Nightlife · Cape Town · South Africa
Cape Town nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Cape Town, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Josephou, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cape Town nightlife centres on cocktail and wine bars, live music and rooftop sundowners rather than mega-clubs. Most evenings start around sunset and the busiest nights are Thursday to Saturday. The main areas are Bree Street, Long Street, Kloof Street, De Waterkant and Camps Bay strip.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 5
- Stay near the action
- City Bowl and Gardens
- Local drink
- Rooibos tea
Where to go out
Bree Street
The city's best concentration of wine bars, cocktail bars and restaurants, with a slightly older, food-focused crowd.
Long Street
Backpacker bars, balconies and late-night clubs; loud, cheap and busiest on weekends.
Kloof Street
Neighbourhood bars and restaurants in Gardens and Tamboerskloof, good for a relaxed evening.
De Waterkant
The centre of Cape Town's LGBTQ+ nightlife, with bars and clubs around Somerset Road.
Camps Bay strip
Sunset cocktails on Victoria Road terraces facing the beach, busiest in summer.
Nightlife tips
- Use a ride-hailing app to get home rather than walking, even short distances, late at night.
- Many bars get going late; sundowners from about 6pm are the most popular part of the evening in summer.
- Carry only the cards and cash you need for the night.
Evening sights
Waterfront · V&A Waterfront
V&A Waterfront
Take a short harbour cruise at sunset for a view of Table Mountain from the water.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
Viewpoint · Signal Hill
Signal Hill
Arrive at least 45 minutes before sunset on summer evenings, when the parking area fills up.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
What to drink
- Rooibos tea — Caffeine-free red bush tea grown only in the Cederberg region north of Cape Town, drunk plain, with milk, or as a rooibos cappuccino.
- Cape wine and Pinotage — Pinotage, a South African cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, is the signature red, while Chenin Blanc is the most planted white grape. Wines from Constantia, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek fill local wine lists at fair prices.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. February has the warmest evenings, with lows around 16°C (61°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 20:00 | 16°C (61°F) | 3 |
| April | About 18:24 | 12°C (54°F) | 6 |
| July | About 17:55 | 7°C (45°F) | 10 |
| October | About 18:59 | 11°C (52°F) | 5 |
Getting home late
- Ride-hailing — Check the number plate and driver name before getting in, and wait inside the venue until the car arrives.
- Bus — Buy and load a myconnect card at a station kiosk before your first trip.
- Walking — The CBD, Bo-Kaap, Company's Garden and De Waterkant are close together and walkable by day, as are the Sea Point Promenade and the Waterfront.
Late-night bites
- Gatsby — Takeaway shops in Athlone, Salt River and the CBD; one roll easily feeds two or three people.
- Biltong — Butcheries and biltong shops across the city and in supermarkets.
Staying safe at night
Opportunistic theft is the main risk for visitors: keep phones and bags out of sight, use ride-hailing after dark, and never leave valuables in parked cars. Hike in groups on well-used trails, and swim only where lifeguards or shark spotters are on duty.
- Emergency number
- 112 from mobiles; 10111 police; 10177 ambulance
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, nightlife and solo travellers
City Bowl and Gardens
The City Bowl is the amphitheatre between Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Devil's Peak. The CBD around Bree, Long and Loop streets holds many of the city's best restaurants and bars, while Gardens and Tamboerskloof uphill around Kloof Street are leafier, with guesthouses and the lower cableway station a short ride away. The Company's Garden and the South African Museum are on the doorstep.
- Good
- Walkable to restaurants, bars and museums; Wide range of guesthouses and hotels; Quick ride to the cableway
- Watch out
- Long Street is noisy at night; Some CBD streets feel empty after dark
- Nearby
- Company's Garden, Bo-Kaap, Table Mountain Cableway, District Six Museum
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Cape Town?
Bree Street, Long Street and Kloof Street. The city's best concentration of wine bars, cocktail bars and restaurants, with a slightly older, food-focused crowd.
+Which area of Cape Town is best for nightlife?
City Bowl and Gardens: Central streets below Table Mountain, from Bree Street restaurants to Kloof Street cafés.