The 21 best bars in Cape Town

Tokyo comes to town at ANTHM, a polished cocktail bar that has quickly built a loyal following in the inner city. The sense of theatre comes from owner, artist and mixologist Tetsuo Hasegawa, but for this creator, it’s never smoke and mirrors without substance. Rather, the focus is on perfect balance in every drink, beautifully presented and served in eye-catching stemware. The mood is just as memorable, with vinyl on the decks and an after-dark energy that makes this a better space for late-night drinks than sundowner sips. On the menu, Hasegawa brings his own spin to the ‘Classics’, but for a real taste of his creativity, try one of the signatures: the smoky notes of the ‘Foggy Forest’ make it a perfect pick for wintry nights. 

63 Loop Street, Cape Town

Having featured several times in the prestigious World's 50 Best Bars lists, Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen is all about celebrating the flavours and culinary heritage of the Cape, with owner Kurt Schlechter and his team of talented mixologists creating an ever-changing array of cocktails. Expect reinvented classics and offbeat signatures on a menu with a sense of whimsy, but also a serious approach to waste and sustainability. Cause Effect also celebrates the region’s award-winning brandies, with guided tastings of vintage spirits.

Shop 280, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront

If ever there was a bellwether for when Cape Town’s East City became cool, it might just be when the shutters rolled up on Tommy’s Chop Shop. What began as a few friends drinking whisky in the garage behind Just Like Papa has become one of Cape Town’s most likeable neighbourhood bars. If you love The House of Machines, you’ll also be a fan of the motorbike energy – there’s a car hanging upside down from the ceiling here! – and a drinks list that leans heavily into bourbons, whiskeys and well-made cocktails with an edge to keep them interesting, but nothing too precious. It’s casual, characterful and best enjoyed by people who don’t mind a late night.

50 Canterbury Street, District Six

Loud. Lively. And just a little bit grungy. That’s why locals love Talking to Strangers, a bar with plenty of character and a cocktail menu that will keep you there until the wee hours. Talking to Strangers is the brainchild of Alessandro Galassi (who handles the playlist and aesthetic) and Nicholas Crouse, who looks after the mixology. And what a menu that is, with classics, mocktails and a fine range of seasonal and one-week-only creations. As much as the drinks are a draw, so are the food. It’s hands-on, no-fuss fare, with the likes of chicken strips, prawn toast and short-rib tacos among the standouts. Saturdays are best, with DJs spinning vinyl.

61 Loop Street, Cape Town

This slick bar promises cocktails with a story, and it doesn’t disappoint. Each carefully curated concoction at Fable tells the tale of a local legend, from ill-fated lovers to ghostly ships haunting the seas off Cape Point. If that’s altogether too complicated, there’s an extensive collection of classic pours, craft brews and local wines. Regular DJ sets add to the promise of a lively night out, with flavour-packed food and bold drinks to match.

Corner Bree & Wale Streets, Cape Town

‘All strays are welcome’, says Unclaimed cheerfully, and you’ll be more than happy to wander into this neighbourhood bar on Kloof Street. On a strip known for its bustle, Unclaimed is delightfully low-key. The wine list is thoughtful without being intimidating, while the cocktail list has enough personality to stand out. The signature is the spicy guava margarita, but white sangria and an aromatic Garibaldi give the bar a more playful edge. Keep an eye on their socials for regular live music and DJ sets, too.

55 Kloof Street, Gardens

Wander the streets of Milan, Italy, and you’ll soon find that the early-evening aperitivo is widely regarded as a human right. At the very least, it’s a mark of a civilised city. And it’s that tradition that Aperitif brings to the top end of Bree Street, with a welcome dose of European drinking culture, built on stretching golden hour into the evening.  

You won’t find much mixology wizardry here, but rather a focus on classic cocktails, spritzes and low-ABV serves. It’s chic without being too stiff, and the perfect spot for an after-work drink or a first date. Their Caco Nib Negroni is a standout in the selection of signature drinks, but the classic martini also won’t disappoint. And if that date goes well, you can order another round and extend it to dinner, with a menu of small snacks and hearty sandos.

