Historic Long Street, Cape Town

Nightlife in Long Street, central Cape Town.

© Chris Marais

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London has her SoHo, New Orleans has her French Quarter, while Cape Town has her irrepressible Long Street.

By day, most of the 3.8km-long street leading up from the harbour to the city heights is a cheerful frenzy of coffee bars, exotic restaurants, legendary bookshops, African craft markets and backpackers' lodges. The pavements throb with the movements of travellers, touts, breakfasting locals, shoppers and a couple of gents taking their morning exercise up at the Turkish Baths.

In the early afternoon the Purple Turtle bar fills up with regulars, young adventurers emerge from backpackers’ like Carnival Court for a stroll down Long Street, and the ever-present street police keep an eye on everything and everyone. That’s why there’s such a relaxed feel to walking Long Street.

If you’re a fan of old architecture, Long Street will keep you busy for days. Let’s take the Victorian-styled Carnival Court, for instance. This used to be where the young toffs of Cape Town would keep their apartments. From the wrought-iron balcony, you watch the world go by up and down Long Street.

Long Street’s buildings, its Victorian follies and intricate ironwork, have been mostly well-kept. That’s because a number of preservation societies, heritage groups and architects constantly protect these structures from the wrecking ball. In fact, many of the buildings have been restored over the years.

The Blue Lodge, which is currently a backpackers' lodge and internet café, was once on the brink of utter dilapidation when it was rescued in the mid-1980s. Now it’s 1 of the brightest, most painstakingly restored and possibly the best-known building in the street.

The Dubliner at Kennedy’s used to be quite a run-down hotel until it was turned into a very popular Irish-themed bar and restaurant.

The Pan African Market building was once the YMCA, reportedly full of rowdy young bucks beginning to make their way in the world.

And the vibe of Long Street is still delightfully rowdy. From sundowner time until the early morning, the restaurants, bars and late-night clubs are all about party, party, party!

The street has all kinds of private decks, balconies, rooftop lounges and other vantage points where exclusive parties are held. On street level, pavement dining in summer (October to April) is all the rage. And the barmen of Long Street have become famous for their skills with exotic cocktails.

In fact, when Cape Town wants to gather en masse to celebrate something, be it the launch of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the 1st Cape Town Carnival or simply a birthday party for 100 revellers, Long Street is the city’s 1st thought.