Words: Kit Heathcock | Images: Eben Photography & Google Maps
A household name in the Western Cape, radio personality Lindy Hibbard co-hosts the Smile Breakfast Show with Bobby Brown every morning between 6am and 9am. Her infectious warmth and energy spill over into her work as voice-over artist, MC and Ambassador of Hope for the Sunflower Fund. Born and raised in Durbanville, for the last five years she and her fiance – whom she’s marrying in November – have called the central suburb of De Waterkant home. “We love it!” says Lindy. “We chose to move here due to the proximity to work. It’s right down the road from the Smile 90.4FM studio and we have everything we need within walking distance.”
Home Sweet Home
Lindy especially enjoys the walkability of De Waterkant. “It’s a charming little village right next to the hustle and bustle of the city centre,” she says. “It’s a great place to go for a run or a Sunday stroll and the views of the harbour, Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain are breathtaking. The shops and restaurants are trendy, it’s safe, and a great place for young professionals to live.” She and her fiance recently moved into a fully furnished rented apartment that they found online. “It’s very modern yet comfortable with Scandinavian design furnishings. We love to entertain, so the spacious kitchen and large six-seater dining room table attracted us to the apartment. We also like that we have access to the house via the garage which is useful on a rainy day. I never get enough of the view of Table Mountain from the living room window.”
Gems in the neighbourhood
De Waterkant has plenty of trendy restaurants, cafes and bars, and Lindy has several favourites. “In my opinion, Origin in Hudson Street makes the best coffee in South Africa. Stopping by for an almond milk cappuccino is a must. It’s also a great place to have meetings or catch up with friends during the week. In summer there’s nothing nicer than having a cocktail and a splash in the rooftop pool at The Grey Hotel. I celebrated my 30th birthday there and the views are spectacular at night. Lou Lou’s is perfect for meeting the girls for tapas and a glass of wine. It gets really festive on Thursday nights as they have a ladies’ night with live music by DJ Rene.” She also loves Lucky Bao for their authentic Asian food, and The Piano Bar for its cozy ambiance for after work drinks and live jazz.
With Cape Quarter on the doorstep there’s great shopping too. “I’m like a kid in a candy shop when I visit MUD Makeup,” says Lindy. “I love popping in to find out about the latest makeup trends and get my girlie fix of lipstick and eye colour straight from New York. The MUD team are really passionate and informed, and I’ve learnt a great deal from them.”
A self-professed fitness fanatic who likes hiking, cycling and running, Lindy finds De Waterkant suits her active lifestyle. “If I don’t have time to do a workout at the gym, I run up and down the stairs at the top of De Smidt Street, it’s a great way to burn a few calories fast. And after a long day I like to unwind with a yoga class at YogaLife.”
Perfect Sunday
Lindy has plenty of suggestions for enjoying Sunday in style in De Waterkant. “Start the day off at La Petite Tarte in Dixon Street. It’s a great little French restaurant with the best eggs Benedict and a famous moist carrot cake.” She recommends a chocolate truffle making class at the Lindt chocolate studio, followed by a leisurely stroll down the cobblestone streets of De Waterkant Village, taking a few Instagram pics of the colourful semi-detached cottages. “Once you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy a lazy lunch at Il Leone Mastrantonio. Their penne gamberetti makes my mouth water!”
The colourful houses are really beautiful and it looks like a postcard around every corner. The views of the harbour, Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain are breathtaking, the shops and restaurants are trendy. It’s safe and a great place for young professionals to live.
Lindy Hibbard
Eat:
- La Petite Tarte: French cafe and bakery
- Il Leone Mastrantonio: classic Italian cuisine
- Lucky Bao: authentic and honest Asian
- Lou Lou’s Bar: tapas and a glass of wine
- Origin Coffee Roasting: the best coffee and breakfasts
Do:
- Chocolate courses at Lindt chocolate studio
- Yoga at YogaLife
- Cape Quarter for design, interiors and lifestyle shopping
- Explore the picturesque cobbled streets on foot
- Cool off in a rooftop swimming pool with cocktails on sun loungers at The Grey Hotel or the Cape Royale Skybar
