Cape to Cuba. Photo courtesy benti.namibia

Cape Town’s party scene heats up as the sun sets and locals head out for sundowners along the Atlantic Seaboard.

In summer, the Camps Bay strip is the ultimate venue for cocktails, but is also an ideal spot to enjoy a glass of red wine on a cold winter afternoon. Cape Town City is one of the main nightlife hubs on the Peninsula and offers a real mix of entertainment from restaurants and pubs to live music venues, clubs and bars clustered around Long and Kloof streets. Green Point, Sea Point and Bantry Bay also have their fair share of watering holes, ranging from ultra-chic to quirky.

The V&A Waterfront has an international feel, with pubs and bars inspired by cultures across the globe,  while Lower Main Road in Observatory and Edward Street in Bellville boast young and funky nightlife spots, featuring creative décor and many regular patrons.

Kommetjie, Noordhoek and the Southern Suburbs have plenty to offer in the way of neighbourhood pubs and quietly sophisticated lounge bars.

Out in the winelands – it’s all about wine and many bars are extensions of popular restaurants that patrons just can’t find a good reason to leave.

Here we’ve put together 20 of Cape Town’s hottest and coolest night-time venues, guaranteed to give you a fantastic time out on the town!

Paulaner Brauhaus
German (or local) beer and traditional eats such as bratwurst and sauerkraut make this pub a truly continental experience.
Clock Tower Precinct, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
+27 (0) 21 418 9999
http://www.paulaner.co.za

Bascule Wine and Whisky Bar
This is the perfect setting in which to take in the sights and sounds of the busy Waterfront harbour while sipping on some of the finest – and rarest – whisky in the world.
Cape Grace Hotel, West Quay Road, V&A Waterfront
+27 (0) 21 410 7100
http://www.capegrace.com

Caveau at Heritage Square
Stop in for a glass of the fine wines on this spot’s extensive wine list. Look out for Caveau in Newlands too!
Heritage Square, 92 Bree Street, Cape Town
+27 (0) 21 422 1367
http://www.caveau.co.za

Alba Lounge
Featuring a bird’s eye view of the Waterfront with a cosy two-way fire, this is a great place to wile away the afternoon, or take in a live music performance.
Above the Hildebrand Restaurant at Pierhead, V& A Waterfront
+27 (0) 21 425 3385
http://www.albalounge.co.za

L’Aperitivo
Watch the girls (and boys) go by at this stylish sidewalk city spot.
70 Loop Street, Cape Town
+27 (0) 21 426 1001

Boer ‘n Brit
As its name suggests, this old pub heralds the skirmishes and spats between these old rivals.
A roaring log fire complements the weathered red leather banquettes inside.
The Alphen Hotel, Alphen Drive, Constantia
+27 (0) 21 794 5011
http://www.alphen.co.za

Perseverance Tavern
Cape Town’s oldest bar is known to locals as Percy’s.
83 Buitenkant Street, Gardens
+27 (0) 21 461 2440
http://www.perseverancetavern.co.za

Ferryman’s
A popular spot – this was one of the first bars in the newly developed V&A Waterfront.  Enjoy matches here in the British ambience, along with an international clientele.
Cnr East Pier and Dock roads, Ground Floor, Market Square Area, V&A Waterfront
+27 (0) 21 419 7748
http://www.ferrymans.co.za

The Toad in the Village
A village local, this lovely pub is tucked into a homely loft with thatched eves and wooden outdoor decks amidst green surrounds.
16 Noordhoek Farm Village, Village Lane, Noordhoek
+27 (0) 21 789 2973
http://thetoad.co.za/blog/

Forrester’s Arms
Featuring a Sunday carvery, Forries is also a perfect outdoor garden pub and is child-friendly.
52 Newlands Ave, Newlands
+27 (0) 21 689 5949

Dubliner at Kennedy’s
Cape Town’s authentic Irish pub sports a block-long queue on St Patrick’s night!
251 Long Street, City Centre
+27 (0) 21 424 1212
http://www.thedubliner.co.za

