Hout Bay (Afrikaans: Houtbaai, meaning "Wood Bay") is a town near Cape Town, situated in a valley on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, twenty kilometres south of the Central Business District of Cape Town. The name "Hout Bay" can refer to the town, the bay on which it is situated, or the entire valley.

Hout Bay is the base port to rich marine life and offers some of the finest Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus Albacares), longfin tuna (Thunnus Alalunga) and yellowtail (Seriola Lalandi) fishing in the world along with a huge variety of pelagic sea birds with many different species been sighted at different times of the year.

As a historic and still-working fishing village, Hout Bay's local colour and beautiful scenery make it a popular tourist attraction among both local and international visitors. There are a variety of fine restaurants in the village as well as two hotels (the Hout Bay Manor and the Chapman's Peak Hotel), many bed and breakfasts and self-catering accommodation where visitors can stay. The harbour is a worthwhile visit, with restaurants, fresh fish outlets and craft stores, with spectacular views of the bay and boat rides to Duiker Island and around the Sentinel. Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the world's most scenic mountain drives and has recently undergone renovations to ensure the safety of travellers using the route.

The East and West forts built by the Dutch in the 18th century can also be visited, with the original cannons and barracks still standing on the slopes of Chapman's Peak. The East Fort is the oldest operating gun battery in the world. The mountains surrounding Hout Bay also make for good hiking trails. In the same area is a famous bronze statue of a leopard on a rock at the water's edge, looking out over the ocean.

The Red Bull Big Wave Africa surfing contest is held on the other side of the Sentinel mountain, at the famous Dungeons. Some of the biggest waves in the world are found here and these attract surfers from all over the world. The competition can only be held during May to August, when the waves reach heights of 15 ft (4.57 m) to 20 ft (6.10 m).

The Hout Bay Yacht Club is situated in the working harbour and provides moorings for both recreational, fishing and sailing boats.