Last Updated on March 22, 2026 by Hannah Stephenson
Cape Town is home to some seriously fun nightlife.
I absolutely love going out here. And after living here for five years, I think I’ve got a fairly good handle on the nightlife scene!
Of course, everyone has different preferences when it comes to nightlife, but I’ve tried to give a fairly balanced overview of Cape Town’s top bars and clubs.
So without further ado, let’s get into the nitty gritty of where to go when you fancy a night out in Cape Town!
Kloof Street
Kloof Street is one of the most popular places to go out in Cape Town. It runs through Gardens, which is a very central neighbourhood, and there are tons of great bars to check out along here.
I would also add that Kloof Street is one of the only places in Cape Town where I’d say it’s okay to walk at night. It’s well lit and there are always lots of people around. But of course, it’s always best to walk with friends rather than by yourself if you can help it!
Blondie
Blondie currently reigns supreme as the coolest bar in the Mother City.
It’s like the jewel in the crown of Cape Town nightlife, for the cool kids, anyway. There’s a queue outside pretty much every night and the whole place has a perfectly offbeat attitude.
There’s actually a pretty good food menu here, too. The watermelon salad is the perfect light meal on a hot day, but they also have heartier options like pitas and wood fired potatoes.
Address: 71 Kloof Street, Gardens
Open times: 12 pm – 12 am (or 10 pm on Sunday), closed Monday
Van Hunks
Van Hunks is an old school bar with cheap drinks, cheesy tunes, and friendly staff. It’s hands down my favourite place to go out in Cape Town and I have so many great memories here (although some of them are a bit blurry).
And if you meet the manager, Trevor, tell him I say hi! He’s the best.
Long live Van Hunks!
Address: 1 Upper Union Street, Gardens
Open times: 10 am – late
Kloof Street House
Kloof Street House oozes old world opulence. Having a drink here feels a bit like going back to the 1920s to engage in some debauchery, and I love it.
You can just come here for drinks but it is one of the best restaurants in Cape Town, so it’s well worth dining here. The food is out of this world!
It gets pretty busy though, so you might want to book a table!
Address: 30 Kloof Street, Gardens
Open times: 10 am – 12 am (opens 11 am on Monday)
Asoka
Asoka is a glamorous, low-lit cocktail lounge that often has DJs playing dance beats. The cocktails here are really good, especially the pornstar martinis! In fact, this is said to be the bar that introduced the pornstar martini to Cape Town.
If you feel like dressing up and going out for drinks somewhere lively, Asoka is the perfect place to go.
Address: 68 Kloof Street, Gardens
Open times: 5:30 pm – 2 am (12 am on Sundays)
Yours Truly
Yours Truly is a fun Kloof Street bar with lots of leafy decorations. It’s nice and airy with a fun vibe, and they often have DJs playing here on weekends. It’s a great spot for day drinking!
Address: 73 Kloof Street, Gardens
Open times: 7 am – 12 am
Tiger’s Milk
Tiger’s Milk is a local chain of bars with reasonably priced drinks and a fun atmosphere. The food can be a bit hit-and-miss but the pizzas, burgers, and flatbreads are usually a safe bet. I also really like the Bloody Marys and coronaritas here!
The Kloof Street branch of Tiger’s Milk is one of the biggest around, and it gets pretty lively.
Address: 55 Kloof Street, Gardens
Open times: 10 or 11 am – 12 am
The Power & the Glory / The Moveable Feast
The Power & the Glory (or P&G, as it’s often called) is actually off of Kloof Street at the Kloof Nek Road intersection. However, P&G is so often a part of a night out in Kloof Street that I decided to include it in this section of the blog.
P&G is a cute, old-timey bar. It’s got limited seating but it gets really busy and patrons often spill out onto the pavement.
Cape Town nightlife just wouldn’t be the same without it somehow!
