12 Best Sights in Southern Suburbs, Cape Town

Spectacular in every season, this renowned botanical garden was established in 1913, and was the first in the world to conserve and showcase a country's indigenous flora. With its magnificent setting extending up the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and overlooking the city and distant Hottentots Holland Mountains, these gardens are truly a national treasure. In addition to thousands of out-of-town visitors, Capetonians flock here on weekends to laze on the grassy lawns, picnicking and reading while children run riot. Walking trails meander through the plantings, and there's emphasis on the fynbos biome—the hardy, thin-leaved plants that proliferate in the Cape—so you will find plenty of proteas, ericas, and restios (reeds). Highlights include the Tree Canopy Walkway (aka "Boomslang," a large cycad garden), the Bird Bath (a beautiful stone pool built around a crystal clear spring), the fragrance garden (which is wheelchair-friendly and has a tapping rail), and the Sculpture Garden. Free 90-minute guided tours take place daily except Sunday. Those with difficulty walking can enjoy a comprehensive tour lasting one hour (R70, hourly 9–3) in seven-person (excluding the driver) golf carts. Concerts featuring top South African artists—from classical music to township jazz to indie rock—are held on summer Sundays at 5 and everyone rocks up with blankets and picnic hampers (arrive early to get a good spot), and the Galileo Outdoor Cinema ( thegalileo.co.za) screens movies on select weekday evenings an hour after sunset. The visitor center houses a restaurant, bookstore, and coffee shop. Several trails take you to the top of Table Mountain, from which point you can hike all the way to the cable car station.

This strikingly modern, well-structured space has a huge exhibition gallery, gigantic walls, and proper lighting, all of which make it a pleasure to visit and take in what are usually the best exhibitions you'll see in Cape Town. Curation is exceptional, with descriptive information panels and no expense spared to showcase the depth of an artist's work, or to bring innovative and eye-opening new work to the public's attention. Unlike Zeitz MOCAA where the focus is often on conceptual work lacking emotional gravitas, here you will feel the soul of the artists speaking to you. There is also a beautiful garden that showcases a permanent collection of phenomenal large-scale sculptures, plus there are beautiful views of the mountain, and a children's playground, a research library, and a destination restaurant.

Once part of Dutch governor Simon van der Stel's original Constantia farm, Buitenverwachting (meaning "beyond expectation" and roughly pronounced "Bait-in-fur-VAGH-ting") enjoys an unimaginably bucolic setting—it's almost impossible to believe you are 20-or-so minutes from the city center. An oak-lined avenue leads past fields of horses and cows and over a small stream until passing the Cape Dutch homestead and eventually arriving at the small modern cellar. Acres of vines spread up hillsides flanked by more towering oaks and the rocky crags of Constantiaberg Mountain. Buitenverwachting's wines are as impressive as the views; a big seller is its flagship red, "Christine," a Bordeaux-style blend of mostly Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Tastings (five wines for R100) happen in the historic cellar and there are cheeses and charcuterie available to nibble on as you sip. Extremely popular here are picnics taken on the lawns under 250-year-old trees with chickens running around; Harvest platters are R480 and can be shared between two people. The entire property is open for on-foot exploration, a great way to take in the vineyards while admiring the mountains in front of you.

Yet another award-winning wine estate, this one enjoys sweeping views of the Constantia wine route just below the Constantia Nek roundabout. A huge "tasting room" spread across four different areas, including a beautiful covered veranda, glassed-in conservatory space, and cozy lounge space, offers wine tastings with a small menu of delicious light fare, cheese platters, and the like.

The town of Constantia takes its name from the wine estate established here in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, one of the first Dutch colonial governors of the Cape. It was one of the largest owners of enslaved people who were the actual builders and growers of this establishment—and yet often gets overlooked because of the terrible history of this property. After van der Stel's death in 1712, the land was subdivided, with the heart of the estate preserved at Groot Constantia. The enormous complex, which enjoys the status of a national monument, is by far the most commercial and touristy of the wineries, with Van der Stel's homestead, the oldest in the Cape, now a museum furnished with exquisite period pieces. The old "Cloete" wine cellar sits behind the manor house and serves as an additional tasting room. Built in 1791, it is most famous for its own ornate gable, which contains a sculpture depicting fertility designed by Anton Anreith. The estate operates two restaurants, Jonkershuis and Simon's, both of which serve quality meals and have deli-style offerings, and picnics to enjoy on the surrounding lawns.

