Rafiki's Bar & Restaurant

Rafiki’s Restaurant and Bar in Cape Town is Going Out ...

"come and play"
Mon - Sun | 11:00 - until late
 
+27 (0)21 426 4731
13 Kloof Nek Road | Tamboerskloof
www.rafikis.co.za
hello@rafikis.co.za
RafikisBar
Rafiki's Bar

Rafiki’s Restaurant and Bar in Cape Town is Going Out with a Bang

DO NOTE:  RAFIKI'S HAS OFFICIALLY CLOSED ITS DOORS

It’s news that is bound to break many hearts in Cape Town: Rafiki’s, one of the Mother City’s most iconic hotspots, is closing its doors in June 2016 due to a dispute with the landlord about the venue's lease . So yes, come this fateful time, we will all be saying goodbye to one of our best friends (the venue’s name means ‘friend’ in Swahili, in case you didn’t know).

But over its last few months, Rafiki’s, which sits pretty on Kloof Nek Road in Tamboerskloof, won’t be bowing out quietly; instead, the restaurant and bar will crank up the volume on the festivities and go out with a proverbial bang. In addition to continuing to facilitate the all-out jolling vibe it’s famous for, the venue will also be boasting a spruced-up look and  treating customers to surprise giveaways, such as tickets to popular Mother City events – think Synergy, the Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts and the Cape Town Festival of Beer – and customised Rafiki’s surfboards and skateboards.

“This is just our way of thanking everyone who has supported Rafiki’s over the years and making sure that people have good memories of the place. For example, we’re thinking of surprising customers with free tickets that will arrive with their bill. The space has also been re-painted and Buffy Brave Art (a Cape Town-based artist) has come in and freshened up his images on our walls. We want to go out with a bang,” says Marketing Manager Lauren Raulstone.



Of course, this doesn’t mean that Rafiki’s is being transformed to the point of being unrecognisable to its massive loyal fan base.  Rather, the popular institution will, for the most part, still stay true to its original character and the name it’s carved out for itself over the past 15 years.  For those very few not in the know, Rafiki’s was established in 2000 by entrepreneur Miki Clark and two of his friends, and it immediately stood out in the too-cool-to-function Cape Town scene that was dominant at the time.

“We didn’t have a particular vibe in mind for the place, but we did want to start a venue with a chilled-out atmosphere. At the time, you had to dress up in order to get into half of the restaurants in Cape Town and we are pretty much beach bums, so we wanted Rafiki’s to be a place where people could come wearing slip slops and relax,” explains Miki. “We just tried to keep it simple”.

The interior is unassuming and uncluttered, with wooden tables and benches populating the space.  The cool factor is upped by Buffy Brave Art’s striking murals, which add eye-catching swatches of colour to many of the venue’s walls, and the bar’s pièce de résistance is undoubtedly its 40m-long wraparound balcony, a perfect spot for imbibing a sundowner or two with friends. Ultimately, it’s this dedication to simplicity and unpretentiousness that has made the restaurant and bar a Mother City icon. 

 

“Everybody knows about Rafiki’s, and the laidback vibe is definitely what brings people in,” explains Lauren. “Patrons know that when they come for a casual drink with a friend they won’t be judged by anyone else in the restaurant – we all know how some Capetonians can be – so they can relax and just have a good time.

But what’s a good time without grub and drinks, right? Rafiki’s specialises in serving up what Lauren refers to as “hearty finger food”. In other words, in order to help keep the social energy flowing like a Drake freestyle, the restaurant doesn’t call for a formal dining experience; rather, it is all about casual nibbling and the sharing of food amongst mates. The menu features everything from mains such as BBQ ribs and Patagonian calamari tubes to bar snacks such as nachos, chicken strips and chilli poppers. 

And then, of course, there are the famous Rafiki’s pizzas, which we will all be sad to lose come mid-2016. These include the Mother Clucker, which is topped with chicken, peppadews, sun-dried tomatoes, pineapple, mozzarella and feta cheese and served on the spot’s unique tomato and onion jam-covered base; The Mexican, which features black beans, salsa, fresh coriander, sour cream and avo (pssst… this option is half price on Wednesdays); and the Banana Boy, which comes with the you-either-love-it-or-hate-it pairing of bacon and banana. Not to mention, on Mondays, Rafiki’s runs a half-price pizza special all day and night!

