In the central business district, the CBD, lies Long Street, one of the most famous — or infamous — streets in Cape Town.
It is long, it’s edgy, it’s a little bit intimidating and, for me, it’s the heart of the city.
There is a lot going on here. Hustlers and businessmen (same thing?), arts and crafts and hookers. A walk up Long Street is an experience and a bit like running the gauntlet.
I love it.
Long Street has always had a slightly bohemian character. The Victorian buildings, balconies, bookshops, cafés, bars and shops give it a personality that you don’t really find anywhere else in Cape Town. It’s one of those streets where you can spend an hour simply walking and watching what is going on around you.
And there is plenty going on.
There are some great pubs and bars here, along with some cool backpackers overlooking the street. There are great pizza joints, restaurants serving food from all over the world and, depending on where you are walking, you can smell weed pretty much everywhere.
Long Street is also somewhere you need to stay awake.
I’m not saying don’t come here — quite the opposite. Long Street is an essential Cape Town experience — but keep your wits about you. I wouldn’t use the ATMs on the street, and maybe keep your phone safely in your pocket rather than walking around waving it about.
At night, I’d also favour the top end of Long Street over the bottom. The lower end can become pretty quiet, whereas the action is generally towards the top, heading in the direction of Table Mountain.
Things to do on Long Street
Walk the length of Long Street – Take in the Victorian buildings, balconies, cafés, shops and street life. Long Street has a distinctly bohemian character and is one of Cape Town’s historic streets.
Browse the bookshops – Long Street has a long association with second-hand and specialist books, so it’s worth having a look inside some of the independent bookshops rather than simply walking past.
Visit Mabu Vinyl – Particularly interesting if you’re into music. Mabu Vinyl became internationally known after appearing in the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man.
See the Palm Tree Mosque – One of Long Street’s historic landmarks, dating back to the 18th century.
Check out the South African Missionary Meeting House / SA Mission Museum – Another significant historic building on Long Street and a reminder that there is considerably more history here than the bars and nightlife might suggest.
Eat – There is a huge choice of restaurants representing different cuisines, from African food to Indian and Asian food, as well as plenty of international options.
Have a coffee and people-watch – This is arguably one of the best things to do on Long Street during the day. Grab a coffee, sit outside and watch Cape Town go past.
Go bar-hopping – Long Street is famous for its nightlife, with pubs, bars and clubs running along the street. This is where the street really comes alive.
Look for African crafts and curios – Long Street has traditionally been associated with craft shops and markets, making it a good place to browse for African art, crafts and curios.
Go during First Thursdays – On the first Thursday of each month, galleries and museums in the central city stay open late, with exhibitions, performances and plenty happening on the streets around them.
Long Street isn’t polished and it isn’t supposed to be.
It’s noisy, colourful, slightly chaotic, sometimes intimidating and full of characters. You need to keep your eyes open, especially at night, but that’s part of what makes it interesting.
For me, Long Street is one of those places that reminds you why Cape Town is such an interesting city. You can walk a few hundred metres and go from history to nightlife, from bookshops to bars, from tourists to hustlers, and from someone selling African crafts to someone trying to sell you something you definitely don’t need.
Or maybe you do, and just don’t know it yet?
