Cape Town Central Night Life

Long Street: Long Street is the place to be for most of the “touristy” club action in Cape Town. If you’re looking for something a bit more upmarket, read the heading further down. All the clubs, pubs and bars are in close proximity to each other so if one doesn’t take your fancy, you can walk ten feet to try out the next one!

For a more chilled out vibe and live gigs every Friday, try Zula Bar. You couldn’t ask for much more in a club; large dancefloor, busy bar, pool and fuseball tables, chill out balcony and another chill out area outside with swing chairs to relax and take a break from the music.

Fiction is a very laid back electro, psy trance and dubstep venue. The crowd’s age varies between 18-28.

RnB lovers will appreciate Deluxe just off Long Street as well as 169 on long.

The Purple turtle boasts live music as does venues such as the Dubliner which has more of an Irish feel with karaoke with a good mix of music and open air balcony to watch the crowds of Long Street go by.

Upmarket clubs (Summer Season): For tourists who have an appreciation for the finer things in life there are also a variety of options to suit everyone’s tastes. Over summer the Camps Bay area comes alive. Clubs like Nisha and St Yves situated in the Camps Bay Promenade attracts international models and the film and entertainment industry crowd. Cafe Caprice is known as the trendy place to see and be seen with the busiest nights being Sundays. Expect to stand in the queue for a while if you have not booked a table or made friends with the doorman ;).

Upmarket clubs (The rest of the year): Unfortunately when Summer season ends so do the parties along Camps Bay. From about April through to November. Party Animals gravitate towards the clubs in the CBD area such as The Side Show on 11 Mechau Street and Dragon Room which is situated at 84 Harrington Street. The Side Show caters boasts international DJs in the electronic scene every Friday while they showcase international Psytrance acts on Saturdays. Its always packed however at times it attracts a slightly younger crowd as clubbers only need to be over 18yrs.  Dragon Room caters to the more sophisticated “bottle service” crowd. Ladies must be over 19yrs and Guys have to be over 23yrs. It has two dancefloors and multiple VIP booths as well as model industry parties every Friday.

Other clubs within the CBD which are also worth a visit include The Loop which is on Loop Street, the street parallel to Long Street. It is next to The Concept Club in Pepper street which is catered towards the more hip hop and RnB loving crowd. Club 31 is situated on the 31st floor of the Absa Building which means that the views of the city are pretty impressive. Very local Cape Townian crowd, commercial music and they have bottle service as well. Then there is The Reserve as well. You have to be on the guestlist to get into this venue unless you have dinner as the restaurant so get your concierge to call ahead. This club is mainly busy over the summer season as the crowd is mainly a foreign one. Saturdays are their busiest although its not always a guaranteed great night out as the venue can be quite empty at times.

Grand West: For those who gamble and even for those who don’t, Grand West gives ample opportunity for everyone to have fun. There is a large food court to stock yourself up on for the long night ahead (it’s open 24 hours) before you choose which activity to take on first. Try your hand (or feet) at ice skating, or try your luck on the slot machines or roulette tables. Fancy taking it easy? See a film at their in-house cinema and then maybe have a drink in one of their busy bars. There is also a nightclub inside to dance the night away for those who are still able (and who haven’t lost their life savings gambling!) There is also a wonderful childrens area that can occupy the kids for a couple of hours with games and amusement rides. Fun for all the family!

Gay and Lesbian: Green Point remains the destination for Gay & Lesbian travellers. Bars, Clubs and Pubs include Bronx Action Bar – a late night music and dance venue, Manhattans, which operates a bar and restaurant, Beulah Bar, which caters to gay and lesbian clientele, and The Loft, an upmarket, gay-owned drinking establishment.   Also check out Crew Bar between Bronx and Loft on Napier Street.

Outdoor Trance festivals: The Cape Town areas is quite famous for Psytrance Parties, and have a very healthy ‘Psytrance Season’, which mainly stretches for the whole of the summer.  Most of the parties happen on a weekend, from the Saturday straight through the night to the Sunday afternoon.  Tickets to these parties are available through selected retailers, and some are even available on the net.  The party plays exclusively psytrance from late afternoon on a Saturday with no breaks between DJ’s and VJ’s until late Sunday afternoon.  These are known to get a bit loud, and are strongly advised to have an open mind and good attitude.  Each party is held at a different location, with camping sites provided.  Bring strong sun block SPF 30 and up, for the sun in South Africa can be relentless.  These parties are not advised for as family camping weekend. The events usually provide a cash bar, and food stalls catering with vegetarians in mind.  Some craft shops appear from time to time.

Original Article: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk