🌎✈️ Way off the Tipsy Path in Cape Town, South Africa 🌎✈️

 

Ready for a big adventure? How about yet another continent? We’ve spent the last few years sharing our adventures in North America and Europe, but now we’re going way off the tipsy path to the southern tip of Africa … the marvelous city of Cape Town, South Africa!

Cape Town is like any other big city in that there are hundreds of places to grab a beer, cocktail, or tasty glass of South African wine … so we’ll narrow it down to our #tipsypicks!

So, we’ll jump right in by saying yes, Cape Town has speakeasies! Our first was cleverly hidden in plain sight down a corridor behind a hot chocolate bar. Gin Bar at Honest Chocolate Café is an expansive space with lots of little hangout spots to enjoy the diverse menu of mainly gin cocktails. We love creative use of an old space … and this one used to be a funeral parlor!  Make sure to check out the Embalming Room, a small cozy side room with its own bar where (you guessed it) the embalming was performed.

Since we love a challenge, Art of Duplicity scratches that itch in a number of ways. First, it can be tricky to get a reservation. Second, it’s a whole adventure just to get inside! We won’t spoil the surprises, but we’ll say that our driver was concerned. Just trust the folks outside the coffee shop and you’ll be fine. But make sure you have a password. The space is a former supply room for the coffee shop we mentioned. The bartenders visit each table and learn what you like and you can order off the menu or trust them. It’s repeatedly on the World’s Best Bars list for a reason. This is a must see and our #tipsypick for sure!

On almost every trip we take, there’s at least one place we come back to more than once.  In Cape Town, it was Cause | Effect. Another one of the World’s Top 100 Bars, this intimate space is located in a historic structure on the V&A Waterfront. In the first round, we sat at the bar and watched the bartenders in action as they put together some amazing creations. Look for one served in a glass shaped like Table Mountain. Our second time, we sat at a table and it’s a good thing we did … we needed plenty of room for the punch bowl cocktail! Cause | Effect is pure eye candy if you want great photos for social media, not that we know about that 😊

While you’re on the waterfront and if a wide selection of whiskey from around the world is on your menu, Bascule Whiskey Bar at Cape Grace Hotel is the stop. Tucked beneath the hotel through a side door, this underground parlor has all the ambiance you’d expect from a classic whiskey bar. We developed a taste for one of the local products – Bain’s. 

A rooftop cocktail or glass of local wine is a great way to check out the views from the waterfront. Local at Red Roof was our choice and the views and cocktails did not disappoint. The entire area around this hotel is a hip new design called the Silo District, with bars, restaurants, and museums all in the safety and convenience of the waterfront.

Aside from the waterfront, the downtown central business district is home to dozens of great bars and restaurants. Cape Town is full of neighborhood spots and with a name like Aperitif, we had to try the Negroni/Boulevardier. We highly recommend happy hour at this intimate spot with sidewalk seating. It’s right along one of the main streets, but away from the crowds.

Another “repeat” stop for us on our Cape Town visit is Kloof Street House. This is literally a big Victorian house with all the colorful rooms and antique furniture you might expect, including a large patio space. The cocktails are perfect for hanging out or for a date night. You could come here every night and have a different experience depending on where you land.

We are fans of creative menus and cocktail presentations – Fable checks the boxes on both! Words don’t do justice to some of these beautiful creations… like the xxx   a xxx cocktail that arrived at our table inside a ceramic lion’s head. Service is excellent despite the relatively small space.

How about three bars in one space – a dive bar, cocktail lounge, and rum sports bar? Surfa Rosa is a funky ground floor space that’s a perfect combo of dive bar and surf bar… you have to see it for yourself. Drinks are strong and cheap, and the food is right with the theme. We had fun!  Then we headed upstairs to the sophisticated space - Harrington’s Cocktail Lounge. This is where you would bring your date for an evening out. We had great cocktails, including a well-made Manhattan. The third space is a side rum bar with a covered patio. Not much going on here but it was a great hangout space.

