The Long Street Experience in Cape Town

While the vividly painted faces of old Victorian buildings, advertising a seemingly endless string of youth hostels and overland tour operators, may understandably mislead you, Long Street is not just a place for backpackers. It has a hip urban feel that attracts young and old alike, making it one of the most interesting places in the city to spend a few hours or a few days. Many of the city's tourist attractions are located on or intersect with this central avenue; take a dip at the Turkish Baths on one end and then walk down towards the International Convention Center on the other, visiting historic mosques and churches and popping into the Association of Visual Arts or the Gold Museum along the way. The peaceful Company Gardens, flanked by the Slave Lodge, the National Gallery and the South African Museum, are in the immediate vicinity and provide a lovely spot for a break from the urban buzz of Long Street itself. Greenmarket Square and the Adderly Street Flower Market lie in between Long Street and the Castle of Good Hope. And if you want more ideas for sightseeing, or have simply lost your bearings, the all-knowing Cape Town Tourist Information Center is just one block down from Long on Castle Street. Long Street is also a mecca for shoppers looking for creative, locally designed items. The high concentration of trendy boutiques stocking clothes by young Cape Town designers makes it a goldmine for the fashion-conscious and minefield for their fashion-clueless companions. Stores to look out for are Mememe, Milk and Misfit. The galleries on Church and Long can satisfy your interior decorating needs, with sleek furniture, ethnic accents, and more serious photographs, painting and sculpture from contemporary South African artists. There are a number of places, such as African Image, that specialize in providing "African" flair. Those working on a tighter budget need only head to Pan-African Market or the daily flea market in Greenmarket Square, where vendors hawk everything from commercial T-shirts to intricate beadwork and tapestries, and are always willing to bargain for "a special price, just for you." Specialty stores include Clarke's Bookshop, probably the most serious bookstore in all of Cape Town, and Caroline's Fine Wines, the place to go for spot-on wine suggestions. Even more than for these sightseeing and shopping options, though, Long Street is known among young Capetonians for its nightlife. The dining scene is fresh and creative, with options to suit everyone. Sophisticated bistros like 95 Keerom and Ginja, which both recently won special recognition from South Africa's Eat Out magazine, are perfect for dinners with clients or first dates. The chic Gallery Caf