Philadelphia, Cape West Coast

Not the Philadelphia one attributes to the eastern parts of North America, just south of New Jersey, this Philadelphia lies but 20 minutes outside of Cape Town, past Durbanville. Rural Philadelphia is just off the N7 towards Malmesbury. Conversely you can take a more scenic drive along the Koeberg / Adderley Road from Durbanville through farmland until you reach the gorgeous village.

Philadelphia began, as many little towns in South Africa do, as a farm. Local farmers travelled all the way, by horse and cart, to Durbanville for Nagmaal (the Eucharist) and, as a result, a local farmer donated a portion of his land to the local brethran to build a church. This is possibly why Philadelphia, meaning love of brothers, is named such.

The pretty, little historical town is a perfect weekend breakaway. Dominating the town is the large NG church, but just below this are a series of little streets with a couple of shops and the Pepper Tree Art Stable and Coffee Shop that serves as a natural hub for both locals and visitors to the town. A combination of art gallery, restaurant, coffee shop, pottery studio and gift shop, the Pepper Tree Art Stable is housed in the old stables and serves wonderful lunches, breakfasts and teas. The place hums over weekends.

Expect to see pretty period homes, interspersed with a couple of low-key Cape cottages, people milling around town, and the more recent Die Malle Meul, a modern rendition of the Pepper Tree art space, also with its own pottery, and a popular wedding venue.