De Waterkant is a compact, street-level office and mixed-use node on the western edge of the Cape Town CBD, extending toward Green Point and the V&A Waterfront fringe. Its commercial appeal comes from urban grain and walkability: older converted buildings, smaller office floors, cafés, showrooms and service businesses operating off streets such as Somerset Road and the lower CBD grid.
For a corporate tenant, the area suits teams that want a central Cape Town base without the scale and formality of the core CBD towers. It is a good fit for creative, advisory and client-facing firms that value access to the city centre, Green Point and the Waterfront, while still wanting an address with a more intimate street environment. The trade-off is clear: De Waterkant offers character and convenience, but space planning, parking and expansion options need to be checked building by building.
Median asking rent
Gross asking rent per m². The line is the 12-month blended median over 7 years (420 listings); the figure above is today's live asking.
De Waterkant on the map
The defined node boundary and the 34 buildings Anvil Property tracks within it.
Understanding the area
The area has a fragmented tenant base built around small and mid-sized companies that want a central address with a more personal operating environment. It attracts founder-led firms, specialist consultancies, design-led businesses and professional teams that use the street network around Waterkant and Jarvis streets as part of their client experience. Tenancies are often more individual than institutional, with businesses choosing buildings for layout, frontage, natural light, parking and proximity to clients.
The tenant mix is typically drawn from a few recurring categories:
- Architecture and interior design studios
- Digital, media and production businesses
- Legal, financial and advisory practices
- Boutique retail, gallery and showroom users
- Health, beauty and lifestyle services
This mix has developed through incremental reuse. De Waterkant’s commercial stock often carries a converted building profile, where offices are positioned above or behind street-facing retail, hospitality or showroom space. That gives companies premises with more identity than a standard multi-floor office block, while keeping them connected to the CBD, Green Point and the Waterfront.
For larger corporate tenants, the node is selective. De Waterkant works best where the requirement is a compact client-facing office or a satellite team, not a large consolidated campus. The trade-off is clear: a business gains street-level character and a differentiated address, while accepting that floorplates, parking ratios and expansion options need to be checked building by building before committing.
Why businesses choose this area
De Waterkant’s main advantage is route optionality. A tenant can work the Cape Town CBD, Green Point, the V&A Waterfront and the Atlantic Seaboard without committing to a large CBD tower or a Waterfront campus. Buitengracht Street, Somerset Road, Strand Street and Helen Suzman Boulevard give the area multiple entry points, which matters for client-facing teams moving between meetings across the city bowl.
For companies comparing De Waterkant with nearby nodes, the decision is usually about operating style. The core CBD gives stronger tower depth and larger floorplate choice; the Waterfront gives a more managed campus environment. De Waterkant occupies the street grid between those options, with street-level visibility, smaller lease commitments and faster movement into Green Point and the Waterfront fringe. That makes it useful for teams that need a central address, but do not want their staff and clients moving through a single large-office format every day.
A tenant should weigh these trade-offs before committing:
- CBD scale versus more individual building formats
- Waterfront campus control versus street-facing flexibility
- Atlantic Seaboard access versus peak-hour route pressure
- Smaller floorplates versus easier team identity
- Parking allocation versus staff use of ride-hailing and walking routes
The area works best when those trade-offs support the business model. A design studio, advisory firm or specialist client-service team may get more value from frontage and accessibility than from a larger corporate floorplate elsewhere.
The Cape Quarter precinct also adds a practical management layer to the area. Its published facilities include a 24-hour security office, a 24-hour security control room at the Dixon Street parking entrance, and parking garages with anti-remote-jamming devices. For tenants with staff, clients or suppliers arriving outside standard office hours, those precinct features support more controlled access without changing the area’s mixed-use street character.
Infrastructure and building specifications
De Waterkant office stock in the properties we cover is A grade, with quality varying by building age, refurbishment level and fit-out already in place. The area’s practical office core runs off Somerset Road, Waterkant Street and the blocks feeding toward Buitengracht, so many options are urban floor plates in mixed-use or compact commercial buildings, with some larger conventional office buildings available for tenants needing more scale.
Across our conventional office listings, the median unit is 168 m², with a typical range of 80 to 286 m² (25th to 75th percentile) and larger stock extending beyond 900 m². That makes De Waterkant more naturally aligned to small and mid-sized corporate teams, project offices and client-facing service firms, while a larger headcount needs early filtering for lift capacity, subdivision, backup power provisions and the shape of the floor plate.