When we needed a dose of good old American nostalgia, we headed to Rick’s Café Americain.  Rick’s … as in the restaurant owned by Humphrey Bogart’s character in Casablanca. They go all in on the theme, complete with menu and drink items along with live jazz most nights. It was an enjoyable trip down memory lane!

One final note as a word of caution… unlike most cities we have visited, the downtown city center of Cape Town is NOT considered safe to walk. We used a car service for even short trips between our venues. V&A Waterfront, however, is safe and walkable at all hours. Make sure you factor that in if you decide to check out the stops we’ve mentioned!

Be safe and let us know what you think!

Tipsy Picks:

Cause Effect

Art of Duplicity

Kloof Street House

🍸 Bourbon Adventures in Bardstown 🍸

 

If you’ve ever planned to hit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, it’s likely that your home base includes either Lexington or Louisville. But we would offer another alternative – Bardstown. This small community is located about the same distance in between the two larger cities, right in the heart of Bourbon Country … and it’s known as the “Bourbon Capital of the World!”

Along with small town charm and access to nearby distilleries, Bardstown also offers some delicious cocktail and bourbon options, most within walking distance from each other!

The one exception is one of the newest hotels in town - The Trail Hotel. This was our home base and except for having to take a taxi or vehicle to town, it was superb! They have an onsite restaurant and even have a speakeasy known as the Bourbon Vault. It’s hidden down one of the corridors of the hotel. The Vault features all the classics and an extensive bourbon collection (at prices you might expect for a tourist destination). They even have their own brand of rye made at nearby Bardstown Distilling. Very tasty! Note that there are other hotel options if you prefer to be able to walk downtown.

We’ll start our adventure with a true craft cocktail bar in the heart of downtown … Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium. As we said, there are quite a few places to get good bourbon and a drink in Bardstown. But the folks at Liam Ash are proud of their upscale cocktail menu, as they should be! They specialize in cocktails with flair – think smoke, bubbles, etc. but they also have some fantastic versions of classic drinks like a Manhattan and Sazerac. And yes, they have other spirits like gin, vodka, and a nice wine list along with nibbles. This one is a #tipsypick!

Most of our travels include at least one place we visit more than once. On this trip, it was Neat Bourbon Bar and Bottle Shop. This is a classic spot with all the exposed brick, hardwood, and leather furniture that you’d expect in a large city lounge. But the service is pure small town charm. The menu includes classics like a terrific Old Fashioned and bourbon flights. They also have some rare pours you won’t find elsewhere. Definitely a #tipsypick for a stop or a way to wind down toward last call.

For a more classic speakeasy feel, we ducked down an alley way and into The Volstead Bourbon Lounge! (For those “in the know” this used to be the Blind Pig speakeasy...) The bottle wall here is indeed impressive and the staff knows where to find each one. The overall space feels like your uncle’s living room mixed with his man cave. They even have classic B&W movies on the TV screens. It’s a great place to explore your bourbon palate or enjoy a classic cocktail from the menu!

If you want a little history along with your bourbon, it doesn’t get better than Old Talbott Tavern. The tavern itself dates back to 1779 and has hosted guests like Abraham Lincoln and Jesse James. There’s even a room upstairs dedicated to a famous shootout with the outlaw. But once you get a look around, make sure to stop in at the bourbon bar! It’s billed as the world’s oldest bourbon bar. They have an excellent selection of the “brown water” and you can even do flights to give your palate a workout. This one is worth it for the atmosphere alone!

And for even more history… Chicken Cock Distillery goes all the way back to 1856 and is one of America’s oldest bourbon brands. It was revived in 2012 and is housed in Bardstown in a historic mansion. Their tasting room is a step back in time. You can taste one or more of the house spirits individually or in a flight… but we chose a flight of Old Fashioneds! That’s four different versions of the cocktail with various expressions of bourbon. Definitely a #tipsypick.

Oak and Grape is a relatively new addition to the scene, but we found perhaps the best Old Fashioned of the weekend here. They used an electronic smoker to add just the right amount of smoky goodness. They have an extensive wine and beer selection. This spot is also a favorite of local service workers, so you know it is worth a visit!

