Cape Town has a special way of embracing global cultures, and this year’s Italy in Town Festival at the Cape Quarter was no exception. Held across the weekend of 22–23 November 2025, the event transformed De Waterkant into a bustling Italian streetscape, complete with food, music, wine, and the contagious warmth of la dolce vita.
From families wandering between artisanal stalls to food lovers swirling glasses of chilled vino, the festival once again proved why it’s becoming a staple on the Mother City’s cultural calendar. But the standout feature this year was the introduction of a small, thoughtfully designed VIP experience, a gentle addition that offered guests a quieter way to enjoy the festivities.
A Taste of Italy in the Heart of Cape Town
The Italy in Town Festival was created to celebrate the deep cultural connection between South Africa and Italy, championed by the Italian South African Chamber of Trade and Industries along with the Italian Consulate.
Over two days, locals were invited to enjoy:
- Fresh wood-fired pizzas
- Hand-rolled pastas
- Gelato in almost every flavour imaginable
- Italian wines and aperitifs
- Live jazz, pop, and opera performances
- Kids’ activities
- Italian lifestyle stalls and artisanal goods
The sunny Cape Town weather only added to the ambience, turning the Cape Quarter’s cobblestone walkways into a lively Italian piazza.
The VIP Experience: A Quiet Addition to This Year’s Festival
For the first time, the Italy in Town Festival introduced a modest and understated VIP experience. Rather than being a focal point, it served as a calm retreat for guests looking to enjoy the festival at a gentler pace.
Inside the dedicated indoor lounge, visitors found comfortable seating, soft lighting, a relaxed atmosphere, and a peaceful contrast to the bustling energy outdoors.
The space offered a few elevated touches that enhanced the experience without overshadowing the festival itself.
Risotto Made Before Your Eyes
One of these touches was a live cooking station where Chef Giuliano Magnoni prepared risotto throughout the day. Guests watched as he stirred, seasoned, and plated each serving with care, filling the room with the comforting aromas of butter, parmesan, and slow-cooked broth. It was simple, warm, and deeply appreciated.
Premium Wine Tastings
VIP guests also enjoyed guided tastings of premium wines from Capelands Wine Farm, bringing the Italian philosophy to South African soil. This added an educational layer to the experience, highlighting the deep connection between two wine cultures known for exceptional terroir.
The curated selection featured:
- White Stone Reserve 2022
- CR1 Redstone 2019
- CR1 Redstone 2021
- CR1 Grand Reserve
Each wine was chosen for its craftsmanship and character, offering guests a relaxed opportunity to savour the estate’s finest bottles at their leisure.
Easy Access to Workshops and Activities
Another subtle benefit was priority access to the pasta-making workshops, allowing VIP guests to join sessions without waiting in long queues.
Overall, the VIP experience added a gentle layer of refinement to the festival. It remained true to the spirit of Italy in Town: warm, inviting, and centred around good food, good wine, and good company.
Two Interesting Facts About the Italy In Town Festival
1. Over 8,000 attendees visited the festival this year
This makes the 2025 edition the largest and most successful one yet, showing a growing local appetite for Italian culture, food, and lifestyle.
2. The festival’s wine-tasting card was inspired by Northern Italy
The eight-tasting “vino passport” system is based on wine walks in Italian villages, adapted for Cape Town to make sampling easier and more engaging.
A Proud Western Cape Presence: Capelands Joins the Festivities
What made this year’s event feel even more connected to the Western Cape was the participation of Capelands, the much-loved Italian-inspired retreat located in Somerset West.
Capelands brought a beautiful blend of Cape terroir and Italian tradition to the festival. Known for its vineyard views, slow-food ethos, and authentic Italian hospitality, Capelands drew visitors who recognised and appreciated their farm-to-table approach. Their presence also highlighted how the Western Cape’s food and wine scene is strongly influenced by Mediterranean flavours, making Italy in Town feel like a natural extension of what locals already love.
A Festival Worth Returning To
The Italy in Town Festival has quickly become a cultural gem on the Cape Town events calendar. Whether you were there for the food, the wine, the music, or the relaxed piazza-style atmosphere, there was something for everyone. And with its new VIP indoor culinary experience, subtle and refined, the 2025 edition truly elevated the event.
If this year was anything to go by, the next edition promises to be even bigger and even more delicious.
