THE CASE FOR KALK BAY

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THE VIEWS AND QUALITY OF LIGHT ARE EXTRAORDINARY

Built on slopes above the sweep of False Bay, its waters are held in the long mountainous embrace of the Kogelberg that culminates in Hangklip across the bay. The interplay of light and cloud on an ocean that can be as translucent as the Mediterranean is simply mesmerising. Sunrise is a real showstopper. Better still, the light stays soft and balmy – very different from the relentless roasting of an Atlantic seaboard summer, where the better part of the day one has to skulk behind the half-gloom of drawn blinds.

• IT’S FILLED WITH CHARMING TURNOF-THE-CENTURY ARCHITECTURE

Kalk Bay residents don’t equate size with luxury, so the scale and proportions are welcoming, and the village has an active historical society that is protective of the buildings and cobbled streets that define its character.

• IT HAS A REAL VILLAGE FEEL

Geographically, Kalk Bay is very distinctive, and despite being inundated with tourists in the summer there is still a core community that doesn’t follow the usual formulaic class lines – fishermen, artists, wealthy retirees, dropouts, hippies, entrepreneurs – all passionate about their village.

• THERE’S LOTS TO DO

Kalk Bay punches way above its weight in terms of culinary and retail offerings. It is arguably the most pleasant shopping precinct in the city, with a great independent bookshop, good jeweller (Anpa), a theatre, art galleries (make a point of popping into Kalk Bay Modern and Artvark), a bakery and a plethora of restaurants, of which Harbour House and Live Bait offer the city’s finest sea views.