Blakes Bar & Lounge

A plush, intimate experience for night owls

Hovering over Buitengracht Street are the three-stories of Blakes Bar. The building was once home to Relish, and then shortly to Ginja Restaurant. Stepping inside, I get the sense that this spot has finally found the right inhabitant.

Using the space quite cleverly, owner David Graham of The Mantella Group (they also own the Opal Lounge), has turned each of the three floors into a different experience. First on the journey is the Kimono Lounge & Persian Deck; all black leather and ambient lighting, dubbed a ‘late night lounge’ this is the place for people to get their groove on. Expect some of South Africa’s top DJs throwing down regularly.

The hostess ushers us up black clad stairs to our table in the Salon Privé. This space reminds me that friend’s apartment, the one you love to hate (come on, we all have one). Made up of exquisite antiques – the bar itself is a mahogany armoire with fine gold detailing. Watching from our wing-backed chairs, bartenders mix mojitos on its toffee-coloured sheen. The room is filled with books, plush carpeting, opulent furniture, and gradually the well-heeled hoi polloi too.

“The venue offered the opportunity to provide an environment that was intimate at all times,” says David joining us. “And building on that intimacy,” he continues, “somewhere that was warm and inviting; a far cry from any pretentious bullshit. A place where you can eat, drink and be merry.”

The floor we skipped is known as the Long Bar, here head chef; Steven Kruger serves up a fusion of French and Asian dishes to window-side tables. The bar has a modern gothic effect; papered with black and white photographs and lit with dripping candles.

Entrenched in our seats though, we’re staying right here. I mean, a live jazz band is setting up too.

Eat, drink and be merry

Sipping on a cocktail of crushed raspberries infused with premium vodka, we browse the menu. And the outlay is pretty tempting; from hangar steak to ale steamed mussels. Speaking of beer, the menu has an interesting option called ‘Plat du Jour & Beer’, offering a pub-inspired dish with a beer of the day—through the week. Friday’s, fish stew paired with Brewer’s &Union Steph Weiss, has me making a mental note to return.

But since it’s already quite late, we settle on a few tapas. Sharing velvet spoons of the house terrine (pork and chicken liver), tangy bites of tom yum basted prawns, and finishing off with a crispy calamari salad. The band is now in full swing, their gleaming copper instruments a match for the elegant atmosphere.

David has plenty more up his sleeve for this bar-slash-restaurant. Expect a programme packed with live music, comedy nights, and what he terms ‘unique events’. “Like our Full Moon Parties,” he explains. “And the Voyeur event, which is planned for the first Friday of every month.” The latter is a night of exhibitionism inspired by 1940s to 1960s classic burlesque.

Well, what are you waiting for?  

By Malu Lambert

Blakes Bar & Lounge
189 Buitengracht Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)76 451 5356

Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, from 5pm till late. The floors are open at different times, check when making a booking.

What you need to know: Dress code is smart-casual to uber glam and parking is available next door in front of the Afrogem building. For self parking, spaces are available on New Church Street and Carisbrook Street.

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