Big Night Out: Cape Town

Can't stop the music

The vibe

The vibe

The mother city is in serious party mood throughout winter and spring when those in the know take advantage of the hot winter sunshine, sensational scenery and the highly favourable exchange rate (R13 to £1). Party like a king until dawn for next to nothing.

Drinking

Join the locals in a liquid picnic at the top of Signal Hill and watch the sunset, or join the beautiful people around the bay at Caprice Bar, in cool Camps Bay. Then head downtown to join the Cape Town cognoscenti at Jo'burg, 218 Long Street, a groovy salon serving divine cocktails. Trendy De Waterkant used to be strictly gay village territory, but lately everyone else heads for this hot spot.

Refuelling

Under £15: at Blues, The Promenade, Camps Bay (00 27 21 438 2040), ask for a balcony table and enjoy your Californian-Mediterranean fusion seafood overlooking the ocean and the Twelve Apostle Mountains. Around £15: the restaurant at Constantia Uitsig, Constantia Uitsig Farm, Spaanschemat River Road, (00 27 21 794 2390) has fabulous French cooking in gorgeous winery surroundings with the rear of Table Mountain as a backdrop.

Go native

For culture, think comedy. One of the best venues is On Broadway, 21 Somerset Road, featuring a mixed bag of comedy, music, dance and drag.

Party

At around 11pm the hip crowd heads for Rhodes House, 60 Queen Victoria Street for everything from Latin jazz to funky house. A stylish posse strut their stuff to African tribal house and drum 'n' bass at The Fez, 38 Greenmarket Street. At More, 74 Loop Street, a youthful crowd get down to deep house with a Latin twist.

Munchies

The garage on Somerset Road sells takeaway for those in need. All-night eats are scarce in Cape Town.

Chill

Hit the beach: Sandy Bay for back-to-nature, Clifton Third for designer glamour. But don't even think of going into the water: it's fresh from Antarctica.

Abercrombie & Kent (0845 0700 611; www.abercrombiekent.co.uk) offers six nights in a deluxe room at Kensington Place from £960 per person, including return flights, private transfers and b&b.