THE WESTCLIFF AND MOUNT NELSON HOTEL OFFER WORLD CUP FANS TROPHY-WORTHY ACTIVITIES BEYOND THE SOCCER STADIUM

12-17-2009

DECEMBER 17, 2009 (South Africa) – Soccer fever is sweeping South Africa as it is prepares for the 2010 FIFA World Cup taking place June 2010.  However, nail-biting soccer matches are not the only reason to visit South Africa’s dynamic cities. Johannesburg and Cape Town both offer travelers an intriguing melting pot of cultures, languages and ideologies, while also offering a myriad activities for everyone from nature lovers and art addicts to foodies and night owls.  In anticipation of the 2010 World Cup, The Westcliff in Johannesburg and Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town have compiled a list of the top things to do between soccer matches.

 

All of that cheering work-up your appetite? For a culinary delight...

La Belle Terrasse, The Westcliff's signature restaurant is a popular destination for Johannesburg's executive and social set.  Offering an international menu prepared from the freshest of ingredients along with an extensive wine list, this is the ideal spot to indulge your culinary cravings. The alfresco terrace makes for a superb dining experience with a bird’s eye view of the city by day or night. www.westcliff.co.za

 

Gramadoelas Restaurant, a Johannesburg institution since 1967,  serves much-loved South African dishes such as bobotie, crocodile, mopani worms, ostrich and umngqushu (braised beef shin, beans and maize) – ex-President Nelson Mandela’s favorite dish. Other illustrious guests include the Queen of England, Bill and Hilary Clinton, Elton John, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. www.gramadoelas.co.za

 

Sample the Western Cape’s best artisan foodie products and produce at the Neighbourgoods Market at the Biscuit Mill on Albert Road in the up-and-coming Woodstock precinct every Saturday morning. Mount Nelson Hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the market on Saturday mornings upon request. www.neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za

 

Sick of the crowds?  Get a taste of nature...

The Westcliff hotel and Suncross Tours offer a ‘Walking with Lions’ experience - the opportunity to visit an unspoiled nature reserve teeming with lions, giraffes and zebra. Guests will learn fascinating facts about the “King of the Jungle,” joining the animals for a stroll around the reserve. After an exhilarating walk, guests have the opportunity to feed and play with the baby lion cubs.

 

The Cityseeing Cape Town hop-on, hop-off bus will take you to the cableway and glamorous Atlantic Seaboard (red route), Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Hout Bay (blue route). Be sure to sit on the top deck for the best views.   (www.citysightseeing.co.za).

 

Get your bearings from atop Cape Town’s best-loved icon – Table Mountain. Take the rotating cable car up – and if you’re feeling energetic and the weather is nice, consider a gentle hike down. www.tablemountain.net

 

Losing Team?  Drown your sorrows with some ‘retail therapy’...

44 Stanley is one of Johannesburg's best kept secrets - what was once a series of industrial buildings is now a relaxed meander through 25 specialty boutiques, restaurants and design studios with deliciously unique products. From clothing, toys, objects, to food and furnishings, this creative ambience is as refreshing as it is quintessentially Johannesburg.

 

The Artist Proof Studio and Bag Factory in the Newtown section of Johannesburg sells affordable prints of works by South Africa’s leading and emerging artists. www.artistproofstudio.org.za www.bagfactoryart.org.za  

 

The Cape Quarter in the De Waterkant precinct in Cape Town is a one-stop-shop for sophisticated art, design, fashion, books, house wares, and furniture. Coffee shops and restaurants line the area’s quaint cobbled streets, offering refreshments for weary shoppers. Complimentary shuttles can be arranged from Mount Nelson Hotel.  http://www.capequarter.co.za

 

Big win? Time for a toast...

Polo Bar at The Westcliff is a hotspot among local Johannesburg residents.  Featuring a wide selection of cocktails and tapas, and an extensive champagne menu, the Polo Bar is the perfect place to toast to your favorite team. www.westcliff.co.za

 

Cape Town Central lights up after dark from Wednesday to Sunday. Afro-chic, grunge, funk, and electro music all converge along Long Street.  The East City precinct is slightly off the beaten track but popular with the slick-set, and Heritage Square offers a selection of bars and restaurants popular with the local after-work drinks crowd. <
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