Hello Sailor
Hello Sailor is a very unique restaurant that is arguably Cape Town's premiere hipster hangout. The first time I walked into this little establishment, located in the heart of Observatory on Lower Main Rd., I was overwhelmed by the sensation that I had stepped into a restaurant somewhere in the SoHo district of New York City. On the afternoon of my first visit, staff and patrons alike were wearing clothing that is universally recognizable as hipster: oversized sweaters, berets, flannel shirts, skinny jeans and large wire frame glasses. I spotted many tattoos. As I took my seat, a song by The Black Keys, a revered hipster act, played in the background.
While Hello Sailor has only been since 2010, it is a welcome addition to Observatory. The restaurant fits right in with the neighborhood's bohemian arts and culture scene. More importantly, the food is outstanding and very well priced. During my first visit, I enjoyed an American-style burger with crumbled blue cheese, strips of crispy bacon and fig preserve. For 45 Rand, I challenge you to find a better value-for-money burger in the neighborhood!
What else should you try? If you're feeling peckish but want don't want a full meal, order the disco fries. For 16 Rand, you'll receive a large bowl of shoestring fries that are covered with melted cheese and a delicious sautéed mushroom sauce. The eggs benedict is also a winner and can be ordered at any time of day. I would offer further recommendations but in subsequent visits to Hello Sailor, I keep ordering one of the same three menu items I've mentioned in this review! Rest assured that any meal you order at Hello Sailor will be an excellent one.
If you are expecting first-class service and attentive waiters, don't pick this spot. The staff seem more interested in managing the restaurant iTunes playlist than taking your order and if you want extra drinks or the bill, chances are that you'll have to get out of your seat to get someone's attention.
Hello Sailor is a haven for the inde crowd living in Cape Town. Despite the restaurant's hipster nonchalance, the kitchen delivers some of the best meals you will find in Observatory. It's also a great place to hang out if you want to enjoy a meal and linger at your table while you read a book or work on your laptop (patrons receive free wi-fi). Overall, I really enjoy this restaurant and would recommend that you sample the menu at least once during your stay in Cape Town!
-Review by VACorps staff member, Oliver Hagan.
VACorps Testimonials
Read what past participants have to say about our program.
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Kelly StoneGenre of Internship:Law Dates of Participation: June 2011 - August 2011 |
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"I boarded a plane in mid-May having just finished my second year of law school. I left a great job and a set career path because I wasn’t happy. And ... read more
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Jennifer ReynoldsGenre of Internship:Occupational Therapy Dates of Participation: August 2011 - November 2011 |
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"There’s no easy way to sum up my experiences here. Everything I’ve done, everyone I’ve met and all the places I’ve been have been amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for ... read more |
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Claire BrightonGenre of Internship:Law Dates of Participation: November 2009 - February 2010 |
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"On the 19th of November 2009, fresh out of law exams, I boarded a plane bound for Cape Town, South Africa, in the pursuit of sunshine, adventure and ... read more |
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Whitney TaylorGenre of Internship:Media and Gender Dates of Participation: May 2011 - August 2011 |
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When I first thought about interning in South Africa, so many what-ifs ran through my mind. I knew everything would be different than what I was used to back home. ... read more |
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Jeremy HintonGenre of Internship:Physical Therapy Dates of Participation: August 2011 - October 2011 |
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''I tried my best to prepare for my two months in Cape Town. I Google-Mapped South Africa and spotted out a few of the big cities, I wikipedia’ed Cape Town ... read more |
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Franca del SignoreGenre of Internship:Human Rights Dates of Participation: October 2009 - March 2010 |
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"In the process of changing my career path, and having decided an internship was the best way to achieve this goal, I set out on a search for ... read more |
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Luke ClearyGenre of Internship:Advertising Dates of Participation: June 2008 - August 2008 |
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"Chances are, if you’ve made your way to the testimonials page of this website you’re already on the cusp of the adventure of a lifetime. Go for it. ... read more |
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Alisha GibsonGenre of Internship:Medical Dates of Participation: March 2011 - May 2011 |
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“My internship placement was, as I would say, banging!! It was the best ever! I got to experience my dream job of delivering babies right before my eyes. ... read more |
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Juliane HundtGenre of Internship:Refugee Work Dates of Participation: April 2009 - June 2009 |
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“VACorps was not the first internship program I participated in; however, the experience was one-of-a-kind. The organization was one of the few international placement agencies offering positions with a refugee ... read more |
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Justin BeanGenre of Internship:Sustainable Energy Dates of Participation: June 2010 - August 2010 |
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“Why do you want to go all the way to South Africa to do an internship?” Someone asked me before I departed for Cape Town. The ... read more |
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Josh DilkGenre of Internship:Human Rights Law Dates of Participation: September 2009 - February 2010 |
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Cape Town, South Africa was a natural destination for me when the recent economic recession postponed when I would begin working at my Firm. Having recently graduated from ... read more |
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Gerald ThamGenre of Internship:Human Rights Dates of Participation: May 2010 - July 2010 |
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"I'd like to thank the whole VACorps team for making this adventure-of-a-lifetime not only possible, but even more spectacular and meaningful than my wildest expectations! It's an even ... read more |
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Elsa PetersonGenre of Internship:Social Work Dates of Participation: January 2009 - January 2009 |
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“When I decided I wanted to travel and live abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, I had no idea that my life ... read more |
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Michelle Pinter-PetrilloGenre of Internship:Urban Agriculture Dates of Participation: January 2011 - April 2011 |
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“During my sophomore year while looking at options for studying abroad I quickly realized that I did not want to study at a university. Instead of spending my time in ... read more |
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Tim LaRoccoGenre of Internship:Human Rights Dates of Participation: January 2009 - April 2009 |
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“When the opportunity to participate in a professional internship in Africa presented itself to me, I had a feeling it ... read more |
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Zach LoftonGenre of Internship:NGO Development Dates of Participation: March 2010 - July 2010 |
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"My ten weeks in Cape Town, South Africa were invaluable! It was easily one of the greatest experiences of my life. Volunteer Adventure Corps provided me with an ... read more |
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Giulia NotariGenre of Internship:Gender Advocacy Dates of Participation: July 2011 - September 2011 |
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" VAC's passion for Cape Town and South Africa is contagious. I am leaving Observatory very sad and nostalgic because thanks to VAC I have had an amazing experience and ... read more |
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Anna DowlingGenre of Internship:Medical Dates of Participation: September 2011 - December 2011 |
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Spending four months of my life in South Africa has been a life-changing experience that has transformed and enriched me as a person. Working at Heideveld Day Clinic offered me ... read more |
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Kelly SmithGenre of Internship:Social Work Dates of Participation: September 2011 - December 2011 |
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In my language there is a saying “Ndiwelimilambo enamagama” ( I have crossed famous rivers). It means that one has traveled a great distance, that one has had wide experience ... read more |
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Matt RussellGenre of Internship:IT/Software Development Dates of Participation: September 2011 - December 2011 |
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From the first day I arrived in Cape Town, feeling like a naïve tourist at the airport to the final hours I spent trying to squeeze in one last hike, ... read more |
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