Words: Kit Heathcock | Images: Nadine van Driel & Teagan Smith
Putting a smile on viewers’ faces early on weekday mornings on the Expresso Breakfast Show and keeping listeners company on their drive home and Saturday afternoons on KFM, Zoe Brown is a native Capetonian who spent her childhood here before moving to Durban in her teens. It was while studying at Stellenbosch University that she fell in love with radio. This brought her to Cape Town and KFM in 2014, first reporting on traffic, now on The Flash Drive with Carl Wastie and hosting her own show on Saturday afternoons from 2pm until 6pm.
In 2015, she won the televised Presenter Search on 3 and became an SABC3 presenter on the Expresso Breakfast Show. Somehow, she still finds time to be an ambassador for The Red Cross Children’s Hospital, the WWF and The Sunflower Fund, and makes the most of her new neighbourhood, Tamboerskloof, where she’s been living for the last year.
Home sweet home
Zoe enjoys how central Tamboerskloof is, while still feeling like a peaceful suburb. “It’s an area I’ve always liked,” she says. “I work crazy hours and wanted to live as close to town as possible without having to break the bank. I stayed in Sea Point for a brief period before moving here but now I’ve settled down in Tamboerskloof.”
Some of the attractions of this quaint suburb on the upper slopes of the City Bowl are the Victorian houses and, of course, the incredible views. “It was pure coincidence that I found this place when I did. It’s spacious, has high ceilings and beautiful wooden floors, with a balcony that shows off the beautiful city and Table Mountain.” Her balcony is the perfect place to have friends over for sundowners and soak up the ever-changing views.
Social hotspot Kloof Street is close by and a favourite meeting place. “I love the little restaurants in Kloof Street. I try to hop around and not always go to the same place, but some of my favourites are Da Vinci’s, Asoka and Saigon.” Kloof Street is within easy walking distance but with the steep incline going home, especially after shopping for groceries at the Lifestyle Centre on Kloof, Zoe will take an Uber back. This also saves on the di¬fficulty of parking around Kloof Street which can be a nightmare, she says. “For other shopping, I’m so central that it’s only a quick hop to the Southern Suburbs for Cavendish, north to Canal Walk, or down to the V&A Waterfront.”
Gems in the neighbourhood
A favourite open-air spot is De Waal Park in neighbouring Oranjezicht that locals love and which is slightly off the tourist track. “It’s great all year round for taking a stroll or having a picnic,” Zoe says. “During the summer they do the free Concerts in the Park with a great line-up.”
A hidden gem that Zoe loves is The Blue Cafe in Tamboerskloof. “It’s great to enjoy breakfast or coffee on the sidewalk. And then there’s Beleza, a Portuguese and Italian-inspired restaurant on a corner, which is a perfect spot to watch the world go by.”
Another advantage of living in Tamboerskloof is that it’s so close to the mountain. “I love going just up the road for a hike around Lion’s Head or the Table Mountain area. There are some wonderful walking paths and routes.”
Perfect Sunday
Zoe makes the most of how central Tamboerskloof is to soak up the city vibe on her free Sundays. She suggests, “Start your Sunday morning off with breakfast at Liquorice and Lime and then go for a morning stroll around Lion’s Head. It’s about a 50-minute walk, and you get to enjoy a beautiful 360-degree view of the Mother City.”
“I love Tamboerskloof as it’s close to work, extremely central and even though it’s close to the city buzz, it’s got the peacefulness of a suburb”
Zoe Brown
Shop:
- Kloof Street: cool clothing, decor and so much more
- Olive Branch Deli at Lifestyle on Kloof: deli goods
- Gardens Shopping Centre: boutique shops
- City Bowl Market on Hope Street on Thursdays: fresh produce, good food and live music
- The Book Lounge in Roeland Street: a variety of books
- Mabu Vinyl: collectable music
- Anouk Furniture & Decor in Roeland Street: vintage and quirky pieces
Eat:
- Beleza: Portuguese and Italian-inspired fare
- The Blue Cafe: friendly neighbourhood cafe eats
- Asoka: Asian fusion tapas and cocktails in the open courtyard
- Saigon: authentic Vietnamese cuisine
- Da Vinci’s: pizzas, burgers and affordable lunches
- Unframed: artisan ice cream in imaginative flavours
Do:
- Hike the trails around Lion’s Head and on Table Mountain
- Summer concerts in De Waal Park
- Erf 81 Food Market on Sundays
- Wander Kloof Street and explore trendy shops, boutiques and restaurants
- The UCT Little Theatre for performance art and student theatre productions
- The Labia Theatre for documentaries and art house movies
