This past weekend, the bustling heart of Cape Town’s Kloof Street welcomed a newcomer to its midst – the Museum of Illusions opened its Cape Town doors and red carpet! Or should I say, blue carpet? Either way, it is most definitely a carpet you’ll want to be walking on in 2025.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the grand opening during which the crisp cerulean decorated store boasted its numerous attributes. A fantastic array and display of illusions, games, and trickster gadgets galore for your next gift or some souvenir shopping. The entry to the actual illusion rooms is a large arch which leads you to the first room of immersive experiences. We started off with wide eyes and childlike wonder, because let’s be real – who doesn’t love the joy of illusions and tricks?
Just for a point of reference, this isn’t my first illusionary rodeo. When I was in Rome in 2024, I was first introduced to the enterprise that is the Museum of Illusions group. What caught me by surprise, was how well-connected and almost storybook-flowingly the MOI Roma branch were positioned. It starts off with mirrors that cover every surface that your eyes can possibly see, with a well-written and succinct guide next to each illusion/exhibit. It felt like a gamified maze, wherein your friends make the sweeping corners of each hidden angle all the more fun. And on this specific day that I went, the group of friends and family that I was with made it all the more worthwhile. We even had a little Girls vs Boys on who could enact the illusion best, which had us in stitches of sticky, joyful laughter after walking the entire city flat (one or two gelatos later). My trip to Museo delle Illusioni in Rome could be summarised as a nostalgic trip of uncanny joy and mischief, which we need reminding of sometimes – even as adults. And that sentiment echoes for Cape Town’s branch!
What lay before us was a life-sized jigsaw of which illusion and exhibit to try first. Being such mature and sophisticated adults, we started with the most obvious one – pressing our bodies into the gigantic installation where your silhouette is imprinted onto the reverse side with hundreds of knitting pen-sized blunted pens. If you have a creative mind, this can be an endearing opportunity to creative highly detailed art. And if you are my friends, it is the perfect surface to smush your body against in contorted positions. As one does, you know.
You are then introduced to the visual splendours of the life-sized rooms and illusion chambers. Geometric light displays, RGB rooms with surrounding wall art that bounces across the room as the light hue changes; an ever-cascading mirrored ladder that you seem to be perpetually falling between – wow, where do you even begin! The installations and illusions intermingle across the rooms within the Cape Town branch. Akin to opening a jewellery box and finding countless sparkling compartments, this Museum of Illusions has various picture-perfect windows to enter that are senior citizen and child-friendly. By visiting in a group, I was also able to witness just how much depth certain illusions carry – like with the tilted room, or the infinity corner!
For the finer details of the location, I have to harp on (sorry-not-sorry!). You can come by your lonesome (which is slightly less exciting than coming with a group, but you do you) or in groups. There are different time-slots available to book which is imperative for your visit, due to the size of the illusions and fear of becoming cramped. The entire museum is very walkable, wheelchair and stroller-accessible, and family-friendly for all ages. By the way, kiddies and infants under 4-years old get free access!
The Museum of Illusions Cape Town will be open 7 days a week, with the following availability:
- Mondays to Wednesdays from 9am – 7pm
- Thursdays to Saturdays from 9am – 9pm
- Sundays and Public Holidays from 9am – 7pm
Tickets are available online and at the door, but advance bookings are recommended to avoid missing out. Follow Museum of Illusions Cape Town’s socials for sneak peeks and to stay up to date!
#MOICapeTown
For more information, or to book, visit the website.