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 by population.
The tallest buildings in Cape Town tend to be situated in Cape Town CBD, which is the economic center of the city, as well as one of its most densely populated suburbs.
The city features 10 buildings at a height of 100 meters or more.
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 (Africa's first biofilic building) in 2024 but was halted in mid 2025 due to slow sales of apartments and rising building costs.
The One on Bree (set to be Cape Town's second-tallest building at 131 metres) started construction in August 2025 and will be completed by late 2028. It will be a mixed-use building with a 505-room hotel, 270 residences and retail shops.
Tallest buildings This list ranks Cape Town's skyscrapers that stand at least tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details, but does not include antenna masts.
Rank Name Image Heightm (ft) Floors Year PurposeNotes 1 Portside Tower 139 m (456 ft) 32 2014Mixed-use 2 1 Thibault Square 32 1972 Office 3 16 on Bree— 120 m (393 ft) 36 2021Residential 4 Metlife Centre (Hotel Sky) 28 1993Hotel 5 Atterbury House 29 1976Office 6 ABSA Centre 34 1970Office 7 Golden Acre 28 1979Office 8 Cape Sun Southern Sun 33 1982Office 9Pullman Cape Town 26 1993Hotel 10 Western Cape Provincial Administration Building 26 1976Office 11Civic Centre 26 1978Office 12#1 Harbour Arch — 23 2023Residential 13 2 Long Street 24 1970Hotel 14Naspers Centre 22 1962Office 15The Halyard—92 m (302 ft) 24 2019Office 16 Cartwright's Corner — 24 1969Mixed-use 17Mutual Building 18 1939Residential 18The Rubik —89 m (292 ft) 27 2024Mixed-useMixed-use office and residential building. 1935 Lower Long—86 m (282 ft) 24 2020Office
Timeline of tallest buildings 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. 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.
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. 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 18 1939–1962 Naspers Centre 22 1962–1969 Cartwright's Corner 24 1969–1970 The Foreshore Place 34 1970–1972 1 Thibault Square 32 1972–2014 Portside Tower 32 2014–
Tallest under construction or proposed
Building Height Floors CompletionImage Status References One on Bree 41 2028 Under construction City Park 17 Q4 2025 Under constructionZero-2-One442026Proposed
References