7 Ways to Celebrate Women’s Day in Cape Town and Franschhoek with The Oyster Collection
As Women’s Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the remarkable women who shape our lives. Whether it’s family, friends, or colleagues, this is a moment to reflect, connect, and honour their strength and impact.
In South Africa, 9 August marks National Women’s Day, a powerful commemoration of the 1956 march to the Union Buildings, where thousands of women protested the apartheid pass laws. Their rallying cry, “You strike a woman, you strike a rock,” still resonates today as a symbol of resilience and courage.
Women’s Day marks a powerful moment to reflect on our history and recommit to progress.
Celebrating Women’s Day in Cape Town and Franschhoek
Cape Town and Franschhoek are ideal settings for celebrating Women’s Day, offering standout experiences in food, art, wellness, and nature.
Cape Town and Franschhoek are ideal settings for celebrating Women’s Day, offering standout experiences in food, art, wellness, and nature. With strong female leadership across our team, The Oyster Collection proudly highlights a curated selection of ways to mark the day.
Here are seven inspired ways to celebrate in two of the country’s most beautiful destinations.
1. Indulge in a Luxurious Spa Day
Pair your five-star stay at POD Camps Bay with five-star spa treatments, available in-house for your convenience. Choose from custom facials, hot stone massages, or full-body exfoliation. Each treatment with superlative, natural Africology products will leave you feeling calm, restored, and refreshed.
Highlights include:
- Bespoke herbal oil massage (choose from four blends)
- Classic and gel manicures and pedicures
- “Majestic Awakening” treatment with aromatherapy and deep tension release
Prefer a change of scenery? Unwind at the One&Only Spa, an oasis on its own island in the V&A Waterfront. The spa focuses on holistic wellness, offering everything from signature massages to full-day African-inspired journeys.
If you’re staying at one of our beautifully appointed Franschhoek properties, a short drive will take you to Babylonstoren.
Local transfers can be arranged with advance notice. Start with a quiet stroll through the grounds, then unwind at the Garden Spa with their signature herbal journey—a calming foot bath, full-body poultice massage, and gentle facial cleanse, infused with fresh garden botanicals.
2. Savour a Gourmet Brunch
Celebrate with a delectable brunch at Jarryds Brunch and Bistro in Sea Point’s Regent Road or The Strangers Club tucked away just off Green Point Main Road.
Jarryds offers a laid-back, vibrant atmosphere in a stylish glass-ceilinged courtyard. This all-day brunch spot delivers top-notch food and a lively experience. Their menu features everything from a classic pancake stack to unique twists on eggs Benedict. The coffee is excellent, and the mimosas are bottomless– ideal for a long, leisurely morning.
The Strangers Club is a charming heritage farmstead from 1828. The seasonal menu is simple yet packed with flavour, featuring delicious breakfasts and easy-going lunches. Don’t miss the retail space, where local brands shine alongside intriguing African and global artefacts.
3. Enjoy an Elegant High Tea
Cape Town’s classic tea venues offer a refined way to celebrate Women’s Day, blending tradition with beautifully executed service and setting. While there are many great venues, there are a couple of traditional standouts.
At Mount Nelson, tea is served in a setting as iconic as its pink façade. Settle in for a beautifully paced afternoon of classic bites and contemporary twists. Expect tiered trays of delicate finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream, and a parade of seasonal pastries by pastry chef Vicky Gurovich. You might find confit duck sausage rolls, Abalobi West Coast salmon mousse, or a Marula peach choux bun on offer—every detail considered, every bite indulgent.
For another equally refined experience, Cape Grace delivers tea with a view. Overlooking the V&A Waterfront marina, the Heirloom restaurant pairs crisp linen and crystal teacups with a welcome glass of Cap Classique.
The menu includes Coronation chicken samosas, spring vegetable tartlets, and smoked salmon sandwiches, followed by lemon curd scones and pastries like Paris Brest and hibiscus chocolate cubes. Loose-leaf teas from Nigiro are served alongside artisan coffee to the sound of live piano drifting through the room.
In the heart of Franschhoek, La Residence offers a more tranquil take, set among orchards, vineyards, and wide mountain views. Tea is served on The Loggia overlooking a still pond, or fireside in The Great Hall on cooler days.
The experience is intimate and generous: mini cheese quiches, delicate sandwiches, and savoury straws share space with classic buttermilk scones, fruit tartlets, and rich chocolate cake.
4. Explore Local Art and Culture
For a culture-rich way to spend the day, consider visiting some of Cape Town’s standout art spaces.
Zeitz MOCAA presents cutting-edge contemporary art from across Africa and the diaspora. The building itself—an architecturally reimagined grain silo—makes a striking first impression, and the exhibitions are often as bold as the space they’re housed in.
A short drive away in De Waterkant, the Goodman Gallery showcases contemporary works by leading South African and international artists. Founded in 1966, it remains a powerful platform for art that challenges, inspires, and sparks conversation.