 227 Bree Street, Cape Town

The Drinkery is a gem of a watering hole is hidden away upstairs in Heritage Square, a modern speakeasy shaking up a menu of innovative house cocktails and the classics done properly. That’s thanks to a bespoke collection of boutique brands behind the bar, from small-batch Caribbean rums to single-barrel single malts. Get there early to grab a terrace table overlooking the sheltered courtyard.

Heritage Square, 100 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town

Ask a local for the best negroni in Cape Town and chances are they’ll point you towards The House of Machines, a diminutive bar in the city centre. In office hours it’s a popular spot for remote workers, but come evening THOM shakes itself off to become a lovably noisy rabble-rouser of a cocktail joint. Don’t expect umbrellas, foams and frivolity here: at THOM they’re more into craft beer and barrel-aged spirits poured properly. With live music most nights and barkeeps unafraid to speak their mind, it’s a bar with plenty of attitude. Just the way the locals like it.

84 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town

At the far end of the Sea Point strip, the sleek lines and chic interiors of The Cole have made this new boutique hotel one of the most sought-after sleeps in Cape Town. But even if you’re not staying the night, it’s worth stopping by for a seat at Script on the ground floor. 

In a seriously stylish space – spilling out onto a small terrace – the menu concept taps into ‘drinks as stories’, from taking a walk through the ‘Whispering Orchard’ (jasmine-infused vodka, umeshu plum wine) to inhaling the ‘Perfume of Departure’ (Havana Club, chocolate bitters, lemon balm mist). The aim is to inspire emotion above and beyond sipping a sundowner. Across the board, expect flavour-led creations over hotel-bar classics: think yuzu margaritas, passionfruit mezcal palomas, pear old fashioneds, and other cocktails designed around mood, aroma and texture. Bar snacks are elevated here too, with a new food menu pitched at elegant snacking and to inspire you to head upstairs for dinner at Figo.

The Cole, 1 Church Road, Sea Point

There’s more than a little intrigue involved in visiting The Art of Duplicity. You’ll need a booking and a password to step inside this trendsetting cocktail bar, which channels the subterfuge and styling of a 1920s speakeasy. Set in a restored Victorian-era warehouse, The Art of Duplicity is the work of serial entrepreneur David Donde – also behind Truth Coffee – and award-wining bartender Brent Perremore. Due respect is given to classic cocktails, which sit alongside the venue’s own creations, all served with a large pour of speakeasy charm.

36 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town

Long one of the city’s more glamorous addresses, the ongoing rejuvenation of Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel has only improved the cachet of this quiet oasis of calm and good cocktails. While in-house guests waft between their rooms and the pool, Planet Bar welcomes outside guests, whether you’re settled on the terrace or – in winter – cosied up by the fire. Come for a classic cocktail before dinner, a celebratory glass of bubbles, or a quiet drink that reminds you why hotel bars will never go out of style.

Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, 76 Orange Street, Gardens

You’ll want to smarten up a little before booking a table at this classy hotel bar. Set on the sixth floor of The Silo Hotel – itself perched atop the world-class Zeitz MOCAA art museum in the V&A Waterfront’s Silo District – The Willaston Bar offers dazzling city views in a deeply elegant setting. Sink into barstools of soft Italian leather and ask the bar staff to pick something for you, or to mix up a surprise. They shake up a fine martini here, but the wine list is equally worth exploring, with an excellent selection of local and international estates.

The Silo Hotel, Silo Square, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Tucked beneath St Stephen’s Church in the old Hank’s space, Story Horse Bar is all low light, good spirits and grown-up urban vibes. As with Aperitif, the focus here is less on cocktail theatrics and more on the essentials: whisky, champagne, Guinness, proper bar snacks – biltong by Ryan Boon, olives from Italy – and a lived-in character that makes this feel like a local waiting to happen. For cocktails, go for something whisky-forward: The Photo Finish or Bush and Telegraph are signatures.

