Nestling to the west of Cape Town on the seaboard slopes of Lions Head are the residential suburbs of Green Point and Sea Point. Both areas are served by good schools (mostly primary) and decent private medical clinics.

Green Point, so called for its various sporting clubs and facilities, is within a stone's throw of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and the city centre, and has become one of the city's most sought-after areas.

Sea Point, being just slightly further out, is a little less salubrious, but it is not without its charms. The area has a vibe that swings between trendy and seedy, and boasts all sorts of amenities, from designer boutiques to massage parlours. The foreshore of both areas is dominated by high-rise apartment blocks, but houses populate the slopes of the mountain, with prices risings in line with the altitude.

There are no beaches in this neck of the woods, but the seafront is lined by a lengthy promenade which is patrolled 24/7 by a curious mix of young mothers, fitness fanatics, romantics and winos. Green Point is as close to the centre of the city's nightlife as you can get, and its restaurants, bars and pubs are the place to be seen if you are bercool or gay or both.