Boo Radley’s
Inspired by the New York bistro-bar and the old fashioned cocktails of the ’30s, this stylish bar is a popular after-work spot and hosts regular live music nights with a swing, blues and jazz focus.
62 Hout Street, Cape Town
+27 (0) 21 424 3040
http://www.booradleys.co.za

Green Dolphin
This charming restaurant also offers patrons live jazz sessions.
Victoria and Alfred Hotel Pier, V&A Waterfront
+27 (0) 21 421 7471

Cape to Cuba
Excellent mojitos and more in this quaint indoor-outdoor bar featuring genuine Cuban décor.
Main Road, Kalk Bay
+27 (0) 21 788 1566
http://www.capetocuba.com

Buena Vista Social Cafe
Cuba comes to Cape Town in the Stadium precinct! Enjoy good mood-inspiring music as you celebrate your country’s victory!
1st Floor Exhibition House, 81 Main Road, Green Point
+27 (0) 21 433 0611
http://www.buenavista.co.za

Dias Portuguese Restaurant‎
This Portuguese-themed tavern inspired by Bartholomew Dias welcomes all. Sports-lovers will appreciate the big-screen games.
15 Caledon Street, Cape Town
+27 (0) 21 465 7547‎

Polana Restaurant
You can’t get closer to the waves than here! Polana is one of the best places from which to watch a winter storm head in across the sea while cosying up to a warm fire. 
Kalk Bay Harbour, Kalk Bay
+27 (0) 21 788 4133
http://www.harbourhouse.co.za

Vista Lounge
This dynamic lobby lounge and bar features captivating views of Table Mountain.
The One & Only, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront
+27 (0) 21 431 5888
http://www.oneandonlyresorts.com

Planet Champagne and Cocktail Bar
A “Sex and the City”-style venue offering an extensive cocktail, champagne and wine menu. Your drink is served with bar snacks beneath the twinkling stars of the venue’s faux night sky.

Mount Nelson Hotel, 76 Orange Street, Gardens
+27 (0) 21 483 1000
http://www.mountnelson.co.za

Bronx Action Bar
Bronx is one of Cape Town’s best know gay bars – it’s open till late!
22 Somerset Road, Green Point
+27 (0) 21 419 9216
http://www.bronx.co.za

Without further ado, here are some of the people and the sights that supplied the “wow” factor to Cape Town’s Welcome Party tonight. Wearing their colours with pride, people off all shapes and sizes pulled through for what was the first in a line of awesome parties to come. Ayoba! Photos by Ingrid Sinclair.

Dutch fans getting into the spirit in Cape Town. Photos by Roy Barford

Orange is definitely the most fashionable colour in Cape Town today, as the Mother City prepares to host the first ever FIFA World Cup™ semi-final on African soil this evening, which will be played between Uruguay and the Netherlands.

Dutch fans have already taken to the streets in their bright orange outfits and there has been a super vibe at the Cape Town FIFA Fan Fest™. The weather forecasters seem to have got it wrong and – touch wood – Cape Town has been bright and sunny so far today.

The Fan Walk in Cape Town, which links the FIFA Fan Fest™ and Cape Town Stadium, will be a 2.4km football fashion runway from around 17h00, an experience not to be missed if you are in the Mother City.

The Netherlands have enjoyed a massive following in Cape Town during the World Cup and their fans have been the most colourful and festive the city has seen during this tournament. Having upset Brazil in their quarter-final match on Friday, they will be the favourite team tonight against Uruguay, who scraped through against Ghana. While there are a few Uruguayan supporters in town as well, they are heavily outnumbered.

African fans are likely to get behind the Dutch too, as Uruguay have knocked out two African teams (South Africa and Ghana) to reach the semi-finals. There was also a controversial incident in the last minute of extra time in the quarter-final between Uruguay and Ghana, when Uruguayan striker, Luis Suárez, deliberately handled the ball, denying Ghana a goal that would have seen them become the first African team to make the semi-finals of the World Cup. Ghana went on to miss the resulting penalty and were beaten 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out.

