Cape Town is a very family friendly city, below are a few ideas to start with, and here are many more, the purpose is to encourage you as parents that there are many awesome- many are free- ways to experience and enjoy this city as a family!
Note : This information is forever changing, please double check information yourself !
If you have any additional suggestions that you think we should add, just email us !
SOUTHERN PENINSULA :
Swim for Life (Muizenberg) — swim lessons
Muizenberg Swimming Pool — provides the perfect opportunity for families to cool down on a hot summer’s day as it includes a main pool, a kiddies’ pool and waterslides
Muizenberg Water Slides — a trio of water slides
Park Island Walk (Marina De Gama) — at the end of Park Island Way there is a gate that you can open and leads to a path alongside the Vlei
Freedom Adventure Park (Tokai) — free for kids 2 and under, you just need to buy a coffee or something. Older kids there is a fee as there is a bigger play place. Ideal for up to age 10.
Tokai Forest — a favourite spot for picnics, mountain biking (weekends only) and walks— try to find the spots with the tree swings, its especially magical
Swimlab (Kirstenhof) — swim lessons
Lever Street Park (Kalk Bay) — a great little park in the midst of Kalk Bay- grab some treats form Bob’s Bagels while watching your kids run around the park and its a great time
Dalebook Tidal Pool (between Saint James & Kalk Bay)
Boulders Beach (Simons Town) — you can walk around the beach to see penguins, its also a great calm swimming spot
Scratch Patch (Simons Town) — indoor putt putt which is great for a rainy day outing
Harbour View Mall (Simons Town) — has a little playground and splash area
Imhoff Farm (Kommetjie)— multiple play parks, restaurants, shops, Higgledy Piggeldy Farmyard (petting zoo), get lost at Maze World and visit the Snake Park
World of Birds (Hout Bay) — has loads of fun animals, a walk-in monkey cage, walk-in tortoise area, etc
Norval Foundation Art Museum (Steenberg) — has free entry on Mondays
Silvermine Nature Reserve (Tokai) — a variety of safe short walks or hiking options and swimming at Silvermine Dam. Entrance allowed with a small conservation fee
Clay Cafe (Hout Bay) — outdoor and enclosed play areas has a jungle gym and a trampoline, as well as a massive lawn. All at a location to make your own pottery. Food available as well
Kid Friendly Restaurants:
Blue Bird Garage (Muizenberg) — open Friday’s with a kids play area
Knead Bakery (Muizenberg) — does free babychinos and has a ball pit
Primi (Muizenberg) — has a kids area in the back with picnic tables and sand to play in
Folk Cafe (Saint James) — has a play place
Spur (Blue Route, Fish Hoek, Long Beach Mall) — they all have a ball pit area
Earth Fair Food and Market (Tokai) — open Wednesdays with a kids play area
Noordhoek Farm Village (Noordhoek) — has an outdoor play place
Cape Point Vineyards Market (Noordhoek) — on the first Thursdays of the month is the most breathtaking and a perfect location for a market and picnic with the kids, there is also a jungle gym and swings for the little ones.
The Hub (Scarborough) — is also open during loadshedding
SOUTHERN SUBURBS :
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (Newlands) — the perfect place for kids to learn and experience the best of nature, walk through the gardens and experience the Tree Canopy Walkway “Boomslang”. You are welcome to enjoy a picnic in the gardens. Kids under 17 years of age enter for free in the School Holidays. There are often workshops available.
Tea Room — sprawling lawns offer ample space for kids and they have high chairs and colouring-in books on hand to make kids feel as welcome as possible
Moyo Kirstenbosch — has an outdoor play area and a kids’ menu
The Silverhurst Trail (Constantia) — great for walking, running, nature trips, and bird watching. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
Newlands Forest — great spot for hiking, having a braai, there’s also a dam to splash around in
Alphen Trail (Constantia) — A family friendly walk alongside a river. Great place for bike riding or kids dipping their toes in the stream
Acrobranch (Constantia) — outdoor obstacle course for kids, teenagers and adults that takes you through a forest on swinging bridges, ziplines, Tarzan swings and treetop adventures
Rush Indoor Trampoline Park (Claremont) — onsite wifi, cafe and charing stations
Be Up Park (Pinelands) — indoor family fun park with an onsite cafe, wifi and charging stations
Kid Friendly Restaurants:
Blockhouse Kitchen (Constantia Uitsig, Tokai) — amazing kids playground and bike park. Check out their Heritage Market with different shops for sushi, Kristen’s Kickass Ice Cream, vegan and brunch food, as well as a wine shop and alehouse
Buitenverwachting (Constantia) — has a big nice grassy field and one of the best coffee shops around- kids love just running round the field chasing / feeding chickens.
Simon’s Deli (Groot Constantia) — is a Gourmet Deli offering a create your own Gourmet Picnic option. There is a jungle gym in front of the Deli.
The Eatery Wood Fired Grill (Claremont) — ideal spot for a grilled steaks and burgers with an outdoor enclosed jungle gym and a kids menu
Forester’s Arms (Newlands) — have a safe, contained outdoor jungle gym
The Gardener’s Cottage (Montebello Design Centre, Newlands) — cafe with an outdoor play area complete with a tractor and wooden animals to climb
CITY BOWL & ATLANTIC SEABOARD :
Greenpoint Urban Park - (has playgrounds for toddlers and bigger kids) get Paletas (Mexican ice Lollies at the little tea cafe, walk around the biodiversity showcase gardens, have a picnic, experience the fitness park, or simply walk around the paths perfect even for prams
Mouille Point (Sea Point) — bike rentals where you can ride along the promenade or on a kids bike track (with child seats/chariots too), play put put, Blue Train Park
Iziko South African History Museum and Planetarium — with young kids skip the planetarium
Company Gardens (there’s a market on Sunday’s I think)— enjoy the fountains, ponds, and tree lined walkways that shield the garden from the bustle of the city, creating a green, peaceful sanctuary… there’s also a restaurant, the South African National Gallery, and a human sized chess board.