Meanwhile, the Moveable Feast is a bar-slash-club upstairs that’s more about blaring music and dancing, so you can head up if that’s more your vibe.
Address: 13d Kloof Nek Road, Tamboerskloof
Open times: 7:30 am – 2 am
Bree Street
Bree Street runs through Cape Town city centre and you can find many of the city’s best bars along – or just off of – here.
It’s a lively street with plenty of bars, great places to eat, tons of culture, and a great energy overall. Plus, it’s definitely the best place to go on Cape Town’s infamous First Thursdays.
Leo’s Wine Bar
Leo’s Wine Bar is a fun open-air spot that’s perfect for sipping wine and watching the world go by.
And by the world, I mean Bree Street, but you get my drift.
I love the lively atmosphere at Leo’s and it’s a great place to try new local wines and catch up with friends.
They quite often have food pop ups but if not, there’s an adjoining bagel shop – and what’s better than bagels and wine?
Address: 120 Bree Street, City Centre
Open times: 5 pm – 11 pm, closed Sunday
Clarke’s Dining Room
Clarke’s is home to one of the best burgers in Cape Town, but they also offer great cocktails here.
I can only describe its feel as retro-clinical-chic. It’s very trendy and popular with the younger crowd, and a good place to start off your night with food and cocktails.
Address: 133 Bree Street, City Centre
Open times: 7 am – 11 pm, 8 am – 3 pm Sunday
House of Machines
Located on Shortmarket Street, which is just off of Bree Street, House of Machines is an elevated dive bar with a memorable motto (“Don’t be a dick”, in case you were wondering.)
They have good music, cheap drinks, and they’re known for making the best Old Fashioned cocktails in Cape Town. They play fun music you can sing along to and the bar staff are always really nice.
I always have such a great time here!
Address: 84 Shortmarket Street, City Centre
Open times: 7 am – 2 am, closed Sunday
Arcade
I have personally never been to Arcade, but it’s super popular and always pumping on a First Thursday, when it stays open extra late. It’s all blaring music and neon lights, so if you’re looking for a rager then this is a good place to go. They play house, hip hop, and R&B.
Address: 152 Bree Street, City Centre
Open times: 8 am – 2 am on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
The Gin Bar
The Gin Bar is a speakeasy hidden behind Honest Chocolate Cafe on Wale Street, which is just off of Bree Street. Despite its concealed entrance, it’s super popular thanks to its cool vibe and excellent gin concoctions.
This is a great place to be on a Friday night and there’s always a buzz here later in the evening. There’s also a bubbly bar next door and a ramen restaurant upstairs, so you’re well catered for here!
Address: 64A Wale Street, City Centre
Open times: 5 pm – 1 am Monday to Wednesday; 3 pm to 1 am Thursday to Saturday; closed Sunday
Camps Bay Strip
The Camps Bay Strip runs parallel to the beach and it’s a gorgeous place to spend a summer evening out on the town. There are lots of nice restaurants along here, like Zenzero, where you can have a great meal before heading to one of the vibey bars.
Harry’s Beach Restaurant
Harry’s is a gorgeous restaurant and bar situated along the Camps Bay strip, right across from the beach. It’s my favourite place in the whole neighbourhood!
This place is bougie and definitely popular with the fashionable crowd, so I wasn’t sure if it would be worth the hype. But, when I went with my friends, we discovered that it very much deserves its stellar rep.
The food here is absolutely amazing. The kingclip special was one of the best meals I’ve ever had in Cape Town! And don’t even get me started on the wine list. They’ve got everything you could want, and we got through quite a few bottles of MCC here.
There was a live band and DJ which was so much fun. And not to sound like a grandma, but it wasn’t too loud either. It was enough to be vibey but it didn’t ruin our conversation. By the time we left, people had started to get up and dance!
Address: 41 Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Open times: 8:30 am – 2 am
Café Caprice
Café Caprice is probably the best known bar along the Camps Bay Strip.
