Cape Town Nightlife Guide

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Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and, while famous for its jazz, is also regularly voted one of the world’s best for food too. For those who enjoy a night on the town, Cape Town offers a wide range of options. The city is home to numerous clubs, bars, and restaurants, and there is always something new to discover. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back atmosphere or a wild party, you’ll be sure to find a spot that suits your needs.

Best Nights to Go Out

From live music at cocktail bars to raving on techno until the early morning - there's always something happening, regardless day of the week in summer, yet the best nights to go out in Capetown are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A night out usually starts with dinner and drinks at around 8pm, hitting the town afterwards for a bar crawl. Depending on the day, bars and clubs usually close around 2am.

Hotspots and Events

The bigger parties in Cape Town happen at beach clubs such as Cabo and The Grand. On the weekends and during the holidays they will have some of the big (inter)national DJ’s playing. Cape Town is big on outdoor festivals, during summer there is at least one every weekend. There is something for everyone with all the daytime events and weekend festivals that are organized at some of the most breathtaking places.

First Thursdays

One day you have to go out in Cape Town is on the 1st Thursday of the month. It’s called First Thursdays and it’s the best night to go out in the city center. Starting 5pm up untill 2am along Bree Street and surroundings all art galleries and bars open for this special kick off of the new month. You can hop in galleries, drink wine, see live music, go to the next bar, hit a club and so on. Will it be packed? Yes, it feels like almost everybody in Cape Town is out on this night, so be ready for crowded bars and clubs. A lot of people are out on the street on this night and walk from bar to bar, however, still be aware of pickpockets and be safe!

Bree Street

Named “Cape Town’s Coolest Block” by Vogue for its restaurants, designer stores and cocktail bars, Bree Street also has many art galleries that open late for “First Thursdays”. Browse the shops and galleries to see the very best of modern Capetonian and Southern African art and design.

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MUST-DO: Hank's Olde Irish is a warm, cosy whisky bar on Bree Street.

Areas to Explore

Cape Town is a bustling city, full of life! Because of that, there are so many different neighborhoods to explore. You’ll find that most of the hotels and accommodation offerings are centered near the beaches or the V&A Waterfront area.

V&A Waterfront

You’ll also find the Two Oceans Aquarium, with its collection of African penguins and fearsome sharks. Add to this high-end shopping and some of the city’s finest hotels, including the five-star Cape Grace. The 450 or so shops are open until 9 pm every day, including Sunday, and many of the dozens of restaurants and bars are licensed until 2 am - although things tend to quieten down a bit earlier on weekdays.

If you get to the area before nightfall, pay a visit to Zeitz MOCAA Gallery. Housed in a former grain silo dating back to 1921, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is the largest such museum in Africa.

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Bars and Restaurants

One of my favorite things about Cape Town is that the city has an almost endless list of places to eat. And don’t get me started on the Cape Town markets! Cape Town also has an incredible coffee culture. There are loads of cute cafes all around the CBD and the city is even home to one of the best coffee shops in the world!

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  • Truth Coffee: Grab your daily cup of joe at Truth Coffee!
  • Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar is a sexy little cocktail bar at the center of downtown nightlife, and is not to be missed.
  • The Gin Bar: Tucked away behind Honest Chocolate in a hidden courtyard is The Gin Bar.
  • The Village Idiot This is one of the most popular spots in Cape Town at the moment.
  • Yours Truly This coffee shop/funky bar is the accessible cools’ cool of Cape Town.

Here are some other recommendations:

  • Tribe Coffee
  • Bootlegger Coffee
  • Clark’s
  • Jason’s Bakery
  • Bootlegger
  • Loading Bay
  • Bobo’s Brasserie

Restaurants to Visit

  • The Old Biscuit Mill
  • Oranjezicht City Farm Market
  • Test Kitchen
  • Shortmarket Club
  • The Stack
  • Kloof Street House
  • Tjing Tjing
  • Hesheng
  • Kyoto Garden
  • Obi
  • Hokey Poke
  • Cod Father
  • Sevruga

Getting Around

  • Uber: Uber is one of the best ways to get around Cape Town.
  • My CitiBus: Another affordable way to get around the city is with the My CitiBus service.
  • Rent a Car: Cape Town is rather spread out and with many things to do around the Cape and beyond, I recommend renting a car.
  • Rent a Scooter: Scooters and Vespas are very popular in Cape Town.

South Africa has so much variety, whether by day or by night. In fact, like the wildlife action in a safari park, sometimes it’s only once the sun is set that the real fun begins. From world-class restaurants to cocktail bars and jazz clubs full of life until dawn, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

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