Long Street

The basics

Most travelers experience Long Street by staying, eating, drinking, or partying here—or all of the above. It’s a great spot to discover Africa’s diverse cuisines and grab a drink or two in the myriad restaurants, bars, and clubs. You’ll likely find yourself on Long Street for at least some of the evening if you book a Cape Town food, nightlife, or evening tour.

Non-nightlife sights include the historic Palm Tree Mosque, the Long Street Baths swimming pool, the Open House creative expression space, and the SA Sendinggestig Museum, South Africa’s first church for enslaved people.

Things to know before you go

• Long Street will appeal to folk who like to eat, drink, and party. It draws a younger crowd than Bree Street, two blocks over.

• Scams and pickpocketing can be an issue on Long Street, particularly after dark. Keep your wits about you.

• Long Street is reasonably wheelchair accessible, but many venues are not wheelchair friendly and crowding can be an issue.

How to get there

Long Street runs for about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the Cape Town International Convention Centre to Kloof Street. You can walk to mid-strip from Cape Town Station in about 10 minutes, while Cape Town’s hop-on hop-off red bus route has two separate stops on Long Street.

When to get there

Long Street is lively day and night, but many travelers come here in the evening to soak up the nightlife. Fridays and Saturdays are the biggest nights of the week, you’ll likely find something going on most nights.

What to eat on Long Street

Long Street is a great place to experience Africa’s flavors. Try Ethiopian wot or tibs on a bed of sour, pillowy injera flatbread at Madam Taitou or Timbuktu Cafe. Head to long standing traveler favorite Mama Africa Cape Town for live music plus eats using recipes sourced from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and beyond.