NIGHTLIFE
Where to drink and be merry
For the young and restless
Dance at THE BANG BANG CLUB
70 Loop Street
021 426 2011
Interior Upstairs lounging, downstairs dancing
Drink Jameson on the rocks
View Networking young creatives
Conversation Drowned out by quality tunes
Sound House, pop, minimal tech – depending on the night
Dress Mainstream
For social butterflies
Drink at JADE
39 Main Road, Green Point
021 439 4108
Interior Svelte cigar lounge
Drink Bellinis
View Green Point Stadium in progress
Conversation Smooth
Sound Soul, funk and jazz
Dress Elegant
For happy-go-lucky
Drink at THE LOOKOUT DECK
Quayside, Hout Bay Harbour Waterfront. 021 790 0900
Interior Wooden tables on an outdoor deck
Drink Sea Breeze
View Seagulls and fishing boats, Chapman’s Peak
Conversation Make love, not war
Sound Crooners doing covers
Dress Barefoot
For the party posse
Dance at VELVET
160 Bree Street. 021 426 0738
Interior Revamped plush
Drink Champagne
View A packed-to-capacity dance floor
Conversation Pick-ups
Sound Something for everyone, from R&B and house to old school jams
Dress Bespoke jeans
For prima donnas
Drink at BAMBU AT BONZAI
21b Somerset Road. 021 425 6811
Interior Upmarket restaurant lounge bar dressed in rich fabrics, leather walls and marble floors
Drink Vodka and cranberry
View Mingling members of the A-list
Conversation Directional
Sound House music derivatives
Dress Well groomed
FOR ELEGANTLY WASTED
Drink at S-BAR
Wembley Square, Mackenzie Street. 021 465 0967/8
Interior Low-slung minimalism
Drink G and T
View Dedicated gym-goers
Conversation Weekenders
Sound Lounge
Dress Stylish
FOR KARAOKE
Drink at DIZZY’S (Tuesday nights)
39 & 41 The Drive, Camps Bay. 021 438 2686/7654
Interior Dingy
Drink Tequila
View A car park, but it’s close to the ocean
Conversation Open mic
Sound Singalongs
Dress Down
FOR ANYTHING GOES
Drink at JO’BURG
218 Long Street. 021 422 0142
Interior Rundown retro if you can see it through the crowds
Drink Red wine
View Vibrant Long Street
Conversation Do you know my work?
Sound A melange of hip hop, house and drum ’n’ bass
Dress Interpretive
FOR SHAKEN AND STIRRED
Drink at THE MARTINI (Cellars-Hohenort)
93 Brommersvlei Road, Constantia. 021 794 2137
Interior Polka dots and stripes
Drink Take your pick from 153 Martinis
View Constantia foliage
Conversation Book club
Sound Jazz
Dress Elegant
For Suits
Drink at BASCULE BAR
The Cape Grace Hotel, V&A Waterfront. 021 410 7082
Interior Elegant lounge with generous armchairs
Drink Whisky
View Yachts and the occasional pair of bronzed pins
Conversation Stocks
Dance at CHROME
6 Pepper Street. 083 700 6078
Interior Smart Ibiza
Dress Groomed
Sound House
Time Midnight
For Vertigo
Dance at HEMISPHERE
31st Floor, Absa Centre, 2 Riebeeck Street
021 421 0581
Interior Industrial decadence
Dress Bling
Sound Mainstream
Time 2 am (be prepared for the bouncers)
For Hippies
Drink at RAFIKI’S
13B Kloof Nek Road, Tamboerskloof
021 426 4731
Interior Island stylie
Drink Cobra
View Bits of the mountain and a road, but it still feels good
Conversation Local music and overland touring
Dance at Mercury Live & Lounge
Interior Rough
Dress Couldn’t be bothered
Sound Live bands, drum ‘n’ bass and vintage vinyl
Time 10 pm
For Scorers
Drink at BARAZA
The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay. 021 438 1758
Interior North African beach chic
Drink Champagne
View The sexy swathe of Camps Bay beach
Conversation Bedroom
Dance at OPIUM
6 Dixon Street, Green Point. 021 425 4010
Interior Superclub
Dress Short and tight
Sound House
Time 1 am
For Doggy Dog Style
Drink & Dance THURSDAYS AT IGNITE
The Promenade, Victoria Street, Camps Bay. 021 438 7717
Interior Low-slung lounge
Drink Cognac
View Camps Bay Beach as the sun sets and dance-offs
