Cape Town's gay bar scene is concentrated in De Waterkant, which keeps things easy. You do not need to travel across the city to reach multiple venues — everything is within a short walk of Somerset Road. The downside of that concentration is that when the area has a quiet night, it shows. Weekends are considerably busier than weeknights.

Somerset Road and De Waterkant

Somerset Road is the spine of the scene. The bars and clubs here range from relaxed cocktail bars where you can sit and talk to louder club-adjacent venues that fill after midnight. The street has a slightly village feel — small-scale, not the endless strip of a larger city. Wander up and down and you will cover the main options in ten minutes.

Waterkant Street and the surrounding blocks have additional options and some of the older-established venues. The whole area is compact enough to move between multiple places in an evening without much effort.

Nights to target: weekends are when the bars are at their best. Fridays are busy, Saturdays busier. Some venues run specific theme nights or DJ sets that pull crowds on weekdays — check social media for the current schedule.

What to expect

Prices are low by European standards. A drink in a bar might cost 80-120 rand — a fraction of what a comparable drink costs in London or Amsterdam. This means you can have a long night without spending much. The crowd is a mix of locals, South African visitors from other cities, and international tourists. During Pride in February/March the area gets very busy with a much more international crowd.

Some venues have cover charges on busy nights or for events. Most are free to enter on regular nights. Check the specific venue before going out on a weekend.

The bars

    • Amsterdam Action Bar — Amsterdam Action Bar
    • Baxter Theatre Centre, Cape Town — The Baxter Theatre Centre is a performing arts complex in Rondebosch, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.
    • Beaulah bar — Beulah bar is the starting point for your night around Cape Town. The word 'beaulah' means beautiful in the local gay slang and describes many of the customers at this quaint bar/club. Girl-power abounds, although often with boys in tow. Small dance floor but great hits. Originally this was a lesbian bar, but has evolved to become very mixed.
    • Bubbles Bar — Looking for a fabulous, witty and sharp Drag Queen, one of the best bars in cape town.
    • Café Manhattan — Manhattan is a gay cafe, Restaurant and bar, the restaurant is quite big and is inside, the food drink and service here is very good, and the staff are fun and friendly making this a must when in gay Cape town.
    • Cape Town International Convention Centre — March 31 - April 1, 2017, Cape Town Intl Convention Centre. Events typically inckude: Greenmarket Sq free concert; photo exhibits/ fashion fest/ pre-parties. Main event artists performances.
    • Crew Bar — Crew Bar
    • Navigaytion Night club — Lavish new furnishings, upgraded sound system in a sound-proof venue, new lighting and of course – the sexiest of Cape Town’s bar staff all make this the very best clubbing experience.” The music style is funky – electro – kinky progressive beats that ooze with energy, fuelled by sexy vocals that echo in your soul and ignite the dance floor with a twisted sleazy electric gusto.
    • Newlands, Cape Town — Newlands is an upmarket suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is located at the foot of Table Mountain in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, and is the wettest suburb in South Africa due to its high winter rainfall.
    • Shaft cruise zone — Steam room, Maze, sun deck, private rooms, bar, porn lounge
    • Stargayzer — Stargayzer
    • The Pink Panther Night Club — Cape Town's Premiere LGBT Night Club,open every weekend featuring the latest and best dj's playing tunes to a club filled with hotties
    • Versatile — Bar Code
    • Zer021 Lounge — Zer021 Lounge

Practical notes

Take Uber between venues if you are moving around the city at night. De Waterkant is safe to walk within, but do not wander beyond the immediate area on foot late at night.

For the full Cape Town picture, see the Gay Cape Town Guide.