East Side nightlife

An overview of bars and clubs in Cape Town’s East Side

After years of driving to town and heading straight to Long Street my friend and I decided it was time we spent some time on the east side of our city.

Dias Tavern
We start the night out with a caffeine fix and dessert at this traditional Portuguese restaurant and bar. Sitting down on the red plastic chairs we check out the memorabilia left over from the World Cup hanging from the ceiling. The walls are covered in drink specials, maps and an assortment of other pictures. A glance out the window reveals a stunning view of Table Mountain.

The bar at the far end of the restaurant is covered in sparkly fairy lights which don’t quite manage to overshadow the big screen TV. The long table next to us is occupied by a large family talking over each other and laughing as they eat. The combination of restaurant and sports bar works surprisingly well, making this a particularly fun place to have a meal.

The sticky toffee pudding that we share comes with custard and is exactly what we feel like – nothing fancy just simple, comforting food. Next time I’ll give the Portuguese steak, espetada or peri-peri chicken a try.

Top tip: Our lovely waitress, Sonia, tells us that the most popular shot from the bar is called a Soweto Toilet. “It’s Amarula and banana liqueur with chocolate liqueur dropped into it. It looks like...” she says, laughing too much to finish her sentence.
Opening Times: Monday - Saturday: 11am till late (kitchen closes at 11pm)
15 Caledon Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 465 7547      

Sugar Hut Club
We leave Dias Tavern and cross the parking lot to get to the Sugar Hut Club. It’s in the same building as the Castle Bar and the District Six Backpackers, but as we walk up the stairs it’s clear that it’s in a different league completely. The walls are covered in slotted together mirrors that give way to plush wallpaper and chandeliers. The bird cage lights take the atmosphere from classy to enchanting in one of the semi-private seating areas.

The Sugar Hut Club has been open for just over two months, Richard the bartender tells me as we sit down at the bar. There’s a pizza oven which offers take-aways as well so it’s an ideal place to come for a night with friends, start out with a pizza and then move over to the dance floor later. The bar sits in the middle of the room with the dancefloor and DJ box in front of it. Small semi-enclosed areas go all the way around the bar with comfortable couches and chairs in the rooms. One of these seating clusters is on the deck which looks like the perfect place to have sundowners in summer.

The owner Matthew Barnard comes out for a chat, “It’s a groove bar, not a nightclub. It’s a destination venue where you can come sit down, enjoy a meal and party if you want to. We have a DJ every weekend, playing everything from deep funky sounds to minimal progressive.”

It has an upmarket feel to it and we decide to come back on a Friday night with more people so we can claim one of the seating areas before hitting the dance floor. Sugar Hut Club has a very different feel to it than other bars in the area so keep it in mind for those nights when you feel like getting dressed up.

Top tip: Try one of their wood-fired pizzas, the Ezekiel is particularly popular.
Opening Times: Wednesday – Sunday: 5pm - 2am. Pizza delivery daily 12am - 11pm. Kitchen stays open until 2am eat in.
Corner of Cantebury and Constitution Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 801 5699

Assembly
It’s student night at Assembly and there are checked shirts and skinny jeans everywhere to prove it. The normally huge venue has been halved by black curtains making it a more appropriate size for a Wednesday night. There’s an intense looking foosball game going on that’s drawn a crowd.

Moving through to the bar area we take advantage of the drink specials and find a place to sit that isn’t already taken by an intertwined couple. Ah young love. The ‘See you next Wednesday’ student nights pick one college or university each week and students that go there can get in for free.

Assembly is perfect for live music; the wide open room with a stage leaves plenty of room for a crowd. The bar area has tables and there are couches running along the walls but this isn’t really a place for having a chilled drink, this is a high energy, live music and mosh pit kind of place.

We follow the string of multi-coloured lights down the stairs and negotiate the complicated exit/entry system. Time to move on to our next haunt.

Top tip: They have awesome bands playing there on a regular basis so keep an eye on their line up.
Opening Times: Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 9pm – 4am.
61 Harrington Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 465 7286

Perseverance Tavern
From student night to the oldest pub in Cape Town, built in 1808, and it got its liquor license in 1836. The Mamma’s and the Pappa’s ‘California Dreaming’ is playing in the background as we sit down at the bar.

The walls are covered in old photographs and paintings and there’s a group of retirement age men sitting at a table in the corner drinking beer with a couple of 20-somethings at the next table. This is exactly what I have in mind when someone speaks about a pub. There’s biltong, chips and nuts for sale at the bar but there’s also a fairly extensive menu which serves traditional pub food from 12pm to 10pm. “We have the best trinchado in Cape Town,” the bartender, Shaun, tells me.

