Cape Town hidden bars cluster in the City Bowl. The 10 below show why Cape Town punches above its weight.
Part of our 50 Best Hidden Gem 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 hidden gem bars in Cape Town
01 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Speakeasy · Reservations
City Bowl serious cocktail bar. World's 50 Best Bars Africa fixture.
Order: A drink built around their house-aged amarula or Cape Brandy
02 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Hidden · Through a chocolate shop
Through a working chocolate shop.
Order: A G&T with their reserve South African gin
03 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Speakeasy · Hidden
Hidden City Bowl speakeasy.
Order: Bartender's choice with their reserve gin
04 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Mezcal-led · Modern
Modern Cape Town mezcal-and-cocktail bar.
Order: A mezcal-led seasonal
05 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Cocktail bar · Long bar
Long-running Bree Street cocktail bar.
Order: A perfect Manhattan
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06 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Motorcycle workshop · Bar
Genuinely strange — motorcycles being repaired in one half, cocktails in the other.
Order: Anything off their boilermaker list
07 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$$
Champagne bar · Hotel
At the Taj Cape Town.
Order: A glass of champagne + their oysters
08 · Cape Town
Kloof Street
$$
Asian-influenced · Late-night
Kloof Street late-night bar.
Order: An Asian-spirit signature
09 · Cape Town
City Bowl
$
Coffee + cocktails · Steampunk
Steampunk-themed coffee shop and cocktail bar.
Order: A coffee-led signature in the steampunk room
10 · Cape Town
De Waterkant
$$
All-day · Casual
De Waterkant all-day bar.
Order: A patio cocktail at sunset
More Cape Town hidden gemsThe full Cape Town hidden-gem-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
How Cape Town hides its best
Cause Effect and The Gin Bar are essential. Most peak between 9 and 11 PM.
