Cape Town, our beautiful Mother City, is most often celebrated for her dramatic coastline, iconic mountains, like Lion’s Head and Table Mountain, as well as her myriad of outdoor adventure activities, but the city’s rich cultural scene is equally worth exploring, especially during the wetter winter months.

Whether you’re fascinated by Cape Town’s layered history, are a lover or fine art or are simply keen to see the city through a creative lens, there isn’t a shortage of museums, galleries, and street art to add to your itinerary during your stay with us.

At Ocean View House, you’re ideally situated to dive into Cape Town’s humming cultural scene. Here’s our list of must-see museums, galleries, and neighbourhoods filled with street art – all within easy driving distance of your luxury guest house on the Atlantic Seaboard.

Happy exploring!

Housed in a converted grain silo at the famous V&A Waterfront, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africs (Zeitz MOCAA) is the largest museum dedicated to contemporary African art on the continent. With nine floors of rotating exhibitions taking up 9 500 square metres of space, it is as much a celebration of bold architecture as it is a hub of all things art. (Just wait till you see the building!) This museum is a place of scope and contemplation, where you can really get a feel for what’s playing out in the South African and African context – from the beautiful to the challenging.

Where? Silo District, V&A Waterfront (9,5 km from Ocean View House)

As many of our guests will know, South Africa has a troubled history of racial segregation, where legislative policy actively kept various race groups separate from one another. For those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of this era of apartheid (the Afrikaans word for separateness), the District Six Museum is an essential stop.

The museum’s exhibits tell the story of the once-vibrant, multicultural District Six community who were forcibly removed from their homes under the Group Areas Act of 1966, when that zone of the city was demarcated for white habitation only. Through photographs, recorded testimonies, and recreated homes, visitors gain a powerful insight into Cape Town’s socio-political past and the resilience of its people.

Where? 25A Buitenkant Street, Zonnebloem (6,5 km from Ocean View House)

Nestled within the Company’s Garden – established in the 1650s by the Dutch East India Company to supply fresh produce to ships rounding the Cape – this classic museum showcases a fine collection of South African and international art. From 17th-century Dutch paintings to contemporary installations, the Iziko South African National Gallery invites thoughtful reflection on colonial legacies and how they shape identity.

Where? Government Ave, Company’s Garden (7,5 km from OVH)

The Company’s Garden also connects a number of other interesting buildings to one another, all of which can be reached on foot.

After visiting Iziko South African National Gallery, you could also see:

• The South African Museum & Planetarium
• The National Gallery
• Parliament Buildings (Though a portion of this complex has been damaged by a fire and is currently under reconstruction.)
• Tuynhuys (The South African president’s Cape Town office.)
• St. George’s Cathedral

Cape Town’s art gallery scene is vibrant, with many new spaces popping up in various neighbourhoods of the city on a yearly basis. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a trendy browser, these top picks represent the finest art galleries in Cape Town, as well as the more established spaces. No doubt, you’ll find your own favourites to add to the list.

This is a leading contemporary gallery located in the eclectic borough of Woodstock. WHATIFTHEWORLD represents a host of rising and established African artists. Expect immersive mixed-media works, conceptual sculpture, and socially conscious exhibitions. Think: Edgy and avant-garde!

Where? 1 Argyle Street, Woodstock (8 km from Ocean View House)

The Cape Town extension of South Africa’s oldest commercial gallery, Everard Read CIRCA, is a stylish, light-filled space showcasing top contemporary and modern artists. From bronze sculpture to large-scale canvases, the gallery maintains a sophisticated aesthetic; ideal for collectors and those exploring art galleries in Cape Town for the first time.

Where? 3 Portswood Rd, V&A Waterfront (9 km from Ocean View House)

With a strong focus on pan-African perspectives, Eclectica Contemporary champions diversity and inclusion in visual storytelling. Among the art galleries in Cape Town, this one stands out for its bold, boundary-pushing exhibitions and commitment to emerging creatives.

Where? 69 Burg Street, Cape Town CBD (7,8 km from Ocean View House)

The exterior wall of Ocean View House is home to a beautiful elephant mural courtesy of Falko. One of South Africa’s most iconic street artists, Falko played an integral role in the development of street art in the country. He got his start in the late 1980s, when he was just 16 and was asked to paint a school wall in Mitchell’s Plain.

His love for painting colourful elephants truly began in 2014, and has resulted in over 200 elephant murals scattered across South Africa, a subject for which he is now most known.

The wall outside our boutique guest house was repainted in June 2022, and while up for interpretation, we believe it symbolises the importance of family, rebirth after drought and finding ‘light’ in periods of darkness.

The formerly industrial suburb of Woodstock has been transformed into a living canvas by street artists – making this emerging pocket of the city one big outdoor art gallery. Taking a walk through its streets offers one an insider’s look at the neighbourhood’s striking murals, stencilled slogans, and graffiti tags – each telling a story of social change, resistance, or identity. Some of the works were commissioned; others not – which is all part of street art identity. Afterwards, stop in at The Old Biscuit Mill for a cup of coffee and something to eat.

The quieter cousin of Woodstock, Salt River, boasts an equally compelling mural scene, which features prominently on the annual Public Art Festival (IPAF) circuit. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the landing page for a tagged self-guided map of street art in Cape Town’s CBD – a perfect DIY exploration.

Note: Street art, being what it is, is generally a self-guided affair. However, there are some tour operators that offer guided tours should you prefer. Chat to our front desk team about reputable options – we’d be more than happy to help you organise an outing!

Whether you’re ducking into a trendy gallery between beach walks, enjoying a museum morning or wandering the graffiti-clad streets of Woodstock, art invites you to think about the different components that make up a city – especially one as multifaceted as Cape Town.

At Ocean View House, you’re able to enjoy it all – just minutes from Camps Bay’s beachside beauty and a short drive from Cape Town’s CBD. After a day of discovery, return to your sea-view suite and let the creativity of the city simmer in your thoughts over a sundowner cocktail.

If you’re ready to book your stay, get in touch with our reservations team at info@oceanview-house.com. Alternatively, browse our stay options and secure your own dates on our online booking platform.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Cape Town!