Constantia is the oldest Cape Town suburb, and also one of the most beautiful; known for its verdure as trees flank just about every street and adorn the vast majority of the gardens. It is an affluent suburb that is known for its luxurious homes, which have sizeable wine farms scattered liberally amongst them. It is also notable in terms of its topography, as it is home to the Constantia Valley and the Constantiaberg Mountain Range. These ensure breath-taking views from just about every angle. In addition, there is a mountain pass called Constantia Nek, which leads to Hout Bay.
This area was originally dedicated to wine farms when, in the late 17th century, the Dutch discovered the ideal conditions of the Western Cape for vineyards. Today, the best known farms in the area include Groot Constantia (established in 1684), Steenberg (established 1682), Buitenverwachting, Constantia Uitsig and Klein Constantia. Some of the country’s most esteemed restaurants are found here too, including La Colombe and Pastis French Patisserie.
Because this is a suburb of Cape Town, it is close to a number of popular natural wonders, accommodations and tourist attractions for which this city is acclaimed.
These include:
• Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
• The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
• Table Mountain
• Lion’s Head
• Signal Hill
• The beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno.
• Century City
• The Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Somerset West, etc.)
• Fish Hoek, Simon’s Town and Kalk Bay.
However, Constantia has its own exciting things to do and see. The Constantia Village Mall is one of the trendiest hubs, which combines convenience and opulence. There are the expected outlets, such as Pick ‘n Pay, Woolworths Food and Exclusive Books, but there are also a host of boutiques and specialty stores that make a visit to this mall very special. There are a number of restaurants here that offer everything from healthy vegan meals or sushi to prime cuts of beef and game. Even the design of the building took the gorgeous scenery into account to ensure that it worked together with its surrounding beauty.
Other popular attractions in Constantia include:
• The Constantia Uitsig Restaurant – a renowned eatery for those with a discerning palate.
• To revitalise body and soul, visit the Ginkgo Spa & Wellness at Steenberg or the Constantia Uitsig Spa.
• Wine tours: sample some of the best wines in the world at the various local estates.
• The Constantia Waldorf Night Market is held on the last Friday of the month from October to April (excluding school holidays). Look forward to food, entertainment, arts and crafts.
• The Vlakkenberg Mountain in Constantia Valley is a fabulous hiking hotspot within the Table Mountain National Park.
• The Groot Constantia Homestead and Wine Museum
• The Silvermine Nature Reserve
• The Constantia Cheesery – there is no better complement to the array of wines than some awesome cheeses.
• Gorgeous by Graham Beck – this is the first brand-exclusive champagne (or sparkling wine) bar in the country and is all about the ultimate in indulgence and luxury. There is a very small menu, but absolutely everything brings out the delicate flavours of the wines and is of world-class standards.