17 bars in Cape Town, editor-picked for bars open late. Bars serving past 23:00. All bars in Cape Town.

Bascule Bar ★ 4.3

$$$$Cocktail BarV&A WaterfrontDaily 12:00-24:00.

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 ★ 4.2

$$$$Cocktail BarGardensDaily 11:00-01:00.

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 ★ 4.2

$$$Cocktail BarV&A WaterfrontDaily 10:00-24:00.

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.

Cafe Caprice ★ 4.1

$$$Cocktail BarCamps BayMon 12:00-24:00, Tue-Thu 09:00-24:00, Fri-Sun 09:00-01:00.

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 ★ 4.1

$$$$Cocktail BarConstantiaDaily 11:00-23:00.

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 ★ 4.1

$$Cocktail BarCity BowlMon-Wed 17:00-01:00, Thu-Sat 15:00-01:00. Closed Sun.

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.

Foresters Arms ★ 4.0

$$Cocktail BarNewlandsMon-Thu 11:30-23:00, Fri 11:30-24:00, Sat 09:00-23:00, Sun 09:00-22:00.

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.

Fable ★ 4.0

$$Cocktail BarCity BowlTue-Wed 12:00-00:00, Thu-Sat 12:00-01:00, Sun 12:00-00:00. Closed Mon.

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 ★ 4.0

$$Cocktail BarDe WaterkantDaily 11:00-23:00.

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.

The Whisky Lounge ★ 3.9

$$$Cocktail BarCity BowlDaily 17:00-02:00.

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.

Grand Africa Cafe & Beach ★ 3.9

$$$Cocktail BarGreen PointMon-Sun 12:00-24:00.

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.

Yours Truly ★ 3.9

$$Cocktail BarGardensDaily 07:00-00:00

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 ★ 3.8

$Cocktail BarForeshoreTue-Sat 11:00-24:00, Sun 12:00-20:00. Closed Mon and public holidays.

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 ★ 3.8

$$Cocktail BarWoodstockDaily 11:00-02:00.

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 ★ 3.8

$$Cocktail BarGreen PointMon-Sat 12:00-23:30, Sun 12:00-21:00.

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 ★ 3.7

$$Cocktail BarGreen PointDaily 11:00-00:00.

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 by Mothercity Liquor ★ 3.6

$$Cocktail BarWoodstockWed-Thu 12:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-18:00. Closed Mon-Tue.

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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