Before committing, tenants should test the building specification against actual operating needs:
- Fit-out age and whether reuse reduces capital spend
- Parking bays allocated to the unit
- Visitor parking and loading arrangements
- Backup power capacity for tenant areas
- Fibre availability and riser capacity
Parking is the specification item most likely to need careful handling. Around Cape Quarter and the tighter Waterkant Street blocks, provision depends heavily on the building: larger office assets generally offer better basement or structured parking, while smaller buildings can work well for low-parking teams or businesses using public parking in the Cape Quarter area and ride-hailing. Green credentials are still selective across our De Waterkant listings, with 2 of 34 buildings holding a green rating, so sustainability-led tenants should qualify certification, metering and air-conditioning efficiency building by building.
- Building grade
- A-grade (56% of stock)
- Median floor plate
- 168 m²
- Typical floor plate range
- 80–286 m² (middle half of stock)
- Largest available
- 900+ m² (top of stock)
- Green-rated stock
- 2 of 34 buildings (6%)
Property rental rates
Across our De Waterkant listings, net asking rentals run from R113 to R300 per m² (10th to 90th percentile), with a median R175 per m². That spread is wide because pricing moves sharply between compact fitted suites near Somerset Road and more expensive, design-led space with stronger frontage, views or a newer fit-out.
The space that tends to absorb fastest is the unit that reduces setup time: already-fitted offices, efficient floor plates and realistic parking ratios. Smaller suites with boardroom, meeting room and open-plan areas already in place usually draw attention first, especially from creative, professional and tech businesses that want the De Waterkant position without a long fit-out programme.
Rental movement is usually driven by a few practical variables:
- Street frontage and visibility
- Fit-out age and reusability
- Parking availability
- Balcony, view or natural light
- Walking access to Cape Quarter and the CBD edge
For tenants comparing options, the main pricing question is whether the higher rental buys a cost saving elsewhere. A suite at the upper end can still be sensible if the existing fit-out limits capex, while a lower-rent unit may need a larger allowance for cabling, partitions and furniture. In De Waterkant, the best value is often the space where net rental, fit-out condition and parking cost are assessed together, not line by line.
| Monthly budget | Approximate size | Likely property type |
|---|---|---|
| Up to R15,000 | 15 – 125 m² (median 60) | Small fitted suites (91 listed) |
| R15,000 – R50,000 | 16 – 572 m² (median 180) | Small office suites (161 listed) |
| R50,000 – R150,000 | 98 – 1211 m² (median 368) | Mid-sized offices (69 listed) |
| R150,000+ | 242 – 5500 m² (median 1307) | Whole floors / corporate HQ (16 listed) |
Key buildings
- 74 Prestwich Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town
The Foundry, De Waterkant
4 listingsIndustrial-style office building on Prestwich Street in De Waterkant, with compact floorplates and a design-led feel. Suits creative, tech, media and boutique professional firms wanting a central fringe CBD base.
- 30 Hudson St, Cape Town,
The Hudson, De Waterkant, Cape Town
4 listingsContemporary office building on Hudson Street in De Waterkant, between the CBD, Green Point and the V&A Waterfront. Suits creative, tech, media and boutique professional tenants wanting a light-filled workspace in a mixed-use precinct.
- 9 Somerset Rd, De Waterkant, Cape Town
9 Somerset Road
2 listingsSecure office building in the heart of De Waterkant, close to restaurants and businesses with easy access to the N1 and N2. Suits small to mid-sized firms needing fibre connectivity and 24-hour access.
- 34 Somerset Road, Green Point , Cape Town
Sovereign Quays, 34 Somerset Road
2 listingsModern office building on Somerset Road between De Waterkant and Green Point, on the City Bowl's main link to Sea Point. Suits businesses wanting a well-connected address, 24-hour security and nearby shops, banks and restaurants.
- 27 Somerset Road, Green Point, Cape Town
Cape Quarter Square, 27 Somerset Road
2 listingsMixed-use office building on Somerset Road at the Green Point and De Waterkant edge, with offices above retail, restaurants and a supermarket. Suits firms wanting a polished urban base near the CBD and V&A Waterfront.
- 55 Somerset Road, Green Point, Cape Town
Somerset Square, Green Point
2 listingsLow-rise office building on Somerset Road at the Green Point and De Waterkant edge, a short drive from the CBD. Suits small professional or creative tenants wanting a well-connected fringe-city base near restaurants, cafés and daily amenities.
