Cape Town - views from down here

David Donde is a self-dubbed coffee evangelist, eligible culture vulture and connoisseur of all things authentic who still skriks his broeke when the noon day gun sounds. He co-owns half of the African gourmet coffee phenomenon, Origin Coffee Roasting in De Waterkant, Cape Town, and proves it by shouting across the room a lot. Here are some of his thoughts on the city of pretty.

David marvels that we think of Africa as somewhere ‘up there’. “I think Cape Town has managed to stand apart culturally; obviously it’s the most beautiful city around. “Cape Town manages to pull off cosmopolitan – a cross-pollination of culture. It’s got a kind of cleanness, realness and wholesomeness at the same time.”

Why do you think Cape Town is so creative? “I think it attracted the creatives from around the country with its beauty and dynamics. You know - what has; gets.”

Give it a title? “Food and wine capital of South Africa.”

Favourite restaurant? “Depends on what you’re looking for.” Top would be Aubergine (impeccable service) or Ginja (extraordinary food). More accessible favourites include Vasco Da Gama Pub and Sloppy Sam, Greenpoint. For a real feel, Zarina’s in Loop st and that Lebanese guy on Long street who makes Mediterranean dishes at 4a.m.

What should we really boast about? I’ve been mountain biking all over, it’s got the best mountain biking in the world.

Something special to do while you’re here that the locals totally take for granted – “Take a car up Kloofnek Drive.”

Niggles?Gripes?

“Political pessimism – assuming that the bad that we’ve got is any worse than the bad that anybody else has. Crime. We sit in a dichotomy of 1^st world and 3^rd world and we somehow take the bad bits out of both.”

If you could stand in for Mayor for the day, you would…

“tear up lots of bureaucracy. We’ve taken it on without taking advantage of it”

Does Cape Town have better looking women than other local cities?

“Sexier women.”

Are Capetonians snobs?

“Cape Town used to have a reputation for being incredibly cliquey. I think it’s changing. Cape Town is becoming friendly and inviting. We used to think like Parisians –exclusionary and wanting to keep tourists out. I think we’re now in love with them.”

If you could build anywhere regardless of council law or existing infrastructure…

“There’s a trailer park just beyond Simon’s Town that has the most amazing rocks and contact with the sea. I’d build there.”

How many Cape Towns are there?

“The Northern Suburbs, the Southern Suburbs, and the Atlantic Seaboard (Cape Flats), and they are three separate cities - totally and utterly different, and they have no link with each other. I’ve lived in two”

Something that we probably all agree on? “The clarity of light in Cape Town is unbelievable. Almost like hyper realism”

Parting thought

Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you!