of bustling fisher boats at the same time. There are also tall mountains that make Hout Bay special.

Do

Watch the fisherman unload their fresh fish, old ladies repairing the nets or go on a trip to Seal Island to see the local seal colony.

A visit to Hout Bay is incomplete without a visit to the World of Birds, a wonderful bird park, touted to be the biggest in the western cape. Make sure that you time your visit to coincide with the feeding of the Squirrel monkeys.

Chapman's Peak Drive starts just south of Hout Bay. This toll road offers spectacular views, especially at sunset. If you're a world class big wave surfer, Hout Bay is the location of Dungeons home to some of the worlds biggest surfable waves in winter.

• 1 2 Oceans Maritime Academy, 27 Victoria Road, ☏ +27 21 790 2442, info@2oma.com. learn to sail (updated Sep 2016)

Buy

There is an antique store next to the restaurant, which is definitely worth a visit!

• Dolce & Banana, 5 Main Road (Chapman's Peak Drive), ☏ +27 21 790-0802. 9:30AM-5:30PM. Unique shop where all products are made in Houtbay from quirky decor items to exquisite fashion jewellery and accessories. R50. 
• 1 Mainstream Centre, cnr Main Road and Pricess Beach. M-Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00. 

Eat

Taste fresh lobsters or other seafood and fish at the local restaurant. It is cheap compared to prices in inner Cape Town, but can be bought for less at more quiet places.

• Fish & Chips at Mariner's Wharf, Hout Bay Harbour, ☏ +27 21 790-1100. Very good fish & chips. Sometimes overcrowded but worth waiting in the queue. R 35. 
• Lookout Deck, Hout Bay Harbour. Visit them for a perfect seafood platter. 
• Dunes Restaurant, 1 Beach Road, ☏ +27 21 790-1876. Good food and excellent views. 
• Thai Cafe. (updated Nov 2017)

Drink

• Visit the Chapman's cigar bar at the foot of Chapman's Peak for a sun-downer, you would also be making no mistake tasting their pan-fried Calamari, possibly the best in the world!
• Try the local sushi restaurant run by Bruce and his wife.
• The Pirates den has DJs some nights, but many locals steer clear and thus the place can be very empty.
• A local gem is the Work Shop, claimed to be the smallest (licensed) pub in Africa is serves as a good meeting place when the weather is good, drink is cheap and the local young folk enjoy meeting new people and will always talk to any new faces. Talk to William the resident barman for an introduction to the local crowd.

Sleep

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget	Under R500
Mid-range	R500 to R1000
Splurge	Over R1000

Accommodation in Hout Bay consists mainly of smaller guesthouses and bed and breakfasts, prices vary and it is worth shopping around for the best option. Try searching to find accommodation to fit your budget and requirements, as more establishments offer their own websites and direct online booking facilities, securing the right accommodation is much easier. Booking in advance is essential over the peak periods and in particular over December and January.

Budget

• The Bay Lodge. Overlooks the bay and surrounding mountains. It offers continental and cooked breakfast. From R190 per person. 
• Howberry Farm (close to the Mandela Park development). It is ideally situated for informative tours of this settlement, allowing a unique view and understanding of the opportunities and problems presented by life in the new South Africa. Very popular with long-stay 'Gap Year' students. R125 per person. 

Mid-range

• Le Marais, 2 Harold Close, Oakhurst Estate (Just behind the Oakhurst Farm Stall), ☏ +27 21 790-9562. B&B and selfcatering, run by French hosts, Patrice and Denis, with a superb interior design. From R250 per person. 
• The Platinum Boutique Hotel, 4 Little Lions Head Road, ☏ +27 72 877 3899, info@theplatinum.co.za. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Nice views of the surrounding mountains from many of the rooms. 
• Villa Romantica. Situated directly at the beach, opposite the waterfront, allowing easy access. Rates start from around R300. 
• Riverside Estates Guest House, ☏ +27 21 790-7475, reservations@riversideestates.co.za. Is a tranquil, family-friendly holiday venue on a spreading, 5-acre garden(Opposite World of Birds). Rate from R820 per person. 

Splurge

• Hout Bay Manor. Offers continental breakfast and despite all the normal facilities complimentary use of the local gym and internet access. From R610 per person. 
• 1 Epicure Club, 4 Little Lions Head Road, ☏ +27748780000, hello@epicure.club. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. The first sex positive boutique hotel in South Africa. R3480 per room in high season. (updated Apr 2024)