The Norval Foundation in Tokai is a must-visit for anyone interested in contemporary African art. Its thoughtfully curated exhibitions showcase powerful works by both established and emerging artists. The sculpture garden, set against the backdrop of the lush Tokai forest and distant mountain peaks, features impressive installations that invite exploration and contemplation.
On Women’s Day, Norval is hosting a Tote Bag Painting Workshop led by Artwave Studios. It’s a relaxed, hands-on session celebrating creativity and expression—no experience needed. All materials are provided, along with light refreshments and full-day access to the museum and gardens. Guests can also add a warming seasonal soup lunch at Grub & Vine Norval.
When: 9 August 2025 | 10 am – 1 pm
Where: Norval Foundation, Tokai
Cost: R850 (includes workshop, refreshments, and museum access) | R949 (with lunch)
Tickets: Available via Webtickets
5. Take a Scenic Wine Tasting Tour
Hop on the City Sightseeing Red Bus to explore the Groot Constantia Wine Estate, the oldest wine farm in South Africa. Your ticket gets you a guided cellar tour, vineyard walk, and a tasting of five signature wines. You’ll even take home a souvenir Spiegelau crystal glass.
Dining options include Jonkershuis and Simon’s, both known for exceptional food. Simon’s also offers picnic baskets if you’re up for lunch on the lawns beneath towering oaks.
If you’re out in Franschhoek, plan a tasting at La Motte or Boschendal, two of the region’s most celebrated estates. Both often mark Women’s Day with special pairings or events, offering a chance to recognise women in the wine industry while enjoying award-winning vintages and expansive vineyard views.
Looking for the ideal base in Franschhoek? Each of our Franschhoek properties offer attention to detail and quality.
La Fontaine Boutique Hotel is set in two beautifully restored heritage buildings just off the main street, with 17 individually styled rooms, peaceful gardens, and a pool for those warm afternoons. Mountain views come standard.
Avondrood Guest House offers a bit of local history with its 1870 Victorian Cape Dutch architecture. There are eight generous suites, a leafy garden, and a pool—perfect for winding down after a day of wine tasting or exploring the village.
If you’re looking for something more private, Pink Door Franschhoek is a self-contained, three-bedroom villa with everything you need for a luxurious, independent stay. The villa offers a chef’s kitchen, optional private chef or butler, and easy access to the valley’s best food and wine spots.
All three properties include secure parking, concierge support, and thoughtful extras to make your stay as relaxed as possible.
6. Catch Up on Reading in Peace
If quiet time with a good book and a glass of wine sounds like the ultimate indulgence, Leopard’s Leap has just the invitation. It’s the Silent Season—a relaxed reading event that makes space for stillness and good storytelling.
The day begins with author Tony Park in conversation with Helen Turnbull from the Cape Leopard Trust, where he’ll introduce his latest novel, Die by the Sword. Guests are welcomed with coffee, tea, a glass of bubbly, and a morning snack before the talk begins.
Then, from 12:30, the silence sets in. Find a fireside seat or a sunny corner, pour yourself a reading glass of Leopard’s Leap wine, and settle in. A buffet of warm soup, fresh bread, and sweet treats is on hand to keep you company.
Forgot your book? Wordsworth Books will be there with a curated selection, including Die by the Sword, with royalties from sales donated to support Cape Winelands leopard conservation.
Details:
- When: 9 August 2025, 10:30am–3pm
- Where: Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards, Franschhoek
- Cost: R500
- Tickets: Book online
7. Shop Local and Support Women-Owned Businesses
Celebrate women by supporting them. Explore Cape Town’s boutique shops and markets, such as The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront, which features a range of women-owned businesses. Discover unique gifts and support local female entrepreneurs.
One standout is PICHULIK, a jewellery and accessories atelier. PICHULIK employs a talented, pan-African team of women who handcraft each piece from start to finish.
Using locally produced rope and found materials, the designs are inspired by African traditions and global adventures. PICHULIK empowers women by employing, collaborating with, and supporting local, women-owned businesses to promote job creation and economic growth.
After a day of shopping or exploring Cape Town, return to Blackheath Lodge, our four-star boutique hotel in Sea Point. The rooms are calm and well-considered, with clean design, quality finishes, and a sense of quiet that can be hard to find in the city.
Blackheath Lodge gives you easy access to Sea Point’s cafés, the promenade, and Victoria Wharf, while offering a peaceful space to recharge.
What sets the experience apart is the way we approach hospitality. It’s thoughtful but never forced—just a team that pays attention and anticipates your needs. We call it a hospitalitarian spirit: warm, intuitive service that puts people first.
Celebrate Women’s Day with The Oyster Collection
Women’s Day is about honouring courage, creativity, and community, and at The Oyster Collection, it’s also about celebrating exceptional hospitality.
Whether you’re unwinding at the coast or retreating to the winelands, our boutique properties offer comfort, character, and curated experiences. As a woman-owned brand, we’re proud to celebrate Women’s Day not just on 9 August, but every day.
We invite you to join us—whether for a spa escape, a quiet read, or a toast to the women who inspire you.
Let us host your perfect Women’s Day getaway.