Hemmed in by the sheer face of Table Mountain and the city centre are the sought-after residential districts of Tamboerskloof, Gardens, Vredehoek, Oranjezicht and Higgovale.

Despite the close proximity to the city centre, the area exudes a serenity born of the stunning backdrop and intelligent city planning, which has kept high-rise monsters at bay. The City Bowl's infrastructure is that of a modern European city, with excellent shopping malls and a myriad of entertainment options catering to all tastes. The resident population is almost exclusively professional, edging towards the higher-income end of the scale. Primary schools are in plentiful supply, but secondary students tend to make the trip to the nearby Southern Suburbs. The actual central business district is compact, but hasn't got much to offer beside office space. A large regeneration project, using Cape Town's glitzy new International Convention Centre as its focus, is hoping to breathe new life into the downtown area.