Norval Foundation

"So, give us some backstory on this place. What's it all about?The most buzzed-about art center to open in Cape Town in 2018, the Norval Foundation is a destination unto itself. Home to a gallery, a sculpture garden, a library, an outdoor amphitheater, and a restaurant, the complex features a whole lot more than simply art. Open to the public, it has rotating exhibitions and has a ton of other cool cultural offerings, including concerts. Wow—it's stacked. How’s the space, itself? Oh, and what about the location?The Norval Foundation's location is one of its biggest attractions. Set in Steenberg, adjacent to Table Mountain National Park, the magnificent, lofty, glassy building overlooks the surrounding wetland and mountains, so you won't have a hard time losing the crowds. And if you do, there's a whole outdoor sculpture garden to explore. Perfect; sounds like there's tons to do. Now, onto the main thing: The art. What are we seeing?The gallery has a roster of exhibitions, but viewing pieces from the Norval family's private collection—one of the leading 20th-century South African art collections (and beyond), which isn't on display in its entirety—is worth the trip alone. The collection includes works by Irma Stern, Sydney Kumalo, Gerard Sekoto, and Edoardo Villa (among others), so keep your eyes peeled for upcoming exhibitions. Noted! Now sum it all up for us: What—or who—is this place best for?Even if you're not a huge art fan, the foundation has a number of other cool things to see and do: Grab a bite at the hip Skotnes restaurant, watch a live concert in the amphitheater, or meander the beautiful grounds. Why not make a day of it?" - Mary Holland