Chapter 11: Drinks
Whether you’re looking for high-end concoctions mixed by a suited and tied bartender or pining after the most scenic summer sundowner spot, one of these top spots in and around the city should have you covered.
Momiji Lounge – Tjing Tjing
If you don’t have time for the full kaiseki experience of the restaurant, or just want a quiet, exquisite drink, Momiji Lounge is where you should go. Tucked away adjacent to Momiji Restaurant, the lounge is dark and moody, with sunken booths and a long, low couch.
Why go?
This reservations-only lounge enjoys a wide variety of speciality spirits, cocktails, Japanese whisky, premium sake, and a unique wine list to complement the food.
Expect a wide selection of bespoke cocktails, Image Credit: Momiji Lounge
Details
a: 165 Longmarket St, Cape Town
w: www.tjingtjing.co.za/momiji-lounge
t: +27 21 422 4374 / +27 21 422 4920
e: info@tjingtjing.co.za
h: Tuesday to Saturday, 16h00 till late
Fable
Fable is a haven for cocktail enthusiasts, where each signature drink is a masterpiece inspired by local fables and legends, promising an unforgettable night out in Cape Town. Plus, there's a small selection of seriously enticing comfort food.
Why go?
If you're looking for a vibrant nightlife spot or a unique experience, Fable offers the best of Cape Town's cocktail culture.
Experience the magic for yourself, Image Credit: Fable
Details
a: Corner Bree and Wale Street, Cape Town
w: fablecocktailbar.capetown
t: +27 66 009 7786
e: info@fablecocktailbar.capetown
h: Tuesday to Thursday, 17h00 till late
h: Friday to Sunday, 16h00 till late
Art of Duplicity
Voted 86th Best Bar in the World by The World’s 50 Best Bars, it will transport you to another time using a space filled with luxurious crystal glassware, mahogany, soft amber lighting, and the hum of live jazz.
Why go?
Hidden in a top-secret location and inspired by the 1920s Prohibition Era, The Art of Duplicity is only accessible to those with a reservation and secret password.
Decadent jazz and cocktail speakeasy bar, Image Credit: Crave Concepts
Details
a: Secret location in Cape Town, which you find out after booking
w: 170120.co.za
h: Tuesday to Saturday, 10h00 till late
The Secret Gin Bar
Tucked away behind Honest Chocolate Café on Wale Street, the Secret Gin Bar is a Mediterranean-style, exclusively gin-serving spot that has been feeding the centre of Cape Town with some creative gin cocktails over the past few years.
Why go?
Boasting an impressive collection of over 40 locally crafted gins, the mysterious bar manages to conjure up some of the tastiest concoctions around.
They have more gins than you can shake a stick at, Image Credit: Secret Gin Bar
Details
a: 64A Wale Street, Cape Town
w: theginbar.co.za
t: +27 71 241 2277
e: hello@theginbar.co.za
h: The Gin Bar: Monday to Wednesday, 17h00 – 01h00; Thursday to Saturday, 15h00 – 01h00
h: Bubbly Bar: Wednesday, 17h00 – 01h00; Thursday to Saturday, 15h00 – 01h00
The House of Machines
Created to be the essential brick-and-mortar meeting house for its community, The House of Machines is a beacon against the white noise of everyday life. It embodies many passions: all things finely curated, well-crafted, and purposefully made.
Why go?
The House of Machines is about all things motorcycles and riding, live music, solid cocktails, craft beer, bold coffee, and classic apparel.
Think bar, bikes, and music, Image Credit: The House of Machines
Details
a: 84 Shortmarket St, Cape Town City Centre
w: thehouseofmachines.com
t: +27 21 426 1400
e: cpt@thehouseofmachines.com
h: Monday to Friday, 07h00 – 02h00; Saturday, 09h00 – 02h00
Blondie
Effortlessly cool and always buzzing, Blondie is a Kloof Street favourite. This chic bar-restaurant hybrid strikes the perfect balance between laid-back and on-point, serving fresh, creative dishes, cocktails, and music that keeps the mood just right.
Why go?
For flavour-packed plates, beautifully balanced drinks, and a lively vibe that captures the spirit of Cape Town.
