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Where To Revel In the Magic Of The Christmas Week
Decadent lunches, delicious at-home picnic boxes and an afternoon of golf
Last update: 1 December 2020
Cape Town is a melting pot of people, cultures and religions, which gives us so many different ways to celebrate the festivities around Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and even Boxing Day. So even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, there are plenty of options to enjoy this festive week. You can enjoy the sunny days by ordering a decadent picnic box and heading out to a garden or the seaside, or try something completely different – a vegan Italian meal with Lex’s Vegan Kitchen. There’s even an idea for sports lovers: tour the largest privately owned rugby museum this festive season.
BUY YOUR TABLE MOUNTAIN CABLEWAY TICKET NOW (ONLINE)
The cableway, one of CapeTown’s top attractions, is open every day including on Christmas Day. It’s super popular over summer. To avoid disappointment, book online, where there is a calendar to see in real time which days are booked out and which are available (don’t come on the day without a ticket). Good news is the cableway runs on extended hours in peak season: From 16 December 2020 until 15 January 2021 it operates from 8am (first car up) to 9.30pm (last car down).
Price: From R100 to R380.
Date and time: 8am – 9.30pm. Pick your day and time and book early.
ENJOY LIVE MUSIC, GOOD FOOD + WINE AT DUTCHIES
Dutchies Restaurant in Hermanus is serving a full menu of delicious starters, entrees, mains and desserts for Christmas. Plus, kids under 12 can eat at half price. Guests will be treated to a light yogurt and cauliflower gazpacho for the aperitif with a choice between three starters. The courgette carpaccio starter comes with a sprig of mint and salty ricotta salata, but, if you’re feeling like something a bit more meaty, the roasted fig with parma ham is drool-worthy. That’s just the starters. For the main, they’re pulling out all the stops with their slow braised lamb, asparagus risotto and their pan seared salmon with crispy salmon skin.
Price: R655pp
Date and time: 25 December, 12pm - 3pm
Grotto Street, Voelklip, Hermanus | 028 314 1392 | dutchies.co.za
DINE ON THE RADISSON BLU’S LAVISH CHRISTMAS BUFFET
Whatever you thought about a Christmas buffet, forget about it. At the Radisson Blu, you can dive into a sumptuous buffet lunch with a welcome drink, fresh bread for the table and a range of delicious starters before you tuck into your main. The starters of prawn cocktail tartlets or a caramelised onion and brie tart with prawn cocktail, rocket and avo are heavenly. You’ll want to save some space for the main though, which you’ll be sharing family-style. Pack a little bit of everything onto your plate, there’s gammon, roast chicken, lamb, roast potatoes and a whole lot more. If you have the room, the desserts (baked cheesecake, mini milk tarts, koeksisters and fruit mince pies) will be a refreshing way to end the meal.
Price: R595pp
Date and time: 25 December
22 Riebeek St, Cape Town City Centre | 021 467 4000 | radissonhotels.com
BOOK AT ONE&ONLY CAPE TOWN FOR A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS
One&Only Cape Town does Christmas like it does most things: with exceptional style. There’s an elf hunt, with clues sneakily hidden every day up till Christmas (starts on the 18th), plus Santa can make a personal drop-off at your suite (complimentary.) For non-guests who don’t feel like the heavy lifting of making a Christmas meal, then book at the One&Only Cape Town for a range of options: there’s Christmas Eve dinner at Vista Bar & Lounge, Christmas Day lunch at Ochre and dinner (if you can fit another thing in) at Vista Bar & Lounge and Nobu. For those who are keen to stay, then there’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal called Your Urban Retreat.
Price: From R1 200pp
Date and time: Events from 14 December, 2020
Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront | 021 431 5888 | oneandonlyresorts.com
TREAT THE FAMILY AT ENTREÉ RESTAURANT (KIDS EAT FREE)
Entreé Restaurant in Franschhoek has prepared a decadent Christmas Day treat: a full three-course meal, plus a glass of MCC for the grown-ups on arrival. A big bonus is that little ones under ten eat for free. The menu is gorgeous, and caters for everyone. For the vegetarians you’ll love their truffle, pea and parmesan risotto. Meat-eaters, the grilled beef fillet with thyme roast baby potatoes, cinnamon-spiced butternut puree, sautéed broccolini with toasted almond flakes and caramalised onion jus is drool-worthy. Just to make sure you’re ready for these delicious mains, you’ll also get a delicious yuzu citrus granita as a palate cleanser.
