Long Street runs the length of the city from the foreshore to Tamboerskloof. It is one of the oldest streets in Cape Town. It is known for its mix of Victorian and Islamic architecture. It features an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and clubs. It is a great area for nightlife.
The bottom of Long Street is mainly a business district but as you head towards the mountain it turns into a mecca of small boutiques, antique shops, bookshops, bars, restaurants and clubs.
Well known landmarks on the street include:
- The Long Street Bookshop, an antiquarian bookstore selling second hand books;
- The Long Street Café, a relaxed café with good food, music and drinks. This is a popular meeting place in the evening;
- The Royale, a great gourmet burger hangout catering for the late night club revelers is known for its delicious food and great atmosphere;
- The Grand Daddy Hotel, housed in a beautiful Victorian building. This recently renovated hotel is quirky, stylish and unique. It has a rooftop trailer park with 7 luxurious Airstream trailers available for booking;
- The Joburg Bar, a popular, lively bar frequented by Capetonians and visitors alike;
- The Long Street Baths, situated at the top of Long Street. These historic baths have a heated pool, Turkish baths and dry heat rooms. The bath complex was opened in 1908 and the Turkish baths were opened in 1929.
There are many backpacker lodges and youth hostels on Long Street, thus ensuring that this street is a center for tourists and locals. It is a bustling metropolis of sights, sounds and smells, turning into a late night party street, with crowds spilling out on to the road from bars and clubs.
