Oranjezicht and Vredehoek
The City Bowl, aptly named, is a natural amphitheatre overlooked protectively and somewhat imposingly by Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak. It contains a number of suburbs, which, for a relatively small and contained area, vary quite a lot in feel, look, layout and property style. This month we take a closer look at Oranjezicht and Vredehoek, chosen as their favourites by our featured agents, Mongezi Mevana and Anne Wirtz.
Oranjezicht
Sprawling over the mountain foothills, Oranjezicht is located on the site of the old Oranjezicht farm, which spanned a large area and supplied the Castle of Good Hope with fresh produce. It was so named for the view it afforded of the ‘orange’ (oranje)-hued bastion of the castle and was a farm for two centuries. Today, the much-loved Oranjezicht City Farm market, a non-profit community farm project, is its legacy, (although, ironically, it is no longer located in Oranjezicht itself). Central to the suburb is the Molteno Dam, which has provided water to Cape Town since 1877. Whilst the dam is still operational, Oranjezicht is also home to a number of important relics, woven into the complex historical tapestry of the city. There are some original farm buildings, as well as an old swaai pump dating back to 1813. Leeuwenhof, now the residence of the Administrator of the Western Cape, can be traced back to Simon van der Stel’s governorship in the 1700s.
Today, property in Oranjezicht bears witness to its historical significance. Beautiful Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian houses, (along with a few later Sir Herbert Baker designs), sit alongside each other in steep, tree-lined avenues. Many are remodelled with contemporary flair, (retaining classical features such as sash windows, high ceilings and original fireplaces), and by City Bowl standards the plots tend to be on the more generous side. Many properties are blessed with glorious views of the mountain and harbour. Families are drawn to the suburb by its excellent schools, whilst apartment buildings and small gated developments attract a young professional crowd. Oranjezicht’s central position and proximity to a wonderful array of attractions is enormously appealing.
Green and active
The mountain is Oranjezicht’s own spectacular backdrop so hiking and mountain biking are the activities of choice for local residents. De Waal Park, with the children’s play area, fountain and coffee spot, is popular with families and dog owners. Molteno Dam is great for jogging and dog walking, and if you drop down a little further you will reach Company Gardens. This verdant oasis was created by the Dutch East India Company and used water from the dam to grow fresh fruit and vegetables which fed the crews of incoming merchant ships. Stroll through today, and enjoy an array of indigenous trees and plants, a restaurant, arts and crafts and the oldest pear tree in the country, which has been in situ since the 1650s!
Cultural and fun
Within a small area just below Oranjezicht are the best of the Mother City’s museums, including the Iziko South African National Gallery, the Iziko South African Museum, the Cape Town Holocaust Centre, the Planetarium and the Centre for the Book. Kloof and Long Streets are within easy distance of the suburb’s residential hub. Both are a cornucopia of bars, restaurants, clubs and boutiques. The Labia is South Africa’s oldest independent cinema. It has been sensitively renovated to preserve its original Art Deco style and offers a carefully curated selection of mainstream, independent, classic and foreign films and documentaries, along with the opportunity to enjoy drinks and snacks - and all at the most reasonable prices.
Tasty
Oul Meul Oranjezicht – corner Upper Orange and Melrose. For melt in the mouth bakes, scrumptious pies, teas, coffees and a deli section.
Kloof Street – it is impossible to select but one or two. Fine dining, bar snacks, Asian, burgers, cocktail and
coffee spots, it has it all.
https://insideguide.co.za/cape-town/kloof-street-restaurants/
Mount Nelson Hotel - Cape Town’s oldest hotel, the Mount Nelson, (lovingly nicknamed ‘the Nellie), is a
serene oasis, an elegant building with a bedecked, luxurious interior, surrounded by tropical gardens.
Afternoon tea is legendary and includes a choice of some 60 loose-leaf teas. The Red Room offers Asian haute
cuisine, and The Verandah a regularly-changed evening menu of the freshest local ingredients.
https://www.belmond.com/hotels/africa/south-africa/cape-town/belmond-mount-nelson/dining
Nelson’s Eye - Located in Hof Street, this modest-looking restaurant is something of a local institution, serving high-quality,
mouth-watering steaks since the 1960s, and not just beef but ostrich and springbok.
Vredehoek
Vredehoek literally means ‘peace corner’ and it is another residential suburb sitting at the foot of Table Mountain, right next to Oranjezicht. Notwithstanding their proximity to each other, the two suburbs have a very different feel. Vredehoek got its name after the first world war, when many immigrants looking to settle after peace was declared found themselves in this particular area. Vredehoek Farm was one of the earliest settlements and latterly became Cape Town’s very first dairy farm. When farming ceased in 1916, it was portioned off gradually into residential lots. The public-access quarry above the suburb is reminiscent of the tin mining which was started in 1911 by the Vredehoek Tin Company but continued for only three or four years, and today the quarry waters are full of fish.
Vredehoek is uniquely recognisable by the Disa Park towers, a triptych of 55-metre-high cylindrical towers housing residential units, which are visible from a considerable distance. Individually named Blinkwater, Platteklip and Silverstroom, the original plans would have seen 17 such towers spring up. Peppered with small green spaces, Vredehoek is a suburb popular with younger buyers investing in trendy apartments located in redeveloped older blocks. The views in Vredehoek are spectacular, expanding over the city, waterfront, harbour and mountain. Although known for being somewhat windy, it is brilliantly located. The city centre is literally on the doorstep, as are the main roads out of town; Gardens Shopping Centre is minutes’ drive away and you are not far from Kloof and Long Streets, or indeed any of the other central amenities.
Three unique towers, three local recommendations:
Deer Park
This sprawling park at the foot of Table Mountain is Vredehoek’s back garden. It offers numerous wonderful trails, for walking or mountain-biking, from straightforward, gently undulating paths to more challenging routes, with spectacular scenery at every turn. You may also see the old wash house, which dates back to the days when clothes were washed on the banks of the mountain streams. Deer Park Café is a beloved meeting
point, for adults, children and canine companions who fancy a brunch or light lunch with sea views and open space.
http://www.deerparkcafe.co.za/
Red Sofa Café
This beloved café and deli in Derry Street is open 7 days a week. All-day brekkies, tasty lunches, coffee and
juice, and a selection of artisanal tasty products to take away. In summer, the large outside deck has stunning
mountain views, and in winter the roaring fire inside will keep you warm. It is also dog friendly!
Art Deco Style
Whilst Cape Town is known for its uniquely eclectic architectural style, (see the article, Cape Town Architecture), Vredehoek in particular has a
preponderance of Art Deco buildings. Focused on symmetry and sharper angles, and rarely going above three storeys, the term is short for the
French term, arts decoratifs, and first appeared in Paris in the 1910s. Several buildings in Vredehoek share this distinctive look and a concerted
effort was made by the The Greater Vredehoek Heritage Action Group in their 2017 campaign to protect these buildings from development. Daventry Court, Sherwood Court and Victory Court are three notable examples.
(Kingsbridge Court above).
