💡 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.
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.
