Stay
The Mount Nelson Hotel is as good as it gets in South Africa (or anywhere else on the continent, for that matter). A century-old five-star estate surrounded by lush gardens, the Nelson has 201 elegant rooms and suites in addition to a champagne bar and two of the region’s best restaurants, the Oasis and the Cape Colony. Better yet, it’s within 5 km of the beach and popular tourist haunts like Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront. 76 Orange Street, 021-483-1737, mountnelson.co.za

If you’re looking for something a little more secluded, you can hang your hat at the Colona Castle Manor House, a regal five-star lodging perched along the False Bay Coastline, with a peerless view of the city. Renting to only eight parties at a time, this exclusive hotel offers rooms with Africa-inspired decor, a spa, and close proximity to wineries, golf courses and beaches. 1 Verwood Street, 021-788-8235, colonacastle.co.za

Shop
The Pan African Market on Long Street is packed with vendors selling locally-made tribal masks, drums, hand-woven fabrics and garments representing the cultures of 14 different countries. 76 Long St, Cape Town Central, 021-426-4478

The V&A Waterfront, a collection of shops, restaurants and hotels along Cape Town’s picturesque harbour, is one of the city’s retail centres. In addition to a few curio markets and art shops of its own, it features high-end international boutiques, including fashion spots like Gucci, J Crew and Serge Blanco. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, waterfront.co.za

Eat
Cape Town is home to some of the best high-end cuisine on the continent. We recommend The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais hotel in the Franschhoek winelands. Chef Margot Janse’s fusion of European tradition with African ingredients has landed Le Quartier Francais on the S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for five years running. And really, what’s the point of coming to Africa if you’re not going to try some coffee-roasted warthog loin? 16 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek, 021-876-2151, lequartier.co.za/cuisine/the-tasting-room

If you’re eating in the city, enjoy seaside and harbourfront views at Baía on the Victoria Wharf, where fresh seafood is the specialty. The menu includes mainstays like seared tuna and Alaskan crab, but local catches, including Moçambican curry prawns and grilled kingklip with crayfish thermador are compulsory. Be sure to book a table on the terrace; the nighttime view is more than worth the visit on its own. Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront, 021-421-0935, baiarestaurant.co.za

Drink
After dinner, finish off the evening with a trip downtown to Heritage Square for scotch and stogies at Kennedy’s Cigar Lounge. Kick back and enjoy some live jazz while puffing a Dunhill Churchill, or a Hoyo Epicure No. 2, if you’re feeling flush. After you get a few glasses of the good stuff in you, head upstairs for some sing-along in the piano lounge. 251 Long Street, 021-424-1212, kennedys.co.za

Should the traffic and soccer mania of the city become tiresome, the Cape’s stellar wine country is under an hour away. Stop off at the picturesque Franschhoek valley region, which boasts 45 vineyards, both large and small. We recommend walking the intimate grounds of Lynx Wines and sampling their modest roster of reds, highlighted by an intriguing Michelangelo-award-winning Bordeaux-style blend dubbed Xanache. R301, Franschhoek, 021-867-0406, lynxwines.co.za

Do
In between matches at the brand new Green Point Stadium, you’ll find that Cape Town has a pretty diverse array of things to keep you occupied. At the top of the list is Table Mountain. Peaking at 1067 M above ground level, this massive flat-topped rock offers a spectacular view of the city and coastline, as well as indigenous plants and wildlife. Hike to the top along one of several trails, or ride up on the cable car. 021-424-8181, tablemountain.net

Mountain trek not exciting enough? How about testing your mettle against nature’s greatest killing machine? Shark Adventures will take you out on the ocean blue, fit you with scuba gear and plunk you down with the great whites (in a cage, of course). Boats run daily to Seal Island in False Bay and Dyer Island in Gansbaai. If you catch the former, keep an eye out for the region’s famous flying white sharks. 11 Faure Street, Gordons Bay, 021- 856-4055, sharkadventures.co.za