The Top 15 Hotspots in Cape Town

A “buzz” is the magic ingredient that makes a dining and drinking experience memorable – a fresh twist, divine food, creative cocktails, cool beats, exquisite interiors, an interesting or spectacular setting… and a crowd that knows where it’s at!

In a city known to be just a tad fickle in terms of “it” places (who can blame us?), there are some hotspots locals never tire of. Some are relatively new on the block; others are perennial hangouts with an undeniable X-factor that draws people back again and again, like moths to a flame…

Blondie

This day-to-night hangout remains a headliner on buzzy Kloof Street (no mean feat on this coveted and burgeoning strip)! As effortlessly cool for lunch (on the sunny outdoor deck) as it is for sundowners or a party night out, they’ve perfected the secret sauce here. Laidback vibes, brilliant decor (with lots of retro-ish details – even a Princess Di portrait) and a mouthwatering sharing menu alongside colourful cocktails. Think Eastern Mediterranean flavours – from a chilli plate, charred whole cauliflower, and crispy fire potatoes, to a whole fire-baked fish or overnight shortrib on stonebread – all served with a cheeky sense of humour (the last menu item is “Everything” for R2 300). Whether you’re after food, drinks, music or/and a party, you’ll get what you came for.
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm – 12am
Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 072 169 8671, capetown@blondie.bar
Where to find it 71 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
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Anthm

Where the Big Apple meets Tokyo in Cape Town! This intimate jewel of a bar is the home of ex-NYC mixologist (and fine artist) Tetsuo Hasegawa, who’s brought a historic building on Loop Street back to life in the style of a timber kominka house. Mixing cultures and cocktails is what he does; his latest muse: the southern tip of Africa. These are “classics” with a big twist, using shrubs and washes made in-house, so your drink might be infused with Japanese cherry-wood smoke, mphepho or Durban masala. His vinyl collection inspired the cocktails’ names (there’s a song and a story behind each one) – and is the soundtrack to your night out. With umami-rich sharing plates (such as karaage with mango atchar), ramen bowls and lobster curry as well as vintage glassware and candlelit decor, this is an all-round experience you’ll want to linger over.
Opening times Monday – Wednesday + Saturday, 5.30pm – late
Thursday + Friday, 4.30pm – late
Contact anthmcpt@gmail.com
Where to find it 63 Loop Street, Cape Town

The Athletic Club & Social

One of the city’s best spots for live music, The Athletic is also much more than that. Entering this grand old three-storey building on Buitengracht Street, your curiosity leads you upstairs and downstairs, through a moody labyrinth of spaces each more sumptuous and “extra” than the last – a whimsical design fantasy of colonial-meets-modern and plush gentleman’s club. There’s the Trapezaria (a dining room serving fantastic Greek and fire-roasted fare), three glorious bars, a balcony with views of Signal Hill, and a speakeasy-like basement, The Trophy Room, where live jazz creates sexy magic. This is a place with a story… get to know it and you’ll understand the name.
Good to know Live jazz happens Wednesday – Saturday from 8pm. Wine & Social, with guest winemakers, happens every second Friday. Bookings for both via Quicket.
Opening times Monday – Tuesday, 4pm – 11pm
Wednesday, 4pm – 12am
Thursday – Saturday, 12pm – 2am
Contact 084 087 5566, info@theathletic.co.za
Where to find it 35 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town
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Aperitif

At this cool, understated bar in a heritage cottage at the top of Bree Street, the focus is on relaxed cocktails and classic aperitivo spritzers and negronis. With its marble-topped tables, leather seats and crystal decanters, it’s a Cape Town incarnation of la dolce vita that spills out onto the wide pavement and draws a regular crowd for stylish streetside pre- and post-dinner sipping. There’s also a winelist of small-scale producers and prosecco (of course) – served by the glass or bottle – a small selection of craft beers, and a snack menu (bruschetta, spanish olives, charcuterie, beef tagliata). The house signature is a cocoa-nib negroni served with caramelised orange dipped in chocolate; the golden turmeric margarita is also a tempting choice.
Good to know Immediately below the main bar is a dedicated sandwich bar (the entrance is around the corner on Orphan Street) serving toasted sandos that redefine the term, made with their signature slow-fermented pizza dough breads.
Opening times Monday – Thursday + Saturday, 12pm – 11pm
Friday, 12pm – 12am
Sunday, 12pm – 9pm
Sandwiches: Monday – Sunday, 12pm until sold out
Contact 076 249 6328, info@aperitif.co.za
Where to find it 227 Bree Street, Cape Town