Conversation Record deals
Dress Babyphat
Sound Hip hop
Time Sundown and beyond
For Celebrity
Drink at PLANET CHAMPAGNE AND COCKTAIL BAR
Mount Nelson Hotel, 76 Orange Street, Gardens. 021 483 1000
Interior Updated old-world plush
Drink Manhattan
View The beauteous lounge and garden
Conversation Behind the velvet rope
FOR SESSIONS
Drink at M BAR AND LOUNGE at the Metropole Hotel
38 Long Street. 021 424 7247
Interior Dramatic Afro
Drink The bling
View Cross-cultural lovelies
Conversation Familiar
Dress Night on the town
FOR TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL
Drink at THE WAITING ROOM (above Royale)
279 Long Street. 021 422 4536
Interior Skater chic
Drink Everyone’s an individual
View Skater tricks and hipsters
Conversation Creative antics
Dress I made it myself
FOR GHETTO FABULOUS
Drink at MZOLI’S
NY 115, Shop number 3, Gugulethu. 021 638 1355/084 894 4757
Interior Shebeen chic
Drink Black Label
View Pimped rides and mean streets
Conversation Hussling
Dress Sharp
FOR CRUISING
Drink at WAFU (upstairs at Wakame)
Cnr Beach Road and Surrey Place, Mouille Point. 021 433 2377
Interior Minimal, known for its deck
Drink Mojito
View Green Point lighthouse and the glistening bay
Conversation Slurred
Dress Laid-back vs Made-up
FOR CHILLING
Drink at ICE LOUNGE
V&A Waterfront. 082 654 3037
Interior Glacial
Drink Schnapps
View Ice, ice baby
Conversation Lifestyle
Dress You’ll get covered in a poncho
FOR SUNDAY DANCE-OFFS
Drink at BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CAFE
1st Floor Exhibition Building, 81 Main Road, Green Point. 021 433 0611
Interior Cubanesque
Drink Caipirinha
View Salsa
Conversation Watch my moves
Dress Scantily
FOR POSERS
Drink at FASHION TV CAFE
114 Hout Street. 021 426 6000
Interior Reduced
Drink Mumm
View Z cards
Conversation Who’s that girl?
Dress Collections
Where to take your tipple with a watery view
FOR WILD THINGS
Drink at THE LEOPARD ROOM BAR AND LOUNGE
The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Victoria Road, Oudekraal. 021 437 9015
Interior Plush prints Drink Martini
Dress Anything but animal
Conversation First million
FOR SORORITY
Drink at LA MED
Glen Country Club, Victoria Road, Clifton Fourth Beach. 021 438 5600
Setting Low-key beach hut
Drink Shooters
Dress Fresh from the beach
Conversation Indoor/outdoor sports
FOR POSERS
Drink at ZEP TEPI
The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay. 021 438 0055
Interior Miamiesque
Drink Champagne
Dress Come hither
Conversation Summer lovin’
FOR SLICKERS
Drink at TOBAGO’S BAR
The Radisson Hotel Waterfront, Beach Road, Granger Bay. 021 441 3415
Setting Svelte and shaded
Drink Long and tall
Dress Resort
Conversation Foreign shores
FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Drink at OYO
Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Waterfront Pierhead. 021 419 6677
Interior Minimalist
Drink Local flavour
Dress Stylish looker
Conversation Docking
FOR LAZY DAYS
Drink at POLANA
Harbour House, Kalk Bay harbour. 021 788 7162
Interior Loungin’
Drink Margarita
Dress New Bohemian
Conversation Global warming
FOR BUENA VISTA
Drink at CAPE TO CUBA
Main Road, Kalk Bay. 021 788 1566
Interior Eclectic retro
View Kalk Bay harbour
Dress Comfort
Conversation Decor
FOR GLOSS
Drink at CAFE CAPRICE
37 Victoria Road, Camps Bay. 021 438 8315
Interior Slick and airy
Drink Cosmopolitan
Dress Scantily
Conversation Not much
DANCE TO
Minimal techno and electro sounds at FICTION
Mainstream at HEMISPHERE
Vintage vinyl, drum ’n’ bass and local bands at MERCURY LIVE & LOUNGE and THE ASSEMBLY
Balkanology at ZULA SOUND BAR
Hip hop at BUNKER 9 and IGNITE
House at CHROME
Dancehall and reggae beats at TONIC
Electro house at THE BANG BANG CLUB
Soul and funk at JADE