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Cape Town’s week was main character energy:
A R60M manor sale turned heads in Constantia, Bafana Bafana made the whole country scream, and the south-easter reminded us who’s really in charge of this city.
Meanwhile, from Sea Point’s bagel queues to Simon’s Town’s penguin rescues, the Cape never stopped serving chaos and charm in equal measure.
Here’s what’s been brewing 👇
The Lineup:
📰 The Headlines – Bafana Bafana’s 3–0 World Cup qualifier win, a R60M Constantia manor, and penguins getting the rescue treatment they deserve.
💎 Hidden Gems – Three underrated grab-and-go breakfast spots, plus Cape Town’s best food trucks for your next spontaneous cheat day.
🎉 What’s Happenin’ – October 17–23: Aking live at Armchair, Food Truck Valley weekends, Celtic in Cape Town, and the city’s favourite complaint—the wind—returns with full force.
🔥 Cape Town’s Neighborhood Roast – We’re unpacking the city’s most reliable sport: complaining about the wind. From tote bags as parachutes to sand in your hummus, this one hits home.First, let’s take a look at our latest sponsor:
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Here’s what had us buzzing this week 👇
🗞️ The Headlines
⚽ LADUUUUUUMA! BAFANA BAFANA ARE WORLD CUP BOUND
The sound you heard on Tuesday wasn’t just the southeaster howling, it was an entire nation losing its mind. Bafana Bafana secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Rwanda, and honestly, it’s about time.
Why this feels like a braai-winning moment:
After two frustrating draws and a FIFA sanction that made us all facepalm, Hugo Broos’s squad finally remembered how to score goals. Thalente Mbatha and Oswin Appollis put Rwanda to bed in the first half, and Evidence Makgopa sealed the deal like a boss.
Broos, the unshakable Belgian, built this team with mostly local PSL talent. Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, and Appollis aren’t just names, they’re proof that “local is lekker” isn’t just a T-shirt slogan.
Oh, and Nigeria did us a solid by beating Benin 4-0. Sometimes frenemies are the bestemies.
🐧 NOT ON OUR WATCH: SAVING DYER ISLAND’S PENGUINS
While we were stressing over weekend plans, the legends at Dyer Island Conservation Trust were rescuing abandoned penguin chicks during moulting season. It’s heartbreak and hope, served with a side of sardines.
Why this hits right in the feels:
During moulting, adult penguins can’t swim or hunt, leaving their chicks to fend for themselves. Nature can be brutal, but humans? We’re stepping in.
32 chicks have already been saved and are now chowing down on R150 boxes of premium sardines at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. That’s R21,000 a week on fish (more expensive than my social life).
The African penguin population is down 90% since the 1950s. Every chick counts.
😊 CAPE TOWN: OFFICIALLY THE 3RD HAPPIEST CITY ON EARTH
Abu Dhabi and Medellín beat us, but let’s be real, they don’t have Table Mountain or Bree Street on a Friday night. Cape Town just bagged third place in Time Out’s global happiness ranking, and 97% of us agree: this city just hits different.
Why we’re not surprised:
From sunrise hikes to spontaneous beach dips, Cape Town is basically a wellness retreat with a nightlife problem.
We’re the only African city in the top 10, which is like winning the continental vibe-check.
If you’ve ever watched the sunset from Signal Hill with a Gatsby in hand, you already knew this.
🚂 GRINDROD’S R200M SALT RIVER DEPOT
Grindrod just dropped R200 million on a container depot in Salt River, and it’s about to make the Port of Cape Town less of a logistical nightmare.
Why this is a game-changer:
The first phase alone can hold 5,000 containers and is already partially operational. Phase two will expand it further and even link it to the port via rail.
This means fewer delays when the southeaster decides to throw a tantrum and more efficient exports for our farmers and producers.
Ivan Meyer called it a “significant step in the province’s logistics modernisation drive.” Translation: things are about to get a whole lot smoother.
💎 Hidden Gems
🥪 3 SPOTS FOR THE PERFECT GRAB-AND-GO
Arthur’s Mini Super (Sea Point): Don’t let the size fool you, this neighbourhood deli packs more flavour than a politician’s empty promise. Their breakfast toastie, with free-range eggs and Richard Bosman bacon, is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re late for work. Grab, go, and thank me later.
Dixies (Glencairn): Fancy a brunch with False Bay as your backdrop? Dixies is where cyclists refuel and locals linger. Try the Carnivore's Choice breakfast, but maybe cycle there first—you’ll need the calories.
Max’s Bagels (Bree Street): Boiled bagels by day, natural wine by night. Max’s is the hip, hole-in-the-wall spot where you can stuff your face with smoked trout and cream cheese before deciding whether to adult or just go home.
🍔 FOOD TRUCK FINDS: WHERE TO FEAST ON WHEELS
Food Truck Valley at Bellville Velodrome – The holy grail of mobile munchies. Fridays to Sundays, this place is buzzing with everything from loaded fries to gourmet burgers. Check their Facebook page before you go—they’re not always there, but when they are, it’s magic.
