De Waterkant Area Information

De Waterkant at a glance

Situated on the slopes of Signal Hill and overlooking Table Bay, De Waterkant Village forms part of the suburb of Greenpoint and is one of the trendiest areas in Cape Town. Think bustling cafes that line old cobbled streets that date back to the 1700s. The houses are mostly semi detached cottages that have been tastefully renovated to preserve their facades. De Waterkant is also a cultural hub, with a variety of vibrant restaurants, art galleries, yoga and fitness studios, as well as gay clubs and bars. More recently, chic apartments have been built. De Waterkant is internationally renowned for its open-minded attitude - so is ideal if that is what draws you to a spot.

A brief history of the area

De Waterkant's history dates back to the 1700s along with the neighbouring Bo Kaap district. The influx of Malays into the Malay Quarter began in the 1830s when slavery was abolished and those who had been forcibly brought to the Cape set up homes there. The architecture of these buildings is a mixture between Cape Dutch and Georgian in origin, while the open verandahs along the fronts of the houses also show an element of Eastern design.

Climate

As with most of Cape Town, De Waterkant has a meditteranean climate with warm, dry summers, and colder rainy winters. Green Point has a somewhat milder climate than the city centre and is a little more protected from the wind. In summer, De Waterkant residents can look forward to beautiful sunsets enjoyed from their decks and patios in what feels like a small European village.

Schools in the area

As De Waterkant is very centrally positioned, it has access to schools in the Cape Town CBD as well as the Atlantic Seaboard. While most residents who live in De Waterkant will not have school-going children, nearby schools include Prestwich Primary, Tamboerskloof Primary, Jan Van Riebeeck, The German School, and Reddam House.

Healthcare in the area

De Waterkant has access to great healthcare facilities, from the Netcare and Mediclinic hospitals in Cape Town central, to GPs, dentists, aesthetic doctors, phycologists and everything in between in Greenpoint and De Waterkant itself. 

Shopping centres

The Cape Quarter is De Waterkant's main shopping centre, and houses a Spar Grocery Store, Bootleggers Coffee Shop, and upmarket clothing and homeware boutiques, as well as a homeware store. There are also gorgeous international brands in and around the cobbled streets that stock anything from Aesop lotions to antiques.

Distance from key points (Airports/CBD)

Cape Town International Airport is a short 20 kilometres away from De Waterkant, and the CBD is about a 5-10 minutes drive according to traffic.

Restaurants

There is an array of gorgeous restaurants to wine and dine at in De Waterkant. Origin and Bootleggers are the favourite coffee shops, while The Loading Bay is a famous upmarket breakfast and lunch spot. For dinner, there is the ever popular Il Leone, and Charles Cafe for classic Cape Malay fair, and of course Cafe Manhattan, the long-standing gay and straight friendly burger joint in the heart of the village.

Special attractions

Great restaurants and coffee shops, a friendly neighbourhood culture, and plenty of unique shopping experiences make De Waterkant an exciting place to live and explore. Enjoy cocktails and crooners at the Piano Bar, enjoy a burger at Cafe Manhattan, soak up the hipster atmosphere at Origin Coffee, and stretch it out at Yoga Life. When the clock strikes twelve, head to the party at Beefcakes, or Crew Night Club.

Make De Waterkant your home. Let it be your story.

If a quaint village-like aesthetic mixed with culture and food deluxe is your scene, then De Waterkant is for you. From beautifully renovated heritage cottages, to slick apartments, at Seeff, we'll help you find the best fit for an investment or lifestyle home.