Live Venues For Jazz, Reggae, House, GQom and SA Hip-Hop

The Jagger Lounge and Shakespeare’s just open their doors for summer.

The Jagger Lounge is the swish new lounge that hosts some of the country’s talked about live acts and Shakespear’s is the grown up restaurant in Durbanville with nightly performances. We also feature some great institutions like the Crypt, which has jazz nights under Cape Town’s cathedral, and Asoka and Rand’s.

MUSIC, FOOD + A HELLUVA GOOD TIME

It’s as simple as that. Link up at Rands in Khayelitsha for something more than the average tsishanyama experience. Enjoy traditional food, dance until the sun comes up (they’re open seven days a week), mingle and be entertained by big names like Euphonik and Vusi Nova on the decks at Rands. 

Shop 6 | Khaya Bazaar | Makabeni Road | +27 (0) 71 742 4322

A PREMIER LIVE JAZZ EXPERIENCE
If you’re looking for a jazz club – a proper one, with blue lights a moody setting – you’re going to want to check out The Crypt. Tucked away beneath St George’s Cathedral, the venue has fast become a hot spot for live music and great food, as well as the ideal place for the adults to enjoy a jazzy night out in town. 

St George’s Cathedral | 1 Wale Street | +27 (0)62 614 8731 | info@cryptjazz.co.za 

SA’S MUST-SEE LIVE ACTS PERFORM HERE
The newest live music venue to open its doors in the city centre, The Jagger Lounge is making its mark on Shortmarket Street, where Cafe Roux used to be. Catch awesome live acts (Jesse Clegg, Mandisi Dyantyis and The Kiffness are booked for  December 2019) from Tuesday to Saturday evenings, plus handmade pizzas and pastas from their Italian kitchen. There’s also a cute coffee hatch that operates during the day, serving their unique blend of Tribe coffee at The Jagger Lounge.

74 Shortmarket Street | Cape Town | https://thejaggerlounge.com/contact/  

WIT, FUN AND NIGHTLY PERFORMANCES
Durbanville takes dining out to the next level, with this new restaurant that brings fine food, good wine and entertainment together. A deliciously theatrical experience, this restaurant boasts a 404-year-old bible, 90-year-old grand baby piano. It’s going to be a place of wit and fun where artists will perform nightly. “We are hoping to create a place for grown-ups to get away from the kids for good food and wine, entertainment and being spoilt,” explains Adri Engelbrecht, co-owner of Shakespeare’s.  

Shop 9ab Heritage Square | Vrede Street | Durbanville | +27(0)21 569 0244 | info@shakespeares.co.za 

REGGAE WEDNESDAYS

When the sun goes down, the laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle comes out at this Bree Street eatery that offers live entertainment and relaxed vibes. On Wednesdays, guests can enjoy reggae by The Rivertones between 7pm and 9pm, in addition to Sotano’s 2-for-1 Burger Wednesdays. On Fridays, a DJ is in the mix if you’re keen for some dinner and dancing at Sotano on Bree. 

199 Bree Street | Cape Town City Centre | +27 (0)21 422 0567 | bookings@sotano.co.za

TUNES ON THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD

If the seaside is more your scene then head to Sotano, a popular Friday after-work regular. From 7pm to 9pm this beachfront eatery, opposite the Mouille Point promenade, becomes the place to unwind after work, while local bands and DJs mix great tunes with a relaxed vibe. The music is back on again every Saturday (3pm–6pm) and Sunday (2pm–7pm). Pair a glass of wine with some tapas, sushi or one of their Mediterranean inspired dishes at Sotano Mouille Point.

121 Beach Road | Mouille Point | +27 (021) 433 1757 | info@sotano.co.za 

COCKTAILS AND BEATS

Spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon sipping on your favourite boozy beverage and enjoying some top-notch sushi at Beluga in De Waterkant. From 1pm to 4pm, they have live music every Saturday and Sunday. Check out their Facebook page to see who's on the bill for upcoming Saturdays at Beluga.

70 Prestwich street | The Foundry | De Waterkant | +27 (0)21 418 2948

JAZZ, TAPAS AND WINE

End the weekend on a high note. Be entertained by a live jazz band while you enjoy a glass (or two) of wine paired with the perfect tapas dish. Or join in on the wine tasting, where you get to sample six local wines, as selected by chef Julian Gabriel and the vineyard itself. A different wine farm is featured every month at ChiCha! for their weekly live music and wine tasting.

77 Regent Road | Sea Point | +27 (0)87 470 0014 | info@chichact.co.za 

ROCK THE NIGHT AWAY IN LONG STREET

Live music at this Cape Town rock haunt is the cure for any bad-day blues. A pearl of a jam awaits, with top tunes, legendary pizzas, and a vibey venue – the perfect formula for a good time. On Thursdays, take advantage of their two-for-one burger special and catch a live acoustic performance while you’re there. On most nights, when the sun goes down and the balcony  at. Sgt Pepper on Long Street.

Tip: Thinking of organising a birthday bash or celebration of any kind? Sgt Pepper will host your party free on Mondays.

194 Long Street | Cape Town | +27(0)21 424 5608 | info@sgtpepperct.com 

LIVE BANDS AND A SEASONAL MENU ON THE DECK

Discover an entirely new winelands experience with live music Fridays at this vibey bistro. With a courtyard ringed by ancient oaks and 17th-century farm buildings, and a deck strung with fairy lights and lanterns, it’s the perfect venue to enjoy live music outdoors. The food is exceptional farm-to-table fare, curated and plated from the chef’s speciality menu. It’s no wonder this bistro is a firm favourite with Franschhoek chefs and also the perfect way to toast in the weekend at La Paris Bistro in Franschhoek.

R301, Wemmershoek Road, Franschhoek | +27 (21) 8670171 | events@laparis.co.za

INNER-CITY ROCK AND ROLL

Aces ‘n’ Spades is the kind of joint that would have given The Black Keys and Gary Clark Jr  their start (had they been South African). It’s also a place that worships at the altar of Jimi Hendrix and plays the Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction at closing time. Every Friday, guests are treated to a free performance by local bands. On Wednesdays, aspiring rockers and avid air guitarists can take to the stage for some karaoke. Aces ‘n’ Spades famous red neon lights, pinched between two buildings on Hout Street, draw the crowds from Long Street, while the drink specials and pulsating music keep its regulars coming back for more.

To find the Friday Night Live lineup, visit the Aces ‘n’ Spades Facebook page.

62 Hout Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 424 1620

MANHATTAN AND SOPHIATOWN IN ONE

A moody De Waterkant musical revue joint, where Sophiatown’s African-inspired jazz and Manhattan’s cosmopolitan swank meet, The Piano Bar is the place to go for easy listening funk, soul and blues. This sophisticated haunt features live music every night of the week (even on Mondays). What’s more, this upmarket fusion is equally committed to serving up groundbreaking cocktails and hearty fare as it is to giving live-music artists a much-needed platform. Expect an enticing drinks menu, cuisine that’s casual but top-end quality and a venue that’s as vibey in summer as it is cosy in winter. The music starts at 7:30pm every night at The Piano Bar.

47 Napier Street | De Waterkant | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 418 1096

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Find more rocking venues in our live music section. 

Parties, events to photoshoots – check out these function venues. 

Keep it smooth at these places to watch jazz in Cape Town.

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