24 editor picks across South Africa.
24 bars worth the trip across South Africa, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All South Africa guides.
Bascule Bar sits on the Cape Grace hotel marina in Cape Town, a whisky room with over 500 bottles and yacht view tables open until midnight daily.
TipBook the daily tutored whisky tasting ahead, the marina facing tables fill first once the sun starts dropping over the harbour.
Planet Bar sits inside the pink facade of the Mount Nelson hotel in Cape Town, a champagne and cocktail room with a terrace for people watching.
TipSit on the terrace in summer for the people watching, or claim a couch by the fireplace once the Cape winter sets in.
Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen & Cape Brandy Bar runs from the Rocket Shed at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, built around South African potstill brandy.
TipAsk for the potstill brandy flight before ordering a cocktail, owner Kurt Schlechter built the bar's reputation on that pour first.
Perseverance Tavern has traded on Buitenkant Street in Gardens since 1808, and locals who call it Percy's will tell you it is the country's oldest pub.
TipLook at the bar counter, made from oak wine barrels of the Van der Stel era, then find the regrown vine in the courtyard.
Cafe Caprice has anchored Camps Bay's beachfront strip in Cape Town since 2001, a sundowner bar that fills up as the sun drops over the ocean.
TipGrab a table on the front deck for sunset, and expect the crowd and the music to pick up fast after dark on weekends.
The Conservatory Bar, once the Martini Bar, sits off reception in the Cellars building of The Cellars-Hohenort hotel in Constantia, Cape Town.
TipThe hotel is cashless, so bring a card; high tea is served in the Greenhouse, Wednesday to Sunday, not in this bar.
The Gin Bar, open since 2014, hides behind Honest Chocolate on Wale Street in Cape Town, in a former morgue with more than 70 South African gins.
TipEnter through the Honest Chocolate cafe; on quiet winter nights the bar may close before 01:00, so call ahead if you plan to arrive late.
Talking to Strangers has run a hip hop soundtracked cocktail room on Loop Street in Cape Town, its walls signed by bar owners from around the world.
TipAsk the bar for the current seasonal cocktail rather than a printed classic, since the list changes week to week.
Foresters Arms, known as Forries, has poured drinks in Newlands, Cape Town since 1852, with an oak shaded garden and a Sunday carvery near the stadium.
TipBook ahead on a Test match or Currie Cup weekend, the beer garden near Newlands stadium fills up hours before kickoff.
Brass Bell began as a council tea room on the Kalk Bay sea wall near Cape Town in 1939, and its Waters Edge Terrace takes spray from the tidal pool.
TipAsk for the Waters Edge Terrace, built into the sea wall at the tidal pool edge, where waves send spray over the tables.
Chinchilla is the rooftop cocktail bar above the Camps Bay strip in Cape Town, a sunset room looking straight over the Atlantic to the Twelve Apostles.
TipNo under 18s are admitted after 16:00; it opens at noon from Friday to Sunday and at 16:00 on Wednesday and Thursday.
Fable is a cocktail bar on the corner of Bree and Wale Street in Cape Town, pouring a menu inspired by South African myths until midnight or later.
TipCome on a Tuesday from 16:00 for Tequila Tuesdays, when select tequila cocktails start at R80 and margarita shots come four for R100.
Cafe Manhattan has run as Africa's first LGBTQI+ bar and kitchen in De Waterkant, Cape Town since 1994, on the corner of Waterkant Street, open daily.
TipGo on a weekend evening for the busiest crowd, the kitchen keeps serving until an hour before the bar itself closes.
Beluga pours from a whiskey lounge and wine emporium beside its sushi and seafood dining room at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal, V&A Waterfront.
TipAsk for the whiskey lounge if it is just drinks; the dining room serves handcrafted sushi and seafood until 22:00.
The Whisky Lounge is the Taj Cape Town's vintage styled bar on Wale Street, pouring from one of the city's most extensive high-end whisky collections.
TipThe hotel sets a smart casual dress code here, and the lounge stays open until 02:00 for a late nightcap after dinner nearby.
Sky Bar is the rooftop bar of the Grand Daddy Hotel on Long Street in Cape Town, with seating among the hotel's Airstream trailers and Table Mountain views.
TipWalk-ins are welcome, but the open rooftop closes in bad weather, so check the sky before you climb up for sundowners.
Grand Africa Cafe & Beach sits on its own stretch of sand in Granger Bay, Cape Town, a beach cafe with five bars, ocean view decks and on-beach dining.
TipWalk down to the ocean view decks and the beach itself rather than staying inside, for the view across to Robben Island and back to Signal Hill.
La Perla has served Italian food and seafood on the Sea Point beachfront in Cape Town since 1957, with a bar and a pool deck looking over the promenade.
TipFor just drinks, take a seat on the bar and pool deck rather than in the dining room, and time it for sunset over the Atlantic.
Yours Truly runs a cafe and bar on Kloof Street in Cape Town under its Up Yours rooftop, open from morning coffee through to a late night crowd.
TipAfter dark head up to Up Yours, the only rooftop bar on Kloof Street, for DJs and acoustic sessions while the cafe below turns into a beer garden.
The Fireman's Arms has served Cape Town's Foreshore since 1864, a sports pub of big screens, fireplace corners and firefighter themed pizzas.
TipArrive early for a big match, since nine HD screens and the fireplace corner fill fast; Thursday is quiz night.
Casa Bar has poured local beer and classic cocktails at 332 Albert Road in Woodstock, Cape Town since 2009, across the road from the Old Biscuit Mill.
TipHappy hour runs 16:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 12:00 to 14:00 at weekends; Thursday is open mic night.
El Burro serves tequila, mezcal margaritas and Mexican small plates on Main Road in Green Point, Cape Town, from a room with a balcony; no reservations.
TipNo reservations are taken, so walk in; in summer the balcony is the seat to ask for, in winter the fireplace.
Tiger's Milk in Green Point, Cape Town runs a full craft beer wall and cocktail bar alongside its burger and ribs kitchen on Main Road itself.
TipIt is a short stroll from Cape Town Stadium and Green Point Common, so it works as a stop before or after a match or a concert.
Solera is the tasting room of Mothercity Liquor on Albert Road in Woodstock, Cape Town, opening rare single malts and cask finishes for slow pours.
TipSome bottles are held back for guided tastings only, so book a tasting through Dineplan if you want the rarer pours; it is closed Monday and Tuesday.
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