Naledi’s Festive Dream, the V&A’s ... Santa visits the Mother City to see what Joy from Africa’s all about
THE Bombay Bicycle Club
A good choice if you’re looking for an extravagant restaurant atmosphere
It’s an attraction. It’s a little circus. It’s not only for gypsies. It’s a Cape Town institution. It’s the Bombay Bicycle Club.
This is where I take friends when they come to Cape Town for the first time. Something a little crazy usually works and it’s always a night to remember. 'Remember when we wore those hats? Remember when I fell off the swing?' Yes, I do!
I don’t come here for the extraordinarily good food, it’s all right, yeah, but I come here for the vibe, for the experience. Being at the Bombay Bicycle Club is a good reminder not to take life too seriously and that life’s a party. The Bombay Bicycle Club is just that - a party. People eat lot’s and drink even more. The waiters are in a party mood, are dressed up and sometimes have a bite of your meal. It’s a place of friends for friends, a proud love-and-magic-product of Madame Zingara. The decor is a dreamworld. It’s crazy with everything you can find and imagine: a few antiques, a bit of Chinese everything, glitter, toys, too many frames, instruments – can you imagine?
For starters I usually go for the deep fried halloumi cheese (yummy!), for mains I choose the famous chocolate chilli steak I know and love from the Theatre of Dreams. The steak is always a highlight and I always feel like there’s room for a little more. There are always specials as well as a menu including vegetarian meals, pastas, risotto, steaks and more for reasonable prices.
Apart from the food, a good selection of drinks can and will be served. This is a place where you should get a little tipsy. Be a tipsy gypsy since "everything is possible" as they say. "You are encouraged to let your hair down and expected to stay up way past your bed time."
"In all truth the Bombay Bicycle Club was created to teach us all ways towards peace."
Check it out and peace out.
by Antonia Heil
Bombay Bicycle Club
158 Kloof Street | Gardens | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 423 6805
Opening hours: 6pm until very late
Also, visit sister restaurants Sidewalk Café, Café Mozart and Café Paradiso.
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Similar vibe, a place you might not know about yet, House of H.
Find more restaurant-inspiration in our Eating Out section.
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