Long Street at Night

Photo courtesy Mark Holtzhausen

If you’re looking for fun vibes and an excuse to stay out all night, visit Long Street, party capital of the Mother City.

Long Street has a wonderful energy and it’s Cape Town’s best spot for a big night out on the town.

Start off at Mama Africa’s (+27 21 424 8634) for sundowners and an early evening meal – try out the ostrich steak or the Mozambican peri peri prawns. Long Street Café (+27 21 424 2464) is an institution and is a great place for dinner or sundowners or both. For something a little more exotic, pop into Mesopotamia Kurdish Kitchen (+27 21 424 4664) on the corner of Long and Church Street. Another great favourite is Masala Dosa (+27 21 424 6772; www.masaladosa.co.za), a southern Indian restaurant which brings a touch of Bollywood to Long Street.

For an upmarket evening out The Dubliner Irish Pub (+27 21 424 1212; www.thedubliner.co.za ) is just the place. Choose a cigar from around the world as you sip on elegant cocktails and listen to live jazz.

For bars and clubs you are spoilt for choice. Hang with the media crowd at Jo’burg Bar (+27 21 422 0142) or follow the trendy types to The Lounge (+27 21 424 7636). Zula Sound Experience (+27 21 424 2442, www.zulabar.co.za) is a fantastic venue for live entertainment and the odd poetry reading (it also has a good menu).

Chrome (083 700 6078/9; www.chromect.com) on the corner of Pepper Street is popular with the young crowd, while The Purple Turtle (+27 21 423 6194) is frequented by heavy-metal lovers and goth types. Fiction DJ Bar and Lounge (+27 21 424 5709; www.fictionbar.com ) is fashioned on classic works of fiction, and offers a combination of music styles and a mix of DJs.

For those who don’t want to miss a second of the excitement, you can always book into the Daddy Long Legs Art Hotel (+27 21 422 3074; www.daddylonglegs.co.za/ ) for independent travellers and experience the good vibes of Long Street just around the corner.

Flickr Images

An automatic feed of all Creative Commons-licensed images on Flickr using the text “ long street cape town night ”.