Decorated with polychromatic ceramic murals, this is one of the most impressive buildings in the townships – even more so now it has a new theatre, creatively constructed largely from recycled materials. In one of several studio spaces here you can watch pottery being made and then buy samples from the centre's shop. Performances by local groups are often staged in the outdoor amphitheatre.

An old primary school is the base for this impressive social enterprise project, which aims to transform the surrounding area into a precinct for galleries, shops, restaurants, bars and cafes with broad, cross-cultural appeal. There's a cafe, gift shop and Table Mountain yellow frame here. Opposite, on Bittenhout St, a wall is the canvas for an annual street-art competition.

On nearby Rubusana Ave, several homes are part of the Langa Township Art Gallery (Langa TAG) project, with the homeowners displaying and selling the works of local artists.

The organisers of the project can also organise homestays in Langa. If enough funds are raised, the official World Design Capital pavilion, a legacy of the 2014 event, will be erected here, too.

Near the Guga S’Thebe Arts & Cultural Centre are four colourful, mosaic-decorated plinths. Each side of the plinths has a different theme: one is the only memorial to the Mendi, a troop ship that sank in the English Channel in 1917, drowning 607 members of the South African Native Labour Corps.

The huge mural painted on the building opposite the cultural centre was done by Philip Kgosana, the man held aloft in the composition – it commemorates the 1960 defiance campaign against apartheid laws.

Call Thami Siljila to arrange a time to see inside the old Dom Pass Office where locals had to present their identity cards during apartheid. There's a great collection of photographs and documentary evidence showing what life was like in Langa during that time.

The Gugulethu Seven Memorial commemorates seven young black activists from the townships who were murdered by the police here in 1986. Nearby, next to the Caltex petrol station, the Amy Biehl Memorial marks the spot where the young American anti-apartheid activist died, under tragic circumstances, in 1993.

Climb the wooden staircase leading to the top of this sand hill for a sweeping view of the Khayelitsha township. For access it’s best to go into the cultural and tourism centre at its base, where you’ll find the restaurant Malibongwe and a craft market. Ask there for one of the guards to accompany you, as there have been incidents of muggings.

On the beaches beside this attractive village, the British won their 1806 battle for the Cape. The panoramic view it provides of Table Mountain across Table Bay is fabulous, but it's also popular with kitesurfers and windsurfers; watching them ride the waves on the weekends is an impressive sight. You can also see Robben Island clearly from here.

Intaka means ‘bird’ in Xhosa and you can see some 120 species of these feathered creatures at this 1600-sq-metre wetland reserve that’s part of the Century City development. Learn all about the wetlands at the Eco-Centre, built and run to the best environmental principles. From here you can take a ferry ride through the canals that flow around the island, or follow the 2km walking trail around the reserve.

At the market next to Khayelitsha Station, ask around to find this shack cafe serving some of the tastiest – and certainly the best-value – traditional chow in Cape Town. Clifford will pour water over your hands before you start using them (no cutlery here) to tuck into beef stew, crispy fried chicken and pap (maize starch).

Juma Mkwela's street-art tour stops here for lunch, but it's easy to locate if you're alone, too.

Tourists, TV stars and locals gather at this busy butchery serving some of Cape Town’s tastiest grilled meat. First buy your meat and make sure you get them to add their special sauce. Take it to the kitchen to be braaied (barbecued) and then find a table outside. It gets super-hectic here at weekends, so arrive early.

Beers and other drinks are available from vendors nearby. Bring plenty of napkins as cutlery is nonexistent.

This spotlessly clean butchers is the Langa equivalent of Mzoli’s, but with a more relaxed, peaceful vibe since it doesn’t sell alcohol. The cuts of meat – beef, lamb, pork, sausages and chicken wings – are top-class. Call ahead if you want to add side dishes such as bread, salads etc, to make a full meal.

Eziko offers simple, good food in a pleasant setting; try the chef’s special fried chicken or the breakfast. If you’re feeling adventurous go for the ‘delectable’ tripe. Dishes are served with sides of samp (a mixture of maize and beans), pap, bread and vegetables.

Tripe curry and grilled meats are among the traditional dishes served at this pleasantly decorated and spacious restaurant and bar at the base of Lookout Hill. For a more local vibe, head down Spine Rd to the street braai-joints opposite Kefu’s; Ziba’s Chicken is recommended.

