Africa Padel, Claremont
Photograph: Africa Padel
Photograph: Africa Padel

Where to play Padel in Cape Town

South Africa has caught onto the global Padel craze. Here is the Time Out pick of the best Padel courts in Cape Town…

Richard Holmes
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It’s been called tennis with training wheels, and squash in the sun, but however you frame it, the game of Padel has become a global sensation. And Cape Town is no exception, with locals and tourists flocking to indoor and outdoor courts across the city.

Padel – pronounced 'pa-dell', not 'paddle' – is believed to have started in Mexico in 1969, but exploded onto the global stage in the 1990s. The International Padel Federation (FIP) was established in 1991, and today the FIP estimates millions of active players in more than 90 countries worldwide.

If you’re new to the sport, here’s the basics.

Padel is a racquet sport played on an enclosed court about one-third smaller than a tennis court, with glass and metal walls and Astroturf underfoot.

The game is played with a Padel racquet, usually made of foam, fibreglass or (for more expensive options) carbon fibre. Think of an oversized space-age beach bat and you’ll get the idea. Padel balls are 10 percent smaller than a tennis ball and – because they have a lower compression, bounce less.

Padel is usually played in doubles, though smaller single courts are sometimes offered. Scoring is the same as tennis – 15, 30, 40, Game – and a match consists of three sets of six games. The first team to two sets wins the match.

Sound like fun? It certainly is, and across Cape Town, you’ll often struggle to find a free court on sunny weekends. Luckily, the global Padel booking app Playtomic lists most Cape Town courts, making it easy to find availability.

Not sure where to start? Here is the Time Out pick of the best Padel courts in Cape Town.

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Born and raised in the city, Richard Holmes is a travel writer based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines

Where to play Padel in Cape Town

1. Racket+Ball Club, City Centre

In the heart of buzzy Bree Street, Racket+Ball Club offers four indoor courts, catering to Padel players of all skill levels. Open daily from 6am to 11pm, including public holidays, the club facilities include free parking, a café, bar, members' deck, warm-up area, and a fully-stocked pro shop. 

Courts can be booked via the Playtomic App, which also offers membership options and access to tournaments, leagues, and events. The club hosts a variety of activities, including corporate events, team-building sessions, and lessons led by qualified coaches. Coaching and lessons are available daily, with options for private, group, and semi-private sessions. The club’s national membership allows access to facilities at both the Cape Town and Johannesburg locations.

261 Bree Street

2. Africa Padel, V&A

Located on the outskirts of the ever-popular V&A Waterfront precinct, Africa Padel V&A offers five outdoor courts and is open daily from 6am to 11pm. The venue provides racket (R50pp) and ball rentals, alongside a fully-stocked pro shop for any additional equipment needs. Court fees are R500 per hour or R125 per person per hour, making it accessible for solo or group bookings. 

After a game, players can enjoy a drink at the café and bar, or take a short stroll down to the nearby Time Out Market Cape Town! Free parking is available on-site.

1 Marina Road, V&A Waterfront

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3. The Glen Virgin Active Padel Club, Clifton

Set just metres from the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean landing on the granite boulders of Clifton, this outdoor padel court at The Glen Country Club is easily one of the most stunning settings for padel play in South Africa. The Glen offers one doubles court, with a clubhouse equipped with a coffee shop, bar, and workspace, along with a lookout deck for spectators. Shower and changing facilities are available, and there’s a jungle gym and play area for children. Free parking is available on-site.

The Glen padel court is open daily from 7am to 9pm, with rental priced at R400 per hour (peak times, 7am-10am and 3pm-9pm) and R350 per hour (off-peak). Although open to the public, Virgin Active members receive a 20 percent discount on their portion of the court rental fee.

4. Point Virgin Active Padel Club, Green Point

Sandwiched between the buzz of Somerset Road and the green lung of Green Point Urban Park, Point padel club at Virgin Active Point Gym is one of the most popular padel venues in the city, with four outdoor doubles courts that attract a busy community of padel players to weekly social events.

There’s a NU restaurant and coffee shop on-site, along with showers, changing rooms, and a pro shop stocked with padel gear. Free parking is available for players.

Downsides? It’s one of the more expensive options this side of town, with court rental costing R550 per hour during peak times (6am-10am, 3pm-10pm) and R450 per hour off-peak. Only open to the public Monday to Friday. Although open to the public, Virgin Active members receive a 20 percent discount on their portion of the court rental fee.

