Cocktails, wine bars and dives: drinking in Cape Town for grown-ups.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Cape Town for grown-ups.
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.
DrinkHigh-end whisky from one of the city's largest collections
FoodMulti-cuisine menu from the Taj Cape Town kitchen
TipThe hotel sets a smart casual dress code here, and the lounge stays open until 02:00 for a late nightcap after dinner nearby.
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.
DrinkTutored whisky tastings from a list of over 500 bottles
FoodBar snacks, oysters, small plates and charcuterie boards
TipBook the daily tutored whisky tasting ahead, the marina facing tables fill first once the sun starts dropping over the harbour.
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.
DrinkSignature cocktails, South African wines and cold beers
FoodFood menu from the hotel's Grand Deli Eats kitchen
TipWalk-ins are welcome, but the open rooftop closes in bad weather, so check the sky before you climb up for sundowners.
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.
DrinkDrink the Story cocktail collection built on local botanicals
FoodChampagne, canapes and a light all day menu
TipSit on the terrace in summer for the people watching, or claim a couch by the fireplace once the Cape winter sets in.
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.
DrinkDraught beer and a pub-standard gin and tonic
FoodPub classics served at the heritage listed bar counter
TipLook at the bar counter, made from oak wine barrels of the Van der Stel era, then find the regrown vine in the courtyard.
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.
DrinkDraught beer from the nearby Newlands brewery plus craft taps
FoodPub menu of homemade pies, wood fired pizzas and a Sunday carvery
TipBook ahead on a Test match or Currie Cup weekend, the beer garden near Newlands stadium fills up hours before kickoff.
The Fireman's Arms has served Cape Town's Foreshore since 1864, a sports pub of big screens, fireplace corners and firefighter themed pizzas.
DrinkFourteen craft beers on tap
FoodPizza named after the old fire brigade, plus burgers and bobotie
TipArrive early for a big match, since nine HD screens and the fireplace corner fill fast; Thursday is quiz night.
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.
DrinkArtisan cocktails made with fresh seasonal fruit
FoodBreakfast by the sea, sushi at sunset and coastal dinners
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.
DrinkSignature cocktails, Constantia wines and champagne by the glass
FoodSingle origin coffees and tea by day, cocktails by night
TipThe hotel is cashless, so bring a card; high tea is served in the Greenhouse, Wednesday to Sunday, not in this bar.
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.
DrinkDraught beer and sunset cocktails in the Cabin pub
FoodFresh seafood, wood fired pizzas and breakfast at Seaweed and Salt
TipAsk for the Waters Edge Terrace, built into the sea wall at the tidal pool edge, where waves send spray over the tables.
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.
DrinkCocktails from a choice of five bars
FoodPizza, seafood and Mediterranean plates, with 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.
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.
DrinkSundowner cocktails with a whisky and wine list
FoodSushi, seafood platters and crudites
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.
DrinkSignature cocktails inspired by South African myths and folklore
FoodTapas style bar menu alongside the cocktail list
TipCome on a Tuesday from 16:00 for Tequila Tuesdays, when select tequila cocktails start at R80 and margarita shots come four for R100.
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.
DrinkSignature gin and tonics, each billed as a cure for something
FoodA drinks led room with gin, beer, wine and a new Bubbly Bar
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.
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.
DrinkCape potstill brandy flights and fynbos inspired cocktails
FoodCocktail kitchen snacks built around the brandy list
TipAsk for the potstill brandy flight before ordering a cocktail, owner Kurt Schlechter built the bar's reputation on that pour first.
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.
DrinkSingle malts and rare cask finishes poured for guided or self-led tastings
FoodCharcuterie boards
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.
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.
DrinkWine and cocktails served on the pool deck
FoodItalian dishes and fresh seafood from the restaurant kitchen
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.
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.
DrinkTwo for one happy hour on house spirits and Long Islands, 16:00 to 18:00
FoodPizzas, burgers and share plates, with two for one burgers on Mondays
TipGo on a weekend evening for the busiest crowd, the kitchen keeps serving until an hour before the bar itself closes.
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.
DrinkClassic cocktails made with fresh local produce
FoodPizza served alongside the bar menu, two for one on Wednesdays
TipHappy hour runs 16:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 12:00 to 14:00 at weekends; Thursday is open mic night.
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.
DrinkOriginal seasonal cocktails alongside bar classics
FoodAfrican inspired street food tapas for sharing
TipAsk the bar for the current seasonal cocktail rather than a printed classic, since the list changes week to week.
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.
DrinkCraft beer and a full cocktail list
FoodBurgers, ribs and pizza served until close
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.
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.
DrinkWine, spirits and craft beer on the Up Yours rooftop
FoodPizzas and gourmet sandwiches from the cafe downstairs
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.
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.
DrinkTequila and mezcal margaritas
FoodMexican small plates served through the evening
TipNo reservations are taken, so walk in; in summer the balcony is the seat to ask for, in winter the fireplace.
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.
DrinkA dedicated whisky bar list alongside signature cocktails
FoodHandcrafted sushi, contemporary seafood and grill dishes
TipAsk for the whiskey lounge if it is just drinks; the dining room serves handcrafted sushi and seafood until 22:00.
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