Sheila has been so successful with her delicious African-style buffets (which include plenty of vegetarian dishes) that she’s taken over the neighbour’s place, extending her once cosy home restaurant into a space for big tour groups. Book ahead, as there are no set opening hours.

Next door to Lelapa, a similar buffet deal is offered by this convivial place with a rooftop dining area that has a great view of Table Mountain. They can also arrange a marimba band and African drumming lessons.

This rustic cafe and farm stall specialises in organic produce, hand-crafted breads, preserves and jams. Kids will love the tree house in the garden and the pony rides next door.

Call ahead to pre-book one of the delicious gourmet picnics (R320 for two, R60 for children), which you can enjoy on the outside lawns – or nip into the cafe after a wine tasting at Nitida to sample delightful meals, such as the splendid beetroot tarte tatin or lamb kebabs.

Game meats such as crocodile and warthog are on the menu at this fun African-themed restaurant. Have your face painted and dangle your feet in a cooling paddle-pool beneath a table shaped like a surfboard, with spectacular beach and Table Mountain views outside.

A guitarist strolls around playing each evening from Thursday to Sunday. There's a live band on Sundays from 2pm.

Next to Milernton Golf Club (you enter through their car park), this all-day dining operation has a grand beachside position with swoon-worthy views of Table Mountain.

If you can drag your eyes away from the panoramic view of Table Mountain for a second, the upmarket bistro food served at this classy wine farm at the southern end of the Durbanville Wine Route (the end closest to the city) is worthy of attention, too. Expect dishes such as confit of duck tart and organic lamb noisette.

Ms Kefuoe Sedia has come a long way since she started a six-seater pub in her front lounge in 1990. This spiffy, two-level, 140-seat place, with mellow jazz playing in the background, also serves food. Call ahead from Monday to Thursday to check if it's open.

DJ events and live-music gigs are often held on weekends and holidays at this large complex in traditional African village style, with a number of bars, barbecued food spots, and chill areas around a central open courtyard.

Gourmet coffee comes to Khayelitsha – even though it's served through a kiosk with uninviting barred windows and they keep erratic hours. There are some outdoor tables and chairs nearby for you to sit and sip your coffee and nibble on their muffins.

This legendary Cape Flats dance venue is where you can get down to R&B, hip hop and live bands with a black and coloured crowd. Women often get in for free. The plush live-music venue West End is next door.

At this perennial favourite the deal is grab a beer (13 types on draught), order a pizza and plonk yourself on the grass outside to enjoy the classic views of Table Mountain and Robben Island. It’s also a hotel.

At the southern end of Bloubergstrand is this delightful place in a whitewashed seaside cottage, with a counter loaded with a tempting collection of cakes and baked goods. There's a slight French flavour to the menu (mains run from R60), but toasted sandwiches (jaffles) are also a signature dish here.

Camp and Afrikaans cultures collide at these parties where local gays and lesbians gather to twirl around in langarm (a local type of ballroom dance) style to country-and-western-style tunes. People go in groups and bring their own food and drink (although there’s always a bar), but if you’re solo it won’t take you long to make friends. The DJs usually play a range of music that anyone can dance to.

Gat means ‘hole’ in Afrikaans, and the name comes from the original location of the party, at the old Parrow Athletic Club, which was based in a former quarry – literally a hole in the ground.

This long-running, community-based health organisation has six projects in the townships, including a weaving factory in Khayelitsha’s Site C that produces rugs and wall hangings, and a printing project.

A collaboration between various local arts and community groups, this street – within walking distance of Mzoli's – has several homes whose owners have turned their living rooms into art galleries. Like any commercial gallery, they get a commission for each piece sold and may also sell their own crafts.

Hunt for vintage pieces and collectables among the junk and cheap goods at this car-boot sale that fills up a car park on the edge of Table Bay. The views of Table Mountain are matched by the interesting characters you'll encounter here.

With over 400 shops, 50-odd restaurants, 18 cinema screens and parking for 6500 cars, you’d be a fool to argue with this mall’s claim of being the largest in Africa. The food court is so big that acrobatics shows are often held over the diners.

On the last Sunday of the month, this well-established market – with plenty of eating options and kids' entertainment – is held in the park opposite Intaka Island. Go onto the island to see local artists in the Eco-Centre.