Elise Kirsten, author of The Best Digital Nomad Neighborhoods in Cape Town, shares her picks for this creative city's best digital nomad haunts, from laptop-friendly cafes to delicious restaurants and exciting new bars to try.

The Best Restaurants in Cape Town for Digital Nomads

Thali: This restaurant serves delicious, contemporary Indian cuisine in the form of ‘Tapas for Two’ with either meat, vegetarian, or vegan variants.

The Conservatory: If you travel about 10 miles from Cape Town, you can indulge in refined dining at The Cellars Hoenhort Hotel. Enjoy dishes like traditional Cape Malay bobotie with views of a lush garden view that feels far from the city.

FYN: While on the pricey side, the culinary experience here is sure to tantalize your palette.

Athletic Club & Social: A comfortable, eclectic, and classy venue, it serves generous portions of Mediterranean-style tapas and an array of cocktails.

Kyoto Garden Japanese Restaurant: They pride themselves on serving high-quality seafood in a serene setting.

Nourish’d: This is a small but popular plant-based cafe that serves up a whole lot of goodness.

Haiku: Offering a delicious fusion of Asian fusion, there’s also the option to order Indian food off the Bukhara menu too.

La Parada: This restaurant serves burgers, steaks salads, and Spanish-inspired tapas.

I Love the Dough: If you love tasty pizza in an Instagram-worthy setting, this will be right up your alley.

Kloof Street House: This restaurant has cozy indoor spaces for winter dining and a beautiful garden for eating al fresco on summer evenings.

The Best Bars in Cape Town for Digital Nomads

The Art of Duplicity: Inspired by the prohibition in the U.S., this is a jazz and cocktail bar set in a hidden location. The dress code is ‘Mae West meets Al Capone’ and to receive the password and secret location, you’ll need to book online.

Sky Bar: It’s not every day that you see airstream trailers (that have been converted into hotel rooms) on top of a building, but that’s what you’ll find here.

Yours Truly and Up Yours: Up Yours is the upstairs section of Yours Truly cafe and is a casual space where the drinks are cheap and there are DJs and acoustic sessions on weekends.

Bascule Bar: This bar is situated in the five-star Cape Grace Hotel, poised on the edge of the Waterfront’s yacht marina. It has a selection of over 400 whiskies, some of the Cape’s finest wines, and a range of cocktails.

GiGi’s Rooftop Bar: In the Gorgeous George Hotel, this bar has the essence of a trendy living room. Although the website says ‘come for breakfast and stay for dinner,’ you need to pre-book a three-hour slot due to popularity.

Baptiste Rooftop Pool, Bar & Lounge: This bar is a stone’s throw from the city in the most alluring setting overlooking the ocean in Camps Bay. 

Tobago’s: At the Radisson Blue Hotel, this is a sublime spot on the water’s edge.

Chinchilla Rooftop Café and Bar: Gather here to sip signature cocktails, like the pineapple and sage margarita or litchi and basil gin, while watching the ocean. 

The Williston Bar: Enjoy panoramic views of Cape Town in a luxurious setting from this spot in the Silo Hotel. 

Grand Africa Café & Beach: You can dine on the beach or enjoy cocktails with your toes in the sand.

The Best Digital Nomad Cafes in Cape Town

The Ladder: This is a light and airy space with a relaxed atmosphere in which to work.

Molten Toffee: This cafe is a small space on Kloof Street with good WiFi and great coffee.

Origin Coffee Roasting and Café Noir: This cafe dedicated to coffee excellence is a community hub and welcomes remote workers into its red-brick warehouse.

Bootlegger Coffee Company: This is a firm Cape Town favorite for coffee, meetings, and working from your laptop.

Swan Café: This restaurant is ideal if you like the idea of working in a cafe with French flair and pastries.

The Best Coworking Spaces in Cape Town for Digital Nomads

Ideas Cartel: The decor at this Loop Street coworking space inspires creativity while at the same time exuding an air that serious business is being done in this plush environment.

Cape Town Office: This highly-rated coworking space provides all the bells and whistles in a single membership fee and also hosts creative networking events, including masterclasses, acoustic and jamming sessions, as well as a book club (with author readings when possible). 

Workshop 17: This coworking chain has multiple branches, each with its own unique feel, but The Waterfront branch is situated in the most beautiful and entertaining area.

Craft+Graft: They have a modern industrial design with lots of natural light and a simple cafe that serves baked goods, sandwiches, and coffee.

Roam Work: Besides the usual hot desks and dedicated workspaces, this coworking space offers an additional Letterbox Plan that allows you to register a Cape Town business address while working remotely.

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