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tl;dr – Gin Bar, as the name suggests, is a great place to enjoy fantastic gin-based cocktails in Cape Town. Even if you’re not a gin fan, I would still highly recommend this spot, as they also offer solid wine, beer, and other spirit options.
I had the pleasure of stopping into Gin Bar during my three-night stay in Cape Town in July 2024. I’m glad I did. Located in Central Cape Town, a short walk from the Hyatt Regency, the Gin Bar is a friendly establishment that is a popular yet assuming local spot. Here’s a bit more on my experience.
My Gin Bar Experience
The Gin Bar first came to my radar while I was perusing Google Maps to search for cocktail bars. I would later find it on the World’s 50 Best Discovery, adding more intrigue. As it was close to our hotel, I figured it could be a good nightcap after a day of exploring.
The Gin Bar is a speakeasy that technically houses another bar, The Bubbly Bar. The street entrance is a hybrid chocolate shop/cafe – Honest Chocolate Cafe, operating during the day. At night, the chocolate shop is dark, though the presence of a bouncer serves as the ‘tell’ of the hidden bar in the back. Photos of Honest Chocolates during the day – Source: Google
Upon entering, the space is quite large and airy. There’s a spacious courtyard between The Bubbly Bar (featuring Cap Classique pours) and The Gin Bar in the back, with a good amount of seating.
The Bubbly Bar and the courtyard – Source: theginbar.co.za
We decided to post up in the back at The Gin Bar, which reminded me of an elevated old-money university bar but less stuffy if that makes sense.
The Gin Bra -Source: You Are Travel
The bar’s calling cards are the house gin & tonics. At Gin Bra, libations are named for parts of the body or human condition they seek to remedy.
The Gin Bar standard menu – Source: You Are Travel
There are a multitude of gins to choose from, both local options and those from around the world. All the tonics and botanicals are housemade, which you can definitely taste—the drinks were outstanding. I won’t hesitate to say that the G&Ts I ordered were some of the best I’ve ever had.
‘Ambition’ & ‘Soul’ gin and tonics – Source: You Are Travel
The service was friendly, and the bartender was quick to answer questions and offer some great suggestions. If you’re in Cape Town and are a fan of well-crafted cocktails, sit down for one at The Gin Bar.