- 57 Prestwich St, De Waterkant, Cape Town
Victoria Junction, 57 Prestwich St
2 listingsMixed-use style office building on Prestwich Street in De Waterkant, opposite Cape Quarter and close to the CBD, Green Point and the V&A Waterfront. Suits small to mid-sized businesses wanting an urban fringe address near retail and restaurants.
- 43 Somerset Rd, Green Point, Cape Town
A-grade sectional title office building on Somerset Road in Green Point, with ground-floor retail and offices above. Suits professional firms and businesses wanting a Cape Town fringe location near De Waterkant.
Available properties
OFFICE 11
Victoria Junction, 57 Prestwich St
This 55m² ground floor office to let in the heart of Green Point is a perfect fit for a small office or boutique retail setup. With clean...
Sophia Puchert
Candidate Property Practitioner
SECTION 1B - BASEMENT STUDIO
Metropolis, 34 Prestwich St
This 121m² commercial space at Metropolis, 29 Chiappini Street, offers a unique opportunity for creative professionals seeking a move-in-...
Sophia Puchert
Candidate Property Practitioner
4TH FLOOR OFFICE SUITE
9 Somerset Road
This prime office space to let in De Waterkant is a rare office available in this building and area. The space used to be tenanted by a d...
Sophia Puchert
Candidate Property Practitioner
SUITE 219B, 2ND FLOOR
Sovereign Quays, 34 Somerset Road
Positioned in Sovereign Quay in Green Point, this 190m² office suite offers a professional workspace suited to businesses seeking a well-...
Sophia Puchert
Candidate Property Practitioner
1ST FLOOR EX COL'CACCHIO
The Hudson, De Waterkant, Cape Town
210m² office to let in The Hudson, De Waterkant – ideal for media, tech, finance, or legal firms. This is the only available office in th...
Sophia Puchert
Candidate Property Practitioner
2ND FLOOR EX PERNOD RICARD
Cape Quarter Square, 27 Somerset Road
This prime office is located in a very trendy and upmarket centre surrounded by blue chip companies and all the amenities you could ask f...
Sophia Puchert
Candidate Property Practitioner
Investments and developments
Capital and infrastructure activity in De Waterkant. These are projects that materially change the supply, access or amenity of the node.
- Recently completed2026
Spear finalises disposal of Hamilton House and Chiappini House in De Waterkant
Spear REIT completed the transfer of Hamilton House at 30 Waterkant Street and Chiappini House at 26 Chiappini Street in De Waterkant on 13 July 2026 for about R108 million after acquiring them in October 2024 as part of Emira's Western Cape portfolio.
Moneyweb / SENS ↗ - Under construction2026
Old Cape Quarter refurbishment under way in De Waterkant
An extensive refurbishment at Old Cape Quarter is under way to reconfigure the De Waterkant asset into a mixed-use project with new retail and office space plus 55 apartments and penthouses.
Bizcommunity ↗ - Announced2026
Spear agrees R107m sale of two De Waterkant office buildings
Spear announced the disposal of Hamilton House and Chiappini House in De Waterkant for roughly R107 million as part of a strategy to reduce exposure to smaller decentralised office assets.
Business Day ↗ - Announced2025
Cape Town calls for comment on draft LSDF covering De Waterkant precinct
The City released a draft local spatial development framework for the CBD that treats De Waterkant as one of eight precincts and sets out precinct-specific planning intended to shape future development and public-realm investment.
Property Wheel ↗ - Announced2025
Stor-Age plans flagship De Waterkant self-storage development
Stor-Age said it would imminently break ground on a 6,500m² GLA flagship self-storage property in De Waterkant at a development cost of R155 million excluding land, with construction expected to start in early 2026.
Property Wheel ↗ - Planned2025
City draft CBD LSDF identifies De Waterkant/Gateway precinct public-realm and mixed-use pipeline
The City of Cape Town's CBD LSDF implementation plan lists De Waterkant/Gateway precinct projects including a Chiappini Square public-realm upgrade, Block 31 mixed-use tower packaging, Fireman's Arms block packaging, and Somerset Road non-motorised transport and public-realm improvements.
City of Cape Town ↗
As of 2026-07-15
The bottom line
De Waterkant is strongest when the office brief values central access, street-level identity and a working environment that feels more curated than corporate. It will not suit every procurement model. Larger teams needing deep expansion capacity, highly standardised floorplates or a fully controlled campus will often find a cleaner match elsewhere. For the right tenant, the area gives a Cape Town base with practical city reach and a more individual fit-out story.
