KALK BAY IS THE COOLEST

Forbes Magazine has recently confirmed what we’ve known all along – Kalk Bay is one of the coolest suburbs in the world.

The quaint seaside village that boasts an eclectic creative community with colourful antique shops, restaurants, delis and art galleries has been included in Forbes Magazine’s list of 12 cool neighbourhoods.

Besides Maboneng in Johannesburg which also made the list, the other 10 cool suburbs are:

• Sants, Barcelona
•  Navy Yard, Washington DC
• Amsterdam Noord: Amsterdam
• Getsemani, Cartagena
• Plekhanov, Tbilisi
• Casco Viejo, Panama City
• District 5, Saigon
• Keramikos, Athens
• Seongsu-dong, Seoul
• Pilsen, Chicago

Ann Abel, who compiled the list based on feedback from travel experts, said the best way to get to know a city was by discovering “up-and-coming neighbourhoods where local creatives are settling in and setting up shop”. Artists and writers have long been drawn to the allure of Kalk Bay, and now the rest of the world knows our secret – Kalk Bay is simply the coolest.

“While there have been some notable upgrades to the area in recent years, including the long-awaited completion of the Main Road’s redevelopment and the renovated Majestic Village, where Pam Golding Properties has a property listed for R11.5 million, Kalk Bay retains its coastal charm,” say Sue Rosenberg and Laura Alan, Pam Golding Properties agents for the area.

And this is what makes Kalk Bay popular with tourists and locals who meander along the Main Road enjoying fresh croissants at Olympia Café followed by lunch almost at the water’s edge at the Brass Bell. There’s a pleasing mix of old and new, traditional and modern to be enjoyed in Kalk Bay – and this is what makes it the ideal suburb to hang out on a lazy Sunday, or to visit for a longer sojourn during summer.

Kalk Bay’s working harbour buzzes with activity all year round. The boats come in at midday or so, and you can buy your fish fresh from the sea. The harbor, with its iconic lighthouse, has several restaurants and pubs, including Harbour House and Kalky’s, where you can enjoy some of the best fish and chips in town. Look out for the resident seals who delight in showing off for passersby.

As Abel notes in Forbes Magazine, Kalk Bay is one of the places where “local life is really happening”.

If you are looking to own or rent your own piece of ‘Kalk Bay Coolness’ or simply want to value yours, we recommend contacting Pam Golding Properties’ area specialists Sue Rosenberg and Laura Alan for professional advice.

Posted by Niki Jackson