Blondie blurs the line between restaurant and bar, and does so effortlessly, Image Credit: Blondie
Details
a: 71 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town
w: blondie.bar
t: +27 72 169 8671
e: capetown@blondie.bar
h: Tuesday to Sunday, 12h00 – 00h00
Talking To Strangers
Stylish, social, and full of flavour, Talking to Strangers is a cocktail bar and kitchen where nostalgic sips meet elevated street food. This vibey spot pairs expertly crafted drinks with bold, Afro-inspired tapas. It's where conversations start, flavours shine, and every visit feels like a new discovery.
Why go?
For inventive cocktails and street-food style tapas that celebrate Africa’s culinary roots.
The small plates here combine classic and unique flavours and textures, Image Credit: Talking To Strangers
Details
a: 61 Loop Street, Cape Town City Centre
w: cocktailbarcapetowntalkingtostrangers.capetown
t: +27 78 324 2450
e: info@talkingtostrangersbar.com
h: Monday to Saturday, 18h00 – 02h00
BABY
Velvet-draped and mood-lit, BABY is Cape Town’s luxe hideaway for those who like their nights out on the high-end side. With an 80s-inspired aesthetic and cocktails as refined as the crowd, this hidden gem is equal parts cocktail lounge and time capsule.
Why go?
Moody glamour, bespoke mixology, dancing, and an atmosphere wrapped in retro cool, designed to keep you lingering long after last rounds.
For a glam night out with retro flavour, Image Credit: BABY
Details
a: 13 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
w: babycapetown.com
t: +27 21 100 1600
e: reservations@babycapetown.com
h: Dinner and Cocktails: Thursday to Saturday, 19h00 – 22h00
h: Dancing: Thursday to Saturday, 22h00 till late
Openwine
Openwine is more than just a wine bar – it’s a relaxed, European-style enoteca where discovery is part of the experience. Guests are invited to browse an ever-evolving selection of South African wines, guided by expert staff and their own curiosity.
Why go?
Unpretentious, personal, and full of surprises, Openwine’s cosy vibe and Sunday open mics make it the perfect place to sip, listen, and linger.
Cape Town's first enoteca, Image Credit: Jonathan Goodchild
Details
a: 72 Wale St, Cape Town City Centre
t: +27 67 617 6064 / +27 21 422 0800
e: info@openwineza.co.za
h: Tuesday to Saturday, 12h00 – 23h00; Sunday, 14h00 – 23h00
Publik Wine Bar
This innovative wine bar champions small-batch, sustainably made wines from South Africa’s most exciting independent producers. With a focus on minimal intervention methods and a strong lean toward organic, biodynamic, and natural winemaking, Publik showcases labels that are as authentic as they are drinkable.
Why go?
For a wine experience that’s refreshingly unpretentious, Publik makes exploring wine feel fun, personal, and anything but boring.
Publik is all about turning wine culture on its head – no snobbery, just discovery, Image Credit: Publik Wine Bar
Details
a: 11D Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town
w: publik.co.za
e: winebar@publik.co.za
h: Monday to Friday, 16h00 – 23h00; Saturday, 15h00 – 20h00 (no reservations accepted)
Botany
This upmarket cocktail destination is where expertly crafted drinks meet relaxed sophistication. Perch yourself at the bar, lounge on plush seating, or enjoy the breeze in the courtyard as you sip away.
Why go?
For refined drinks, warm ambience, and versatile spaces perfect for anything from casual catch-ups to special occasions. Find Botany at D’Aria Wine Estate or in the Newlands Quarter.
Botany promises a consistently well-made cocktail in a stylish setting, Image Credit: Botany
Details
Botany Durbanville
a: M13, Tyger Valley Road, Durbanville
w: coppercollection.co.za/botany
t: +27 21 205 0572
e: info@coppercollection.co.za
h: Monday to Thursday, 12h00 – 23h00; Friday and Saturday, 11h00 – 23h00; Sunday, 11h00 – 17h30
Botany Newlands
a: Newlands Quarter, 37 Dean Street, Newlands, Cape Town
w: coppercollection.co.za/botany
t: +27 21 203 5246
e: newlands@coppercollection.co.za
h: Monday to Saturday, 16h00 – 00h00, closed on Sundays
Featured Image Credit: Yuanbin Du
Chapter 11/14
