A braai is one of the most reliable ways to spend a weekend in Cape Town, and the city has plenty of places to do it with the sea, a mountain or a vineyard slope as the backdrop. Some spots sit on the Atlantic coast, while others are tucked into pine forest, set beside a farm river or placed on a quiet West Coast beach. Most use designated braai stands, and the rules on entry fees, alcohol, opening times and bookings change from one site to the next. Pack the grid, the firelighters and a good cooler box, because these are the spots worth the drive.

Wynberg Park

Wynberg Park is a historic green space in the southern suburbs, opened in 1902 and covering about 22 hectares. It marks the source of the Krakeelwater River and wraps its braai stands around a conifer garden, a duck pond and wide lawns. The playground keeps children busy, and dogs are welcome too.

Mature trees provide plenty of shade, and the hydrangea display peaks in summer. Because charcoal fires are only allowed in public parks that the City has specifically authorised, the park’s built braai areas are a valuable find. Summer brings concerts and fun days to the lawns, which adds atmosphere but also crowds, so weekends can get busy. Public toilets are on site, and a volunteer friends group helps look after the grounds alongside the City’s recreation and parks department.

Cost: Free

When: Winter 8am to 6pm | Summer 8am to 7pm
Where: Wynberg Park, cnr Klaassens and Trovato Link Road, Wynberg, Cape Town

Klippies Bay & Sparks Bay Day Camps

Clarence Drive is a spectacular marine drive, and Klippies Bay and Sparks Bay are its quiet reward. The two day camps sit where the Kogelberg mountains rise straight from the coastline and False Bay stretches out below. At Sparks Bay, a rough track leads down to the braai stands, and a tidal pool gives swimmers a gentler option than the open sea.

Klippies Bay lies a short distance back along the same road. Both camps can fill up in good weather, but on mild winter days they are often wonderfully quiet, and whales can be spotted offshore around August and September. Spaces are first come, first served. Visitors need to bring their own braai grid and wood.

Cost: Free

Where: Klippies Bay and Sparks Bay Day Camps, Clarence Drive (R44), between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els, Cape Town

Helderberg Farm

Helderberg Farm gives the classic braai a rural twist, trading beach sand for a rustic farm on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. The braai spots line a river and are shaded by trees, each equipped with a drum and a small bench for groups of up to 10.

A short hike, the animal farmyard and a play park all come with a braai permit, giving children plenty to do while the coals heat up. The rest of the farm adds plenty for a longer day out, from a tea garden and seasonal strawberry picking to mountain biking, laser tag and views across False Bay towards Table Mountain. Guests bring their own wood or charcoal and grid, and leave the music at home. Larger gatherings are directed to the farm’s private venues instead.

Cost: R50 (adult) R25 (child 5 to 18) | R100 (braai spot max 10 people). Email [email protected] to book.

When: Daily | 8am to 5pm
Where: Helderberg Farm, Klein Helderberg Road (off the R44), Somerset West

Silwerstroomstrand

The drive up the R27 is half the appeal of Silwerstroomstrand, with the sea on one side, strandveld on the other and the city thinning out with every kilometre. At the end of it lies a long, unbroken stretch of sand, with grassy braai and picnic areas set just above the beach. A rocky point called Wintersteen breaks the Atlantic swell, leaving a tidal pool that is far kinder to small swimmers than the open sea, and a children’s play area adds to the family appeal.

The resort sits within the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve, and anglers work the shore for hottentot fish in January and February. Cell reception is patchy, and there are no shops nearby, so water and firewood must be packed from home. Alcohol is prohibited under the City’s Coastal By-law. Chalets and a campsite are on offer for those wanting to stay on.

Cost: Free

Where: Silwerstroomstrand Resort, Silwerstroom Road, off the R27 West Coast Road, north of Melkbosstrand, Cape Town

Tsaarsbank

For a braai with a wilder edge, Tsaarsbank delivers the West Coast at its most rugged. The beach is strewn with rounded boulders and rock pools, and the braai area sits right beside the open Atlantic. It sits in the far corner of West Coast National Park, close to the entrance to the Postberg section, so reaching it makes a proper day trip.

The shoreline invites beachcombing and shell collecting, and from August to October it is an excellent perch for whale watching, with southern right and humpback whales the most common sightings. A car park and toilets are provided, but visitors bring their own food, wood and braai grid. Alcohol is not permitted in public areas in the park, and Tsaarsbank stays open all year, unlike Postberg, which opens only for the flower season.