On Fridays Kevin du Preez sings old favorites and when the rugby is on the place gets packed. The beer garden has undergone a bit of a makeover with covered seating but for now this cosy indoor area, with history plastered all over its walls, has a great pub vibe that I will definitely be coming back for.

Top tip: Choose from the 11 different draughts on tap at the bar.
Opening Times: Monday – Saturday: 12pm -10pm
83 Buitenkant Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 461 2440

Kimberley Hotel
Just down the road from Perseverance Tavern is Kimberley Hotel, which is the third oldest pub in Cape Town. It’s also a British style pub but the similarities between the two bars pretty much end there. Owner Dean Hubbard tells me it’s “frequented by a trendy, eccentric art crowd” which proves to be true when we stop by.

It’s pretty busy considering it’s a week night and the all the tables are full. We grab two chairs and take a seat near the bar, admiring the mosaic tiles on the floor. ‘Smoke on the Water’ by Deep Purple is playing but, judging by the two girls flipping through songs on the jukebox, that’s about to change.

There’s a backpackers upstairs (and, weirdly, a hairdressers as well) as well as a small café in the other room downstairs. There are rooms for functions upstairs too. The coffee shop serves breakfasts and there’s also pub food available. Jean Claude van Damme is one of the many actors to have filmed in this bar which is a popular shooting location. This spot is great on a Friday night or stop by during the week for a drink (and to use the wifi).

Top tip: Get there early for their breakfast special: R8.50 for eggs, bacon and toast if you buy a drink as well.
Opening Times: Monday –Sunday:  11am – 2am
48 Roeland Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 461 2160

Here are some other great places in the east-side of the city that we didn’t get a chance to visit:

Mercury Live and Lounge
From epic live music to raucous student nights this is one of the East Side’s most popular spots. Some of South Africa’s best rock and alternative bands have graced its stages.  It also has one of the best parties you can find in the beginning of the week, Manic Monday student nights offers cheap drinks and a packed dance floor. There’s also a LMG pub quiz on Tuesday nights.
Top tip: Get there early on a Monday to avoid the queue (seriously, it gets crazy long).
Opening Times: Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 9pm – 4am
43 De Villiers Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 ( 0)21 465 2106

The Shack
The Shack is where you go before heading next door to Mercury, it’s a chilled bar with pool tables, foosball and plenty of space to sit down and enjoy your drink. The outside area is covered with a tent and there are three rooms inside, each of which have their own bar and music. There’s also a mini-kitchen that serves toasted sandwiches, burgers and chips.
Top tip: “I was pretty drunk but I seem to remember reading on the wall that they’re open 365 days a year” – Julian, the intern
Opening Times: Monday – Friday: 12pm – 4am, Saturday – Sunday: 6pm – 4am.
45 de Villiers Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 461 5892 

Cafe Oh!
Keep this sidewalk cafe in mind for late night snack attacks or stop by during the week for a quick bite to eat and a cup of coffee. The cafe is small with highchairs at the bar and a huge portrait of Bridget Bardot on the wall.
Top tip: Try one of their delicious crêpes or milkshakes.
Opening Times: Monday – Friday: 7:30am – 2:30pm, Friday and Saturday 10pm – 4am
46 Harrington Street | District Six | Cape Town

Diva Pizza
Originally based in Obs’ this little Italian restaurant has settled into the East City next door to Perseverance Tavern. Offering some of the city’s best pizza and pasta this unpretentious restaurant is a great place to go for good Italian food and some chilled fun before you head to the bar next door. They also offer take-aways for those nights when you don’t want to leave your couch.
Top tip: Get there before 6pm to order their special of two pizzas for R85.
Opening Times: Monday – Sunday: 10am-10pm
81 Buitenkant Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 461 0013      

Que Pasa
After a meal at Dias Tavern go next door to this Latin Dance Club and work off those calories. It’s the first and oldest salsa studio and club in Cape Town and they’re open every day of the week for lessons and parties. The bar, which opens on party nights, serves Latin themed cocktails.
Top tip: Saturday night is the best time to go for a party and to practice your moves.
Opening Times: Monday – Friday: 4pm – 12am, Saturday: 10pm – 4am.
15 Caledon Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 465 0225     

Castle Bar
This small bar is below the District Six Backpackers and the Sugar Hut Club. It’s a favorite among students and backpackers for the well-priced meals that are served all day. Go there for an informal drink with friends.
Top tip: Try their ridiculously cheap breakfasts for R7.50!
Opening Times: Monday-Saturday: 7:30am -2am; Sunday 12pm – 9pm
40 Constitution Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 461 115 444

By Lindsay Callaghan

Keep an eye out for events on the East Side or check out the newly relocated Zula Bar on Long Street.

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