Clarke’s Dining Room

The familiar white canopy and copper sign on Bree Street is still luring hungry hipsters for all-day breakfasts, brunch cocktails, lazy lunches and Bree Street evening vibes. Clarke’s was ahead of the curve when it opened over a decade ago, with its pared-back decor, carefully sourced ingredients and artisanal kitchen – most of what’s on the menu is made in-house and balances healthy choices with sinful temptations. The all-day breakfast menu, featuring huevos rancheros (with black beans cooked in red wine and beer) segues seamlessly into sourdough Reubens, salads, a beloved four-cheese mac ’n cheese and their legendary burgers on fresh-baked buns. And a smaller dinner menu features salads, burgers, West Coast oysters, bar snacks and a dinner omelette. Out back is a large area (with unlimited wifi) that doubles as a takeaway-and-grocery space (with superb pastries and sandwiches to go). Dubbed the “Bree Street Community Hall”, it hosts weekly comedy shows, music nights and is available to hire for talks, events, birthdays and so on.
Good to know It’s cashless.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 8am – 11pm (kitchen closes 9.30pm)
Saturday, 8am – 11pm; Sunday, 8am – 3pm.
Contact 087 470 0165,  info@clarkescapetown.co.za
Where to find it 133 Bree Street, Cape Town
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The Gin Bar

Every good gin joint has a good story. This innercity gem is hidden behind a chocolate shop, and housed in a heritage building that used to be a mortuary! Take a seat in the Chapel Room or charming courtyard, and order one of the five signature “medicinal remedies” (herb-forward G&Ts) for head, heart, soul, hope or ambition. If you’d rather go for a straight-up G&T, there are over 100 gins to choose from (80 of which are local). Try the dry gin martini garnished with pickled kelp, a negroni with kapokbos (wild rosemary), and the cocktail with Honest chocolate. There’s wine and beer, too, plus the Bubbly Bar – around the side, in what used to be the Embalming Room – which showcases the best of local cap classiques, including small lesser-known producers.
Opening times Monday – Wednesday, 5pm – 1am
Thursday – Saturday, 3pm – 1am
Contact 071 241 2277, hello@theginbar.co.za
Where to find it Behind Honest Chocolate, 64A Wale Street, Cape Town

Salt

Once the foyer of a 1920s bioscope, this space has gone through several incarnations, but Salt is sticking. That might be due to the food – “global fusion” small plates. Or the drinks – boutique wines and, as owner Nic Macleod puts it, “secret-ingredient margaritas that are very, very good”). Or maybe it’s the vibe – cosy, friendly, relaxed – courtesy of exposed-brick walls and bar counter-like tables. It’s a place that’s always buzzing, from when it opens at 5.30am (they serve great R15 coffees until 9am on weekdays) to closing time… party-dependent.
Good to know No reservations
Opening times Monday – Wednesday, 5.30am – 10.30pm (kitchen closes 10pm)
Thursday + Sunday, 5.30am – 11pm (kitchen closes 10pm)
Friday + Saturday, 5.30am – 11.30pm (kitchen closes 10pm)
Contact 021 788 3992, hello@saltkalkbay.co.za
Where to find it 136 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

Kloof Street House

Step into a fairy-lit courtyard garden oasis that’s one of Kloof Street’s most romantic haunts, with its rattan chairs and classical statuary. Inside the Victorian house, the Gatsby-esque theme continues through a series of opulently dressed rooms. Think pressed ceilings, chandeliers, deep sofas and dark-wood floors (plus three fireplaces when needed). The brasserie-style menu heroes local ingredients (ostrich, Karoo lamb, cheese, Cape Malay curry) and has all the classics, from whole baked camembert and beef tartare to seafood and a pasta of the day. There’s also a tapas menu if it’s just drinks and nibbles you’re after. Toss in cocktails, brunch and live jazz on Sunday afternoons, and you’re sorted for every occasion.
Opening times Monday, 11am – 12am
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 12am
Contact 021 423 4413, info@kloofstreethouse.co.za
Where to find it 30 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
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Asoka

This vibey bar-lounge-restaurant has that special X-factor (or feng shui) that can’t be recreated, which is why it remains one of Kloof Street’s most enduring always-buzzing haunts. It’s known for its decadent cocktails: shaken, stirred and served up with a seductive soundtrack of progressive house (DJs on Thursdays and weekends) and live jazz (Tuesdays and Sundays). The kitchen doles out lip-smacking Asian-flecked sharing plates – themed around earth (vegetarian), fire (meat), air (poultry), water (seafood) and nirvana (aka desserts) – and only closes at midnight. Sitting out on the front deck taps into Kloof Street’s energy with a view of Table Mountain, and at the heart of the venue is a 150-year-old, fairy-lit olive tree; glowing candles and lanterns add to the magical ambience… Where will the night take you?
Opening times Sunday – Thursday, 5pm – 1am
Friday + Saturday, 5pm – 2am
Contact 021 422 0909, info@asoka.za.com
Where to find it 68 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
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Club Kloof

