Whether you’re a working professional or a struggling student, whether you love or hate your job and whether your day has been brilliant or brutal, you will have experienced that racing feeling you get when the clock draws nearer to the end of your working day.
A possible answer to this physiological response is that Cape Town is a city where the culture of ‘after graft draughts’ is certainly flourishing. Here’s a quick guide to some personal favourite spots suited to a post-work burger and beer decompression session, writes Cape {town} Etc’s James Redman.
1. Tiger’s Milk, Kloof Street
If you’re the kind of person who loves the social aspect of a traditional bar space, then Tiger’s Milk on Kloof Street will have you licking foam off your upper lip all evening. Every time I have visited this venue, it has been pulsing. It boasts a spacious indoor bar that spills out onto an outdoor sitting area, decorated with hanging plants and beautiful wooden tables that cater for the whole squad. Despite the venue’s unfailing popularity, the service is always great.
The menu is extensive for both food and drinks, and after many an innings at this fine establishment, I have arrived at a tried and tested personal preference; The Borderline Burger (crispy southern fried chicken breast, mature cheddar, pickles with tangy slaw). The only thing that makes this burger any better is washing it down with a crispy Tiger’s Milk draught.
2. Jerry’s Burger Bar, Observatory
Looking for a place with soul? Jerry’s Burger Bar is an American diner-inspired burger bar that has a chain of three restaurants in Observatory, Blouberg and Sea Point. However, for the sake of this guide I will be referring exclusively to the Observatory site.
Jerry’s has a fantastic selection of beers and craft beers, both local and imported, and as the name suggests; they really do know their burgers. The Observatory restaurant is the perfect location to host yourself and friend, or two.
You might sit in one of their comfortable booths or at the counter overlooking the street. I can’t honestly claim to have a favourite Jerry’s burger as I am only 50 perfect of the way through their monster menu, but what I can say is that there is something for everyone and that you may need to be prepared to get your hands dirty.
I’ll let you in on a delicious little secret; the Jerry’s veggie patty is out of this world (and meat eaters have attested to this, too). Ask your waitron to switch any burger with a veggie patty to give it a go (the staff are always friendly and accommodating at Jerry’s).
3. Devil’s Peak Taproom, Salt River
If you’re a craft beer loving Capetonian, then there really is only one spot for you and it happens to be my all-time favourite too: Devil’s Peak Taproom in Salt River.
This taproom breathes authenticity from its collection of proudly South African craft beers, all the way through to its carefully curated menu.
From the elevated perspective of the taproom’s second storey, you can gaze through the building’s glass exterior at its rocky namesake while sipping on a world-class craft beer.
While beer is the taproom’s obvious focus, their lamb burger truly is a thing of greatness, absolutely mouth-watering stuff!
A burger and a beer for every type of person, mood and situation. There is quite simply no better place for an ‘after graft draught’ than in the beautiful city of Cape Town.
Also read:
Picture: Jerry’s Burger Bar / Instagram
