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!
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.
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
