The V & A Waterfront By Night

The distant sound of live jazz mingles with the clink of cutlery against fine glassware. As your waiter serves you a platter of giant Tiger prawns, grilled to perfection, he asks to top up your glass of chilled Chardonnay. Better yet, stay at one of the prestigious Waterfront Hotels and treat the waterfront like your own walkable backyard.

Sure, there are those who tend to dismiss the Waterfront as 'touristy'. However, there are a number of excellent reasons as to why Cape Town's Waterfront has become South Africa's most visited destination, in particular the lavish array of restaurants (around 80 in total), the perpetual holiday vibe and a harbour front setting that's famous the world over.

On any given evening, the V&A Waterfront buzzes with people from all walks of life. Dinner options range from fine dining to fish 'n chips at a harbour-side pub; international cuisine to African home-kitchen cooking; family steakhouses to sushi bars.

Fancy a drink? We'd recommend a pint of house-brewed beer at Mitchell's Waterfront Brewery or a cocktail at the classy Alba Lounge.

For a magical view of the twinkling city lights, set sail on a sunset cruise. There's a whole fleet of vessels to choose from; most serve a glass of bubbly as you glide across the ocean, or you could dine and dance the night away on a cruising restaurant.

Back on shore take a stroll past the amphitheatre to see what's on. Performances are always free and range from local dance to symphony concerts.

However, live entertainment is not limited to the amphitheatre. The whole Waterfront is a stage for street performers, and as you wander around the pedestrian area you'll be entertained by jazz trumpeters, African dancers and even Moody the Fire Limbo Guy.