Last Updated on November 13, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
Cape Town may be famous for its fabulous wine, but the Mother City is also home to some excellent gin. So if you’re looking to do a gin tasting in Cape Town, there’s no shortage of places to go!
The Cape Floral Kingdom is home to lots of interesting botanicals that make their way into much of Cape Town’s best gin, including fynbos and rooibos (which is pronounced roy-boss, just FYI).
There are some excellent places to go gin tasting in Cape Town and you tend to get quite a lot of bang for your buck with tastings here. South Africans aren’t stingy pourers, that’s for sure!
Okay, with the preamble out of the way, let’s dive into the best places to go gin tasting in Cape Town.
1. The Gin Bar
If you enjoy a G&T, you just have to go to The Gin Bar while you’re in Cape Town.
This is a super cool bar that’s hidden behind a cafe. Sometimes people call it “the Secret Gin Bar” due to its concealed location, but this place is the opposite of a secret these days – it’s actually pretty famous.
It’s a cosy spot with a pretty courtyard area and the best selection of gins you’ll find anywhere in Cape Town. They proudly stock a lot of local brands and their “house remedy” G&Ts all use South African gins.
The Gin Bar used to run mixology classes but as far as I can tell they’re no longer offering those. However, this is still probably the best place in Cape Town to come and sample local brands, including Pienaar & Son, Inverroche, and Hope Distillery.
2. Pienaar & Son
Pienaar & Son are located in the Waterfront, inside Makers’ Landing market. I came here for a gin tasting on a rainy day, as my friends and I were in need of a fun indoor activity that weekend! (For more ideas, check out this post).
I like the tasting room here as it feels very industrial chic. The staff were really friendly and clearly passionate about alcohol, so we had that in common…
We did the full tasting option and got to try five different spirits, including a vodka and a whiskey, so I felt pretty tipsy by the time we left. But if you want to just stick to gin, you can sample three for R80. You’ll need to book a tasting which you can do via their website.
3. The Gin Lab at the 12 Apostles Hotel
Not only is the 12 Apostles Hotel one of the best sunset spots in Cape Town, it’s also one of the best places to go gin tasting! (Seriously though, please do have a sundowner on their Leopard Bar Balcony).
With their Gin Lab experience, you not only get to taste gin, but you also get to create your own bottle. If you’re looking for a luxurious gin tasting in Cape Town, then this is the perfect choice.
The experience requires a minimum of 4 guests and costs R795 per person. It’s available daily, and you need to book it at least 24 hours in advance. You can do this at the hotel if you’re a guest, or via their website.
4. Hout Bay Harbour Distillery
Hout Bay Harbour Distillery is a family-run distillery that boasts a multitude of awards. Plus, Hout Bay is a stunning suburb with some really fun activities on offer.
The Distillery itself offers an hour-long tasting and distillery tour for R250 per person. You get to see plant in action and you’ll taste six of their premium gins – not bad! This includes a chilli-infused gin, as well as elderflower and hibiscus options.
Tastings run from Thursday to Sunday, and you need to book online.
5. Distillers Union
Distillers Union offers a really fun gin tasting, and as of October 2025 they’re back in action after renovating. As well as 5 Pence Gin, the collective also owns the Dragon Brewing Co, which makes delicious alcoholic ginger beer – I highly recommend trying some while you’re in Cape Town.
You can come here for a gin tasting, which includes four gins and bar snacks for R130 per person. Or, you can book a gin making class and end up with your own custom bottle at the end of the class – how cool is that?
Or if you want to do a tasting AND make your own gin, you can do that too! The deluxe option costs R850 per person. I think this would be such a fun idea for a birthday party.
You’ll need to book your session in advance, and you can do that here. A few days in advance should be fine!
6. Deep South Distillery
The Deep South Distillery is so-called because it’s way down the Cape Peninsula in Kommetjie (pronounced core-mickey).
It is a bit out of town, but it’s worth the trip for gin enthusiasts. This place has quite the reputation!
Deep South specialises in small-batch, hand-crafted spirits. They have won tons of awards from people who presumably know what they’re talking about.
If you like pink gin, you’ll LOVE their ruby gin. They also have a chilli vodka, if you’re brave enough…
Tastings here include a mini tour of the Distillery, although more in-depth ones are available. Then, you get to try 3 gins and learn how to balance them properly for the perfect cocktail.
The staff are super friendly and clearly love what they do, so this tasting will make any gin lover smile. It costs R150 per person and you need to book online.