Treat De Waterkant as a selective office node, not a default CBD alternative. It rewards businesses that know how they meet clients, how their staff move through the city and how much building character they are prepared to manage. The closing comparison is simple: choose De Waterkant when the brief calls for central, compact and visible; choose the CBD or Waterfront when scale and uniformity matter more.
Frequently asked questions
De Waterkant typically offers boutique office suites, converted heritage buildings, and offices in mixed-use properties around Somerset Road, Cape Quarter and the CBD edge. Tenants can also find fitted creative studios and smaller corporate offices suited to agencies, professional services, consultancies and owner-managed businesses. The usual trade-off is between character and frontage on one side, and more conventional access, parking and building services on the other.
In De Waterkant, office rentals are typically at the upper end of Cape Town fringe stock, driven by small floorplates, walkability to the CBD and demand from design, tech and professional-service tenants. Sharper pricing is usually found in refurbished space around Somerset Road, Waterkant Street and the village grid, especially where buildings offer parking, exposed-brick character or fitted offices. More value is usually found in older buildings with original fit-out, limited parking or less street visibility, but De Waterkant is generally not a low-rent office node.
De Waterkant is suitable for regional offices and selective corporate headquarters where the brief values Somerset Road visibility, access to the CBD, and a location between Green Point and the city. It works best for client-facing firms, design-led businesses and professional services teams that want a central Cape Town base with restaurants, hotels and the Cape Quarter within walking distance. Very large headquarters needing deep single-floor plates or heavy parking ratios should be assessed building by building, as De Waterkant’s heritage scale and mixed-use fabric can make expansion less straightforward than in the Foreshore or CBD core.
Office tenants in De Waterkant typically rely on basement or structured parking within the building, where available, with bays allocated separately from the office lease. In smaller or older properties, on-site parking can be constrained, so businesses should confirm bay ratios, visitor parking and any overflow arrangements before committing. The strongest parking positions are usually around Cape Quarter and the larger mixed-use buildings, while street parking is better treated as short-stay convenience than core staff parking.
De Waterkant gives tenants a more compact, lifestyle-led office setting than the Cape Town CBD, with smaller building footprints, street-level retail and quick access to Somerset Road, Green Point and the Foreshore. Compared with the V&A Waterfront, it usually trades less on managed precinct infrastructure and more on walkable urban character and proximity to the city grid. For companies choosing between nodes, De Waterkant suits teams that want central Cape Town access without the scale and corporate formality of the larger nearby office districts.
De Waterkant gives tenants walkable access to Cape Quarter, cafés, restaurants, small-format retail and daily services along Somerset Road and the surrounding village streets. The area also works for teams that use Green Point, the CBD and the V&A Waterfront for client meetings, hotels, gyms and after-work dining. For a corporate tenant, the practical advantage is choice on foot: staff can step out for banking, food, fitness and errands without relying on a car for every trip.
Yes. De Waterkant is well served by MyCiTi routes, minibus taxi movement on Somerset Road and easy access into the Cape Town CBD for rail and bus connections. For staff coming from the Atlantic Seaboard, Green Point and the city bowl, public transport is practical; commuters from deeper suburbs may still need a transfer or some private transport for the final leg.
De Waterkant gives a business CBD adjacency without the same corporate campus feel, with quick access to Buitengracht Street, Somerset Road, Green Point and the V&A Waterfront. It suits companies that want clients and staff to move easily between meetings, restaurants, hotels and the city core, while still operating from a more character-led office environment than a conventional tower. The main trade-off is that space is typically more boutique and layout-specific, so it works best for teams that value location and amenity over large-floorplate efficiency.
De Waterkant’s main trade-off is that it works better for smaller, design-led teams than for tenants needing large contiguous floorplates, heavy parking allocations or a conventional campus-style office. Access can also be pressured around Somerset Road and Buitengracht Street, especially for staff driving in from outside the CBD or Atlantic Seaboard. Some buildings have heritage constraints or older layouts, so fit-out flexibility, loading, lift access and acoustic control should be checked carefully before committing.
Contact Anvil Property Smith to arrange viewings for office space in De Waterkant. A broker who works the Cape Town CBD and Atlantic Seaboard fringe can shortlist suitable buildings, confirm current availability, and coordinate access for on-site inspections.
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