Obs beyond the student strip: Discovering Cape Town’s quietly creative suburbIt is easy to underestimate Observatory, writes Miriam Kimvangu. But step a few blocks away from the main strip and a quieter, more layered neighbourhood reveals itself. Observatory, or Obs as locals call it, is one of Cape Town’s oldest suburbs. Small music venues and rehearsal studios operate behind unmarked doors, contributing to the suburb’s long connection to Cape Town’s indie and jazz scenes. Observatory does not compete with Cape Town’s headline attractions, and that is precisely its appeal.