Abbey Manor Luxury Guesthouse in Cape Town

Cape Town Carnival: Working the fan walk

admin — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:31:50 +0000

This Saturday (16th March) sees the Cape Town Carnival come to the Greenpoint fan walk.

Once the province of a single, old-fashioned, Cape Town culture, the carnival has become far broader in recent years. The 2010 World Cup seems to have been the catalyst, and now costumes resemble those from other international carnivals.

If you go – watch your pockets, hold on to your valuables.

The procession will start at 7 pm, near the Victoria Junction Hotel. It will go down Main Road and end at the Stadium forecourt, where there will be live music until midnight. More information here.

The Bungalow – Restaurant review

admin — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:43:29 +0000

First – a confession. We have avoided this spot on the principle that it is a favourite amongst the beeyootuful people. As a Cape Town rule – where they go expect rubbish food, exorbitant prices, arrogant waitrons, and anyway the place will be out of business before you can say salmonella. And the reviews have been poor to bland.

Appologies to the people at the Bungalow are in order. Finally dragged there for Sunday lunch, the food was delicious, prices steep but acceptable, and with only one glitch, service sharp and professional. The glitch was with the booking – front of house got everything wrong – then lied about remembering the conversation, but them redeemed herself by fixing everything.

I had the hamburger as I wasn’t feeling too hungry, and it was the best I have had at any Cape restaurant. Lou’s calamari was as good as any too. Wine prices are very steep, but off a good list.

And then there is the view……. Looking out over Glen Beach, there can few restaurants in the world with as perfect an aspect.

The Bungalow 3 Victoria Road, Clifton
Open Monday to Sunday 12 noon-12 midnight
Tel 021 438 2018

Cape Town Accommodation Boom: New record

admin — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:19:00 +0000

There is – to say the least – a lot of controversy about the state of Cape Town tourism. The officials in charge of marketing have changed as often as the weather. The statistics have been “creative”.

Nonetheless, Cape Town has had some dramatic wins. From being named Design City, a bit of it becoming a New7Wonders of Nature, top city for Telegraph readers – all wins of a more PR nature.

Our view is that the city is now back on the top lists, as it was in 2009.

And as for us – Abbey Manor has set a new occupancy record for February 2013 of 96%.

;

Cape Town Conventions Booming

admin — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:44:36 +0000

One of the biggest changes in our business profile over the last few years has been the increase in convention/leisure travelers, those here to attend a formal convention, but also out to have fun. Often they are accompanied.

A year ago, the South African National Conventions Bureau (SANCB) was formed, and more recently Cape Town City has moved its focus from pure tourism to more business travelers, including conventions.

The CEO of Cape Town Tourism, Mariette Du Toit-Helmbold then stepped down, or was pushed. Needless to say there has been much wailing and gnashing of exclamation marks over this.

My humble views on the subject:

Conventioneers and business people are always welcome – they spend loads of hard currency, and the sight of our fair city usually brings them back. With friends.
Pure leisure tourism is doing fine. Cape Town’s reputation has never been better.
All the great city destination of the world (New York, London) are both leisure and business destinations.
Much of the bleating from local tourism players is for a good reason – there are far too many beds in Cape Town, and the weak are failing.

In other words – get your convention on.

Cape Town Convention Centre

A Touch of Class at Kirstenbosch

admin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:55:15 +0000

This Sunday (24th Feb) the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing the Kirstenbosch summer concert.

This is a highlight of the year, and contrasts with the big-name pop and jazz stars who have performed lately, and might mean you can get a ticket.

Best to book ahead. Do so online here.

Cost

Adults R 110.00
Youth R 80.00

The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra

Another take on Best Restaurant

admin — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 07:52:30 +0000

Eat Out is the opinion of a few, Tripadvisor of the world, now Spill Magazine gives us the votes of the Cape Town many.

Winning 10 are in alphabetical order:

Bizerca’s new space

admin — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:18:28 +0000

Finally got the chance to go to the new premises for Bizerca Bistro.

They have moved to 98 Shortmarket Street, Heritage Square, Cape Town. (click for map).

Inside is gorgeous - all exposed brick and smart lighting. They also have the courtyard outside the Heritage Hotel, which is perfect for lunch or dinner on a calm, dry evening, but can be uncomfortable otherwise. Generally they don’t take bookings outside for this reason.

Menu is just the same, although some new staff are still being broken in.

Bizerca new inside

Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts back on

admin — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:15:18 +0000

Starting this weekend, the Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts begin again. This is the official begining of the summer season (although it’s been hard to book a restaurant for weeks).

This Sunday 25 Nov, Daniel Bedingfield New Zealand born singer-songwriter, will doing his Pop thing.

Buy tickets here.

Cape Town voted “Favourite City” by Telegraph readers

admin — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:30:55 +0000

The polled 17 000 readers to award its Telegraph Travel Awards 2012. results for Favorite World wide City were:

Cape Town
Vancouver
New York

In addition, British Airways have confirmed that South Africa is now one of it’s top 10 destinations.

Well done South African Air – missing the boat again.

Another tough day in the city

Airlines rush to fill gap left by fading South African

admin — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:18:55 +0000

Early this year there was a loud shouting from Cape Town tourism operators, as South African airways stopped direct flights from Cape Town to London. This was a result of the drastic drop in South African going via London(new visa rules may be to blame) and the fact that the airline is in total chaos, loosing its entire board in one week.

Good news then that the gap is being rapidly filled.

The German airline, Condor, began a seasonal twice weekly service between Cape Town and Frankfurt– replacing Lufthansa’s servicing of the route.

In addition the following flights – over and above Condor’s – were also added to Cape Town’s schedule to add approximately 10 000 inbound seats per week:

Virgin Atlantic Airways re-introduced direct daily flights between Cape Town and London. These flights will continue until April 2013.
British Airways has increased their usual daily service to twice-daily flights between Cape Town and Heathrow until the end of March 2013
Lufthansa has begun servicing Cape Town from Munich(as opposed to Frankfurt) with five flights a week.
Swiss airline, Edelweiss, has started seasonal flights to Cape Town from Zurich with non-stop flights twice a week.
Air France has resumed its seasonal flights to Cape Town from Paris with thrice weekly flights, which will continue until May 2013.
Turkish Air has added four additional flights per week to their schedule from October 2012.

Cape Town Flying