And finally, when you just need a refreshing cold beer, Scout and Scholar Brewing is just off the main square. The brewery also has bourbon, cocktails, and outstanding food. They have a large patio space, perfect for relaxing in between bourbon stops.

One added attraction we’ll mention. It’s hard to beat sipping bourbon on a historic train ride through the countryside! My Old Kentucky Dinner Train offers that experience from downtown Bardstown, with dinner that includes a bourbon tasting. You also get a trackside look at some historic rickhouses on the journey.

Lots of #tipsypicks packed into one small town! What’s your favorite way to do the Bourbon Trail?

👀💥 Secret Bars and Other Sips in Adams Morgan 👀💥

The Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington D.C. reminds us of the Lower East Side in New York City – lots of funky shops, great ethnic restaurants, and plenty of cocktail bars. It may be a bit sketchy at times, but there’s always a fun time to be had.

So with the closure of one of our favorite D.C. speakeasies, the Gibson, we decided to venture out to find some suitable replacements in Adams Morgan. 

We start with our quest for a speakeasy … and we found Code Red. It appears as a former storefront along a street that could be in any big city… except for the big iron door with the metal knocker. And yes, when you knock, you have to provide the password to the person behind the sliding panel. Your reward is a classic speakeasy vibe complete with menus that include news clips from prohibition. The presentation is half the fun as we ordered a smoked old fashioned that was in fact “fired up” tableside. It’s a pretty fair replacement for the Gibson and one we will come back to! #tipsypick

Imagine walking past a historic DuPont mansion and you notice a sign that looks like it’s inviting you for a drink. That’s exactly how we found the 1921 Biergarten at Heurich Mansion. We are so glad we entered the garden and followed the path to some tasty beer and wine, including local brews and Senate Beer, a revival of an original recipe by the home’s original owner, a brewery baron. They also have displays detailing the history of the brand and the brewery. The garden area is a welcoming and fantastic place to kick back and enjoy your libation. A #tipsypick for sure!

Take a few steps down from the sidewalk – and a century into the past - and enter The Golden Age… literally. In true “dive bar” fashion (a name for bars below the street level) without the smoke and sticky floors, this basement restaurant also has a great list of cocktails, about 11 pages long to be exact. The speakeasy vibe completes the package. Truly a place to step back into the “golden age.”

Another “dive” spot in similar fashion is Bar Charley. But again, don’t get lost in the fact that you have to go downstairs. This is an excellent spot for tiki drinks, cocktails like old fashioneds and Manhattans, and a not-to-be-missed steak and fries special for happy hour! They also have a great wine list. 

If oak panels and history are more your speed, Round Robin Bar is a must-stop for a true D.C. experience. You can almost imagine the deals being made around the circular bar over a classic Old Fashioned. And that’s what we had. But the signature drink is the Mint Julep. This is a classic stop in the equally classy Willard Hotel.

Here’s a stop for the whiskey lovers! One of the largest whiskey selections in town (and maybe the eastern U.S. with more than 2,700 bottles at last count) is found at Jack Rose Dining Saloon. It’s easy to get lost perusing the selection. But we settled in for a classic Manhattan that did not disappoint. The food is also top notch. 

Walking into our next stop, McClellan’s Retreat, reminded us of some of our favorite watering holes over the years. The bartender was friendly, the drinks were strong and tasty. This corner spot is great for a first stop or a last stop… or hanging out the entire evening. They also have a decent happy hour, in case you need another reason to stop in.

Also, let’s agree to not quibble about the distinction on the map between Adams Morgan and DuPont Circle, shall we?  OK then - here are a couple of stops if you’re closer to the circle than you are the Washington Hilton… 

Teddy & the Bully Bar is a classic new American bistro/bar near the circle with a menu billed as a “reflection of Teddy Roosevelt’s love for comfort food.”  We were comforted by some great cocktails and a nice wine list.  You should check it out.

And finally, The Doyle Bar boasts a panoramic view of DuPont Circle and an upscale classic vibe that reminds you of the 1950’s. The cocktails were fantastic as were the nibbles. The people watching isn’t bad here either. 

We hear tell there are a couple of speakeasies we didn’t make it to this time in Adams Morgan. Do you have any favorites?