Cape Town
DESTINATION GUIDE WITH TRISTAN DU PLESSIS
Cape Town Design City Guide: A Curated Journey with Tristan Du Plessis
Cape Town has emerged as one of the most dynamic design capitals in Africa, where contemporary architecture, collectible design, and a thriving gallery scene intersect with the city’s dramatic natural landscape. From experimental furniture studios and cutting-edge art galleries to design-led restaurants and boutique hotels, the city offers a vibrant creative ecosystem shaped by a new generation of designers and makers.
For this edition of the Designeers Design Destination Guides, we explore Cape Town through the eyes of Tristan du Plessis, the acclaimed interior designer known for shaping some of the country’s most distinctive restaurants, hotels and hospitality spaces.
March 2026
Words: designeers
breakfast and coffee:
Pauline’s
Pauline’s is not trying to be trendy or overly designed - and that is precisely its charm. It feels authentic, relaxed, and quietly confident. For a thoughtful coffee and an easy Cape Town breakfast, it is one of the most reliable stops in the city.
favourite design museum:
Zeitz MOCAA
Few museums make as immediate an architectural impression as Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. Housed inside a transformed historic grain silo at the V&A Waterfront, the building itself is a masterpiece of adaptive reuse, reimagined by Thomas Heatherwick and his studio into one of the most striking museum interiors in the world.
favourite ART GALLERY:
WHATIFTHEWORLD
WHATIFTHEWORLD feels intellectually vibrant and forward-thinking - a gallery that reflects Cape Town’s position as one of the most dynamic cultural centres on the African continent. For collectors, curators, and visitors interested in the cutting edge of contemporary African art, it is an essential stop on the city’s gallery circuit.
Lunch:
Arlecchino
For a relaxed yet design-conscious lunch in Cape Town, Arlecchino strikes a beautiful balance between contemporary style and effortless hospitality. The space feels lively and creative, with a confident interior that blends bold colour accents, sculptural lighting, and a mix of textures that give the restaurant a distinctly modern personality.
fine dining:
Fyn
For design lovers visiting Cape Town, FYN offers more than an exceptional meal - it is a beautifully considered interior where architecture, atmosphere, and culinary craft come together seamlessly.
Set on the fifth floor of a historic city building, the restaurant has been transformed into a calm and contemporary dining space that blends Japanese minimalism with African materiality.
Cocktail Bar:
Kloof Street House
For design lovers, Kloof Street House is a masterclass in maximalist hospitality design, where vintage charm, layered décor and atmospheric lighting come together to create a space that feels intimate, playful and unmistakably Cape Town.
a design hotel to stay in:
Gorgeous George
Gorgeous George captures the spirit of Cape Town’s evolving hospitality scene - a place where heritage architecture, contemporary design and a lively urban atmosphere come together effortlessly. One of the hotel’s standout features is its rooftop terrace, where the pool, bar and restaurant overlook the city skyline with Table Mountain rising dramatically in the background.
Favourite Design Boutique:
AKJP
For collectors and design lovers exploring Cape Town’s creative scene, AKJP offers a calm and inspiring stop - a place where contemporary African craft and collectible design come together in a beautifully understated setting. Founded by designer Anthony James Paul, the studio showcases a collection of sculptural ceramics, lighting, and small design objects that sit somewhere between art and functional design.
an artisan everyone should know about:
Chris Soal
Among the most fascinating material-driven artists working today is Chris Soal, a South African artist whose sculptural works transform humble everyday materials into striking contemporary artworks.
Soal is known for his meticulous process of assembling thousands of small components - most famously discarded corks collected from restaurants and bars, which he combines with metal pins or nails to create richly textured surfaces.
Outdoor Space for Tranquility:
Lion’s Head
For a moment of stillness above the city, Lion’s Head offers one of Cape Town’s most iconic natural escapes. Rising between Table Mountain and Signal Hill, the mountain is known for its dramatic panoramic views over the city, the Atlantic Ocean, and the surrounding peaks. At the top, the reward is extraordinary: a 360-degree view that captures the full beauty of Cape Town’s setting between ocean and mountains.
Art, Furniture & Design Objects:
Tonic Design
For those interested in collectible design and sculptural furniture, Tonic Design is a must-visit destination in Cape Town. The gallery has built a strong reputation for championing contemporary African designers whose work sits at the intersection of art, craftsmanship, and functional design.
out of town adventure:
Babylonstoren
Just under an hour from Cape Town in the Cape Winelands, Babylonstoren is one of the most beautifully conceived farm estates in South Africa - a destination where landscape, architecture, food, and design come together in remarkable harmony. With its thoughtful architecture, carefully designed landscapes, and strong connection to nature, Babylonstoren offers a serene escape from the city - and a powerful reminder of how design and agriculture can coexist in a truly inspiring environment.
Best Sunset Spot:
The Rock Viewpoint
For one of the most quietly spectacular sunsets in Cape Town, locals often gravitate to the rocky viewpoint between Bantry Bay and Clifton, a simple yet breathtaking spot along the Atlantic Seaboard. Known informally as the Rock Viewpoint, it offers uninterrupted views across the Atlantic where the sun slowly dips into the ocean.
Unlike the more crowded sunset destinations around the city, this stretch of granite rocks feels intimate and unpretentious.
Iconic Architectural Landmark:
The Silo
One of Cape Town’s most striking architectural transformations is The Silo Hotel, a dramatic reimagining of the historic grain elevator that once dominated the harbour skyline. Rising above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, the building has become an unmistakable landmark at the V&A Waterfront. The building’s cylindrical geometry and monumental scale create dramatic spatial moments, while the glass additions introduce light and transparency to what was once an opaque storage facility.
More from Tristan Du Plessis
From Cape Town to Shanghai: Tristan Du Plessis and the New Language of Global Luxury
Tristan du Plessis is a Cape Town–based interior designer known for creating bold and atmospheric hospitality interiors across South Africa and internationally. His work explores materiality, lighting and spatial storytelling to create immersive design environments.
In this conversation, Du Plessis reflects on creative distance, cultural authenticity, ultra-luxury, and why interior architecture must sit at the strategic core of any development.
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