This list of tallest buildings in Cape Town ranks completed buildings by height in the South African city of Cape Town, Western Cape, the second-largest city in South Africa.[1] Cape Town's tallest building is the Portside Tower, which stands at 139 m (456 ft); the tower was built in 2014 and was the first significant tall building erected in the central business district in 21 years. Adjacent to Portside, the 16 on Bree building, standing at 118 m (387 ft) tall, is the city's second notable tall building in the financial district having been completed in March 2021. Other tall buildings recently completed include the 35 Lower Long tower (2020), The Halyard (2019), and #1 Harbour Arch (2023) with a further new tower, The Rubik, which was completed in May 2024. Site works have begun on The Fynbos which is due to be completed in late 2026. Two hotel towers are in the planning stage, the One on Bree and the W Hotel & Residences.
This list ranks Cape Town's skyscrapers that stand at least 90abbr=onNaNabbr=on tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details, but does not include antenna masts.
| Rank | Building | Image | Height metres / ft | Floors | Completed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=center | 1 | Portside Tower (Mixed Use) | align=center | 139 m (456 ft) | align=center | 32 | align=center | 2014 | |
| align=center | 2 | 1 Thibault Square (Office) | align=center | 126m (413feet) | align=center | 32 | align=center | 1972 | |
| 3 | 16 on Bree (Residential) | 120 m (393 ft) | 36 | 2021 | |||||
| 4 | Metlife Centre (Hotel Sky) (Hotel) | 119m (390feet) | 28 | 1993 | |||||
| 5 | Atterbury House (Office) | 119m (390feet) | 29 | 1976 | |||||
| 6 | ABSA Centre (Office) | 117m (384feet) | 34 | 1970 | |||||
| 7 | Golden Acre (Office) | 108m (354feet) | 28 | 1979 | |||||
| 8 | Cape Sun Southern Sun (Office) | 105m (344feet) | 33 | 1982 | |||||
| 9 | Triangle House (Residential) | 104m (341feet) | 26 | 1993 | |||||
| 10 | Western Cape Provincial Administration Building (Office) | 101m (331feet) | 26 | 1976 | |||||
| 11 | Civic Centre (Local Government Office) | 98m (322feet) | 26 | 1978 | |||||
| 12 | 2 Long Street (Hotel) | 93m (305feet) | 24 | 1970 | |||||
| 13 | Naspers Centre (Office) | 93m (305feet) | 22 | 1962 | |||||
| 14 | The Halyard (Office) | 92 m (302 ft) | 24 | 2019 | |||||
| 15 | Cartwright's Corner (Mixed Use) | 92m (302feet) | 24 | 1969 | |||||
| 16 | Mutual Building (Residential) | 91m (299feet) | 18 | 1939 | |||||
| 17 | The Rubik (Office & Residential) | 89 m (292 ft) | 27 | 2024 | |||||
| 17 | 35 Lower Long (Office) | 86 m (282 ft) | 24 | 2020 |
There are only nine buildings[2] in Cape Town above a height of 100 m:
The Mutual Building was the tallest building in Cape Town for 23 years, before it was overtaken by the Sanlam Centre (Naspers Centre) in 1962.[3] After it was completed in 1972 and overtook the Trust Bank Centre (ABSA Centre) which is now called (The Foreshore Place) after being turned into a residential building, 1 Thibault Square (BP Centre) was the tallest building in the city for the next 42 years before Portside Tower was opened.[4] Before the completion of the Portside Tower, the 26-floor Safmarine Tower (Triangle House) was the last skyscraper to open its doors in the Mother City on completion in 1993.[5] After the construction of the Portside Tower confidence in the construction of skyscrapers in Cape Town grew stronger and this saw the construction of a 118m (387ft) skyscraper called the 16 on Bree. It is the tallest residential building in Cape Town.
| Building | Height | Floors | Years as tallest | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Building | align=center | 91m (299feet) | align=center | 18 | align=center | 1939–1962 | |
| Naspers Centre | align=center | 93m (305feet) | align=center | 22 | align=center | 1962–1969 | |
| Cartwright's Corner | align=center | 92m (302feet) | align=center | 24 | align=center | 1969–1970 | |
| The Foreshore Place | align=center | 117m (384feet) | align=center | 34 | align=center | 1970–1972 | |
| 1 Thibault Square | align=center | 126m (413feet) | align=center | 32 | align=center | 1972–2014 | |
| Portside Tower | align=center | 142m (466feet) | align=center | 32 | align=center | 2014– | |
| Zero-2-One | align=center | 142.2m (466.5feet) | align=center | 44 | align=center | 2022 |
| Building | Height | Floors | Completion | Image | Status | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W Hotel & Residences | align=center | 145m (476feet) | align=center | 36 | align=center | TBC | Proposed | |
| Zero2one | align=center | 142m (466feet) | align=center | 44 | align=center | - | Never Built | |
| The Vogue | align=center | 128m (420feet) | align=center | 37 | align=center | - | Never Built | |
| One on Bree | align=center | 131m (430feet) | align=center | 40 | align=center | 2028 | Proposed | |
| align=center | 23 | align=center | 2023 | Completed | |||
| The Fynbos | align=center | 25 | align=center | 2026 | Proposed |