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5. Aura Padel

Aura Padel is ideal for a game when the weather turns, offering five indoor courts including a competition-grade centre court with Pushit technology and a three-metre runout! There is also a private court for exclusive bookings. Rates range from R320 to R500 per hour, and are open from 6am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. A range of membership options are also available.

On-site facilities include hot showers, changing rooms with lockers, and physiotherapy services, including sports massages and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. For families, there is a supervised kids' area, complete with a climbing jungle gym, as well as foosball and table tennis.

Upstairs you’ll find co-working spaces, a boardroom, and free WiFi allowing you to work remotely between games. The venue also features a Halaal-certified café serving cakes, wraps, flatbreads, and barista-made coffee, with grandstand seating for spectators.

Aura Padel offers a fully stocked pro-shop with brands like Tactical, Osaka, and Nox, as well as racket fittings and rentals. There are also plans to add a gym and sauna in the near future.

1 Ludel Close, Montague Gardens

6. Epicentre Virgin Active Padel Club, Paarden Eiland

With four double courts and the city’s only singles padel court, Epicentre is one of the most modern padel venues in the city. Epicentre offers a coffee shop, workspace, lookout deck with a bar, pro shop, showers, changing rooms, and a warm-up area. There's also a kids' play area, making it ideal for family visits. Free parking is available on-site.

Epientre is open Monday to Friday from 6am to midnight, and until 10pm on Saturday and  Sunday. Court hire ranges from R300 to R500 per hour for doubles courts and R300 to R350 for singles, with peak and off-peak rates available. Although open to the public, Virgin Active members receive a 20 percent discount on their portion of the court rental fee.

1 Milner St, Paarden Eiland

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7. Africa Padel, Camps Bay

With the salty tang of the Atlantic Ocean in the air, and the sands of Camps Bay just a few steps away, Africa Padel Camps Bay at The Rotunda features five courts, including one indoor option for when the winter weather sets in. The courts are open daily from 6am to 11pm, an on-site you’ll find racket rentals (R50 per person), showers, and a fully-stocked pro shop. 

Court fees are R500 per hour (or R125 per person per hour) for the indoor court, and R400 per hour (or R120 per person per hour) for the outdoor courts. Afterwards, kick back at the on-site café and bar. 

The Rotunda, AF Keen Drive, Camps Bay

8. Net Set Padel Camps Bay Retreat, Camps Bay

With glorious sea views from its position alongside the Camps Bay Retreat boutique hotel, Net Set Padel Camps Bay Retreat is a boutique padel destination, with just a single court on offer. But the views make up for the lack of flexibility, and players can enjoy the hotel's restaurant, bar, and spa facilities before or after a game. Open daily from 8.30am to 8.00pm the court is available for rent at R500 per hour, with racket rentals priced at R50. A pro shop on-site offers padel equipment and balls for purchase. Net Set Padel also offers membership options for frequent players.

7 Chilworth Rd, Camps Bay

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9. Bay Padel, Tokai

Hidden away in a retail development off the Main Road through Tokai, Bay Padel serves up six indoor courts – including a smaller option designed for kids to enjoy – making it a great spot for both casual and competitive play. Bay Padel features a convivial café, The Village Baker by Vovo Telo, as well as a pro shop to purchase balls, grips, racquets, and accessories.

Court hire starts at R440 for 60 minutes, with better pricing for extended sessions. Racket rental (R60) is available, but if you are debating buying your own racquet consider trying a high-end demo model; available for R100. Coaching is available, offering both squad training and private lessons. Bay Padel is open daily from 7am to 11pm.

South Palms, 333 Main Rd

10. Arturf Padel Arena, Paarden Eiland

Just 10 minutes from the city centre, Arturf Padel Arena features six courts – four indoor and two outdoor – along with private showers, lockers, and a pro shop for gear purchases and racket rentals. An onsite café and a communal workspace with a boardroom on the mezzanine floor make it a great venue for both play and work. Outdoor seating is available under a stretch tent. Court hire rates range from R250 to R450, with peak and off-peak pricing available. Arturf Padel Arena is open from 6am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and 6am to 2am on Friday to Saturday! Also, heads up: they are set to open a second venue in Claremont in 2025.

39 Industry Rd, Paarden Eiland

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11. Africa Padel, Claremont

With nine outdoor courts under floodlights (open 6am – 10pm daily), Africa Padel Claremont is one of the largest padel destinations in the city. With a fully equipped pro shop, and racket rentals (R50 per person), it’s a great destination for padel players of all levels. Court fees are R400 per hour for standard bookings or R100 per person per hour, providing flexibility for group play. There are showers for a pre-work game, and an on-site Vida Café and bar.

Herschel Close, Claremont

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