Access Park in Kenilworth – A massive setup with enough variety to satisfy even the pickiest eater. It’s like a food festival, but without the entry fee.
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🌬️ What’s Happenin’
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FRIDAY 17TH OCTOBER
🎸 AKING @ Armchair
Indie rock heroes light up Obz for a proper throwback singalong.
🎬 Mixed Night 1 – Opening Night (presented by THULE)
Adventure film festival vibes kick off at the Waterfront.
🕺 Deep South Dance Disco
Feel-good community boogie with classics and disco edits.
🎛️ FOMO Friday w/ Tashriek Music
House/afro tech to start the weekend properly.
SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER
⚽ SAFA CT Coca-Cola Amateur Cup – Finals (30th Edition)
Grassroots football on a big stage, multiple finals through the day.
🍕 Vino Pizza 2025
Wood-fired slices, live tunes, seaside St James charm.
🧗 Climb Night (presented by Patagonia)
Talks, films, and community for rope & boulder crews.
🎶 Celtic in Cape Town
Pipes, drums, and tartan on the green.
💃 The Rouge Revue: Haunted Masquerade (Matinee)
Burlesque + costumes = theatrical Saturday spice.
SUNDAY 19TH OCTOBER
🎙️ Nik Rabinowitz – Geriatric Millennial
Sharp, local, very Cape Town, Sunday comedy in the ‘burbs.
🎸 Southern Astronauts – Groovy Tides
Surf-soul rock to close the weekend.
🏃 Sundays Are 4 Runners
Social miles, views, and post-run rooftop hangs.
⚓ Naval Gazing – Simon’s Town Heritage Walk
Guided stories through SA’s naval past by the bay.
💬 Singles Social Sunday
Low-pressure meet-cute by the sea.
MONDAY 20TH OCTOBER
🐴 The Equine Documentalist (Clinic)
Yogi Sharp’s hoof-care/biomechanics workshop for riders & farriers.
🌬️ Journey into Breath – New Moon Session
Guided conscious breathwork + sound bath.
⛸️ Cape Interprovincial Figure Skating Champs (Day 2)
Competitive skating at the Ice Station.
TUESDAY 21ST OCTOBER
🎤 Suits & Sneakers: “Only the Brave” (Pierre du Plessis)
High-energy keynote on courage, creativity, and leadership.
🧠 Ageing Optimally – Workshop 5
Actionable habits for strength, mobility, sleep & longevity.
🌌 Cape Town Private Night Tours (Astro)
Guided stargazing/observatory experience in the city.
🎭 Cabaret 2025 (Week 1)
Polished student production with full ensemble.
WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER
🎬 Feature Night 1: Girl Climber (Presented by The North Face)
Kick off the adventure film series with a night dedicated to bold moves and mountain grit.
🎸 Hotel California – The Ultimate Eagles Tribute
Sundowner views + legendary harmonies at one of the city’s most scenic venues.
🎭 Beste Van Alle Tye
Afrikaans theatre meets musical nostalgia in this feel-good crowd-pleaser.
🎹 Piano Recital – Pieter Jacobs
A stunning evening of classical piano inside the historic Welgemeend Manor.
🎷 The Dave Goldberg Band (Live)
Smooth sax, groove, and good wine, classic midweek vibes.
💨 Sink Into Silence
Guided relaxation meets luxury, a mindfulness event in a mattress showroom.
THURSDAY 23RD OCTOBER
🎭 Die Fledermaus (Opening Night)
A timeless opera comedy with flair, elegance, and Viennese mischief.
🌍 Circularity in Action Conference
Sustainability meets innovation, talks, networking, and real-world impact.
🍷 Veritas Wine & Brandy Tasting
Award-winning wines, smooth brandies, and the chance to sip like a connoisseur (or at least look like one).
🔥 Cape Town’s Unofficial Sport: Complaining About the Wind
It starts as a gentle breeze. Then, 10 minutes later, your hat’s in Blouberg and your dignity’s halfway up Lion’s Head.
Every summer, we swear we’re “used to it.” Yet there we are, clutching tote bags like parachutes and pretending it’s “refreshing.” Spoiler: it’s not.
The wind has personality here. It slams doors, whips sand into your artisanal hummus, and turns every braai into a survival exercise. You can spot a newbie when they still think a picnic on Signal Hill is a good idea.
Locals don’t check weather apps anymore, we just listen for that first howl through the window and sigh in collective resignation.
But secretly, we love it. Because when the wind stops… it’s too quiet. Too still. Too Joburg.
Cape Town Brew Verdict: The wind is annoying, chaotic, and totally Cape Town just like the rest of us.
📊 How Was the Newsletter This Week?
And that’s a wrap on this week’s brew.
If your weekend plans involve dodging the wind, hunting the perfect toastie, or pretending you’re “just grabbing one drink,” may your Uber actually arrive and your wine stay full.
See you next Thursday, same chaos, new stories.
🍷 Team CPT Brew