104 Bree Street, Cape Town

One of the city’s most popular rooftop bars, Gigi Rooftop is hidden away above Gorgeous George, a design-driven hotel in the heart of the city centre. In a space filled with tropical foliage and natural light, in-house mixologist Leighton Rathbone shakes up a tantalising cocktail menu that includes all the classics alongside bespoke pours utilising local spirits and indigenous flavours. The bar comes alive at sunset, with views out across the city rooftops.

Gorgeous George, 118 St George’s Mall, Cape Town

You don’t have to book a suite upstairs (though we’d recommend it) to enjoy a taste of the revamped Cape Grace, which reopened in early 2024 after a major refurbishment and a rebrand under the Fairmont umbrella. Part of the overhaul was a reimagining of the Bascule Bar, a ground-level space overlooking the glamorous marina. But Bascule isn’t about sea views as much as cosying up indoors. Leather couches and sumptuous booths set the scene, the walls decked out with array of works by young African artists to lend the space an upscale aesthetic taking its cue from the vibrant shebeens of Africa. Bascule has always been famous for its whisky collection, and you’ll find hundreds of single malts and bourbons on offer, alongside a creative cocktail selection. Tasting flights are available, tutored or self-guided, as are guided wine tastings on request.  A compact menu of upscale small plates, well-pitched to match the malts and cocktails, ensures sundowners can stretch into a casual dinner, or keep you well-fed into the wee hours.

Cape Grace, West Quay Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

It’s no surprise what’s on offer at this bar, which is set in a tiny courtyard. The Gin Bar sings the praises of South Africa’s artisanal distillers, with more than 80 local gins available alongside a handful of international brands. That’s an excellent excuse to dabble in a little G&T experimentation, or let the ever-friendly bartenders impress you with one of their House Remedies, a curated selection of house G&Ts “to cure all manner of ills.” The attached Bubbly Bar does the same for Cape Classique – South Africa’s champagne-style sparkling wine – as the main bar does for gin.

64A Wale Street, Cape Town

The speakeasy game is strong in Cape Town, and particularly so at The Athletic Club & Social, which stretches across three stories of an inner-city venue. It’s a large space, but made up of many intimate corners, allowing you to choose the vibe that’s right for you. Find a cosy nook with your plus-one or groove to a few tunes in the basement. But whatever your night entails – trust us here – get there in time to grab a sunset table on the balcony. The cocktail menu ticks-off all the classics, as well as an impressive array of signature drinks, paired neatly with an extensive canapé menu.

35 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town

Cape Town is slowly catching on to the rising tide of premium tequila and mezcal, and nowhere in the city offers a selection as impressive as Una Más Mezcaleria. You’ll find more than 90 agave spirits on the menu, from premium imports to a handful of top-notch local varieties. While they won’t complain if you ask for the salt and lemon, a better bet is to order the premium sipping tequila, served in traditional clay copitas.

77 Regent Road, Sea Point

if you're looking to host a private event in a unique space where the cocktails are next-level, this is your go-to. Set on a mezzanine above the gleaming tanks of Hope Distillery, StrangeLove gives patrons the opportunity to sip a cocktail while gazing at the very still in which it was produced. Admire the Scandi-chic furnishings and lush greenery softening the semi-industrial space, and look forward to an immersive cocktail experience built on a small selection of handcrafted spirits. It’s only open by appointment and for private events, so book ahead.

Hope Distillery, 7 Hopkins Street, Salt River

Sometimes, you don’t want waistcoated bar staff and cocktail wizardry. Sometimes, you just want a great bar with cold beer, decent spirits and a lively local vibe. If that’s the case, The Dark Horse is the watering hole for you. There’s a compact cocktail menu and a selection of local wines and craft brews, all best enjoyed on the rooftop terrace, which dishes up glorious views of Table Mountain. Peckish? You’re in luck, as the talented chefs from The Black Sheep restaurant across the road are behind the menu of seasonal small plates. 

145 Kloof Street, Gardens