Kalk Bay is an artist’s haven and has been described as being what the suburb of Observatory wants to be when it grows up. The two suburbs definitely share a bohemian character except Kalk Bay is by the ocean and you can’t really top that. 
Visiting this magical corner of Cape Town is a great excuse to take a leisurely trip by train, which takes about one hour from Cape Town Station. The train snakes along the coast once you get to Muizenberg station and if you grab a seat at a window on the left hand side of the train you’ll be able to daydream with the turquoise sea just metres from the carriage.
Kalk Bay Harbour is the beating heart of this charismatic neighbourhood and that’s where I head to from the station, stopping by the famous Olympia Café & Deli to grab a takeaway croissant for breakfast to enjoy while taking a walk on the pier (tip: if it’s too full for your liking, grab something from the Olympia Bakery around the corner). If I fancied myself a budding Nigella Lawson, Kalk Bay Harbour is the perfect place to pick up some fresh seafood to prepare into a sumptuous meal at home.
Try as I might to watch how much I spend on books, I can’t fight the irresistible pull of Kalk Bay Books and I go there immediately afterwards and end up leaving with two novels and a Taschen art book that was going for a steal!
My all-time favourite shop in Kalk Bay is definitely Cape to Cairo, by far one of the most eclectic shops I have ever been in. I can get lost between all the fascinating items: dumbwaiters in curious shapes, candle sculptures, giant mirrors, colourful women’s clothing and all-round amazing décor. I stumble upon a new store called Tainted and add a new silver ring to my list of impulse buys.
By this stage some sautéed paprika calamari at Harbour House Restaurant sounds like a good idea and truthfully, I also want to relax at one particular table that’s outside on its own private balcony overlooking the ocean and the Kalk Bay Harbour pier. However, if the wind had been too strong to enjoy the balcony, I would’ve been happy to have the Catch-of-the-Day or a Cypress Hill pizza at the Brass Bell or maybe something at Kalky’s Fish & Chips if I was on a budget (I usually try to save some space for a scoop of Turkish Delight Italian ice cream at the Ice Cream Café but it all depends on the size of lunch).
It’s still a bit early for cocktails so I browse the dresses at Big Blue and the vintage items at London Road, which is conveniently across the road from Kalk Bay Theatre so I can see what’s on. I decide to grab a cup of tea at the Annex Restaurant’s elevated garden and chill out with one of my new books but I end up being tempted by the Chai Pannacotta with ginger nut crumble too. 
Time is marching on and I decide to meet a friend at Cape To Cuba’s Che Bar for pre-dinner cocktails and get a ride back into Cape Town city centre with her as I’ll miss the last train out of Kalk Bay (Mondays to Fridays at 19:27pm, Saturdays at 19:01pm and Sundays/Public Holidays at 19:11pm). The coolest thing about Cape to Cuba is how the trains rush right past the windows of the restaurant and bar.
After dark, we mosey on over to Polana for the live music. Even though it’s a restaurant, it’s the best place to let your hair down. They’re known for moving the seating out of the way once the dinner rush is over so the patrons have more dancing space.
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