Cost: R70 per SA adult | R35 per child (higher in the August and September flower season).

Where: Tsaarsbank, West Coast National Park, near Langebaan

Tokai Forest

Tokai suits anyone who likes a fire with a side of forest. The picnic area sits on the edge of the old plantation, spacious and shaded by tall pines, with room for large families to spread out. Walking trails, mountain biking routes and horse-riding paths all start from the surrounding forest, so a hike before lunch or a stroll after it comes easily.

Close by, the Tokai Arboretum, established in 1885, holds more than 1,500 labelled trees, including oaks, cypresses and giant Californian redwoods. A tea garden called Lister’s Place provides refreshments for those who prefer coffee to coals. Gazebos and music are not allowed in the picnic area, and baboons are known to investigate unattended food, so supplies are better kept close.

Cost: R44 per SA adult | R22 per child. Book now via their website.

When: Daily | 8am to 5pm
Where: Tokai Picnic and Braai Area, Tokai Road, Tokai, Cape Town

Maiden’s Cove

Maiden’s Cove is where a braai meets a postcard. Two tidal pools carved into the granite shelf give children a safe place to swim, while the Twelve Apostles rise directly behind the lawn where the braai stands are set. The cove is also a popular sunset spot, with the sun dropping towards the Atlantic.

Between June and November, whales and dolphins sometimes pass offshore, giving the cook something to look at besides the coals. Free diving is another draw, with the City listing it among the best spots in Cape Town. The cove is exposed, so a windy day can make lighting the fire a challenge, and the City prohibits alcohol under its Coastal By-law. Parking, toilets and lifeguards are close at hand, which keeps the day simple for families.

Cost: Free. Call 021 400 3647 / 021 400 3823 to book and secure a spot.

Where: Maiden’s Cove, Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town

Miller’s Point

Miller’s Point is the last of the easy-access bays before the road to Cape Point climbs higher, which makes it a natural stop for a family braai on the way. Lawns with picnic and braai areas sit between two small beaches and a handful of sheltered coves, while a tidal pool gives children a protected place to paddle.

Anglers, boaters and snorkellers share the bay, with a slipway for launching and snorkelling at its best on calm days. Whales add to the scenery, as southern right mothers and calves are drawn to deep pools just north of the point. Baboons also frequent the area, so food is better not left unattended. Those wanting to stay longer can book camping and caravan sites at the resort, which is run by the City of Cape Town.

Cost: R14 (adult) R7 (child). Book now via their website.

Where: Miller’s Point Resort, Main Road (M65), Murdock Valley, Cape Town

Bordjiesrif Picnic Site and Tidal Pool

Bordjiesrif has scenery to spare, with fynbos-covered hills behind, the open water of False Bay in front and Cape Point just down the road. The braai stands are built in circles, a layout that suits big family gatherings and groups of friends who want to stay in conversation while the meat cooks, and they sit on grass rather than sand.

Children get a sheltered tidal pool of their own, while the Dias and Da Gama monuments, which double as navigational beacons, can be seen from the grounds. A slipway serves anyone arriving with a boat. Visitors bring their own grid and wood, and dogs, music and alcohol are all off the list. Baboons are regulars, so food is best kept packed away and never shared with them.

Cost: R110 per SA adult | R55 per child. Book now via their website.

Where: Bordjiesrif Picnic Site, Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Peninsula

Oudekraal

Tucked into a cove of granite boulders between Bakoven and Llandudno, Oudekraal feels like a well-kept local secret, even though it sits directly opposite the Twelve Apostles Hotel. Around 35 braai spots are scattered through the grounds, many tucked under milkwood trees or between boulders that lend both privacy and shade.

The protected coves are rich in marine life, so snorkelling is as much a part of the day as the fire, and a wreck dating to 1670, thought to be the oldest known in South Africa, draws divers. Summer days fill up early. There is no lifeguard and no shop, and alcohol is not permitted, so supplies and a careful eye on the water are essential. Chacma baboons occasionally wander through, hoping for an unguarded cooler box.

Cost: R44 per SA adult | R22 per child. Book now via their website.

When: Weekdays | 8am to 6pm
Where: Oudekraal, Victoria Road (opposite the Twelve Apostles Hotel), between Bakoven and Llandudno, Cape Town

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