The Bo-Kaap is actually a modernized version of De Waterkant, which is located just next to this same neighbourhood. The colourful, vivid semi-detached homes in this popular neighbourhood have been preserved and even emphasized, having been transformed into chic cottages that, along with the cobbled, tree-lined alleys and breathtaking views, are reminiscent of London’s Soho and New York’s Greenwich Village.
The De Waterkant Hamlet is viewed as a resort-style experience, but this does the quaint, character-filled village an injustice. There are currently up to 80 properties within walking distance of restaurants, the Cape Quarter shopping centre, and local entertainment. The bright, 18th-century cottages have been converted into guest houses that provide real, in-the-middle-of-it-all living on Signal Hill‘s lower slopes, with a view of Table Bay. The Village of De Waterkant is primarily a business district during the day, where people live, work, eat lunch, and shop; however, at night, it comes to life with some of the best delis, wine bars, and restaurants in the city.
The Bo-Kaap, also known as “above the town,” is reached by walking along Wale Street. This neighbourhood is said to contain the most pre-1840 buildings in South Africa and miraculously managed to avoid both the fate of other similar areas, such as district six, and apartheid.
The V&A Waterfront and the Table Mountain cableway are only a short drive from De Waterkant, and nearby trendy Atlantic Seaboard suburbs and fashionable Atlantic beaches are perfect for exploring. The city centre is also easily accessible on foot from De Waterkant.