A quiet glass of wine after work, a well-made cocktail with friends, or a relaxed drink overlooking the city can all make a weeknight in Cape Town worth stepping out for. These six bars offer different ways to spend an evening, from intimate spots suited to conversation to lively venues for cocktails and casual outings.

The Gin Bar

Hidden behind Honest Chocolate Café on Wale Street. The courtyard provides a setting for an evening drink. The Gin Bar occupies a heritage building that was once a mortuary. Its menu features more than 100 gins, including over 80 made in South Africa, alongside signature cocktails such as The Heart, The Soul and The Ambition.

ANTHM

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ANTHM interior combines Japanese elements with dark timber, low lighting and Tokyo-made décor. Visitors can enjoy their drinks in a serene environment. For jazz and Amapiano lovers, this is where to be. 

The House of Machines

The House of Machines functions as a coffee shop, a garage and a boutique. Located at the centre of the city, the bar is a lively social hub that hosts live gigs and events. For drinks, there are local beers and cocktails such as the Sidecar and Smoked Old Fashioned. 

Read Also: 6 Beautiful Restaurants in Cape Town to Visit This Easter

Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen

Photo: Getty Images

Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen is a spot to hang out in the city. It boasts quality drinks with a food menu that includes tapas and mains. There is also an outdoor courtyard where guests can enjoy their drinks. 

Chinchilla

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Chinchilla brings a seaside feel to a weeknight drink. You can find it at Camps Bay, and it has an ocean-side view. Those who enjoy nightlife can do so while watching the ocean. 

Talking To Strangers

Photo: Getty Images

Talking To Strangers on Loop Street is an option for cocktail fans. The bar opens at 6pm and stays open till 2 a.m. The venue has WiFi and parking space. 

Cape Town gives visitors many choices for a drink. If you are looking for a luxury  experience, The Gin Bar stands out. ANTHM and Cause Effect are suited to cocktails, while The House of Machines offers a casual atmosphere. Chinchilla is the choice for an ocean-facing evening, and Talking To Strangers works well for dinners. 

Elvira Dyangani Ose has been appointed the new Artistic Director of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. She will resume on October 1, 2026 after a 15-month search for a successor.

Dyangani Ose is an astute curator and an experienced museum director. This appointment comes a year before the museum celebrates its 10th anniversary. 

She was a director of the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona for five years. She left the role after accepting the position of art director of the second Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. 

Photo: Instagram/@zeitzmocaa

She has occupied senior positions at The Showroom in London, Creative Time in New York and Tate Modern in London. At Tate, she worked with the institution’s African Acquisitions Committee. Her work examined areas that have been ignored in many art institutions. 

Dyangani Ose was born in 1974 to a family with roots in Equatorial Guinea. She attended the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Cornell University.

Read Also: Zoë Announced as Headliner for Zeitz MOCAA Gala 2026

The former director, Kouoh, spent six years at the museum and  improved the institute’s curatorial goals. She presented in major exhibitions such as When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting. Her death was felt at the institution. kuooh chose Dyangani Ose to serve on the Biennale’s international jury 

As Artistic Director, Dyangani Ose will oversee Zeitz MOCAA’s art direction, including exhibitions, research, and collections. David Green, co-founder and co-chair of Zeitz MOCAA, said: 

“Dyangani Ose’s appointment reflects who we are as an institution—one rooted in Africa, while connected to the world. “

Photo: Instagram/@edyanganiose

Dyangani Ose said she was thrilled to join the museum and described the opportunity as a privilege. She said:

“It is a privilege to join Zeitz MOCAA.  I am thrilled to come on board at this moment to continue its journey as a leading African institution with global reach. I look forward to working alongside the museum’s remarkable team, artists, supporters, and the local and global communities.. “ 

The museum was founded to preserve, research and exhibit contemporary art from Africa. Since then, it has become a cultural landmark in the country. 

Dyangani Ose is now charged with guiding the museum to a greater height. Her international experience in African art makes her appointment a significant development for the wider African contemporary art scene.

For Bonolo Mashilo, fashion began at home in Ntwane Lesehleng in Limpopo. Her grandmother dressed her in elaborate outfits and introduced her to an interest in clothing and personal style that would eventually become a career.

Mashilo studied fashion design at Tshwane University of Technology before gaining experience across different areas of the industry. She started out as a fashion assistant at Elle Magazine SA and later worked as fashion director at IMBO Magazine. S he then moved into retail, where she worked as a fashion buyer for Edcon.

Photo: Instagram/@Bonolo Mashilo

That experience gave her an understanding of both the creative and commercial sides of fashion. She eventually used that knowledge to establish BMashilo Designs, building the company from a small operation into an established South African fashion business.

The early stages were modest. Mashilo worked from her garage and employed two people as she developed the business. She has spoken about the importance of her corporate experience in preparing her for the responsibilities that came with becoming an employer and running her own company.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented another challenge. With events cancelled and customers requesting refunds, maintaining her studio became financially difficult. Mashilo returned home and moved the business online, allowing BMashilo Designs to continue operating while the fashion and events industries were disrupted.

Photo: Instagram/@Bonolo Mashilo

Today, the company offers ready-to-wear, bespoke and rental fashion. Its collections include dresses, sets, corsets and bridal pieces, while its bespoke service allows clients to commission individual designs.

Mashilo’s work has also reached some of South Africa’s best-known public figures. Her designs have been worn by Thuso Mbedu, Makhadzi and Basetsana Kumalo, among others. Mbedu wore the brand’s Enhle dress at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, bringing further attention to the label.

For Mashilo, however, building the business has also meant creating opportunities for other women in fashion. In an interview with Kaya 959, she spoke about entering an industry where she did not often see people who looked like her running successful fashion businesses. That experience influenced her approach to employing and supporting young Black women entering the industry.

Photo: Instagram/@Bonolo Mashilo

The BMashilo Designs Institute is part of that work. The company says the institute is focused on developing fashion talent, while its current founder profile states that the business employs nearly 30 people.

Representation has also featured in Mashilo’s collections. A Village Dream, Representation and Pelo Ya Phiri: Living the Legacy explore themes connected to identity, heritage and inclusion. The Representation collection, in particular, was created around inclusivity and the idea that women should be able to see themselves reflected in fashion.

Her career has therefore developed beyond designing individual garments. Her experience spans fashion media, buying, design, retail and entrepreneurship, giving her an understanding of the industry from several sides.

Photo: Instagram/@Bonolo Mashilo

As BMashilo Designs reaches its 10-year milestone in 2026, Mashilo’s career offers a useful example of what it takes to build a fashion business beyond the creative process. She has developed a label, created employment and established a platform for developing new talent while continuing to produce clothing for private clients and public figures.

For Women’s Month, her story is a reminder that success in fashion can extend beyond what appears on the runway or in a photograph. It can also be measured by the businesses built, the jobs created and the opportunities made available to the next generation.