Klein (rhymes with "stain") means "small" in Afrikaans and indicates the relative size of this portion of Simon van der Stel's original 17th-century Constantia estate. The winery, which is approached via a gorgeous pass along an tree-lined avenue and over a stream, has an impressive modern cellar, and the estate produces wines of superb quality, as awards displayed in the tasting area attest. The excellent Sauvignon Blanc is used as a point of reference by many South African connoisseurs and vintners (there's also a tasting dedicated to this cultivar). The closest you'll come to the famous Constantia wine of the 18th century is the Vin de Constance, a sweet wine made from predominantly Muscat de Frontignan grapes; the wine was a favorite of Napoléon’s, and he had 30 bottles a month sent to him when he was imprisoned on Saint Helena. A daytime bistro serves a selection of farm-to-table dishes designed to pair well with the wines.

This tranquil national forest is planted with hundreds of tree species from all over the world, including Californian redwoods and a variety of oaks. A favorite spot for picnickers and cyclists, the Arboretum also has a simple tea garden that serves hearty home-style meals and delicious cakes. On the way in to the Arboretum is a crumbling Cape Dutch manor. Built in 1795 with a façade designed by famed architect Louis Michel Thibault, the homestead, which is not open to the public, is reputedly haunted. Visitors should take care, as muggings have been reported in the area lately.

Spas are obviously big business these days, with most top hotels outsourcing this service, and the wellness element at the elegant Vineyard Hotel in the Southern Suburbs is part of the well-regarded international Banyan group. The Eastern influences begin when you walk in the door: ginger tea is offered, and before beginning treatments, therapists rub your feet with hot towels. Many of the therapists hail from Thailand, and Thai, Balinese, Indian, and Hawaiian techniques are incorporated in the excellent massages (the Angsana pressure-point massage is highly recommended). The Eastern green-and-gold color scheme, views of the mountains from many of the rooms, and lovely outdoor spaces add to the serenity. Clients undress, bathe, and relax in private treatment rooms, and a half hour "calm time," with tea and fruit, is included in every session.

A warm welcome and cup of chai starts you off at this relatively small spa, distinguished among five Ginkgo locations for its attention to detail, great client care, and up-to-date knowledge. The atmosphere, though pleasant, is not memorable; the treatments, however, are first rate, with therapists asking questions and making suggestions based on your skin type and needs. Ginkgo uses Babor and South African–made Nimue products, and has a number of great combination treatments, such as the three-hour Debutante (five treatments designed for a first-time client), and the 4½-hour Mother-to-Be (full-body exfoliation, massage, facial, mani/pedi, and lunch). Golfer's massages serve those enjoying the on-site world-class golf course. The hotel pool and dining room are available to spa clients.

Die-hard fans return to this beach again and again, and who can blame them? Its setting, among giant boulders at the base of a mountain, is glorious, and sunsets here attract their own aficionados. The surf can be very powerful on the northern side of the beach (where you'll find all the surfers, of course), but the southern side is fine for a quick dip—and in this water that's all you'll want. Lifeguards are on duty on weekends and in season. If you come by bus, brace yourself for a long walk down (and back up) the mountain from the bus stop on the M6. Parking is a nightmare, but most hotels run shuttles in summer. There are no shops here, so take what snacks you need with you. Amenities: parking; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

Rhodes served as prime minister of the Cape from 1890 to 1896. He made his fortune in the Kimberley diamond rush, but his greatest dream was to forge a Cape–Cairo railway, a tangible symbol of British dominion in Africa. The classical-style granite memorial sits high on the slopes of Devil's Peak, on part of Rhodes's old estate, Groote Schuur. A mounted rider symbolizing energy faces north toward the continent for which Rhodes felt such passion. A bust of Rhodes dominates the temple—ironically, he's leaning on one hand as if he's about to nod off.

The Rhodes Memorial Restaurant, tucked under towering pines behind the memorial, is a pleasant spot that serves breakfast, tea, and a light lunch. Unremarkable food, although it is under new management.