Sundowner — pick up NY Pizza By the Slice on Kloof Street or take away from Eastern Food Bazaar, and then drive up to Signal Hill and watch the sunset together
Visit Table Mountain — during the holidays there are often discounts on Cable Car for kids
V&A Waterfront (bustling vibe, shopping, kids play place, occasionally live theatre)
Ride the Cape Wheel
Two Oceans Aquarium — The aquarium displays over 3000 marine species including sharks, fish, turtles and penguins with large viewing windows. The displays are well laid out and presented with educational information on all species and raised viewing platforms for children. There is an interactive Touch Pool and a Microscope Exhibit
Super Park — indoor gigantic, triple story maze; two Submarine Escape Rooms; an extreme high line ropes course and a kiddies mini maze. It was born with the purpose of creating quality family bonding time by bringing play back to its basics for all age
Scratch Patch V&A — you can pay and collect the gemstones in and keep your treasures
Play Cave Golf
Battery Park — there are so many fun options- from a skate park, movies on the lawn in summer (check out Galileo Open Air Cinema), basketball, soccer, picnic, a jungle gym, swings, rocking horses and a scooter path
Join a Guided Bike Tour
Jump on the Red Open Bus Tour — the ultimate convenient touristy way to see the city
Kid Friendly Restaurants:
Cafe Paradiso (Gardens) — there are changing facilities at this bustling eatery, and kiddies’ projects are offered, where children between the ages of two and 12 can make their own pizzas, chocolate or gingerbread cookies, or decorate a cupcake with trained child minders. High chairs are available
Deer Park Cafe — a perfect playground for the older children and toddlers, while you enjoy a hard-earned coffee or glass of wine in the restaurant or picnic-style on the lawns. Baby-changing facilities are available
Franky’s Diner (Sea Point) — 50s-inspired diner is the place to sate your burger-and-milkshake itch and is open 24 hours a day. The indoor enclosed play area is kitted out with TV games to keep the little ones entertained.
Strolla Restaurant & Bar (Sea Point) — they have an indoor kids area where the little ones can make their own pizza with their choice of toppings.
Tea in the Park (Green Point Park) — they have a small play area with books, cars and toys for smaller children, while older kids might want to run wild or play soccer
The Farmstand (Hout Bay) — has a great playground, coffee shop and petting farm
Dunes Restaurant (Hout Bay) — ample activities to keep youngsters busy, with its gorgeous sea views, soft sand and a jungle gym. Have clip-on high chairs
Spiro’s (Hout Bay) — Greek food with two play areas for kids, one outdoor with a jungle gym and another indoor with dress-up clothes and games
Massimo’s (Hout Bay) — kiddies pizzas and a jungle gym at the entrance to the restaurant, as well as a secure play area at the back of the restaurant.
EXTENDED CAPE TOWN :
Cool Runnings (Bellville) — an outdoor toboggan track.
Strawberry Picking at Polkadraai Farm (Stellenbosch)
Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Center (Stellenbosch) — about an hour outside the city, has lots of animals and isn’t expensive.
Vergelegen Estate (Somerset West) — the playground is really nice for young ages, they have a family friendly restaurant and beautiful walks
Vredenheim Wine Farm (Stellenbosch) — R25 entrance fee for a big cat park, animal farm, loads of animals to feed, big grassy areas, huge sand pit, jungle gym, bouncy castle
Root 44 Market (Stellenbosch) — craft foods & shopping open every Saturday and Sunday
Spice Route (Paarl) — ice cream and chocolate tastings, great restaurants and large grassy areas. More about it here. At Bertus Basoon the youngsters will get a giant cookie with their meal to decorate for dessert
For other kid friendly wine estates, click HERE.
Drakenstein Lion Park and Chimp Haven (Paarl) — Visit this incredible sanctuary for rescued lions from abusive situations and is an incredible sanctuary providing lifetime care in a safe environment and providing the animals with compassion and the respect they deserve. This is truly an incredible experience while supporting a worthy cause
Eagle Encounters (Spier Wine Estate, Stellenbosch)— This a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, education and eco-tourism centre based on the Spier Wine Farm. This is a rehabilitation centre for birds of prey that have been injured, poisoned, abused or hand-reared
Blind-Friendly Park (Bellville) — This outdoor blind-friendly park and playground (within walking distance of the Athlone School for the Blind) and is specifically designed with special needs in mind. There is also a beautiful scented garden, a lawn area and low-seating walls with an extensive educational relief mural.
Kid Friendly Restaurants:
Tables at Nitida (Durbanville) — farm-style bistro has a lovely big open lawn with a jungle gym on the grass that provides hours of entertainment for the little ones. A kiddies’ breakfast and lunch menu is available, as well as two baby chairs and baby-changing facilities in a separate bathroom
Dutch Haven Bistro (Durbanville) — focusing on traditional cuisine, the kids have a large outdoor jungle gym to enjoy that is safely enclosed. There’s also a baby menu
Peppa Jacks (Durbanville) — Mexican eatery with an outdoor closed-off area with swings, a jungle gym and a sand pit and a kids menu
Cafe Blanc de Noir (Stellenbosch) — offering gourmet pizza and a large jungle gym
Millhouse at Lourensford (Somerset West) — rustic Italian cuisine and wine while the older kids climb the jungle gyms and the toddlers sit comfortably in their high chairs
Mont Marie (Stellenbosch) — great food, excellent enclosed kids play area, high chairs, small kids tables, kids menu & changing table in bathrooms
