Tamboerskloof, Cape Town

Tamboerskloof at a glance

Tamboerskloof is nestled between the Cape Town City Bowl, Signal Hill and Lion’s Head, which protects it from the Cape Doctor, the legendary Southeaster wind that whips the city in the summer months.  It is one of the oldest residential suburbs in the City Bowl with a mixture of beautiful large Victorian style homes with broekie lace, art deco apartment blocks, sprawling Villas, guesthouses and modern futuristic architectural styled homes.  It is a quiet tree-lined friendly cosmopolitan neighbourhood.

In the 1800s the area to the right of Kloofnek Road consisted of four gardens known as Klippenburg, Tamboerskloof, Leeuwenvoet and De hoop, these gardens – small farms really – were used to grow fresh supplies for city residents and passing ships. The names of Leeuwenvoet and De Hoop live on in street names, where the suburb takes its name from Tamboerskloof (drummer’s ravine). The farmhouse of the original Tamboerskloof farm is where the Lord Milner Hotel is now. 

The private Deutsche Internationale Schule Kapstadt is located in Bayview Avenue at the top of Tamboerskloof and also accepts non-German speaking pupils. This school makes Tamboerskloof a first choice for German-speaking buyers. The Tamboerskloof Primary School (`Tambi’) in Belle Ombre Road was established in 1903 and is affectionately known as `The family school in the city’ and with its motto `strive to succeed’ each child is encouraged to take part in school life with the emphasis on enjoyment. Tamboerskloof is perfectly positioned to explore the rest of Cape Town. Kloof Street with its multitude of shops, bars and restaurants is a quick walk from Tamboerskloof.

The Blue Cafe, the suburbs signature coffee shop is only really known by locals and the odd tourist who stays at one of the guesthouses in the area. Decades ago it was a station shop, where the tramline terminated, but today this sidewalk café is a great place for excellent coffee with the morning newspaper and great piazzas. Another neighbourhood favourite is Miller’s Thumb run by a chef-owner couple and well-known for its fresh fish and generous portions which ensures it has a loyal following. 

Do you want to keep the kids busy but don’t know where? A is for Apples is the answer. It is a super cool children’s specific bookstore on Kloofnek Road where young minds can be entertained for hours.  Little black pigs from The Farm in Military Road can also regularly be seen roaming the suburb. The Police Mounted unit now occupies a small portion of the farm. 

One of the most popular hiking trails is the Pipe Track that starts at Kloof Nek. It is very popular walk as it’s one of the easiest walks on Table Mountain. As its name suggests, the walk runs alongside a pipe – originally a water pipe but no longer in use. You also have great views over Camps Bay.