Similarly, Rafiki’s also slashes the prices of its cocktails on certain days of the week. On Thursdays (until 8pm), ladies can get discounted cocktails, and on Sundays, everyone can treat themselves to budget-friendly concoctions all day long. Patrons can look forward to quite an extensive drinks menu that comprises mojitos, mai tais, pina coladas and many, many more options as well as a range of reds, whites, bubbly and beers.



So, before it is too late, grab some mates and make your way to this local institution to indulge in all that Rafiki’s has to offer. And while you’re there, don’t forget to pay your respects and save a toast for one of your oldest friends in Cape Town.

Tip: Be sure to pop in as soon as you can! Also, be sure to check out Rafiki’s Facebook page regularly for more info on the giveaways and competitions that the restaurant and bar will be running over its farewell season!

The Bill:
Bar snacks like chicken strips, chip baskets and chilli poppers range from R12.50 to R69 in price. Mains go for anything between R55 and R170 and the famous Rafiki’s pizza options cost between R48 and R90. Be sure to check out the Rafiki’s website for details on its full range of cocktail options.

by Gary Hartley
---

See the spot that has taken over Rafiki's old space, The Moveable Feast

Looking for another venue at which to lazily sip on cocktails? Have a squiz at our round-up of the best sundowner spots in Cape Town.

---

Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, join our Google+ circle, connect with us on LinkedIn, check out our photos on Instagram and follow our Pinterest boards for updates on what’s happening in and around the Mother City!

 

Cape Town Events Calendar
June 2023
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

Cederkloof Botanical Retreat getawayWe just found our next place for a ...

Cederkloof: Cottages with jacuzzi + house with pizza oven

Excentric Hair5 ways to transform your hair (with ...

Give your locks some love or change them completely

Rose's Table pop up dining experienceIntimate fine dining in an art gallery

A long-table experience with food, music, wine and art

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

Burgers, schnitzels + curry specials at Woodstock Brewery

Excentric Hair camera diagnosisHow healthy is your hair, really?

How to get a free diagnosis + R100 off your first visit

Cannibisters weed barCape Town’s very own cannabis club, ...

It's like your friend’s living room, just with 85 strains of weed

PPC Riebeek Bergmarathon8 reasons to run these races in a lush ...

Do a marathon, fun run with the fam and explore small towns

Char'd Grill meat appreciation platterMeat appreciation platter at a ...

3 cuts of meat, sizzling side dishes + epic mad-scientist experience

Char'd Grill tasting traysSpirit tastings and unique cuts at this ...

Bring out your inner mad scientist: experiment with unique spirits + meat cuts

Pear Tree cocktailsHolistic food + drink at this healthy ...

Sit under the trees and enjoy kombucha cocktails, vegan dishes + a sea view

Pear Tree HermanusUnconventional vegan dishes at this ...

From tofu tostadas and kombucha cocktails to MasterChef-level desserts

Milk on the Beach5 reasons to visit this beach-side ...

Never-ending summer of waffles, hotdogs, cocktails...

Waffle Shack by Milk on the BeachOur team’s top picks at the Waffle ...

Beach-side eatery is perfect for kids, adults and dogs alike

Taj Jiva SpaJiva Spa Special: 3 massages x 30 mins ...

Select 3 treatments from 7 options, from head massage to deluxe pedicure

Blue Train ParkKids Party Idea: Take a ride on the ...

BOOK Now and let the outdoor adventure begin!

Judd's Local wineFree wine tastings in the city

What’s on offer: Wines from Darling to Hermanus, all at Judd’s Local

Breathwork Africa foundation3+ ways to get your breath back and ...

Classes, courses, retreats on conscious breathing run by the trainers leading the global ...

Klein Roosboom tasting caveTaste wine in a cave

Boutique winery with 6 six cosy tasting nooks. Plus platters, picnics + trails

GiveawaysTravel Tips