Fodor's Expert Review Hout Bay Beach

Cradled in a lovely bay of the same name and guarded by a 1,000-foot peak known as the Sentinel, Hout Bay is the center of Cape Town's crayfishing industry (legal and otherwise) and operates several fish-processing plants. It also has knockout views of the mountains, gentle surf, and easy access to the restaurants and bars of Mariner's Wharf. The fact that this is a working harbor, added to the raw sewage of the Inzamo Yethu informal settlement a short walk upstream, means this is, unfortunately, a polluted beach, however beautiful it looks. You are advised not to swim here. Amenities: food and drink; parking. Best for: solitude; walking.