3 Best Bars in East City (Zonnebloem), Cape Town

We’re not kidding: the bouncer will not let you inside Art of Duplicity without the password! Once the friendly interrogation's over, you’ll be led down the alley (under drying underwear hanging from overhead lines) and past the kitchen before a rap on the door finally gets you admitted to the speakeasy-styled bar with its Prohibition Era theatricality and talented bartenders concocting one-of-a-kind libations. The idea is to get lost not just in the spirits, but in the spirit of the place, so dressing up is recommended, and then experience a bit of time-travel with its low-lighting, vintage apothecary counter, and seating between the coffee sacks. Food goes a bit beyond ordinary bar snacks: your lobster roll might resemble an éclair and your beetroot soup will require a second take. To book, go to the website—you’ll get sent all the details you require, including that crucial password.

At Harrington Street, you have a choice of venues, depending on your mood. Harringtons is a chic cocktail bar where things get increasingly festive and music-oriented as the night progresses. Downstairs, a grungier, more unhinged, playful atmosphere pervades at Surfa Rosa, a hipsterish vintage-meets-punk dive bar with beers served on skateboards, pizzas to stave off hunger, loud music, a stuffed crocodile, and a courtyard for when the tight-squeeze dancing gets too raucous. There's also Rum Runner, a rum-focused cocktail bar, and—should you wish to really let your hair down—District, a dance club with live music or DJs spinning electronic music on event nights.

Established in 1808, and officially licensed in 1836, "The Percy" (or "Persies") is South Africa's oldest pub that reopened in 2024 after a post-pandemic hiatus and refurbishment. It leans into its traditional atmosphere, albeit with TV screens for big sporting events (especially Springbok rugby matches, when things get lively here) and decent bar food to go with a selection of locally brewed craft beers. There's an inviting outdoor area, too.