Long Street has always been a street that asks you to look up.
From balconies and old shopfronts to painted facades and unexpected details, the street has a visual language of its own. One of the most colourful recent additions to that story is the mural at 220 Long Street.
Completed around six months ago, the large-scale mural by Motel Seven brings a joyful, playful energy to the building. The artwork celebrates everyday Inner City life through dancing, community, movement and even the confident pigeons that are very much part of Cape Town street life.
The mural was created in partnership with Love Long Street and Mission for Inner City. The project was funded by Benzing Properties, with Mission for Inner City assisting with the organisation of the mural process, including access and scaffolding support.
Public Art and Placemaking
Public art can have a powerful effect on how a street feels.
A mural can soften a building, brighten a block and encourage people to walk, pause and explore. It gives people something to notice, photograph and remember. More importantly, it can help create a stronger sense of place.
For Long Street, this kind of work matters.
The street has been through many different chapters, but it remains one of Cape Town’s most recognisable and character-filled streets. Projects like the 220 Long Street mural help bring positive attention back to the area and show what is possible when property owners, artists and inner-city partners work together.
Part of a Bigger Long Street Story
The 220 Long Street mural also sits within a wider tradition of painted buildings and public art on Long Street.
Just a few blocks away, the Mama Africa building at 178 Long Street has long been one of the street’s most recognisable facades. Its colourful painted exterior has become part of the identity of the restaurant and part of the visual memory of Long Street.
Mama Africa is known for its Pan-African food, live music and bold exterior artwork. For many locals and visitors, it is one of those Long Street landmarks that immediately stands out.
Together, these murals remind us that Long Street is not only a nightlife strip or a tourist route. It is also a place of culture, creativity, food, music, history and constant reinvention.
Looking Up Again
Part of the Love Long Street project is about helping people see the street again.
That means noticing the details that make Long Street special: the architecture, the murals, the balconies, the businesses, the stories and the people who continue to invest in its future.
The mural at 220 Long Street is one of those details.
It adds colour to the street, energy to the block and a sense of optimism to the building. It is a reminder that Long Street’s character is still here, and that with care, creativity and collaboration, it can keep growing into its next chapter.
You can find the mural at 220 Long Street, above Bud Lounge.
