Cape Town’s Camps Bay nightlife

The Mother City’s answer to Brazil’s Copacabana 

What makes the nightlife in Camps Bay so alluring? That’s an easy one, it’s the fact that visible from every cocktail bar, chic restaurant and flashy nightclub is a stunning stretch of white beach, flanked by the Atlantic Ocean. This swanky seaside suburb offers a veritable slice of the high life – opulent, luxurious settings for sundowners, top-notch food and wine, and a level of glamour and sophistication rarely rivalled elsewhere in Cape Town. It’s the ultimate hangout for the indulgent, the elite, the beautiful and the affluent. To give you a taste, we’ve put together a listing of the top spots to stop in and to see and be seen once the sun’s gone down in this idyllic, buzzing bay.

St Yves Beach Club
Regarded as one of the hottest nightclubs in Cape Town, the ever so opulent St Yves epitomizes exclusive partying, claiming a reputation that reliably draws a crowd of swanky, sun-kissed socialites. The grand venue’s laidback, nautical-themed outdoor deck – which overlooks Camps Bay’s crystal waters - is perfectly suited to sipping on sundowners.  But the club’s real pull is the ‘summer sensations’ parties that rock many a balmy, booze-filled evening, with renowned DJs spinning house, soul, hip hop and R&B tunes five nights a week. Most popular is the series of Submerged Sundays which see leading electro-jazz sensation Goldfish take to the stage while a sizeable crowd of Cape Town’s chic take to the dance floor.
Opening times: Wednesday – Saturday: 9pm – late; Sunday: 4pm – late (St Yves closes over the colder season, and so is only open during the summer months from September to March)
The Promenade | Victoria Road | Camps Bay | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 438 0826

Grand Café & Room
A slightly more sophisticated spot than its other Camps Bay counterparts, the Grand Café is ideal for a relaxed evening drink or a slow romantic dinner. With soft pink hues, antique silver candlesticks, dimmed lighting, an ornate fireplace, and a red rose on each café-style table, this space is quintessential shabby chic, pared down Parisian elegance and nostalgic, old-world charm. To match its alluring ambience, it serves up a range of creative cocktails and simple meals (think sugar salmon and veal marsala). And for those who wish to turn dinner into an overnight stay, there is a lavish private penthouse suite (the Grand Room) just upstairs.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday: 9:30am – 11pm
35 Victoria Road | Camps Bay | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 438 4253

Dizzy’s Café
This long-standing, local hangout is the laidback, grounded member of the Camps Bay family. Set back from the beach and committed to shunning the tourist trade, the come-as-you-are pub is open all year round and welcomes casual types for incredible pizza specials, great drinks deals, vibey live music and a little bit of boogie on select nights. Aspiring singers with a little talent and a whole lot of Dutch courage can take to the mic on Tuesday karaoke nights, and Thursday nights pay homage to students on a budget – think R10 Black Label and Castle draughts.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday: 12pm – 4am
41 The Drive | Camps Bay | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 438 2686

Café Caprice
Home of Cape Town’s well-dressed who’s who, this ideally situated promenade café is the place to eat, drink and - most importantly - play. Long associated with the see-and-be- seen crowd, Café Caprice boasts well-stocked bars that keep thirsts quenched well into the evening with colourful cocktails and free-flowing liquor. A host of different DJs man the decks – playing a mix of house, lounge and commercial beats – while the city’s glamorous schmooze with celebrities, models and sports stars.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday: 9am – 2am
37 Victoria Road | Camps Bay |Cape Town | +27 (0)21 438 8315

Mezepoli Meze and Wine Bar
Offering quality Mediterranean cuisine, this contemporary international tapas bar  set centrally on the seaside strip is the spot for a somewhat sophisticated evening of indulging in natural, no-fuss, full-flavoured food. While the focus is on sharing a selection of meze – Greek tapas-style dishes, such as souvlaki, dolmades, keftethes and houmous – there are also a number of more formal, traditional meals on offer to cater for broader tastes. In addition to a well-versed menu,  Mezepoli also sports an impressive wine list, sound service and a warm, welcoming ambience. The Hellenic eatery is an ideal venue for visitors to sit and enjoy a chilled glass or two at sunset or before a big night out.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday: 12pm – 12am
The Promenade | Victoria Road | Camps Bay | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 438 1915

Nisha
Following a full-scale redesign process, this stylish, up-market nightclub replaced popular African beach bar Karma Lounge in November 2011. As its name suggests, Nisha caters quite exclusively for a niche market of the Mother City’s finest, with a number of offerings – including a black-and-gold themed VIP lounge and celebrity section – set aside for those with star status. A gleaming white interior featuring two bars and a sizeable open dance floor sets the stage for  anything from deep house to hip hop. And for anyone keen for a view, a classy wrap-around outdoor deck is but a few stiletto-studded steps away.
Opening times: Thursday – Saturday : 9pm – 4am
Penthouse Suite | The Promenade | Victoria Road | Camps Bay | +27 (0)76 407 4717

The Bungalow Restaurant 
Much to many a beach bum’s dismay, the casual Clifton-based institution La Med closed its doors and gave way, in December 2011, to this swankier,more upscale restaurant and lounge. Still boasting those breath-taking panoramic views of the Atlantic, the plush Bungalow is now reserved predominantly for fine dining and classy, decadent cocktail drinking on an airy outdoor deck. With blue, white and bronze tones, a nano-pool and scattered daybeds, the space is certainly swish, but it still manages to retain a relaxed, Mediterranean  feel, an atmosphere complemented by the selection of seafood options on the wide-ranging menu. Bungalow may  not be home to raucous rugby match-watching and bargain beer, but it nonetheless cultivates its own vibey buzz with live jazz on Thursday and Saturday evenings.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday: 12pm – 12am
3 Victoria Road |Clifton |Cape Town | +27 (0)21 438 2018

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Cape Town is alive with nightlife possibility, once the sun has set. Be sure to read our overviews of Nightlife in Green Point / Mouille Point, Nightlife in Woodstock and Observatory, Nightlife in the Northern Suburbs, Nightlife in the Southern Suburbs, Nightlife in the City Centre and our Top Ten Nightlife Venues in Cape Town.

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