The ideal way to experience this uber-chic neighbourhood, where a beach vacation in South Africa assumes a luxurious allure, is with luxury accommodations in Clifton. The stylish crowd in Cape Town knows Clifton Beach for being a sanctuary for foreign jet setters. Their bronzed bodies and designer sunglasses complement Clifton’s 4th beach’s flawless white beaches and sparkling water with enough glitz and eco-awareness to merit both the “see and be seen” reputation it has earned and the blue flag designation.
With Table Mountain as its backdrop, the upscale suburb of Clifton is located just outside Bantry Bay, between Sea Point and Camps Bay. The four unique coves that makeup Clifton’s beaches are separated by lengths of granite boulders, and while they may not have particularly creative names—1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th—their beauty renders titles quite useless.
Each beach is accessible by descending a flight of stairs from a road, where parking can occasionally be very challenging. This has little impact on the numbers during the high season or in the evening when large crowds travel to Clifton to enjoy traditional sundowners while watching one of Cape Town’s renowned sunsets.
While there are occasionally waves at Clifton’s four beaches—which are well protected from the infamous south-easterly—most of them just lap at the shore. The crowds frequently disperse just up the road to Camps Bay’s numerous restaurants, clubs, and pubs, so staying here often has the extra benefit of peaceful evenings as Clifton has few restaurants and no discernible stores.