Cape Town

Things we love:

Bars either look like impeccably designed Wallpaper* spreads or someone’s living room/squat/garage. There’s no Wetherspoons-esque, ‘safe’, middle ground.

Nothing happens fast. Laid back is a way of life – work finishes at around 2pm on a Friday (if it ever begins, that is).

Everywhere serves awesome breakfasts, coffee standards are high, and there are almost more beaches than people. To be hungover in Cape Town is a dream.

It’s pretty much acceptable to drink at any time of the day, and there’s always a party

Things we wish we’d known:

You drink in the street, you get stopped by the police. You get stopped by the police, your night is pretty much over.

As charming and laid back as it is, there’s no such thing as a quick drink.

As cheap and plentiful as they are, minibus taxis are the most terrifying mode of transport on offer.

SEE 'EM
MAP 'EM
LIST 'EM

	&Union This is a beer haven for those of you that like to chill out over a pint (craft beers in this case) rather than a cocktail. This isn’t your usual restaurant, bar or pub, they call themselves a bar salon and Read More
	Alexander Bar Alexander Bar is some kinda prohibition-era, booze-filled playground for adults, good start. Aside from the fact that the décor is just the right side of dark, Gatsby-era chic, there are also plenty of quirky novelties hidden around the place that Read More
	Belthazar Cape Town is known for its amazing wineries and vineyards, so the wine is pretty damn good wherever you go, but Belthazar is like a whole new ball game. With over 600 wines to choose from and 250 that can Read More
	Cafe Caprice Camps Bay is the Chelsea of Cape Town – the strip where the beautiful come to ogle and be ogled, watch the sunset and drink overpriced, colourful cocktails. There’s even a Made In Chelsea-esque reality show set in the area Read More
	Cape to Cuba Cape to Cuba is a bit of a trek outside the centre of town, but well worth a visit if you have the luxury of a car or are brave enough to catch the train. The surrounding area – Kalk Read More
	Jackal and Hide Like the name suggests, Jackal and Hide can be either absolutely packed to the rafters and buzzing, or quiet, sophisticated and relaxed. On BarChick’s visit we witnessed the latter, but have it on good authority (and that doesn’t mean the Read More
	Julep Long Street is full of some of Cape Town’s best bars and hangouts, so things can get pretty busy, especially on the weekend, but each town has its little secrets and Julep is the one to know about. This lesser Read More
	Orphanage Located on Orphan Street – so called due to it being the site of gatherings of influenza orphans in the early 1900s – you might think there’d be an air of Oliver Twist to Orphanage. You are wrong, as the reality Read More
	Peter's House The Mad Hatter’s tea party is a much covered source material when it comes to bars – all too often bordering on pastiche or empty whimsy. Peter’s House, despite being clearly indebted to that very same fairy-tale tea party has Read More
	Rafiki's A Cape Town institution, Rakiki’s is in no way elegant or refined, but it is fun, not a problem. Set out as a sprawling collection of small rooms, a long balcony (with kick ass views of Table Mountain – for Read More
	Royale Eatery BarChick loves her burgers, so when she heard that Royale Eaterie on Long Street had over 50 different types on offer, she was salivating at the mere thought. Especially considering they described them as “burgers that make your soul tingle Read More
	Shimmy Beach Club Another beach bar done well, Shimmy is for those of you who like to look good, people watch and get your pose on – it’s like something out of Ibiza. Hidden from the main entrance to the Waterfront, it’s easy Read More
	The Grand Café and Beach Bar A bar on a beach is always a winner and The Grand is no exception. Where better for a bar than in an old airplane bunker? With huge tables for you to sit at and a nice long bar ready Read More
	The Power & The Glory/ The Black Ram A café during the day, that serves decent coffee, excellent pies and craft beers to the arty elite of Cape Town. At night the adjoining bar, The Black Ram, opens and from then on the vibe is a bit more Read More
	The Waiting Room Above the excellent Royale Eatery – which serves some of the best burgers in the city – The Waiting Room feels like a New York Loft party. You climb up a rickety, narrow set of stairs to enter into what Read More