The Forex Bar

The Forex Bar in Cape Town

Grab a drink and delicious international and local fare!
Tuesday - Saturday: 12pm - 2am |
Sunday: 12pm - 11pm
 
+27 (0)21 448 0083
92-95 Station Road | Observatory
info@forexbar.co.za
@TheForexBarCT
The Forex Bar
theforexbar_ct

The Forex Bar in Cape Town

Make a night of it at this vibrant Observatory pub centred on global mixing and mingling

The Foreign Exchange bar has closed.

Interested in currency trading? The exciting new world of cryptocurrencies offers great opportunities for earning a passive income, and Koinexpert, a company specialising in trading on these markets, can help you achieve this goal. Here's arbitrage trading explained by Koinexpert in 9 questions.

--------------------------------

Walking into The Forex Bar in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs is like stepping into some sort of United Nations-style establishment for the young and fun. American and Dutch accents meld with Xhosa clicks, multilingual chatter moves back and forth over beer mugs and colourful stories of faraway countries are swapped over spirited games of backgammon.

You see, this welcoming, at times wild, pub deals in the currency of different cultures. Appropriately situated in the diverse, international suburb of Observatory, Forex, as it’s commonly known, is both a base for expatriates looking to celebrate their national identities and an easy-going spot where those from abroad and those from Mzansi can mix, mingle and trade thoughts and customs.

“It’s a place for locals to meet foreigners and vice versa,” explains owner Jan Oberholzer, with a passion mixing the international with the local.

The Foreign Exchange Bar

The old Obz favourite has also re-opened their kitchen introducing a mostly American food offering, as well as the Nederland’s cuisine with a special focus on bar snack, which are a huge hit internationally. The Forex Bar offers curly fries, battered pickles, spicy shrimp tacos, pot pies, bangers and mash, cottage pies and so much more to keep your belly warm and filled this winter.

Tip: Forex Bar aims to expand their offerings to more of a unique experience, with open potjies on the fire and an acoustic set by a live band. Just imagine a chilly Sunday afternoon in front of the fire, with sweet tunes playing in the background. Keep your eyes peeled to Forex Bars’ Facebook page for details.

And on a Thursday night the more lit crowd can visit the large second-storey joint, as the space is filled to bursting point with those keen to live it up a little. Rowdy games of beer pong bounce around, strangers natter merrily with new-found friends, young business-types take shots of green liquid at the bar and everyone looks ready to settle in for the rest of the evening – all features of the venue that exude an enticing hostel-meets-frat house feeling. The Forex Bar’s doors are open to all willing to participate, but space is limited to thirty-two teams and Beer Pong knockout stages begin at 9pm.

The Foreign Exchange Bar

In fact, this is a big part of the allure of Forex: it is so laidback and so centred on a sense of community that it really starts to feel like home. The easy-going, lived-in atmosphere is further created by the the warm bamboo and wood finishes, fireplace, bookshelves and board games that are found in the cosy, wooden inside area, which was refurbished to make it even more warm and snug.

But, in the height of the sweltering season, it is the enclosed outside deck that draws the crowds. Peering out over a sea of rooftops and the colourful hub of creativity and freedom known as Observatory, this beach-style balcony is the ideal perch for sundowners or a moonlight tipple. And it’s here where I find myself sipping white wine while watching ping pong balls plonk into cups of golden ale.

Apart from vino, the pub serves up almost anything necessary to keep guests well oiled: there are 13 different craft beers on tap, as well as craft Gin and Tonic on tap, which is a first for Observatory, and a little bird whispered to me that plans to brew their own beers at The Forex Bar are in the pipeline for the near future. The Forex Bar also offers an artisan ale tasting board, a medley of classic cocktails, premium tequila, top rums, whiskies and liqueurs and, of course, 2L college-style pitchers of brew meant to be shared with mates.

The Foreign Exchange Drinks

It’s this combination of good eats, great drinks, interesting company and electric vibes that make this Southern Suburbs bar a prime night-time option. And, of course, when it comes to a pub that’s globally diverse and anything but cliquey, The Forex Bar gives all other Mother City watering holes a real run for their money.

Tip: Forex is the place to be to commemorate any big foreign national occasion, like Halloween, Saint Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo or Fourth of July. The bar also has events on most nights of the week: there’s a free pub quiz on Tuesday nights and beer pong on Thursdays.

The Bill: Despite its foreign focus, prices are tailored to the South African pocket. Cocktails cost from R42 to R54, draught craft beer rings in at between R25 and R100, wine is priced between R25 and R45 a glass and between R100 and R170 a bottle. During happy hour, which runs every day between 6pm and 8pm, and Wednesdays from 6pm to 12am, prices are slashed further as drinks range between R14 for a shot of jagermeister or tequila, to R90 for a pitcher of Black Label as well as promotional prices for ciders, vodka mixes and Jam Jars.

---

Looking for a place to stay in the multicultural suburb of Observatory? Read more about African Heart Backpackers.

---

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, join our Google+ circle and check out our Pinterest boards for updates. Not to mention, subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with what's hip and happening in our pretty city.

Cape Town Events Calendar
March 2024
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31

Big Cook Little Cook Makers LandingWhat's on at the V&A Waterfront during ...

Easter egg hunts, live shows, kids market, vinyl fair + 5 more

Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective at Iziko MuseumOnce-in-a-lifetime exhibition of Esther ...

On from February to August 2024; 100+ artworks

Cannibisters 2024Cape Town’s very own cannabis club, ...

Now with over 90 strains of weed and The Serenity Room

Mischu eggs benedict Weekends are for mischu

Where else do you get breakfast under R100 in Sea Point?

Harringtons Cocktail Lounge District SixFridays at East City's Harrington Street

Bar hop in one building, from happy hour to live music

Off-road adventure at Scootours BanhoekBest day ever? Monster Mountain ...

Scootours Banhoek has scooters, vine bikes and archery

Escape rooms Cape TownPossibly the best escape room in the ...

HintHunt’s Marble is being called “the king of escape rooms”

Bamboo Plant Power plant based healthy takeaways Netflix and chill & office lunch are ...

From mushroom burgers and loaded fries to “sticky wings”

Amina Boutique Hotel You can now book out this entire hotel ...

Infrared sauna, pool, special art, stunning rooms

Cederkloof Botanical outdoor jacuzziWe just found our next place for a ...

Cederkloof: Cottages with jacuzzi + house with pizza oven

Woodstock Brewery burgersA brewery with food specials for every ...

Burgers, schnitzels + curry specials at Woodstock Brewery

GiveawaysTravel Tips