Staying at The Rockefeller: Where To Visit in Cape Town’s CBD

A bright standout in Cape Town’s evening skyline, The Rockefeller Hotel is a premium accommodation, dining, and event venue which blends cosmopolitan design with four-star facilities and eco-friendly amenities.

The Rockefeller Hotel offers a wide variety of services and facilities, all in the heart of Cape Town’s busy City Centre. While staying there, some of Cape Town’s most iconic locations, activities, and experiences are just a couple of minutes away, making for a fun-filled staycation in the CBD. These are our recommendations for what to do while staying at The Rockefeller.

Artscape

The Artscape Theatre Centre, found just across the street from The Rockefeller, is Cape Town’s biggest cultural venue and one of the biggest theatre spaces in the country. Comprising multiple versatile venues, it offers a diverse and vibrant platform for the performing arts, from live music and opera to theatre and dance performances, and much more. The center’s iconic venues include the Artscape Opera House, the Artscape Arena, and the Artscape Theatre.

This year alone, the space has hosted productions of Carmen, Cats, The Nutcracker, Mamma Mia!, and Dracula, with upcoming performances from some of the country’s most beloved voices like Zolani Mahola and Internet Athi.

Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore, Cape Town

Keep up to date with all the biggest Artscape performances with our Stage Shows guide

Harrington’s

This classic and stylish cocktail lounge, restaurant and boutique bar evokes a nostalgic sense of opulence, style and sophistication. With panoramic windows overlooking the bustling nightlife of the East City neighbourhood, the place features lush, inviting décor that takes guests back to a time when disco was alive, and drinks were cheap.

Guests enjoy 40% off selected cocktails, house wines and Harry’s pouring spirits during their Happy Hour from 4pm to 7pm. The space also regularly hosts themed events, from drag shows to romantic dinners and jazz nights. More information is available on the website.

When: Wednesday – Saturday | 4pm – 4am | 4pm – late (Wed & Thu)
Where: 61b Harrington Street, District Six, East City, Cape Town

Read through our guide to Cape Town’s trendy suburb, the East City

Cape Town Central Library Public Libraries

South Africans often forget they can use the public library system, which allows anyone to borrow books on all kinds of subjects from the 100+ public libraries in the Mother City. The system suits anyone: students looking for study material, professionals in need of work-related guides, and even those simply searching for a good read.

The central library is the crown jewel of the system in the Mother City, with massive shelves filled with important books and plenty of space for visitors to spend the day reading. Bonus: it’s very close to The Rockefeller Hotel. More information on the registration & loaning process is available online. The Online Public Access Catalogue makes it even easier to see which titles are available for borrowing at which libraries, with all relevant information in one simple website.

When: Monday – Saturday | 9am – 6pm | 9am – 5pm (Fri) | 9am – 1pm (Sat)
Where: 1 Parade St, Cape Town City Centre

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City Sightseeing Canal Cruise

City Sightseeing’s Canal Cruise is a hop-on hop-off boat service that runs along the canal linking Cape Town’s Foreshore precinct near The Rockefeller with the V&A Waterfront. The ticket is valid for the full day, allowing passengers to board and disembark at any stop along the route.

The 20-minute cruise passes Battery Park, home to the city’s stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking community, along with the CTICC, the Harbour Bridge Hotel and the One&Only Cape Town. On-board commentary covers stories from the canal’s history, including the tale of the so-called “suitcase of money,” and is available in 15 languages, with a separate audio channel for children.

The cruise is weather-dependent, and you should check its operational status on the day of travel.

Cost: R70 (adult) | R35 (child). Book now on the website.

When: Monday – Sunday | 9am – 5pm (departs every 30 – 60 minutes)
Where: V&A Waterfront, behind the One & Only Hotel (Stop 1), Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town; additional stop at the Cape Town Convention Centre, next to the Westin Hotel

City Lights, More Nights

To make each stay even more special, The Rockefeller is giving guests a special deal to enjoy their urban getaway at an even better price. Ideal for a weekend spent eating, staying, and playing in the Mother City, guests get up to 20% off the Best Available Rate if they stay for three nights or longer – valid throughout spring and early summer.

The offer includes the option to add complimentary breakfast each night, so guests can save money while enjoying The Rockefeller’s acclaimed breakfast offering.

