Drink
Robyn Alexander
The delicious irony of hearing Cape- tonians saying ”let’s go to Jo’burg” is reason enough to think this just-opened Long Street bar is the coolest place in town.
Then, of course, there’s the decor: a beautiful, glittering purple sign above the red door and window frames spells out ”Jo’burg” in a curvy cursive. The chocolate brown ceiling is visible from one’s reclining position on the plush old-gold fabric banquettes. Add the mint green mini- ottomans, the retro-red barstools (with backs to lean against so you don’t get backache while propping yourself up all night at the bar), and the shiny upholstered toilet doors – and it all adds up to a very pretty picture.
And although it’s not very Jo’burg, it’s the sexiest bar on Long Street.
This level of glamour isn’t totally upheld, though, when it comes to ordering drinks. Perhaps I was a difficult customer. First, I wanted Cointreau – well, it was a cold Thursday night – but they didn’t have it. Then, on the opposite extreme, I ordered a rock shandy, only to be asked how it’s made. (At least they check, right?)
After that, with the cold really getting to me, I wanted to sip a nice little, warming white Sambuca. They only had the nasty too- sweet kind with little gold flakes in it. Now, I’ve got nothing against gold flakes, but I prefer them stuck to my nails rather than floating in my drink.
But I was the exception. My companions were more than happy with their recommended drafts – pronounced genuinely excellent by our expert – and their double Jack Daniels on the rocks.
The drinks arrived in really lovely glassware: a curved guzzler for the draft, solid chunky tumblers for the spirits and sleek, straight tubes for the Sambuca. I don’t know if this is something people care about, but I do. I’m tired of being served expensive drinks in ugly, too-durable Consol glasses. Or, horror of all horrors, being forced to drink out of a plastic lid that’s escaped from a Vicks Medinite bottle.
Service is prompt and polite at Jo’burg, and although we were informed that we couldn’t run a tab – ”Owner’s policy, ‘cos so many people walk out” – in truth this seemed more of an inconvenience to our waitron than to us. The music was latin- loungy when we first arrived, then switched to rather boring trip-hop stuff. Personally, I think Tony Bennett’s more Jo’burg, but that’s just my request.
As for the clientele, I counted one artist and at least three magazine people. The trendies will soon follow, which will be sad. Currently Jo’burg has three of the things I most value in a bar: style, free peanuts and space to sit down.
Jo’burg, Long Street, Cape Town, Telephone (012) 422 0142