Winter date ideas for couples, families and friends

Free arcade bar, famous Cape Malay cooking class, & more

Last updated: Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Winter is the perfect weather for cosy dates, like a sexy night out at a hidden speakeasy or wine tasting in a cave. And dates don’t always have to be romantic. Your friends will love Cape Town’s first arcade bar with free games, and kids can make their own chocolate bars at an artisanal chocolate store.

FAMOUS CAPE MALAY COOKING CLASS  

If you’ve watched Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix, you might know of this cooking class. Faeeza hosts Cape Malay cooking classes in her Bo-Kaap home. You’ll learn how to make things like samoosas, chilli bites, bobotie and curry. More famous guests at Faeeza’s Home Kitchen include Roger Federer, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; Saturday, 9am to 4pm

Cost: From R550 per person

Chiappini Lane | Bo-Kaap | Cape Town | @faeezashomekitchen | Image: Faeeza’s Home Kitchen

MAKE HANDCASTS WITH A FRIEND OR PARTNER

This new activity, which has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, is the first of its kind in Cape Town. At 2handsy you and a loved one can create your own hand castings. All the materials you’ll need are included in your ticket. The venue changes weekly and there’s also food, games and drinks vouchers included at 2handsy. 

Hours: Saturdays & Sundays, from 12pm

Cost: Packages from R395 for adults and R195 for kids (under 12)

Various locations | @2handsyexperience | Image: 2handsy

MAKE YOUR OWN CHOC BARS 

It’s the artisanal chocolate shop that’s gone viral online. Rapt is a whimsical wonderland where you can make your own box of handmade “bon bombs”, try nitrogen ice cream or sip a hot chocolate with bruleed marshmallows. Kids will love the build-a-bar station (with fillings like nuts, sweet caramel, candy and dried cranberries) at Rapt on Buitenkant Street. 

Hours: Monday, 9am to 6pm; Tuesday to Saturday; 9am to 9pm; Sunday, 9am to 4pm

Cost: Varies

39 Buitenkant Street | Cape Town City Centre | Cape Town | @raptindulgence | Image: Lindsey Appolis

FREE CLASSIC ARCADE GAMES 

Cape Town’s first bar arcade is great for an affordable date. There’s both classic arcade games and gaming consoles on display. You can play childhood favourites like Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, Terminator and they’re free to play when you buy a drink. There’s also a soda gun on tap and popcorn. Plus it’s open till 2am so you can enjoy a late night at Barcadia. 

Hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays, 1pm to 2am

Cost: Free to play when you buy a drink

62 Hout Street | Cape Town | @barcadiaza | Image: Barcadia

SEXY NIGHT OUT AT A SECRET BAR

This hidden speakeasy was once a Victorian warehouse. Inspired by the USA’s prohibition era, there’s jazz playing and cosy mood lighting. While Art of Duplicity was initially only disclosed through word of mouth, you can now make a booking. Each booking comes with a password, prompts and the address.

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 6pm to 2am

Cost: Varies 

Hidden location | @art.of.duplicity | Image: Art of Duplicity

TASTE 130+ TEAS IN PLUMSTEAD 

A tea tasting at Nigiro Teacafe includes an introduction to the various teas and their origins, and a discussion on tea culture. There’s over 130 flavours to try like Piña Colada, French Kisses, and Lady Grey. There’s also food paired with tea, like a honeybush poached egg crêpe with a liquorice-coco herbal infusion, at Nigiro Teacafe. 

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm; Saturday, 9am to 3pm; Sunday, 9am to 2pm

Cost: R150pp

71 Gabriel Road | Plumstead | @nigiroteacafe | Image: Nigiro Teacafe

DRINK WINE IN A QUIRKY, COSY CAVE

There’s a 300-year-old boutique winery in Durbanville that has 6 unique caves where you can taste wine exclusively with the apple of your eye. Lean into each other in The Kitchen or Versaille nook and listen to the stories of the farm’s vines and wines. Plus, you can have lunch, walk its trails, and picnic at Klein Roosboom.

Klein Roosboom | Durbanville | @kleinroosboom | Image: Klein Roosboom

CUDDLE IN A BOOK NOOK  

Liberty Books, in Elgin, offers 3 unique bookstore experiences, but it is the main bookstore romantics will be drawn to. It’s in a little house next to Peregrine Farmstall, it’s warm, colourful and has arch windows and tiger-print wallpaper. It curates bespoke libraries that will have you browsing for hours. The best part? There’s a cosy (and super Instagrammable) reading nook, the perfect spot to snuggle up together and read.

Liberty Books | Grabouw | @libertybooksza | Image: Tasneem Kadwa

PAIR COFFEE AND TURKISH DELIGHT

Are you a couple of coffee lovers? This cute café brings a slice of Turkey to the heart of Stellenbosch. Its speciality is Turkish coffee that you can pair coffee 7 flavours of Turkish Delight, from the classic rose to others less common, such as chocolate, almond (one of the most popular), pomegranate, mint, ginger and orange. Or see how coffee is made in hot sand at Turkspirit Café. 

Turkspirit Café | Stellenbosch | @turkspirit | Image: Mark Schultz

GIVE YOUR WHISKY LOVER THEIR DREAM DATE

Step into a modern 1920s-style speakeasy bar, where you can taste over 800 whiskies from around the globe in this intimate setting. Opt for a tasting of six different whiskies (choose according to your taste and budget) and pair it with a charcuterie board. Plus, stop by the Rust-en-Vrede Art Gallery & Clay Museum when visiting The Whisky Library.

Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, Durbanville | @the_whisky_library_sa | Image: The Whisky Library

TAKE YOUR LOVE TO THE SMALLEST BAR IN STELLIES

In the bustling Dorp Street, under the acorn trees, you’ll find an old-school bar. Blix Tavern boasts old-Western decor, craft beers and a hidden cigar alley (it sells cigars, too). It’s a great spot for a cosy date night and the perfect way to treat your lover.

Blix Tavern | Stellenboch | @blix_tavern | Image: Blix Tavern

By Sarah Williams

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MORE WAYS TO ENJOY WINTER

We’ve found over 25 ways to spend a rainy day.  

Make the most of the cold season with these winter specials. 

Discover your city with our guide to week(end) activities.

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