When: Valid until 20 December 2026

The Electric

A community hub in the heart of District Six and only a few minutes drive from The Rockefeller, The Electric is another example of a cosy cafe/deli by day and a vibrant events space at night. As an all-inclusive institution, dogs, bikes, remote workers, and friends are all welcome in its sunflower-yellow walls.

They offer plenty of nutritious options, including health shots, juices, flavour-filled nut milks, and wellness add-ons. For breakfast, they serve a variety of affordable classics (bagels, eggs Benedict, and full breakfasts), and for lunch, they feature sharing platters, burgers, salads, and flatbreads. Hot drink lovers of all types are sure to be satisfied with their diverse array of choices, whether it’s sticky naartjie tea or bulletproof coffee.

Bookings can be made on the website.

When: Monday – Saturday | 8am – 7pm | 9am – 5pm (Sat)
Where: 48 Canterbury Street, District Six, Cape Town

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Zeitz MOCAA

The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art (MOCAA) is Africa’s leading art gallery dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Housed in the now-iconic Silo Building at the V&A Waterfront just down the coastline from The Rockefeller, the gallery boasts both a permanent exhibition and temporary, rotating exhibitions, all contributing to the preservation and promotion of African artists.

Current exhibitions include Zohra Opoku’s We Proceed in the Footsteps of the Sunlight, Lerato Shadi and Robin Rhode’s A Protea is Not a Flower, and Cauleen Smith’s Afflict the Comfortable, Comfort the Afflicted.

Tickets and memberships for the Zeitz MOCAA can be purchased on Webtickets or at the door of the museum.

When: Daily | 10am – 6pm
Where: Zeitz MOCAA, S Arm Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town

Dias Tavern

Fans of Portuguese cuisine and football will know Dias Tavern, a go-to restaurant with acclaimed food and TVs dedicated to live matches. The original location in the East City is a fan favourite, known for its quality of Portuguese staples like prego rolls, trinchado, grilled fish, and espetada.

Dias is particularly busy on match days, as Premier League and Springbok games always attract big crowds looking for a spicy meal, a social atmosphere, and access to a TV. More information and reservations are available on the website.

When: Monday – Saturday | 11.30am – 12am (Tue – Sat) | 11.30am – 11.30pm (Mon)
Where: 15 Caledon Street, District Six, East City, Cape Town

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Athletic Club & Social

This three-storey bar is a sophisticated wine-and-jazz venue with a Mediterranean menu, cocktails, and a hidden basement bar. Perfect for a couples’ dinner upstairs before heading downstairs to enjoy the grooving melodies of Cape Town’s lively jazz scene, Athletic Club & Social is a great late-night destination for dressing up and enjoying a relaxed evening with loved ones.

Live jazz performances are scheduled Wednesday through Saturday, with a dedicated After Hours menu to ensure no one goes hungry while the night is still young.

Tables can be booked on Dineplan.

When: Monday – Saturday | 4pm – 11pm (Mon & Tue) | 4pm – 12am (Wed) | 12pm – 2am (Thu – Sat)
Where: 35 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town City Centre

District Six Museum

This iconic cultural hub of learning in Cape Town is home to the memories and histories of forced removals under the Apartheid regime in South Africa is less than a five-minute drive from The Rockefeller Hotel. The museum is a carefully curated space that promotes social justice for the District Six community while serving as a place of learning and deep reflection on the harsh truths of this history. It encourages visitors to confront the realities of the past by observing the stories of forced removals through collections, exhibitions and education programmes.

Cost: R65 per person. Book now on the website.

When: Monday – Saturday | 9am – 4pm
Where: 25 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town

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Ebony/Curated

Since its establishment in 2015, this contemporary South African gallery has supported creatives whose practices engage with intimate lived experiences within broader cultural and aesthetic contexts, with a particular spotlight on local artists honing their craft. Loop Editions is an add-on to the gallery, showcasing artists’ originals, editions, and collectables in a bright, sunny café space adjacent to the gallery.

When: Monday – Saturday | 9am – 5pm | 9.30am – 1pm (Sat)
Where: 67 Loop Street, Cape Town City Centre

Staying at The Rockefeller

With views stretching from the ocean to the mountains and a central location in Cape Town, The Rockefeller Hotel is an ideal location for a visitor wanting to make the most of a trip to the Mother City, or a lifelong resident looking to experience their hometown for the first time again.

Bookings can be made using the website, or by emailing [email protected].

When: Check in from 3pm | Check out at 12pm
Where: The Rockefeller Hotel, 12 Christiaan Barnard St, Foreshore, Cape Town