Kalk Bay
Kalk Bay is a small fishing harbour along the east coast of the Cape Peninsula to the south of Cape Town. It has become a very hip and trendy place, with a fine selection of restaurants, coffee shops and bistros, and a number of eclectic, alternative shops along the Main Road on either side of the train station.
Get in
By car
Kalk Bay is easily accessible from Cape Town by car. Follow the M3 south until it ends at the junction with the M42 (Steenberg Road). Turn left/east onto the M42 then right/south onto the M4 (Main Road) through Muizenberg. Kalk Bay is a few kilometres south of Muizenberg.
By train
MetroRail operates frequent and regular trains to Kalk Bay from Cape Town via Muizenberg (to the north) and Simon's Town via Fish Hoek (to the south) every day. The station is on Main Road, in the centre of town.
- 🌍 Kalk Bay railway station, 75 Main Rd.
Get around
Kalk Bay is small enough that you can cover the entire village on foot with ease.
See
Watch the incoming boats and the sale of fresh fish.
- Kalk Kay Theatre, 52 Main Road, ☏ +27 73 220-5430, bluebottle@iafrica.com.
Do
Walk up the small, twisting alleys on the mountain-side of Main Road and look at some of the old houses built by fishing folk. Many of these have now been converted to yuppie apartments or shops but some still remain in their original state.
Learn
- Bible Institute of South Africa (BISA), 180 Main Rd, ☏ +27 21 788-4116, fax: +27 21 788-7289, bibleinstitute@bisa.org.za. Founded in 1923. Offering tertiary theological education through NorthWest University with a three year Bachelors Degree in Theology. The college is non-denominational with a strong emphasis on a scripture-based reformational heritage.
- Media Village, 3 Dalebrook Rd, ☏ +27 21 788-9296, fax: +27 21 788-9609, info@mediaVillage.info. Christian-based tertiary education in communications and media skills (television, radio, film, etc).
- Save Our Seas Shark Centre, 28 Main Road, ☏ +27 21 788-6694, fax: +27 21 788-4778, sharkcentre@saveourseas.com. Part of the international "Save Our Seas Foundation", the Kalk Bay shark centre aims to improve the public's understanding of sharks and marine conservation through scientific research, education and awareness projects.
Buy
Kalk Bay offers a wide selection of shops from hippie clothing to designer labels, from antique shops to contemporary jewellery designers.
- ANPA Jewellery, 44 Main Rd. Innovative jewellery design in silver, gold and platinum with a strong focus on South African gemstones.
- Big Blue, 102 Main Road (Opposite Brass bell), ☏ +27 21 788-2399. Daily 09:00-18:00. South African brands and designs only.
Eat
Be sure to taste some fresh fish in the fish restaurants next to the harbour.
- 19-on-Main Bistro (Brad's Bistro), 19 Main Road (Take the Main Road (M4) towards Simon's Town, the bistro is immediately on your left as you enter Kalk Bay, behind the Kalk Bay Garden Centre), ☏ +27 21 788-3885. Cosy indoors section with fireplace in winter and a garden and breakfast bar outside with magnificent sea views - separated from the ocean only by the railway line. Very casual and relaxed atmosphere. Excellent value for money.
- Brass Bell, Kalk Bay Station, ☏ +27 21 788-5456. An ever-popular complex of restaurants and pubs.
- C'est la Vie, 5 Rosmead Rd. Coffee shop and artisan bakery.
- Excuse my French, 25 Main Rd, ☏ +27 84 287-8824. French-style coffee and pancakes on a shady outside deck with magnificent views over False Bay
- Habonero's, 138 Main Rd, ☏ +27 21 788-6967. Mexican and vegetarian food in an eclectic setting.
- Harbour House, Kalk Bay Harbour, ☏ +27 21 788-4133. Seafood with sea-spray hitting the windows ; expensive but delicious.
- Kalky's, Kalk Bay Harbour. Take-away fish and chips fresh from the sea.
- Kassia & Figg, 24 Main Rd, ☏ +27 21 788-3337. Coffee shop and artisan deli - organic food only.
- Live Bait, Kalk Bay Harbour, ☏ +27 21 788-5755. Fabulous views of False Bay.
- Olympia Cafe, 134 Main Rd, ☏ +27 21 788-6396. A perennial favourite, with a bakery, early-morning breakfasts, lunch and dinner.
- Satori, 76b Main Road (opposite the train station), ☏ +27 21 788-1123. Daily 11:00-22:00. Pizza, pasta and Lavazza coffee. moderate.
- Sirocco, 75 Main Road (next to the train station), ☏ +27 21 788-1881. Open-air coffee shop, closed in winter.
- Theresa's, Clairvaux Road, ☏ +27 21 788-8051.
- Tribeca, 106 Main Rd, ☏ +27 21 788-3424. Bakery and coffee shop.
Drink
- Brass Bell
- Cape to Cuba drinks with atmosphere and view.
Sleep
- Chartfield Guesthouse, 30 Gatesville Road, ☏ +27 21 788-3793, fax: +27 21 788-8674, info@chartfield.co.za. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. 4-star guesthouse. From R520.
- The Inn at Castle Hill, 37 Gatesville Rd, ☏ +27 21 788-2554, fax: +27 21 788-3843. From R350 per person.
- The Pink Palace, 136 Main Road, ☏ +27 21 788-2760, fax: +27 21 788-2760, info@pinkPalace.co.za. Backpacker's accommodation for women only. Call to confirm availability. Twin R150pp. Double R175pp.
- Vrede Huis Guest House, 4 Clairvaux Road, ☏ +27 21 788-5167. Positioned on the mountainside directly overlooking Kalk Bay harbour and False Bay.
- Water's Edge, 250 Main Road, ☏ +27 21 782-4337, fax: +27 21 782-4337, africaExclusive@intekom.co.za. Directly above the sea, overlooking False Bay.
Go next
The next town towards Cape Point is Fish Hoek, with a safe swimming beach.
Towards Cape Point is the historical village of Simon's Town, a South African Naval base, which is great fun to visit. There is a statue of Just Nuisance, a Teddy Bear Museum and a Gemstone Factory.
A little further on is Boulders Beach, which has one of the few land-based African penguin colonies. These endemic penguins come right up onto the beach and among the resident's gardens, where they nest. Then on to Cape Point, where two oceans meet there are baboons and lots of wild flowers and animals in the Game and Nature Reserve. Curios are available from the African Arts and Crafts village. Kommetjie is famous for surfing (large waves), crayfishing and bird life.
Going towards Cape Town is Muizenberg, famous for its surfing