Renowned for its jazz scene, Cape Town also boasts great rock and dance acts. Read our highlights of the city’s buzzing night life.
Fiction DJ Bar and Lounge
Fiction, situated on a large corner balcony overlooking Long Street, opened in 2006.
The intimately-sized venue is themed on works of fiction ranging from cult movies, comics and TV to old school video games. Musically, DJs are encouraged to promote underground or lesser established styles of music, varying from indie, electro and minimal to liquid drum ‘n bass, glitch hop, broken beats and beyond.
- Address: 226 Long Street, Cape Town.
- Tel: +27 21 424 5709
- Website
The Waiting Room
The Waiting Room is a trendy nightspot above Royale Eatery in Long Street. It is on the third story and is a chill lounge playing down tempo, funk, hip hop, dub, jazz, reggae, breaks and soul. On Mondays you can expect drink specials, live bands on Tuesdays and from Wednesdays to Fridays a rotation of some of Cape Town’s finest DJs such as Magnum Hi-Fi, Richard Marshall, Selekta Soul and DJ Low.
- Address: 273 Long Street, Cape Town.
- Tel +27 72 891 3937
The Assembly
The assembly is Cape Town premiere live music venue, located close to the city centre in District 6. It boasts a cavernous interior with plenty of space, good sound and renowned bands, ranging from indie to dance to rock.
- Address: Address: 61 Harrington Street District Six, Cape Town.
- Tel +27 21 465 7286
- Website
Zula Sound Bar
For a quintessentially Cape Town music scene, check out Zula Bar on Tuesday from 8.30pm to 10pm for acoustic sessions featuring some of Cape Town’s finest singer/songwriters. Zula combines the best tunes with live theatre and dance and has hosted South Africa’s hottest bands like Freshlyground, Godessa and Teba. Affordable meals are also available until late.
- Address: 196 Long Street, Cape Town.
- Tel: +27 21 424 2442
- Website
Mercury Live and Lounge
Home to some of South Africa’s best live Bands, Mercury is divided into a downstairs lounge, and hosts smaller parties and bashes during the week in the upstairs section – Mercury Live, which boasts one of the best sound systems for live performances in Cape Town. Mercury Live and Lounge (previously The Jam) is a training ground for all sorts of music allowing you to experience a bit of everything — from some of the best upcoming and existing bands to the perfect party night out. Students can enjoy Manic Mondays every week with cheap drink specials and a band, with indie, rock and trendy pop music upstairs. On Fridays the DJs play everything from the 50s to the 90s.
- Address: 43 De Villiers Street, Belhar, Cape Town.
- Tel: +27 21 465 2106
- Website
Have we left anything out? If you’re a fan of this host city leave your recommendations in the comment box below. Don’t forget an address and website link, along with any other relevant information.