I spent a month at Cape Colive in Cape Town, and it was a lovely time!
When you stay here, tell Matt & Dakota I sent you! 🙂 And send me a message when you book, too!
I only recommend places I’ve personally vetted – you can read more about what I look for in a coliving space here & find my full list of recommendations (and discounts!) here.
Cape Town is a big digital nomad hotspot, especially during European winter – lots of nomads in this time zone flock south for Cape Town summer. Before coming to Cape Town, I was warned so much about crime, safety, and post-apartheid tension, I was a bit nervous (it was my first time here) and was eager to stay at a coliving to get the lay of the land. A lot of people warned me to not walk alone, especially at night, and especially if you don’t know the area, so staying at a colive seemed like a really good idea. Now having been to Cape Town, I’d feel comfortable staying on my own. It’s a big city with tons to do and it’s quite easy to make friends.
If you’re looking for a soft landing in Cape Town, this Cape Colive is absolutely the way to go!
Price. I paid €2511 for 31 nights = $84.25 per night
Value. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5)
Bedroom. I stayed in the Stadium Suite, which was absolutely gorgeous – it was big, had tons of natural light, and had a gorgeous view of the ocean, complete with a balcony. I Had a big wardrobe, two desks in my room, a big bed, ceiling fan, and a private bathroom with a tub and shower. This was a fantastic room and I really enjoyed it. I’d also happily stay in a different room to save a little money. I do wish the blinds had been better for blocking out light. I also got a lot of mosquito bites at night. I was there Dec 10-Jan 10 and didn’t have a problem without air conditioning, but it might depend on your room.
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Work space. I mostly worked from my desk in my room. There’s a big dining room table to cowork from, and a really nice office/podcasting studio too! And a lovely outdoor space with a table and umbrellas if you want to work outside.
Common areas. Cape Colive is a huge house with lots of common areas; but you also won’t feel right on top of each other. The ground floor has most of the common spaces. There’s a gorgeous outdoor patio with a big table and umbrellas, two lounge chairs, and a plunge pool – perfect for cooling off. I ate a lot of meals out here. There’s a big living room, complete with a projector, and a big dining room with a big table for coworking (and eating). Plus a nice office / podcast studio everyone can use. The kitchen and laundry room are also downstairs. And there’s a little outdoor courtyard area with a bench too. There’s also a roofdeck with bean bag chairs, a table, and some workout equipment – dumbbells and yoga matts.
Kitchen/coffee. There’s a nice big kitchen with an espresso machine, air fryer, blender, etc. and You’ll get a shelf in the fridge and places to store dry food, but the freezer is a bit disorganized. The lovely housekeeper, Dee, helps with unloading & reloading the dishwasher. Unfortunately, this made the colivers lazy, and the kitchen was often dirty and the sink full of dishes. It also felt like the trash and recycling was always full. Otherwise great kitchen; I did a mix of eating at home and eating out/delivery. Cape Town is a major food destination, so you’ll want to go to lots of restaurants!
Amenities. Free coffee and tea, potable water, coworking space included, games, fully furnished, projector, etc. There’s a pool and lounge chairs, a grill, and a rooftop deck with workout equipment like yoga mats and dumbbells.
Location. Cape Town is a huge digital nomad hub in South African summer (European & North American winter). You’ll meet tons of nomads and it’s easy to meet South Africans too! Cape Coliving is in Green Point, which is green, beautiful and feels safe. It’s just a 10-minute walk to the Virgin Active gym (which I joined), and there’s groceries, restaurants, and coffee shops in walking distance. You can also see the ocean from the colive and walk to the promenade or walk in Green Point Park. It’s a great location, and Ubers are cheap for getting around the city. Safety tip: always take an Uber at night, don’t walk; and don’t walk unless you know the area.
Cleanliness & room cleaning. A once-a-week cleaning is included in your stay – this is what I prefer for longer-term stays. The cleaner, Dee, is a treasure.
Staff. Matt is the founder, and he’s lovely, as is his partner, Dakota. I first met them in Spain and wanted to come to their colive right away! They’re super warm, friendly, welcoming people, and will make you feel at home. The housekeeper, Dee, is also really lovely.
Community management. We had a family meeting every Monday to talk about what we wanted to do that week – everyone brought an activity to the meeting, and we planned from there. We also had a potluck community lunch every Wednesday. Matt and especially Dakota put a lot of thought and effort into the community, including getting us a Christmas tree for the holidays and helping plan various activities. I was there during the holidays and new years, so it was a bit of an odd time and the colive was in a period of transition. Fostering a welcoming and inclusive community culture is such an art that requires so much effort, and I’d say overall the communication and culture could have been a bit better.
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Members. Everyone at Cape Coliving was really nice and I met some great people, but it wasn’t the strongest community vibe while I was there. Some folks hadn’t been in a colive before, others were really focused on dating, and a few were a bit more introverted. Often when I’m at colives, my biggest social focus is connecting with others at the colive; here I ended up switching my focus externally. Cape Town is a big city with tons to do and lots of community groups, so it’s easy to meet people and date.
Community. ⭐️⭐️⭐️(3/5)
Overall feel. You’re in a gorgeous city with tons to do, but Cape Coliving is an oasis of chill vibes, ocean views, and greenery in a great location.
If you can snag a room here during the summer months, do it! It’s a gorgeous house in a great location. Just commit to staying 🙂 Even if you just think of it for the price of the accommodation, it’s not too bad.
When you stay here, tell Matt & Dakota I sent you! 🙂 And send me a message when you book, too!
Let me know if you make it to Cape Town, and what you think of Cape Coliving! Tell me your thoughts on Instagram @t.prad.
