Johannesburg
A superlative addition to Jozi's inner city, Mad Giant offers excellent craft beers (brewed on-site) paired with delectable Asian-inspired tapas dishes at…
Must-see nightlife in South Africa
Johannesburg
Mooteebar – a play on the Zulu word muthi – serves upscale cocktails inspired by South African traditional medicine. The hand-drawn menu describes the…
Cape Town
This self-described ‘steampunk roastery and coffee bar’, with pressed-tin ceilings, naked hanging bulbs and mad-inventor-style metalwork, is an awe…
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Cape Town
Named after the nearby lane, the mixologists here prepare some tempting artisanal libations with curious names including Knicker-Dropper Glory, Dollymop…
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Cape Town
Geek out about coffee at this lab staffed with passionate roasters and baristas. Their beans, which come from single farms, estates and co-ops from around…
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Cape Town
The magnificent pink, lemon, burgundy and teal lounge at the Cellars-Hohenort Hotel specialises in martinis such as the sweet and spicy white-chocolate…
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Pretoria
Pretoria's premier beer hangout is a huge place whose long tables, both inside the barn-like bar and out in the garden, are perpetually packed. The focus…
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Johannesburg
Fun and friendly Great Dane is one of the mainstays of the ever-changing Braamfontein bar strip. The music is very danceable and staff make you feel like…
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Limpopo
This mobile coffee tuk-tuk is the brainchild of master barista and all-round-coffee-guru Ben Schempers. Keep an eye on Facebook on weekdays then track it…
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Cape Town
Real beer lovers rejoice – this convivial Caribbean restaurant and bar is like manna from heaven, with over 30 beers on draught (including Banana Jam's…
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Sea Point to Hout Bay
With a dress-circle view over the Atlantic, the Twelve Apostles Hotel's bar is an ideal spot to escape the hoi polloi of nearby Camps Bay for a classy…
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Cape Town
A charmingly decorated, relaxing place in which to sample organic and sustainable artisanal teas, fruity and herbal brews, and vegan baked treats. At…
Johannesburg
This plant-packed oasis offers great city views of Jo'burg. Enjoy cold beers, cocktails and bar snacks as you watch the city go by at this rooftop jungle…
Cape Town
With 99 brands of bottled beer, both local and international, and several more brews on tap, this brightly designed and spacious joint in the heart of…
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Cape Town
This long-running bar and restaurant has new management but still offers an eclectic art-house atmosphere and a varied menu of global favourites. There's…
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Cape Town
Some 16 craft beer brewers get to showcase their efforts at this co-op bar. You could have a very entertaining time working your way through their various…
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Cape Town
Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, Honest Chocolate launched this homage to fine dark chocolate in liquid, solid, ice-cream and cake form. It's…
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Durban
This warehouse-like space alongside the train tracks is in a complex of arty enterprises that is set to gentrify this formerly downtrodden district. Beers…
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Sea Point to Hout Bay
This Euro-chic restaurant and lounge bar is a great place for a long lunch, languorous-afternoon craft beers or sunset mojitos and martinis, overlooked by…
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Cape Town
Afternoon tea in the lounge or (in good weather) the gardens of the 'Nellie' is pure pleasure. There are two sessions daily, where a piano player provides…
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Pretoria
This places oozes hipster chic, with its minimalist decor, craft-beer taps, and cuts of steak you've maybe never heard of. However, it's the gin menu –…
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Johannesburg
This slickly designed members' club and co-working space in Rosebank's most trendy location throws open its doors each day at 4pm to anyone who would like…
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Sea Point to Hout Bay
You can hardly get closer to the beach than this – in fact, the front courtyard is the beach. Up on the terrace or from inside the restaurant-bar, you'll…
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Cape Town
The motto here is 'wine first, food second', so while there is a short menu, it's the range of 200-plus different wines from across the Western Cape that…
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Port Elizabeth
At this excellent wine bar and boutique, you can sample the output of Stellenbosch and beyond (tastings and wine by the glass start at R36), with craft…
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Cape Town
This place is hopping from early morning to late at night. Travellers mingle with hipster locals, who come for the excellent coffee, craft beer, gourmet…
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Cape Town
Sample the small-batch premium gins of this company here. Buchu (a local type of fynbos), citrus and lavender flavours feature in the 'wine-base' gin; the…
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Stellenbosch
This place has a dozen local craft beers on tap and plenty more in bottles. There's also a decent wine list and a great selection of spirits. If you can't…
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Cape Town
'Forries' has been around for well over 150 years. The English-style pub offers a convivial atmosphere in which to enjoy a dozen draught beers (mostly…
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Cape Town
At this perennial favourite, the deal is to grab a beer (13 types on draught), order a pizza (R100) and settle in at a wooden table outside to enjoy the…
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Cape Town
Babylon's broad balcony provides panoramic views towards Table Mountain. The vibe inside this new LGBT dance venue is laid back and friendly with plush…
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Cape Town
This relaxed, unpretentious bar does a brilliant job at digging out hidden gems of the Cape's wine and gin scenes. Taste drops from sustainably farmed…
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Garden Route
Enjoy great coffee and homemade cakes at this funky cafe with eclectic decor and ocean views from the deck. It's an awesome spot to spend a couple of…
Cape Town
One of South Africa's most innovative breweries has moved to colossal premises outside the city. It's a somewhat unlikely location, on a large industrial…
Cape Town
As the boutique gin wave washes over South Africa, Hope on Hopkins remains one of the country's most progressive micro-distilleries. Occupying a disused…
Sea Point to Hout Bay
The attention to detail at this stylish, bustling cafe is magnificent. Beans are roasted in house and the coffee menu features everything from espressos…
Johannesburg
There's a cool 1920s prohibition feel to this welcoming space with a long wooden bar and outdoor tables right on the Tryone Ave shopping strip. It's hard…
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Johannesburg
True to its name, A Streetbar Named Desire is a trendy bar overlooking the street. The first-floor balcony offers a nice view of busy Jan Smuts Ave; at…
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Johannesburg
Bertrand is a Jo'burg coffee shop that feels more like a charmingly cluttered Parisian flat. Crammed with comfortable couches and second-hand knick-knacks…
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Johannesburg
Tilt is a welcome addition in Melville, which has many great restaurants and bars but few great coffee shops. This tiny, Cape-Dutch-style building is just…