Price: This Christmas special is R650pp, but kids under ten eat for free when you email entree@entree-restaurant.co.za.
Note: The kid’s menu will be available on the day.
Date and time: 25 December.
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191 Main Rd, Franschhoek | 066 083 1145 | entree-restaurant.co.za
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AT LEX’S VEGAN KITCHEN
More and more people are opting for the vegan lifestyle, but when it comes to the big celebratory traditional meals, like Christmas dinner or lunch, it’s easy to feel a little underwhelmed at the options. This is when you should head to Lex’s Italian Vegan Kitchen, which serves dishes as delicious and interesting as its name suggests. For the festive season, Lex is offering a Christmas lunch box special of roasted garlic tagliatelle, two vegetable-packed wellingtons, a creamy pavlova and freshly baked shortbread biscuits. If there is one dish you should try it’s the butternut wellington. “They are so full of flavour. It means that us vegans don't need to miss out on having a roast on the Christmas table,” restaurant owner Lex Lagrotteria says.
Price: R800 per box.
Date and time: You can pick up your box of deliciousness on 24 December.
Princess St, Hout Bay | 079 145 2391 | LexVeganKitchen
HEAD TO DE KELDER FOR GOLF, SUSHI + DELICIOUS CHRISTMAS LUNCH
De Kelder Restaurant in Somerset West is a local gem known for its stunning golfing range, set right in front of the restaurant, and fresh sushi bar. And this festive season it’s adding a delicious Christmas lunch special of roast beef, crispy roast potatoes, chicken satay, and sweet, caramel pumpkin fritters for dessert. Bring the little ones along as kids younger than twelve eat at a discount.
Price: R149 - R349. You can book online via dekelderrestaurant.com.
Note: There are two Christmas lunch services.
Date and time: 25 December. There are two lunch services, from 11am - 1pm, and 1:30pm - 3:30pm.
2 De Beers Ave, Somerset West | 021 852 8604 | dekelderrestaurant.com
PACK A BLANKET AND LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC AT NOOITGEDACHT
Pack your picnic blanket, bring the kids and unwind on Christmas eve to live music and delicious food at Nooitgedacht Wine Estate. South African singer-songwriter John Niel is playing crowd favourites from his latest album ‘Trouble’. Soak up Niel’s infectious tunes with a delicious plate of gammon and fresh apple-walnut-and-cranberry salad, as well as a board of fresh bread, cheese and crudité (sliced vegetables). Plus there’s a bottle of wine and a welcome drink on arrival.
Price: R1 000 for two people.
Date and time: 24 December, 4pm - 10pm.
Nooitgedacht Wine Estate, R304 Koelenhof Road | 021 865 2407 | nooitgedachtestate.co.za
ENJOY A DECADENT PICNIC AT HOME WITH THE PICNIC COMPANY
The festive season can be a busy time for families, plus for many in the Western Cape, there’s also social distancing that needs to be observed. If you still want to celebrate but have to bear precautions in mind, why not opt for a decadent picnic experience? The Picnic Company has tons of Christmas picnic boxes for you to choose from. You can never go wrong with a freshly baked ciabatta sandwich with gammon, or classic roast beef dinner. There’s a lot of drool-worthy boxes to choose from, and even a box dedicated solely to dessert.
Price: R200 - R3 000
Date and time: Booking your picnic box earlier is always better, but you can book yours anytime you’d like online at picnics.co.za.
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The Old Timber Yard, 27 7th Ave, Maitland | 071 604 2133 | picnics.co.za
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Shop for your Christmas gifts at Christmas markets in and around Cape Town.
Stay busy with a ton of festive activities on the weekends.
Find more Christmas lunch specials at new places all over Cape Town.
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