The Best Bars in Cape Town
Between the South African wines, Cape Town’s burgeoning craft beer community and the surge of cocktail bars opening along Bree and Long streets, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to drinking. So snag a stool or rooftop bar lounge chair, and drink to the vibrant Mother City.
13D Kloof Nek Rd, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
The Power and the Glory is a cool bistro in the center of Cape Town that has attracted a cult following among locals. The relaxed style, the bearded staff, the folding chairs, and the sidewalk stools may remind you of a Brooklyn cafe. If you can snag a chair, it makes for a great place to work or to have a meeting over a light breakfast. In the evening, the place is usually packed with revelers. Try the quiche in the morning, the pretzel bun hot dog in the evening, and the Nutella cheesecake for dessert.
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Probably the most visited attraction in the city, the V&A combines many elements of the greatest commercial waterfront projects around the world. There are plenty of draws for tourists (the Cape Wheel, helicopter rides, boat trips to Robben Island) and locals (450 retail outlets, from H&M to a major supermarket), but it remains a working harbor, with small seagoing vessels sailing between the main harbor and the dry dock that lies adjacent to the excellent Two Oceans Aquarium and Watershed craft and design hall. There’s even a fast-growing residential section, connected by canals that stretch toward the city. The latest addition, however, is the Silo District, which became one of Cape Town’s must-visit attractions soon after opening in late 2017. Here, a number of restaurants and boutiques, anchored by the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, are located amid old grain silos.
110 Bree Street
Sit in the picnic tables in the stone courtyard of Love Thy Neighbor (formerly &Union) and watch the Bree Street traffic go by. The Mediterranean restaurant is casual and popular among locals and tourists alike. It’s one of the only healthy dining options on Bree Street open late. The bar occasionally hosts live local musicians, so be sure to check their social media page to see who is performing next.
1st Floor, Royale Eatery, 273 Long St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
Through an unmarked door and up a steep staircase above Royale Eatery you’ll find the Waiting Room, a bar and lounge with retro style (but it’s usually too dark inside to really notice it). The best part of the multi-level lounge is the rooftop deck, with rows of picnic tables and twinkly lights strung overhead. This is one of the best decks in the city to view Table Mountain on the nights it is lit up from gigantic floodlights at its base. Saturdays are particularly popular. This bar appeals to those looking to escape some of the more touristy venues on Long Street, which is also why celebrities can sometimes be spotted here.
