Cape Town's cocktail scene punches above its weight. Cause Effect appears on the World's 50 Best Africa lists. The 10 below cover the City Bowl, V&A Waterfront and Atlantic Seaboard.
Part of our 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
Read the world list
The 10 best cocktail bars in Cape Town
01 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Speakeasy · Reservations
City Bowl serious cocktail bar. World's 50 Best Bars Africa fixture.
Order: A drink built around their house-aged amarula or Cape Brandy
02 · Cape Town
City Bowl
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Cocktail bar · Long bar
Long-running Bree Street cocktail bar. Classics-driven menu.
Order: A perfect Manhattan
03 · Cape Town
City Bowl
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Hidden · Through a chocolate shop
Through a working chocolate shop. Tiny bar focused on South African gins. 80+ bottles.
Order: A G&T with their reserve South African gin
04 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Champagne bar · Hotel
At the Taj Cape Town. Champagne-and-cocktail bar.
Order: A glass of champagne + their oysters
05 · Cape Town
City Bowl
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Coffee + cocktails · Steampunk
Steampunk-themed coffee shop and cocktail bar. The aesthetic is the show.
Order: A coffee-led signature in the steampunk room
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06 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Motorcycle workshop · Bar
Genuinely strange — motorcycles being repaired in one half, cocktails in the other.
Order: Anything off their boilermaker list
07 · Cape Town
Kloof Street
$$
Asian-influenced · Late-night
Kloof Street late-night bar with Asian-leaning cocktails. Live music programming.
Order: An Asian-spirit signature
08 · Cape Town
De Waterkant
$$
All-day · Casual
De Waterkant all-day bar. Coffee, breakfast, cocktails.
Order: A patio cocktail at sunset
09 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Mezcal-led · Modern
Modern Cape Town mezcal-and-cocktail bar. Mexico City-influenced cocktail program.
Order: A mezcal-led seasonal
10 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Speakeasy · Hidden
Hidden City Bowl speakeasy. Reservations recommended. Modern South African cocktail technique.
Order: Bartender's choice with their reserve gin
More Cape Town cocktail barsThe full Cape Town cocktail-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
How Cape Town cocktailing matters
South African gin and Cape brandy are essential to understanding Cape Town cocktailing. Cause Effect is the technical reference. Most peak between 9 and 11 PM.
