Cape Town Day 3: La Colombe + Bo-Kaap (again)

Headed to Constantia and dined at the 94th best restaurant in the world. But first, let's go back to Bo-Kaap for a photoshoot.

Monday in Cape Town was quite luxurious.

Watch my experience at La Colombe Constantia on TikTok or Instagram.

Read the Cape Town Day 2 blog here.

Photoshoot in Bo-Kaap

This was the absolute last activity I booked before leaving for South Africa. I had my reservations.

I don’t feel good in my skin at the moment, so taking photos has been the absolute last thing I want to do lately. But when am I going to be surrounded by world-famous rainbow-colored homes in South Africa again?

I booked a one-hour Bo-Kaap photoshoot via Airbnb Experiences for 7 am. The earlier in the day, the less tourist and resident foot traffic. My photographer Igumbi was amazing! She’s patient and laughs at all your jokes masking obvious awkwardness and discomfort.

Igumbi doesn’t just do photoshoots in the Bo-Kaap neighborhood. She also shoots in Downtown Cape Town, Company’s Garden, V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay Beach and Signal Hill. The latter two have an additional fee.

I’ll share more of my favorite shots on Instagram eventually, but this is an especially great activity for solo travelers. Getting photos of yourself traveling solo is hard! Igumbi did note that shooting couples is a little more difficult, as Bo-Kapp is a predominately Muslim community. Please be respectful and mind your PDA.

Of course, wear something colorful!

I definitely went back to Bo-Kaap Deli for a cheese Danish and Red Juice for breakfast.

Cost of shoot and edited digital photos: $52.12

When I booked: 6 days prior

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Lunch at La Colombe Constantia

Back in October, I had one of the best meals of my life in New Orleans. The Senegalese communal dining experience at Dakar NOLA is one-of-one and worthy of every accolade it has received since opening in late 2022.

Next to me at Dakar, my neighbor at the table and I started talking about travel. I mentioned I’m going to South Africa in early 2024. He said I must go to La Colombe in Cape Town. Don’t tempt me with an award-winning fine dining experience!

La Colombe was named restaurant of the year by Eat Out and Woolworths in 2023, and it was ranked #94 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The other Cape Town restaurant on both lists is FYN. I did everything I could to get a reservation there too, but it wasn’t in the cards for me I guess. Next time.

The La Colombe you want to go to is the one in Constantia. It was a 30-minute Uber ride from my hotel in De Waterkant.

The restaurant is located on the Silvermist Wine Estate. The restaurant is gorgeous with amazing views of the vineyard. It’s so airy and bright on the inside. The customer service and attention to detail are world-class.

The 10-course Chef’s Menu blew me away. So whimsical. The things people do with food! I don’t want to give away too much, but the highlights of the meal for me were the Tuna ‘La Colombe’, Namibian crab tart, quail, crayfish and sweetcorn bisque, and strawberry and geranium.

10/10

Cost of lunch (plus two glasses of champagne): $184.13 (includes $40 deposit upon booking)

When I booked: 45 days prior