With its pink interior and tropical theme, it really does make you feel like you’re on holiday, even if you’re just stopping in for a quick drink.
Café Caprice is known as “the place to be” on Sunday nights during the summer. I’ve never actually been here on a Sunday, but it’s always pretty fun to come and have drinks here.
They serve food earlier on in the evening and then play dance music later on in the night, when the bar really starts pumping.
I should also mention that I LOVE the cocktails here – try a granadilla lolly and you won’t be disappointed!
Address: 37 Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Open times: 9 am – 12 am or 1 am
Tiger’s Milk
There’s yet another Tiger’s Milk on the Camps Bay Strip – they’re all over the city, actually.
It’s pretty casual during the day but at night they often have DJs and it gets pretty lively! The balcony is a great spot for watching the sunset over Camps Bay Beach.
Address: 33 Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Open times: 11 am – 12 am, opens 9 am on weekends
Chinchilla
Chinchilla is a bougie rooftop bar that wouldn’t be amiss in Mykonos. It’s super stylish and offers gorgeous views of Camps Bay Beach. I came here for sunset dinner and drinks recently, and had such a great time.
It’s probably the most desirable place to have drinks on the Camps Bay Strip, and the prices definitely reflect that, but their Tropical Waves cocktail really is something special. I also loved the grilled fish!
Address: 2nd Floor, Shop 120, Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Open times: 4 pm – 10 pm Wednesday to Friday; 12 pm – 10 pm Saturday and Sunday
Sea Point
Now, when I first moved to Cape Town, Sea Point wasn’t really the place to go out. However, over the past five years tons of new bars and restaurants have sprung up, especially along Regent Road.
I love a Sea Point night out because the area is super safe, and the vibe here is pretty chilled. You’ve got fancy spots and some really fun, offbeat cocktail bars that don’t take themselves too seriously. Plus, you can walk from one spot to another pretty easily, as most bars are very close together.
Arthur’s Mini Super
Arthur’s is where I usually start a night out in Sea Point, or where I go when I just want a casual drink (or two) after work. It’s a quirky bar-slash-minimart with lovely staff and the best spicy margaritas in Cape Town – in my opinion, anyway! I love to pull up a chair outside and enjoy the vibes as the afternoon turns into evening.
Address: 15 Arthur’s Road, Sea Point
Open times: 7:30 am – 10 pm (closes 3 pm Sunday and 4 pm Monday)
Maggy Lou’s
Technically, Maggy Lou’s is an all-day cafe but by night, it’s also one of Sea Point’s most popular bars. This is thanks in part to the lively but welcoming atmosphere, but it’s also down to their signature cocktail: the Pickletini!
I have a longstanding obsession with pickles, so the fact that Maggy Lou’s offer a pickle martini easily earns it a spot as one of my all-time favourite bars. Plus, it’s right around the corner from Arthur’s, so my friends and I often start at Arthur’s and then move onto Maggy Lou’s for pickletinis. It’s always a winning combo.
Address: 206 Main Road, Sea Point
Open times: 7 am – 10 pm weekdays (closes 9 pm Sunday, 11 pm Friday and Saturday)
Hugo Social Club
Hugo Social Club is a gorgeous rooftop bar in Sea Point, on top of the Latitude Aparthotel. The outdoor terrace wraps all the way around the building, so depending on where you sit you’ll have great views of Lion’s Head, Sea Point, or the ocean – and if you’re lucky, maybe all three!
This place is popular, so I definitely recommend making a reservation in advance. It’s an awesome sunset spot and they even have blankets in case you get chilly. As you can see from the picture, I took full advantage of this!
Address: 2 Kings Road, Sea Point
Open times: 7:30 am – 10 pm
The Nines
The Nines is a swanky cocktail bar on the ninth floor of the Station House aparthotel. Are we sensing a theme here?
Anyway, it’s an epic spot for sunset thanks to the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, and the decor is super bougie. In fact, I think it might just be the prettiest bar in the entire city!