Lobster-red walls, burnt-orange banquettes, a lemon-yellow Amalfi-esque bar in the back courtyard… Bold colour is the signature of this cool Kloof Street eatery and bar from the duo behind nearby favourite (and Jamie Oliver-approved) Our Local. They call their food “Italian-ish”, focusing on simple but excellent ingredients for small-plate-sharing. The starter they use for their pizzas is descended from Motherdough’s renowned 107-year-old Alfonsina… the resulting pizzette are side-plate-sized with exciting toppings like meatballs with napolitana sauce or mortadella with pistachio and green-olive butter. Add a few salads, grilled prawns on skewers, a slow-roast lamb lasagne or beef fillet with triple-fried wedges, plus a cocktail or two (and a banging playlist), and you’re all set for an afternoon or evening of retro Italian(-ish) dolce vita.
Opening times Tuesday – Wednesday, 6pm – 11.30pm
Thursday – Saturday, 12pm – 11.30pm
Sunday, 12pm – 6pm
Contact 072 415 3752, contact@clubkloof.com
Where to find it 84 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
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Maggy Lou’s

Since it opened in 2024, this casual but eminently instagrammable Sea Point all-day café has been drawing the crowds. The eclectic diner vibe full of plants, old-school lamps, cosy seating nooks and window counters with bar stools on the pavement is always bustling, from brunch to cocktail happy hour, and dinner. With Turkish eggs and brekkie buns, a retro hot dog (the Big Glizzy), fried chicken sambos and prego steak rolls, the short menu is all about comfort food seasoned with nostalgia, and there’s a fresh selection of cakes and pastries daily. As the sun goes down over Sea Point, after a walk on the promenade grab a pickletini or a jug of Maggy’s Summer Wine to start the night out on a super-chilled note.
Good to know No reservations. Order and pay at the counter before grabbing a perch.
Opening times Monday – Thursday, 7am – 10pm
Friday + Saturday, 7am – 11pm
Sunday, 7am – 9pm
Contact 021 929 6757, info@maggylous.co.za
Where to find it 206 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town

Cafe Caprice

Caprice has been a Camps Bay landmark for two decades, drawing the crowds and setting the standard for the hottest beach bar on the strip (it’s the place to wind down on Sundays in summer – book ahead to avoid the queue). Artisan cocktails (like the iconic vodka-laced Granadilla Lolly) and a casual, café-style menu prove to be a winning formula. The terrace, main bar-lounge and dining area are always glam and pumping, with DJs providing the deep-house soundtrack from Thursday to Sunday. But for something a little swankier, head upstairs to Victoria for a dinner experience, where glasses are refilled, secrets are exchanged and nights don’t end when dessert does (Friday and Saturday, during summer).
Opening times Monday – Thursday, 9am – midnight
Friday – Sunday, 9am – 1am
Contact 021 438 8315, reservations@cafecaprice.co.za
Where to find it 37 Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town
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Jarryds

Fresh from a super-stylish top-to-toe revamp, this casual “all-day brunchery” and bistro, set in the glass-ceilinged courtyard of a boutique hotel on Sea Point’s main drag, has an infectiously buzzy vibe, and a vinyl lounge adding to the cool music cred. Service is slick and quick, the food is fab and there’s an eclectic menu that will feed any craving. Come for their re-imagined, even-more-fabulous pancake stack, shakshuka, salmon rosti, breakfast bruschetta, or one of the twists on eggs Benedict. The coffee is excellent, and you can ease into fabulous cocktails as morning melts into afternoon. After 6pm the vibe shifts to dinner (think lamb ragu pappardelle, chicken schnitzel, teriyaki salmon, wagyu burgers), with a vinyl DJ spinning the beats (Thursday to Saturday).
Good to know No bookings for brunch, but bookings taken for dinner.
Opening times Daily, 7.30am – 10pm (kitchen closed 4pm – 6pm)
Contact 021 023 3642, info@nonamehg.com
Where to find it 90 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
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Una Más Mezcaleria

For “cócteles” mixed with mezcal (tequila’s underground cousin), this cool saloon in Sea Point  is a vibey spot for a drinks gathering, usually spilling out onto the Regent Road pavement. Dressed in wood panelling, moody lighting and potted cacti, it has window seats for people-watching (and you better believe it gets interesting!) while you line your stomach with an array of modern-Mexican dishes – tacos, burrito bowls, empanadas, and more. Stocking over 60 mezcal brands, 150 tequilas and African agave spirits, the lengthy cocktail menu features classics (margaritas, palomas, negronis) with a twist. Once you’ve had one, you’re bound to have “una más” (“one more”).
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – late (kitchen closes 10pm)
Contact 076 705 8410, 087 470 0296, hola@unamas.co.za
Where to find it 77 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
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The Melting Pot

The nomadic inspiration behind John van Zyl’s The Melting Pot is reflected in the wild ride the restaurant has taken since John and Sage first opened their pop-up in Loop Street. Now back in Cape Town after three years in Grabouw, their new home in De Waterkant (where The Charles used to be) is quickly becoming a vibey hub. Inside the heritage building, on the upstairs terrace, or at a pavement table under the trees, fans old and new flock to taste the new iteration of John’s punchy global streetfood flavours inspired by their wide-ranging travels. A short, casual menu features crispy fish tacos, tempura chicken wings, lamb kofta flatbread, West Coast mussels or tuna aguachile, or go for the “one of everything” option which comes highly recommended.
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm – 2.30pm; 6pm – 9.30pm
Contact 066 363 2559, info@themeltingpotct.com
Where to find it 137 Waterkant Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town
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