15 editor picks across South Africa.
15 wine bars worth the trip across South Africa, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All South Africa guides.
Klein Constantia's tasting room pours the revived Vin de Constance dessert wine on its historic Constantia estate, a drive from central Cape Town.
TipBook ahead, since capacity is small; the Vin de Constance Experience, a vertical of three vintages, costs R1000 a head.
Culture Wine Bar on Bree Street in Cape Town pours South African cult bottlings, natural wines and imports from France to Australia, with weekend live jazz.
TipGo at the weekend for the live jazz, and book a booth ahead; the R150 a head deposit comes off the final bill.
Steenberg's tasting room pours a benchmark cool climate Sauvignon Blanc flight on its Constantia estate, a short drive from central Cape Town.
TipBook ahead, since the tasting room takes no walk-ins, and bring a card, because the estate is a cashless facility.
Tannin on Bree Street stocks 430 purely South African wine labels across three floors, one of the most serious new wine rooms in Cape Town today.
TipThe ground-floor bar is first come, first served, but the first-floor restaurant needs a booking.
Groot Constantia's tasting room pours from South Africa's oldest wine estate, in the historic Constantia valley a short scenic drive from Cape Town.
TipBuy the Visitors Route Experience ticket, which adds the Manor House Museum and Cloete Cellar to a five wine tasting.
Publik Wine Bar on Kloof Nek Road pours independent, small-producer Cape wines with no reservations taken, a Tamboerskloof wine fixture in Cape Town.
TipNo phone and no bookings, so arrive early on a Friday if you want a seat at the counter.
Leo's Wine Bar shares a Bree Street room with a daytime bagel shop, then pours low intervention and natural wines after dark in central Cape Town.
TipIt is Max Bagels by day and Leo's by night, so the wine list only starts at 5pm.
Lunacy on Harrington Street pours a mostly local wine list with small sharing plates in a relaxed dive bar setting, an East City spot in Cape Town.
TipBook a seat online for the seasonal small plates, from oxtail gnocchi to grilled prawns, with the mostly local list.
Buitenverwachting pours a five wine tasting for R150 in its thatched, 250 year old cellar on a historic Constantia farm, a short drive from central Cape Town.
TipThe Double Cab is poured for tasting only on Fridays and Saturdays, so time a visit for those days to include it.
Constantia Glen's tasting room pours Bordeaux style estate wines with sweeping mountain views, a boutique Constantia stop near Cape Town city.
TipSit on the terrace for the mountain view, and go Friday or Saturday when the tasting room stays open into the evening.
Judd's Local on Kloof Street runs a free wine tasting every Tuesday evening alongside its kitchen menu, a Gardens neighbourhood room in Cape Town.
TipTurn up for the free Tuesday tasting between 6pm and 9pm if you want to try before you commit to a bottle.
Cultivar Wine Bar inside Time Out Market pours sommelier led flights of South African terroir, a boutique V&A Waterfront wine stop in Cape Town.
TipIt has no kitchen, so order from any Time Out Market stall; the market trades to 23:00 from Thursday to Saturday.
Furny's Fine Wines and Taste Room pours over 70 wines by the glass beneath milkwood trees, a family run wine find in Noordhoek, near Cape Town.
TipCome for the free Friday tasting from 4:30pm, and bring the family, they welcome children and dogs outdoors.
Openwine on Wale Street, opened by an Italian family in 2016, pours small batch South African wines from weekly specials in Cape Town's first enoteca.
TipGo on a Sunday for the house band's improvised set and the jam session with visiting musicians that follows it.
Wine Concepts Newlands pours free tastings six days a week behind its retail counter in the Cardiff Castle building, a Cape Town specialist wine shop.
TipTastings run on weekdays from 16:00 to 19:00 and on Saturdays from 12:00 to 15:00, so time a visit to that window.
Day trip · 8 hours
Experience whale watching in Hermanus, visit African penguins, and enjoy wine tasting in the scenic Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on a full-day Cape Town coastal adventure.
Guided tour · 9 hours
Embark on a full-day safari from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve. Spot the Big Five, enjoy a buffet breakfast and lunch. Enjoy stunning views of Dutoitskloof ...
Day trip · 4h 30m
Explore Stellenbosch on horseback with a private guided ride through scenic vineyards, then unwind with local snacks and a bottle of wine. A perfect blend of adventure...