Whether planning a big night out for a birthday or a well-deserved weekend, we’re making it easier than ever to find the best places to party in Cape Town. Our mega guide of party spots includes some of the city’s most treasured clubs, bars, and lounges. Whatever you’re in the mood for – electronica, cocktails, dressing up or dancing – we have you covered. Keep reading to get our full list of the best places to party in Cape Town.
The Best Places to Party in Cape Town
Our top picks for the best places to party in Cape Town include the following:
1/ COCO
Image: www.cococpt.co.za
COCO is situated at 70 Loop Street, in the heart of the City Centre. This glamorous club is open from 10h00 until 04h00 every Friday and Saturday. Smooth sounds on the decks range from hip hop to dance, and everything in between. Highlights include a high-end bottle service, plush lounges, beautiful decor, world-class service, sexy clientele, the famous COCO kittens, and plenty more besides. For more information, visit www.cococpt.co.za.
2/ Jade Champagne Bar & Lounge
Image: www.facebook.com/Jade-Champagne-Bar-Lounge-389018967849629
Jade is located at 39 Main Road, Green Point. Offering a number of areas, including chill-out lounges, a high-end bar, dance areas and a balcony, this club offers a rewarding night out for hen parties, bachelor parties or weekends. Jade is open from 21h00 until 02h00 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There is no cover charge. The club is set in a beautifully restored art deco building, which further adds to its allure. Bookings are highly recommended – this venue can get busy. For details, visit the official Jade Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Jade-Champagne-Bar-Lounge-389018967849629.
3/ Shimmy Beach Club
Image: www.shimmybeachclub.com
Open Monday to Saturday from 11h00 to 04h00, and Sunday 11h00 to 02h00, Shimmy Beach Club has become a major lifestyle destination in Cape Town. This club is situated at 12 South Arm Road in the V&A Waterfront. From the website, here’s what this club is all about: “When you shimmy down to our spectacular location fronting the harbour with its breathtaking backdrop of Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain, you’ll discover a destination with endless opportunity for luxury and indulgence. Savour our delectable menus, taste our numerous luxury drinks and cocktails, and imbibe the sophisticated environment we’ve created just for you.” For more details and bookings, visit www.shimmybeachclub.com.
4/ The Manila Bar
Image: www.facebook.com/TheManilaBar
The Manila Bar can be found at 9 Green Street in the Cape Town CBD. This popular bar is best known for its amazing karaoke nights. The bar is open most of the week from 20h00 until 02h00, closing only on Sundays and Mondays. There is a smallish entry charge that varies depending on the day of the week. It typically gets busier as the evening progresses and can be a little quiet early in the evening. The bar has a wide range of drinks on offer at good prices. The karaoke list is huge with all the classics you could ever want (and plenty of cheesy hits as well). For details, visit the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheManilaBar.
5/ Fiction
Image: www.facebook.com/Fictiondjbar
Head on down to Long Street, and you will find one of the city’s best-loved drum ‘n bass and electronica clubs. Fiction is located at 226 Long Street, in a historic building dating back over 100 years. This club is open most of the week, aside from Sundays and Mondays, from 10h00 until 04h00. On any given night, you can expect to hear DJs such as Niskerone, PHfat, Mix & Blend on the decks. The bar and balcony are always busy, while the small dancefloor always gets going as the night progresses. For details and info on cover charge and events, connect with the club on their Facebook page over at www.facebook.com/Fictiondjbar.
6/ The Waiting Room
Image: www.facebook.com/WaitingRoomCT
Over the road from Fiction, above Royale Eatery, lies Waiting Room. This club is located at 273 Long Street. They play a wide range of sounds on the decks, there is a lively dance floor, a busy bar, a pool table or few, a lounge area, and a balcony. The crowd is cool, the vibe is low-key and fun, and things are especially busy the later things get. Waiting Room is open Monday to Saturday from around 21h00 until 02h00. Things typically pick up from 22h00 onwards. Visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WaitingRoomCT for details.
7/ The Dubliner
Image: www.dubliner.co.za
Not too far from Waiting Room, at 251 Long Street, lies The Dubliner. This bar is rowdy, busy, and favoured by expats, tourists, locals, and partygoers of all ages, races, and nationalities. It’s open from 12h00 until 02h00, all week. Downstairs, there is a large dance floor, a lounge area with cafe style seating, and a long bar. Upstairs is Kennedy’s – a slightly more upscale lounge. Expect live music, cover bands, sports broadcasts, DJs, themed parties (St Patrick’s Day is huge here, it goes without saying), and plenty of raucous good fun. For more info, visit www.dubliner.co.za.
8/ Aces ‘n Spades
Image: www.facebook.com/AcesnspadesBar
Open Wednesday to Saturday from 18h00 until 02h00, Aces ‘n Spades is a karaoke and live music bar like no other. This is where you can rock out to a wide range of classics. Situated at 62 Hout Street in the CBD, this spot is especially fun on Wednesday nights, when rock karaoke takes place. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AcesnspadesBar for more info.
9/ Madison Avenue
Image: www.facebook.com/madisonavenuecpt
Madison Avenue is situated at 11 Mechau Street in the City Centre. This club is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 21h00 until 04h00. There is a strict smart casual dress code – no sneakers, hoodies, shorts, baseball caps, or open shoes are allowed. On Fridays, the age limit is 18 for women and 19 for men, and on Saturdays, it is no under 19 for women and no under 20 for men. Expect DJs, a bar, a busy dance floor, and a great vibe. For more info, visit the website at www.madisonavenue.co.za/cape-town.
10/ Decodance
Image: www.facebook.com/clubdecodance
At 120 Main Road in Sea Point, you will find DecoDance. Originally in Woodstock, this retro style club has become a favourite for many, with multiple dance floors, bars, and lounge areas. The music here is alternative, with many retro classics on the decks, ranging from Sisters of Mercy to Black Sabbath, with plenty of retro pop and rock also mixed in for added fun. The vibe is always fun and the dance floors are always hopping. Check out the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/clubdecodance for more info on this spot.
And there you have it… our list of the best places to party in Cape Town. If you’re looking for more ideas on how to celebrate a special occasion, be sure to follow our blog. You could also think about hiring a villa for a weekend with friends, or try one of our many fantastic guides that cover everything from hen nights to bachelor parties. Get in touch with our team to find out more about hiring a short term rental for a weekend away!
Got any favourite spots that you think are worthy of being featured in an upcoming guide? Share your top picks for the best places to party in Cape Town in the comments below!
