Whether you prefer to call it Simonstown or Simon’s Town (the correct spelling by the way), there’s no doubting the fact that this small village on the False Bay coast is one of the quaintest seaside towns South Africa has to offer. Although the town is officially part of the Cape Town metropole and is just a 40 minute drive from the city centre, spending a weekend in Simon’s Town feels makes for a wonderful escape from the frenetic activity of cosmopolitan Cape Town.

Named after Simon van der Stel, one of the first colonial governors of the Cape, it has long provided shelter for ships from the savage storms that lash the Cape in winter. From sailing ships servicing the fledgling Cape colony in the 17th Century to warships protecting shipping lanes during World War II, the town has a rich and colourful history.

The SA Naval Museum (10am – 2pm daily, free) has an extensive, if slightly outdated, collection of maritime memorabilia and is well worth a visit. Various aspects of life on-board are displayed to give a sense of how the navy has progressed through the years. One of the most interesting displays highlights the important role that Simon’s Town played in World War II. Over 160 ships were sunk by German and Japanese submarines off the South African coast during the war and Simon’s Town was an important base for the Allied ships involved in defending this vital shipping route between Europe and Asia.

More of the cultural history of Simon’s Town can be found at the Simon’s Town Museum (daily 10am – 2pm, R5 by donation), which is housed in the historic Residency, built in 1777. The museum also arranges guided walks along the historic mile and the through the quaint cobbled lanes behind the main road.

The museum also celebrates the life of one of Simon’s Town’s most famous residents, Able Seaman Just Nuisance. An enormous Great Dane, ‘Nuisance’, as he is fondly referred to, was once the mascot of the Royal Navy in the town and loyal friend to many visiting sailors.

Able Seaman Just Nuisance

The informative display contains some amusing artefacts, such as his Conduct Sheet which includes a charge of culpable homicide (eventually dismissed) resulting from an argument over a bone! His oversized collar, which also held his free pass on the railways, has pride of place in the display.

Nuisance’s name and legend lives on, and April 1 (his birthday) each year is celebrated as Just Nuisance Day with a parade of Great Danes and other dogs to Jubilee Square in the centre of town.

The Square is the heart of Simon’s Town and is a good place to start your exploring. Overlooking the yacht basin you can get a good feel of the layout of the town, which invariably centres around the waterfront.

© Simon's Town Museum
Situated just alongside the Square is the Quayside Hotel, which undoubtedly has one of the best views in Simon’s Town. The name says it all, and the hotel is situated right on the waterfront. In keeping with the nautical feel of the town, each of the 26 rooms is tastefully decorated in bright sea-side tones with blue and lime-washed white being the order of the day. All the rooms are spotlessly clean, very comfortably furnished and have a wonderful panoramic view over False Bay. It’s well worthwhile to spend a few extra rand and get your own private balcony where you can enjoy a sundowner as you watch the lights start to twinkle around the harbour.

The nautical theme is continued around the hotel, with a colourful motif of maritime signal flags brightening bathrooms and passageways, while paintings of famous ships and sea battles adorn the rooms and reception areas. The hotel even comes with a 'ship’s cat', Bertha, who will be only too happy to welcome you aboard as you settle in for a few days of seaside relaxation.

On the waterfront

One of the best ways to get a feel for the maritime heritage of the town is to take a cruise on the Spirit of Just Nuisance. The tour (hourly from 10.30am. Adults R30, Under 12’s R15) takes you on a gentle 40-minute cruise along the scenic coastline and into the Naval dockyards. Get up-close to the SA Navy’s ships and submarines while soaking up the sights of one of South Africa’s most picturesque coastal towns. Seals and dolphins regularly visit the harbour, and during the winter months you may even spot Southern Right whales in the bay.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, take a trip on the Southern Right, a high-speed motor launch, out to Seal Island in False Bay and even all the way to Cape Point where you can see ‘the fairest Cape in all the world’ from a very different viewpoint!

Once you’ve got your land-legs back there is no shortage of places to eat in Simon’s Town, with a wide variety of restaurants catering for all palates and budgets. Cheap toasted sandwiches and take-aways are available from a number of small shops dotted along the main road, or for some great take-away snoek & chips, head straight for Salty Sea Dog on the harbourside. Bertha’s, situated just below the Quayside Hotel, also has a good selection of seafood, pasta and meat dishes and their outside tables are a perfect setting to watch the world go by in the harbour. Simon’s Town is also lucky to have one of the best seafood restaurants in Cape Town right on its doorstep.

Situated a few minutes drive from Simon’s Town on the road to Cape Point, the Black Marlin restaurant nestles on the beautiful Miller’s Point. The historical building, once a whaling station, ensures the perfect setting for a shaded lunch on a hot summer's day or a romantic dinner on the terrace watching the moon rise across False Bay. Although there are a few meat dishes, the emphasis here is firmly on fish. An imaginative range of very reasonably priced linefish and shellfish dishes ensure that your every seafood wish is catered for.

On the way back to town after lunch, don’t forget to stop off at the Boulders Beach penguin colony. Also known as the Jackass penguin because of their braying, donkey-like call, the penguins at Boulders are remarkably tame and seem totally unfazed by the humans that come to gawk at them all year round.

Whether you’re a Capetonian looking for an easy weekend away without the stress of a long drive or a tourist wanting to explore the rest of Cape Town, Simon’s Town is the perfect place to drop anchor for a few days and enjoy some of South Africa’s rich nautical heritage.

    For more info...
  • The Quayside Hotel is a small elegant hotel overlooking the picturesque yacht basin in Simon’s Town, and is approximately 40 minutes drive from the city centre. For more information, contact the hotel on (021) 786 3838 or visit their website.
  • To find out more about the tours aboard Spirit of Just Nuisance and Southern Right, contact Dave Hurwitz on (021) 786 3216 or 083 257 7760
  • For reservations at the Black Marlin, visit their website or call (021) 786 1621