(Image by Vue)
Cape Town
The Waiting Room, CBD
A very casual bar and club, under the same ownership as Royale Eatery (it sits above the restaurant), fondly known for its live music events. It’s not a place for fancy cocktails, but rather a few beers with friends in a relaxed environment that is driven by locals. The draw card is the rooftop seating area beneath colourful hanging bulbs, with spectacular views of the city and table mountain – it really is one of a kind.
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Vue at The Capital Mirage
Cape Town’s latest and slickest place to be. There is a pool, sophisticated sit-down restaurant and a bar that trickles out onto a deck. The whole floor offers a 360° view of Cape Town, with a close-up view of De Waterkant and Bo Kaap. This is where to start a fancy night out or enjoy after-work sundowners.
Tjing Tjing, Longmarket Street, CBD
This bar and restaurant feels like a scene from New York, tucked away between high-rise buildings, the only clue below on street level is the bouncer and the humming minimal house music you can hear in the distance. On weekends Tjing Tjing can get packed, especially during season, so get there early to enjoy the space and grab a seat. The restaurant below, Tjing Tjing Torii is certainly worth a visit for fusion Asian cuisine.
The Sky Bar at The Grand Daddy
If it’s a city skyline you’re after then this is the place. During summer, this quirky rooftop bar is open from noon to 8.30pm but is dependent on weather. The bar sits in a trailer park, which is one of the hotel’s themes, and offers a secluded intimate experience right in the heart of the city. Try their cocktails and tapas.
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READ: The best outdoor summer holiday restaurants
Joburg
Smack Republic, Arts on Main, Maboneng
Like most of Maboneng, this is a Sunday vibe, and a really good one too. It’s basically the dedicated market bar so you can grab some food and pair it with a Smack Republic beer as you chill in the sun and look down on Maboneng. The Smack micro brewery sits just below this terrace.
Living Room, Moboneng
After a market and gallery meander, head on over to Living Room, a rooftop bar and restaurant that has been jungle-fied with greenery. On Sundays it gets progressively more vibey as the afternoon draws to a close and Maboneng is met with golden light. They are known for their Sunday sessions, however they are open from Thursday to Sunday and do serve great food from lunch onwards, with a strong focus on vegetarian food.
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Randlords, Braamfontein
This place is the exactly what you want in a rooftop bar however it only opens for special events and private venue hire. Inside The decor is inspired by African luxuries with beaded swing chairs, hanging glass orbs and indigenous flowers. Outside is a bohemian-style deck overlooking Nelson Mandela Bridge and the rest of Joburg’s city. See their Facebook for upcoming events.
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See more Joburg bars with a view here.
Durban
The Lighthouse Bar, The Oyster Box
The one and only Lighthouse Bar has travelers and locals camera-ready all year round. The bar sits level with the iconic lighthouse jutting out from the beach. The terrace sticks with the hotel’s theme of red and white with tables and round booths. Inside, the ornate wooden bar and opulent furniture mimics an old ship. Expect to pay a bit more here since it is the most sought after 5-star luxury hotel in KZN, but the cocktails and the setting will have you totally pleased.
Port Elizabeth
The Verandah Restaurant at The Beach Hotel
The clue is in the name! This hotel restaurant welcomes guests and visitors to soak up PE’s summer over quality wines and cocktails. It has the perfect sea view with an expansive deck. You can also have a hotel breakfast here and on Saturday’s they offer a cheese and wine special between 4pm and 7pm.
Blue Waters Café, Summerstrand
Although they call themselves a café, they do great cocktails and offer a decent wine list. Blue Waters is basically right on the ocean’s shore, and is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Get involved in some sushi too as it’s one of the best sushi spots in town.
ALSO READ: The best sushi restaurants across SA