Cape Town is well-known for its vibrant social atmospheres and buzzing nightlife scene. It’s no surprise that the Mother City is packed with fantastic cocktail bars that tick all the right boxes.
From rooftop spots with sweeping ocean views to luxurious hotel lounge bars and hidden gems, Cape Town has it all. For unique and innovative drinks, check out our top picks of 10 of our favourite cocktail bars in Cape Town.
Chinchilla
Step into a little piece of paradise at this ocean-facing rooftop bar. Chinchilla on the Camps Bay strip is a colourful and contemporary cocktail bar with sweeping views of the Atlantic ocean.
Chinchilla is a great spot to sit back and sip on delicious cocktails while admiring an incredible Cape Town sunset. There is a wide selection of cocktail classics as well as a selection of adventurous drinks. If you’re feeling peckish, there is a menu of seaside dishes and light tapas.
Asoka
Asoka on Kloof Street is a favourite for a festive night out in Cape Town. For over a decade, this vibrant restaurant and bar has been serving up superb cocktails, and electrifying deep-house beats every day of the week!
The twentieth-century house was transformed into an enchanting venue offering tasting dishes with sharp flavours and legendary cocktails infused with the freshest ingredients. Soak up the intoxicating vibe around the fairy-lit olive tree and spend the night bouncing to the best deep-house beats.
The Athletic Club and Social
Housed in a three-storey heritage building dating back to the 1900s, The Athletic Club and Social is home to three sophisticated bars and one Mediterranean inspired restaurant.
The grand building is a maze of various nooks decorated with velvet chairs, Persian rugs and luxurious marble tabletops. The bar and kitchen serve up a variety of cocktail favourites from old fashions to whiskey sours.
Throughout the night, the basement houses a resident DJ that plays electro-beats that will keep you moving into the early hours of the morning.
The Gin Bar
Tucked behind Honest Chocolate Cafe on Wale St, the “secret” Gin Bar is a sweet little spot offering a menu comprising of just five speciality cocktails.
If you’re a fan of G&Ts, you will love their large selection of local, international and craft gins. Otherwise, you could ask the professionals to mix you up one of their delicious gin cocktails.
Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar
Well-known as one of Cape Town’s coolest cocktail bars in the city, Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar‘s scarlet red rooftop spot forms part of a four-storey restaurant concept on Longmarket Street.
The renovated attic is decked out with the hottest electro-indie beats and serves up incredible Japanese inspired cocktails. The trendy bar oozes a charming Harajuku atmosphere and is perfect for a relaxed sundowner or a celebratory drink with friends.
Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen
Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen is an uber-cool bar serving experimental cocktails and vintage drinks. Inspired by Cape Town’s oceans, mountains, vineyards and fynbos, the cocktails stand out, much like the city. Of course, you can order a craft beer or a glass of wine, but the cocktails are the real star of the show.
Try one of the whimsical chem lab-inspired signature cocktails that arrive with smoke, props and fascination. The bold cocktail menu is offers spicy, floral, herbal, bitter, earthy, and umami flavours to choose from.
Have a seat at the bar, and observe the mixologists at work, adding unique ingredients and plating delicious works of art that look too good to drink!
Milk and Honey Bar
The Milk and Honey Bar in Cape Town’s foreshore area is an elegant cocktail bar with white marble tops, glossy murals and Parisian flair.
The extensive cocktail menu includes a selection of luxurious champagnes, handcrafted cocktails and fine single malts. There is live jazz on Wednesday nights which is becoming a hotspot for world-class musicians.
The Botanical Bar
The Botanical Bar on Longmarket Street is a dimly lit space with a casual and relaxed atmosphere. The menu showcases a selection of spirits, tonics and infusions, but the real talking point is the jars filled with dehydrated plants and herbs.
The Botanical Bar was inspired by the use of local herbs and plant. Each possesses their own unique medicinal qualities and flavour profiles. The cocktail menu pays homage to the Western Cape landscape, and guests can explore the flavours of the Karoo, the West Coast or the Cederberg.
SoCal
Hidden behind Jarryds CBD in Bree Street, SoCal promises a fun night out for all.
Colourful and bright, SoCal is a fun and relaxed space that is perfect for a delicious cocktail coupled with tropical beats that will have you dancing the night away.
Cape to Cuba
Located in one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Cape Town, Cape to Cuba is a long-standing spot in Kalk Bay. Offering magnificent views of the harbour and the ocean beyond, the bar itself stands on a carpet of sand and serves up a colourful selection of cocktails.
The glass doors overlooking the sea, the live music and chilled atmosphere makes you feel as though you’re on a Caribbean island. Classic cocktails such as mojitos and daiquiris are listed on the top of the menu, along with delicious Cuban inspired dishes.
Perfect for the festive season in Cape Town, these bars are sure to tickle your fancy.
If you would like to book your trip to Cape Town to explore the Mother City, contact us today.