Western Cape Tourist AttractionsCape Town's East City
Where? It centres around Roeland, Buitenkant, Darling, Canterbury and Harrington streets, bordering on Gardens to the north, and the Castle to the south (very broadly speaking).
Overnight? Stay in Gardens, in Western Cape
Cape Town's East City is known, interchangeably, as the East City, the East City Precinct, and the fringe. Others, still, know it as lower Gardens. But this part of the Mother City's central city is in the process of a rebirth. Some have hailed it as a 'design and innovation district'; others as the next Woodstock.
Long a semi-industrial area, the East City is where the CBD meets District Six. It's seen a reinvention, emerging as an area of design, media, ICT entrepreneurship and creativity. It centres around Roeland, Buitenkant, Darling, Canterbury and Harrington streets, bordering on Gardens to the north, and the Castle to the south (very broadly speaking).
This area was central to Cape Town's successful World Design Capital bid and was part of a fierce 'branding' exercise by Cape Town Partnership. After a few years, and much reflection, the partnership realised it needed to work more closely with District Six residents, entrepreneurs moving into the area, and others who live in the area, including immigrant groups and rough sleepers.
From a visitor's perspective the area holds a lot of charm. It is a thoroughly 'mixed' area – in architectural styles, in lifestyles (the homeless and entrepreneurs live alongside), and in what it has to offer a visitor – museums, eateries, bakeries, bookshops, galleries, design studios and residential studios.
The area's nightlife centres around the Fugard Theatre and various night clubs. Third Thursdays (from the founders of First Thursdays) brings this area alive between 5pm and 9pm when shops and studios, coffee shops and restaurants are open (visit the First Thursdays Facebook page for details).
Cape Town's East City is not the only district in central Cape Town. Others include: Long Street, Kloof Street, and De Waterkant.
Look out for the Falco mural...
