Observatory is a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa, bordered by Mowbray to the south, and Salt River to the north.

Much of present-day Observatory was a marshy estuary formed by the rivers, with buffalo, hippo, elephant, zebra,jackals, antelope, lions and leopards once prevalent.

Observatory traces its origins to the Koornhoop Colony land grant, in 1657. Officials from the Dutch East India Company were given land in the Lisebeeck River valley, and Jan van Riebeek himself had a farm there, originally called Uitwyk, later Malta Farm.

The name is derived from the location of the first Royal Observatory in the area SAAO) in 1820. This original site serves as the headquarters of the South African Astronomical Observatory, with an on-site museum exhibiting various historic instruments and telescopes.

Known locally as 'Obs', its proximity to the University of Cape Town (UCT) and its Medical School in particular, have always made it popular with students and lecturers. During the years of apartheid, Observatory was one of the few de facto 'grey' suburbs where all races lived together. It continues to be a somewhat alternative part of town, with 'New Age' style shops and a monthly 'Holistic Fair' at the Community Centre on the first Sunday of each month. It has many churches. The Anglican parish church of St Michael and All Angels, designed by Sir Herbert Baker and the only one of his churches completed to his design, has a strong choral tradition.

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