Suárez was red-carded and will not be playing this evening, but his fellow striker, Diego Forlán, is likely to give the Dutch defence a tough time.

For the men in orange, key players will include Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie.

A Dutch fan blows his vuvuzela on a sunny day in Cape Town, with Table Mountain in the background. Photo by Roy Barford

The final whistle of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ was blown last night, while the legacy of the tournament kicked off immediately afterwards.

Cape Town hosted eight matches during the tournament, including the Round of 16 match between Spain and Portugal, the quarter-final between Argentina and Germany and the semi-final between the Netherlands and Uruguay.

It was great to have football fans from around the world in the Mother City, with Dutch supporters being arguably the most colourful and spirited. It was also great to see South Africans unite and get behind Bafana Bafana, who were very unlucky to be knocked out in the first round, following a very controversial penalty and red card in the match against Uruguay in Pretoria.

The FIFA Fan Fest, V&A Waterfront and Cape Town International Convention Centre erected big screens for fans who did not have tickets to the matches. All 64 matches played in the tournament were screened at these venues, and the events were well attended by locals and visitors alike.

Music lovers had a great time during the tournament, with performances by top South African and international artists. The list of performers in Cape Town included Estelle, Fatboy Slim, R Kelly, JR, Kurt Darren, HHP, Die Antwoord, Flash Republic, Freshlyground, Prime Circle, Goldfish and many upcoming Cape Town artists.

The tournament provided a platform for emerging performers to showcase their talent at the various public viewing areas, as well as at the popular Fan Walk between the FIFA Fan Fest and Cape Town Stadium.

Local industry roleplayers received a welcome winter boost and even those who didn’t do as well as expected would have learned much from the tournament, meaning they will be better prepared for future events in Cape Town. The success of the World Cup has prompted Formula 1™ boss, Bernie Ecclestone, to announce that he considering bringing F1 racing to the Mother City in three years’ time.

Various celebrities passed through and left their signatures on the Madiba Legacy Canvas. The list of high-profile people seen out and about included Leonardo di Caprio, Prince Albert of Monaco, Charlize Theron, Reggie Bush and many others.

Cape Town has once again proven that it is eminently capable of hosting global events and everything that comes with them.

Let the legacy begin…

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will have big support from Cape Town’s Vasco da Gama FC when they take on Spain at Cape Town Stadium this evening. Photo courtesy DR.ZVLV

Vasco da Gama FC, the latest Cape Town club to join South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL), will be lending their support today to the country from which the club’s name has its origins: Portugal.

Portugal play Spain in the Round of 16 match at Cape Town Stadium tonight, in what is potentially the most exciting match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ so far. Portugal thrashed Korea DPR 7-0 in their group match at Cape Town Stadium last week and boast world-class talents such as Cristiano Ronaldo.

Vasco da Gama FC fans will meet at the team’s clubhouse in Parow today at 16h00 and travel to Cape Town by train to support Portugal in the match that kicks off at 20h30.

Vasco da Gama FC has its roots entrenched in the local Portuguese South African community and is named after CR Vasco da Gama football club in Brazil (which also has Portuguese links). Vasco da Gama was a famous Portuguese explorer who visited the Cape in 1497, more than 150 years before Europeans settled there.

Vasco da Gama FC Chairman Mario Das Neves is very excited about today’s match. “We are really looking forward to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ clash against Spain and can’t wait to get ready for the match,” he said. “We are passionate fans and are proud to travel to the city with so many South African Portuguese football lovers. It is two great sides and playing at an amazing stadium. May the best team win; we believe Portugal 2, Spain 1!”

Vasco da Gama FC secured promotion to the PSL when they beat Black Leopards 2-1 (aggregate score 3-2) in a thrilling promotional play-off at Parow Park on March 7, 2010. The current squad boasts several players of Portuguese origin, such as Roberto and Miguel Santo.

The club won the Vodacom League in 2008.