The best of Cape Town’s city bars have elegant furnishings, curated cocktail menus and plush interiors for nights of leisure.
Feel cosmopolitan at these ten downtown bars:
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1. Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar
Tjing Tjing House is a multi-storied Cape Town eatery with a Japanese twist, housed in a 200-year-old heritage building on Longmarket Street.
The cocktail and drink menu is another standout feature.
Created by bar manager and mixology expert Phil Burrows, the drink menu comprises bespoke classic cocktails made with modern twists, Japanese whisky, gin, saké and an extensive wine list featuring Tjing Tjing’s house wine. Tasty snacks, or rather, otsumami, round out the menu.
- Location: 165 Longmarket Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
- Times: Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 12am
- Book: 021 422 4374 | 021 422 4920
- Contact: [email protected]
- Website: www.tjingtjing.co.za
2. Hacienda Coastal Mexican
Tequila connoisseurs will feel right at home at Hacienda on Bree Street, which combines contemporary Mexican cuisine with Bajo region tequila.
Its interior is earthy, with brown leather seats, wooden tables and some exposed brick walls, and visitors can take in the bustling street while perched on high bar stools or at an outside table.
The stunning bar area, the show’s star, is a tequila lover’s dream, offering a wide selection of the world’s best tequilas as well as cocktails, margaritas, beers and wines.
- Location: 92 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
- Times: Monday to Sunday: 12pm to 10:30pm
- Book: dineplan.com
- Contact: 021 422 0128 | [email protected]
- Website: www.hacienda.co.za
3. Gigi Rooftop Bar
Gigi Rooftop Bar is located inside the Gorgeous George Hotel.
It is a sophisticated bar and restaurant fitted with plush leather seating, lush hanging plants, a dipping pool and the words ‘hello gorgeous’ in lightbulb lettering.
Guests are invited to let their hair down and enjoy late-afternoon drinks, poolside sessions in the sun or one of the hotel’s signature events.
- Location: Level 6, Gorgeous George, 118 St George’s Mall, Cape Town
- Times: Monday to Sunday, 12pm until closing time
- Book: dineplan.com
- Contact: [email protected] | [email protected]
- Website: www.gigirooftop.com
4. The Athletic Club & Social
The Athletic Club & Social is made up of three bars and a restaurant and is said to pay homage to the building’s former owner, who was a chemist and sports fanatic who ran a speakeasy in the basement.
The venue is embellished with sports memorabilia, allowing visitors to trace South Africa’s sporting history on the walls.
Guests can sip cocktails on the terrace, share a meal by candlelight or listen to music in the hidden basement bar.
- Location: 35 Buitengracht Street, CBD, Cape Town
- Times: Monday: 4pm to 11pm | Tuesday: 12pm to 11pm | Wednesday to Saturday: 12pm to 12am
- Book: dineplan.com
- Contact: 084 087 5566 | [email protected] |[email protected]
- Website: theathletic.co.za
5. House of Artezian
Artezian is a tapas restaurant, bar and art gallery. The name is derived from the natural flow of water when it pushes up from beneath the ground, similar to a spring.
Nothing is mundane at Artezian, with signature cocktails like ‘Captain Bob’ made with smoked chilli pineapple, Bobbejaan liqueur, lime juice, simple syrup, navy strength gin and chilli oil to spice up your end-of-week libations.
- Location: 217 Bree Street, CBD, Cape Town
- Times: Wednesday and Thursday: 5pm to 2am | Saturday and Sunday: 5pm to 2am
- Contact: 073 481 1070 | [email protected]
- Website: artezian.co.za
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6. The Gin Bar
The Gin Bar is located in a historical building’s Mediterranean-style courtyard and is accessible through the Honest Chocolate Café.
Don’t let its subtle location deceive you; the atmospheric, double-volume venue offers beer and wine and has a lively bar (the MCC Room) with a variety of beverages from regional crafters.
Living up to its name, gin enthusiasts can sample over 70 of South Africa’s best craft gins.
- Location: 64A Wale Street, CBD, Cape Town
- Times: Monday to Wednesday: 5pm to 1pm | Thursday to Saturday: 3pm to 1am
- Contact: 071 241 2277 | [email protected]
- Website: theginbar.co.za
7. Harringtons Cocktail Lounge
Harrington’s Cocktail Lounge is a classic cocktail lounge, restaurant and boutique bar all rolled into one.
The lounge is located upstairs, with a view of Harrington Street. The open panoramic windows provide a great view of the neighbourhood.
Beautifully polished wooden accents, windows, velvet bottle service booths, a dedicated smoking lounge and a boutique DJ booth outfitted for late-night revelry are all on the menu.
- Location: 61B Harrington Street, District Six, Cape Town
- Times: Wednesday: 4pm to 12am | Thursday to Saturday: 4pm to 4am
- Book: [email protected]
- Contact: 078 916 7903
- Website: harringtonstreet.co.za
8. Rita’s Cocktail Club
Rita’s Cocktail Club is perfect for those seeking a blend of metropolitan sophistication and relaxed rooftop vibes.
Located on Kloof Street, Rita’s Cocktail Bar provides a space for all of the day’s worries to dissolve in a glass of artfully mixed spirits.
Named after the classic Margarita, Rita’s imbues charm into your night out. The diverse drink menu is a testament to a love for cocktails, from the timeless to the innovative.
Here, you’re invited to imbibe from a collection of cocktails that are as spectacular as the views they accompany.
And for those who love to pair their drinks with a bite, Ritas’ tacos are the perfect match for the tequila-infused creations.
Located above Hudsons at 22 Kloof Street, Rita’s welcomes you from 4:30pm to 2am, Tuesday through Saturday.
- Location: 22 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
- Times: Tuesday to Saturday, 4:30pm to 2am
- Book: Dineplan.com
- Contact: 021 300 6695 | [email protected]
9. Culture Wine Bar
Culture Wine Bar features a diverse range of fine wines, including esteemed local labels, cult favourites, rare finds, natural varieties and exclusive imports.
Complementing the wine selection, its concise menu includes appetising snacks like charcuterie, cheese and daily specials.
Highlights include the prawn Po’Boy, pork pie and Chef Matt’s renowned Croque Monsieur.
- Location: 103 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre
- Times: Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 11pm
- Book: dineplan.com
- Contact: 087 1535 246 | [email protected]
- Website: culturewinebar.com
10. Asoka
Asoka has been a familiar gem on Kloof Street for over a decade. Its menu includes tasting plates based on the five elements: earth (vegetarian), water (seafood), wind (chicken and duck), fire (meat) and nirvana (dessert).
Strong flavours, aromatic herbs and intricate spices make each dish a distinctive and varied experience that draws inspiration from other cuisines and cultures.
The kitchen stays open until midnight, recognising that a night on the dance floor can work up an appetite.
- Location: 68 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
- Times: Monday to Sunday, 6pm until late
- Bookings: asoka.za.com/reservations
- Contact: 021 422 0909 | [email protected]
- Website: asoka.za.com
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Picture: Rita’s Cocktail Club / Facebook