From lavish cocktails to those that celebrate Cape Town, the Mother City boasts a variety of cocktail bars you should add to your bucket list.
These include:
Tobago’s Bar and Terrace, Granger Bay
Tobago’s Bar and Terrace at the Radisson Blu Hotel boasts some of the most exquisite views of the Atlantic Ocean with delicious cocktails to match. Find a seat at one of the loungers and soak in the views while you sip some over-the-top cocktails. The food menu caters for all taste buds with specially created foodie events offered to guests a few times a month.
Location: 100 Beach Road, Granger Bay Blvd
Contact: Visit radissonblu.com/en/hotel-capetown/restaurants
Fable
Fable is a premier destination for cocktail enthusiasts. Paired with cheeky and talented bartenders and world-class DJs, it creates an enchanting ambiance. Their award-winning bar features unique creations inspired by local fables and legends, which will transport you to a world of flavour and storytelling. You may or may not be handcuffed to your drink during your visit.
Location: Corner Bree & Wale St, Cape Town City Centre
Contact: Visit fablecocktailbar.capetown/
The Gin Bar
Enter through a chocolate store and wander into a Gin Bar that offers more gins than you can shake a stick at. Besides the enticing gin cocktails like The Hope, The Ambition and The Soul, you can also indulge in a selection of beer and wine. If you’re in the mood for some bubbles, pop into their Bubbly Bar, a celebration of local crafters making some of the best bubbly in the world. Apparently, it is a “place so good you’ll want to keep it a secret.”
Location: Enter through Honest Chocolate Cafe, located at 64a Wale Street
Contact: Email hello@theginbar.co.za, call 071 241 2277, or visit www.theginbar.co.za/
Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen
This sought-after cocktail bar draws inspiration from Cape Town’s oceans, mountains, fynbos and vineyards. Cause Effect uses modernistic techniques inspired by history, diversity, and passion to craft their cocktails.
Visitors can savour the “Table Mountain” cocktail, embark on a journey to space or indulge in fynbos-infused concoctions. Brandy enthusiasts can sample over 60 Cape potstill brandies in South Africa. Their expansive menu caters to every palate, offering everything from small plates to mains.
Location: 280 Dock Road, The Rocket Shed, V&A Waterfront and Morgenhof Wine Estate, Klapmuts Road, R44, Route 44, Stellenbosch
Contact: Visit www.causeandeffect.co.za
Art of Duplicity
Art of Duplicity is luxurious, glamorous, decadent and hush-hush. It will leave you feeling rather tempted. Located in a renovated 1894 Victorian warehouse, this speakeasy is inspired by the USA’s prohibition era, a time when unlawful establishments served alcoholic beverages.
To unlock its mysteries, one must first secure a booking. Upon confirmation, you will receive a password, address and a series of prompts. What happens next, well, that’s a secret.
Location: You will receive the location upon making a booking.
Contact: Visit https://170120.co.za/
Rita’s Cocktail Club
It’s all happening at Rita’s, where you can indulge in delightful cocktails while admiring some striking rooftop views. Savour their crafted tequila cocktails, such as the avant-garde Clarified Margarita, or sample their exclusive tequila list. To enhance the atmosphere, a weekly lineup of DJs sets the vibe from Thursday through Saturday. And, of course, no visit is complete without indulging in their mouthwatering Mexican tacos.
Location: 22 Kloof St, Gardens
Contact: Visit www.ritascocktailclub.com/
Vista Bar & Lounge, One&Only Cape Town
The illustrious Vista Bar & Lounge at the One & Only Cape Town offers a sophisticated yet laid-back experience. As you indulge in their cocktails, take in the floor-to-ceiling windows framing majestic views of Table Mountain and a sculptural centerpiece above the bar that symbolises the mythical tale of this natural wonder.
Location: One&Only Cape Town, Dock Rd, V&A Waterfront
Contact: Visit bit.ly/3OO8HN8
Aperitif
New kid to the Cape Town culinary scene, Aperitif is an elegant yet understated aperitivo bar offering a stylish and relaxed space in the CBD.
The attraction features a carefully curated menu filled with classic aperitivo spritzers and cocktails and wine. For those seeking non-alcoholic alternatives, an array of refreshing cocktails and vermouths await. Complementing the drinks is a limited snack menu inspired by tapas-style bites.
Location: 227 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre
Contact: Visit www.aperitif.co.za/
