From quick bites to leisurely meals, the V&A Waterfront offers something for every appetite. Grab a coffee between stops, settle in for a sunset dinner, or explore flavours from around the world.
A neighbourhood that’s yours to discover. From world-class museums and iconic attractions to harbour gems, there are memorable experiences around every corner. Whether it's your first visit or your daily fix, there's always a new reason to explore.
Expect the unexpected. From global brands to unique finds by local makers, there’s something for every shopper. This is world-class shopping with an African twist.
Our neighbourhood is the place to be! From seasonal events to top performances, there’s always something to look forward to. Find out what's on so you can plan your next memorable experience.
Hotels at the V&A Waterfront offer a unique experience inside a neighbourhood that has been alive for over 160 years.
From intimate boutique properties to five-star resorts, every hotel here sits within a working harbour, a creative economy, and a community where there’s always a reason to stay a little longer.
Wake up to the harbour and enjoy your favourite coffee spot as you experience the convenience of having everything within walking distance.
Living at the V&A Waterfront means living inside one of the most connected neighbourhoods in Africa, with everything that comes with it: security, convenience and a view that never gets old.
At the V&A Waterfront, people come together to work, visit, create and belong. More than a destination, it's a neighbourhood of opportunity, supporting 30,000 direct jobs and contributing R45.9 billion to the economy.
A new stretch of Cape Town’s Atlantic coastline is being opened up to the city. Over the next 15 to 20 years, this R20 billion-plus development will bring new homes, hotels, jobs, public space and a protected bay for swimming, kayaking and boating. A 540-metre seawall will help protect the coastline, while a new coastal walkway will connect the V&A directly to the Sea Point promenade.
Joshio Fisher, V&A Marine & Canal Manager; Martine Viljoen, Two Oceans Aquarium Marine Wildlife Programme Manager; and Leah Robertson, V&A Marine & Canal Assistant, receiving the award at yesterday’s ceremony.
Cape Town, 8 October 2026. The V&A Waterfront Marina has once again been awarded Full Blue Flag Marina status for the 2026/2027 season, following approval by the International Blue Flag Jury. The renewal was confirmed today at the Blue Flag and Green Coast Award Ceremony at Grotto Beach in Hermanus, co-hosted by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and the Overstrand Municipality. The ceremony marked 25 years of the Blue Flag programme in South Africa, as well as WESSA’s centenary.
For the V&A Waterfront, maintaining Blue Flag Marina status is particularly significant, given the unique environment in which the marina operates. Located within a working harbour at the heart of a 123-hectare mixed-use precinct, the marina sits alongside commercial, industrial, tourism and leisure activities, while sharing its waters with a diverse range of marine wildlife.
This coexistence requires an ongoing commitment to protecting the marine environment and maintaining clean, high-quality water. The V&A Waterfront’s approach extends beyond meeting Blue Flag requirements and includes several initiatives focused on protecting marine life, managing wildlife and preventing pollution.
One such initiative is the Marine Wildlife Management Programme, delivered in partnership with the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. By monitoring, protecting and managing marine wildlife across the V&A Waterfront, the programme helps foster harmony among people, businesses and wildlife within the harbour environment.
The precinct also conducts daily marine clean-up operations. Its marine team regularly patrols the waterways, using sweepers to collect litter and debris that enter the marina. This helps keep the harbour environment clean and reduces the potential impact of waste on ocean life.
This work is complemented by trash-capturing netting systems, which collect litter and debris before it can travel further into the harbour and ultimately reach the ocean.
Together, these initiatives form part of the V&A Waterfront’s broader commitment to responsible marine management, recognising that a clean, safe and thriving harbour is essential not only to maintaining Blue Flag accreditation, but also to the long-term health of the marine environment in which the Waterfront operates.
The Blue Flag status marks the marina’s eighth consecutive season of full certification. The programme is run internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and managed in South Africa by WESSA. Marinas must re-qualify every year against standards for environmental management, safety, accessibility and environmental education.
This focus resonates strongly with visitors. In the V&A Waterfront’s most recent survey (Q2 2026), caring for the ocean and its biodiversity generated the highest level of interest among the ten topics tested. Between July 2025 and June 2026, 87% of surveyed visitors expressed an interest in learning more about the topic in relation to the V&A Waterfront, rising to 95% among international visitors.
“Achieving Full Blue Flag Marina status is recognition of the ongoing work carried out by our marina team and partners in maintaining world-class environmental and operational standards,” said Graham Wood, V&A Waterfront CEO. “As a working waterfront and one of Africa’s leading destinations, we recognise our responsibility to protect the marine environment while creating safe, accessible and enjoyable experiences for all who visit and use our marina facilities.”
“Our visitors tell us that caring for the ocean matters to them. Blue Flag gives us an independent, international benchmark to hold ourselves to, and a platform to share that story with the millions of people who visit the V&A each year.”
WESSA spokesperson Michael Denison, Senior Programme Manager: Coastal, commended the V&A Waterfront’s Blue Flag management team and marina staff for their sustained effort, commitment and collaboration throughout the process. He said, “The outcome reflects the marina’s continued dedication to high standards of environmental management, safety, accessibility and environmental education.”
The same ocean-focused approach is also reflected in the V&A Waterfront’s future plans. The V&A Waterfront’s planned Granger Bay development is designed to include a swimmable marine bay and a turtle conservation centre as part of a wider vision to reconnect Cape Town with its ocean.
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