Must-see nightlife in South Africa

  • Mad Giant

    Johannesburg

    A superlative addition to Jozi's inner city, Mad Giant offers excellent craft beers (brewed on-site) paired with delectable Asian-inspired tapas dishes at…

  • Mooteebar

    Johannesburg

    Mooteebar – a play on the Zulu word muthi – serves upscale cocktails inspired by South African traditional medicine. The hand-drawn menu describes the…

  • Truth

    Cape Town

    This self-described ‘steampunk roastery and coffee bar’, with pressed-tin ceilings, naked hanging bulbs and mad-inventor-style metalwork, is an awe…

  • Orphanage

    Cape Town

    Named after the nearby lane, the mixologists here prepare some tempting artisanal libations with curious names including Knicker-Dropper Glory, Dollymop…

  • Espressolab Microroasters

    Cape Town

    Geek out about coffee at this lab staffed with passionate roasters and baristas. Their beans, which come from single farms, estates and co-ops from around…

  • Martini Bar

    Cape Town

    The magnificent pink, lemon, burgundy and teal lounge at the Cellars-Hohenort Hotel specialises in martinis such as the sweet and spicy white-chocolate…

  • Capital Craft

    Pretoria

    Pretoria's premier beer hangout is a huge place whose long tables, both inside the barn-like bar and out in the garden, are perpetually packed. The focus…

  • Great Dane

    Johannesburg

    Fun and friendly Great Dane is one of the mainstays of the ever-changing Braamfontein bar strip. The music is very danceable and staff make you feel like…

  • Grind

    Limpopo

    This mobile coffee tuk-tuk is the brainchild of master barista and all-round-coffee-guru Ben Schempers. Keep an eye on Facebook on weekdays then track it…

  • Banana Jam

    Cape Town

    Real beer lovers rejoice – this convivial Caribbean restaurant and bar is like manna from heaven, with over 30 beers on draught (including Banana Jam's…

  • Leopard Bar

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    With a dress-circle view over the Atlantic, the Twelve Apostles Hotel's bar is an ideal spot to escape the hoi polloi of nearby Camps Bay for a classy…

  • Lady Bonin's Tea Bar

    Cape Town

    A charmingly decorated, relaxing place in which to sample organic and sustainable artisanal teas, fruity and herbal brews, and vegan baked treats. At…

  • Enjoy a drink with great views of Jo'burg.

    Living Room

    Johannesburg

    This plant-packed oasis offers great city views of Jo'burg. Enjoy cold beers, cocktails and bar snacks as you watch the city go by at this rooftop jungle…

  • Beerhouse

    Cape Town

    With 99 brands of bottled beer, both local and international, and several more brews on tap, this brightly designed and spacious joint in the heart of…

  • Touch of Madness

    Cape Town

    This long-running bar and restaurant has new management but still offers an eclectic art-house atmosphere and a varied menu of global favourites. There's…

  • Brewers Co-op

    Cape Town

    Some 16 craft beer brewers get to showcase their efforts at this co-op bar. You could have a very entertaining time working your way through their various…

  • Honest Chocolate Cafe

    Cape Town

    Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, Honest Chocolate launched this homage to fine dark chocolate in liquid, solid, ice-cream and cake form. It's…

  • S43

    Durban

    This warehouse-like space alongside the train tracks is in a complex of arty enterprises that is set to gentrify this formerly downtrodden district. Beers…

  • Bungalow

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    This Euro-chic restaurant and lounge bar is a great place for a long lunch, languorous-afternoon craft beers or sunset mojitos and martinis, overlooked by…

  • Mount Nelson Lounge

    Cape Town

    Afternoon tea in the lounge or (in good weather) the gardens of the 'Nellie' is pure pleasure. There are two sessions daily, where a piano player provides…

  • Carbon Bistro

    Pretoria

    This places oozes hipster chic, with its minimalist decor, craft-beer taps, and cuts of steak you've maybe never heard of. However, it's the gin menu –…

  • 4PM at Mesh

    Johannesburg

    This slickly designed members' club and co-working space in Rosebank's most trendy location throws open its doors each day at 4pm to anyone who would like…

  • Dunes

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    You can hardly get closer to the beach than this – in fact, the front courtyard is the beach. Up on the terrace or from inside the restaurant-bar, you'll…

  • Openwine

    Cape Town

    The motto here is 'wine first, food second', so while there is a short menu, it's the range of 200-plus different wines from across the Western Cape that…

  • For the Love of Wine

    Port Elizabeth

    At this excellent wine bar and boutique, you can sample the output of Stellenbosch and beyond (tastings and wine by the glass start at R36), with craft…

  • Yours Truly Cafe & Bar

    Cape Town

    This place is hopping from early morning to late at night. Travellers mingle with hipster locals, who come for the excellent coffee, craft beer, gourmet…

  • Woodstock Gin Company

    Cape Town

    Sample the small-batch premium gins of this company here. Buchu (a local type of fynbos), citrus and lavender flavours feature in the 'wine-base' gin; the…

  • Craft Wheat & Hops

    Stellenbosch

    This place has a dozen local craft beers on tap and plenty more in bottles. There's also a decent wine list and a great selection of spirits. If you can't…

  • Forester’s Arms

    Cape Town

    'Forries' has been around for well over 150 years. The English-style pub offers a convivial atmosphere in which to enjoy a dozen draught beers (mostly…

  • Blue Peter

    Cape Town

    At this perennial favourite, the deal is to grab a beer (13 types on draught), order a pizza (R100) and settle in at a wooden table outside to enjoy the…

  • Babylon

    Cape Town

    Babylon's broad balcony provides panoramic views towards Table Mountain. The vibe inside this new LGBT dance venue is laid back and friendly with plush…

  • Publik

    Cape Town

    This relaxed, unpretentious bar does a brilliant job at digging out hidden gems of the Cape's wine and gin scenes. Taste drops from sustainably farmed…

  • Blue Shed Coffee Roastery

    Garden Route

    Enjoy great coffee and homemade cakes at this funky cafe with eclectic decor and ocean views from the deck. It's an awesome spot to spend a couple of…

  • Devil's Peak Brewing Company

    Cape Town

    One of South Africa's most innovative breweries has moved to colossal premises outside the city. It's a somewhat unlikely location, on a large industrial…

  • Hope on Hopkins

    Cape Town

    As the boutique gin wave washes over South Africa, Hope on Hopkins remains one of the country's most progressive micro-distilleries. Occupying a disused…

  • Coco Safar

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    The attention to detail at this stylish, bustling cafe is magnificent. Beans are roasted in house and the coffee menu features everything from espressos…

  • Blind Tiger Cafe

    Johannesburg

    There's a cool 1920s prohibition feel to this welcoming space with a long wooden bar and outdoor tables right on the Tryone Ave shopping strip. It's hard…

  • A Streetbar Named Desire

    Johannesburg

    True to its name, A Streetbar Named Desire is a trendy bar overlooking the street. The first-floor balcony offers a nice view of busy Jan Smuts Ave; at…

  • Bertrand

    Johannesburg

    Bertrand is a Jo'burg coffee shop that feels more like a charmingly cluttered Parisian flat. Crammed with comfortable couches and second-hand knick-knacks…

  • Tilt Coffee

    Johannesburg

    Tilt is a welcome addition in Melville, which has many great restaurants and bars but few great coffee shops. This tiny, Cape-Dutch-style building is just…

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