In fact, the Nines is so good-looking that you have to make a booking, because influencers were coming in just to take photos, and then leaving without buying drinks! I’d recommend doing this at least a couple of days in advance, as this place is pretty popular.
Address: 19 Kloof Road, Sea Point
Open times: 12 pm – 11 pm
Bokeh
Last but not least, we have Bokeh! It’s a karaoke bar along Regent Road and it’s so much fun.
You don’t get a private booth here. Instead, everyone enters songs into the ballot and then it’s drawn at random. You might get to sing once, or you might end up getting up there multiple times! Either way, it’s always a good vibes.
When I went, I had to sing Eminem’s ‘Without Me’ to a full bar after only two drinks. It was definitely a character-building exercise, I’ll say that much!
Address: 84 Regent Road, Sea Point
Open times: 8 pm – 12:30 am
Long Street
Long Street is home to lively and unpretentious nightlife. There are hidden clubs where the party goes on until well after the sun comes up (don’t ask me how I know this.)
It’s also really not the safest place to go out. I feel pretty safe going out in all the other parts of Cape Town that I just mentioned, but I hardly ever head to Long Street after dark.
It’s well known for being a pickpocketing hotspot, and sometimes violent muggings go down here, too.
However, it can be fun and if you feel comfortable going out here, then that’s totally your choice. I’d recommend it more for early evening drinks, though.
Sweetie’s Beer Hall
Sweetie’s Beer Hall is an African beer hall with a fun atmosphere and a nice outdoor terrace. It’s a small spot that lots of people miss, but it’s definitely worth a visit. I had so much fun playing ping pong here, even though I’m terrible at it. If you like unpretentious bars and cold beer, then it’s worth checking this place out!
Address: 209 Long Street, City Centre
Open times: 5 am – 2 pm, closes 10 pm on Sunday
Village Idiot
As you can tell from the name, Village Idiot is the very definition of a bar that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
In short, it’s my kind of place.
With cheap shots, cheesy music, and a slightly Bohemian feel, Village Idiot is a great place to get silly and keep going until the wee hours, as it stays open later than most other bars around.
It’s not actually on Long Street, it’s on Loop Street, but it’s so close to Long Street that I felt like I had to include it, especially as it’s a true staple of Capetonian nightlife.
Address: 32 Loop Street, City Centre
Open times: 6 pm – 4 am from Wednesday to Saturday
Cape Town Nightclubs
Cape Town is home to several nightclubs but there’s no one area where you can find them all. They’re all over the city, so I thought I’d put them in a separate category.
Modular
Ugh. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been to Modular once and I thought it was hell on Earth. Dark, dingy, and sweaty with a never-ending techno beat.
I know that I sound like I’m about 100 years old, but it’s just really not my thing.
With that being said, if you love techno and raves and all that jazz, you’ll probably love Modular.
There’s an entry fee of around R150 on the way in, but it does change according to what’s on. They stop letting people in after around 3 am and officially close at 4, but the party continues way past that. I left at 5 am, and it was still going.
Never again.
Address: Riebeek Street, City Centre
Open times: 10 pm – 4 am from Tuesday to Saturday
Pink Candy
Pink Candy (formerly known as Pink Panther) is an LGBTQ+ nightclub and it’s probably the only club I actually enjoy going to. Granted, they play the same cheesy playlist every single night, but when it’s Cher and Beyoncé, who cares?!
Address: 120 Strand Street, De Waterkant
Open times: 9 pm – 4 am Saturday and Sunday
Club Paradise
Club Paradise is very much a young person’s club – as in, if you’re 25, you’ll probably feel ancient.
It’s known for attracting up-and-coming DJ talent and having huge neon light displays, which admittedly look pretty cool. If I were 18, I’d probably be here every weekend.
Address: 9 Albertus Street, District Six
Open times: 8 pm – 4 am, closed Tuesday and Wednesday