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One of the first friendly faces you see as you arrive at your hotel to begin a stay in a new destination is the concierge. Their role is to be on call for guests to share information on the best things to do in the city and beyond. They’re a wellspring of insider information to help you plan activities along your journey and you should use them at the beginning of your stay to help you build a detailed itinerary for the duration of your stay.
So, what exactly would a concierge in Cape Town recommend to new arrivals? Yusuf Jinoo of Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront has put together an insider’s guide for visitors to explore Cape Town.
Nature
Boulders Beach and Cape Point are one of Cape Town’s most iconic nature experiences and are must-sees for any visitor. It might seem like a far drive for those staying in the city centre and surrounds, but it’s worth it! Starting your itinerary with the more outlying experiences across the Western Cape ensures that you’re giving yourself the time required to adequately enjoy these full-day experiences. Have your concierge organise a packed picnic basket and book an early morning drive to Cape Point after breakfast. Your first activity could be a morning hike to one of the shipwrecks within the reserve. On your return, stop along the way for a scenic picnic before heading down to the restaurant for photos with the resident baboons and ostriches and a refreshing drink.
Culture
For the budget-conscious traveller, there is so much that one can experience in Cape Town for free. Local art lovers in the know have coined parts of the CBD as a free art hub of sorts. Your concierge will be able to help you plan your route from Cape Town’s Buitengracht street, down through Bree Street with a few side street stops along the way. The final destination will be the ‘art square’ in Church street which houses The Cape Gallery, WorldArt gallery and CHURCH projects among other art shops. These galleries and the exhibits within them offer a wonderful reflection of the past, current and future-looking culture and social conversation among Capetonians. If you’re interested in making your cultural experience a day trip, start at the art galleries in the CBD before enjoying lunch in the city and beginning a local museum tour.
Culinary
Cape Town is famous for unique foods like the gatsby. Among residents, the fusion of local and international cuisine gave rise to the creation of dishes like koeksisters and the Kota. The Gatsby sandwich originated in 1976 in Athlone, in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town, and is still enjoyed daily by locals across the city. On Sundays, Capetonians have developed a tradition called ‘koeksister and akhni Sunday’s’ where home-based chefs prepare fresh spiced-coconut rolled doughnuts called koeksisters or koesisters and a type of wet biriyani called ‘akhni’. Locals drive out to purchase these from their nearest seller and enjoy the dishes with family and friends for the day. Have your concierge book an ‘eat like a local’ experience for you to enjoy gatsbys, shisanyama or koeksisters, akhni and more.
Relaxation
Today, as the saying goes, ‘self-care, should always be scheduled in advance’ not when you desperately need it. Similarly, every trip should include a massage, treatment or facial. Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront has a spa on site, but should you be staying somewhere else and need to book something, your concierge can do this for you, too. They can also help you to book a babysitter to watch the kids during the session. If you’re travelling for business, consider booking a half spa day for the entire team on the morning before your departure so that you leave the city with a feeling of having been pampered and cared for.
Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, be sure to make use of your concierge to help you with recommendations for the duration of your stay. You can also ask for their assistance in making the actual bookings for local attractions and restaurants for you. Get hold of them by telephone or email ahead of your stay and ensure that you make the most of your time on the ground.