When anyone wants to party in the Mother City, they turn to the buzzing strip of Long Street: party capital of Cape Town.
With clubs, pubs and restaurants bursting onto the tar along both sides, Long Street is the place to be for an all-nighter. Fun vibes, vibrant energy and a mishmash of colourful faces greet you here, day and night. Whether it’s some glitz and glam or grunge and gravel you’re after, this is one destination that boasts an eclectic mix of all things creative, festive and cosmopolitan.
Mama Africa Restaurant and Bar 021 426 1017 will welcome you with a taste of the traditional. 3 different energetic Marimba bands entertain you throughout the night as you enjoy your pick of bountiful food. The restaurant is warm and inviting while the acts entrance you. Their only request of you is that you leave with a “full belly, a happy heart and a smile.”
Try: Ostrich Steak
For something a little bit more multi-national Long Street Café 021 424 2464 is a popular haunt with locals and tourists. Enter past the restored art décor façade and order some cocktails and a bite to eat as you can watch the throngs outside through the large windows.
Try: Long Street Iced Tea
Some place slightly more exotic has to be Mesopotamia Kurdish Kitchen 021 424 4664. As South Africa’s first Kurdish Restaurant, this place is a must-visit. Offering you traditional Kurdish cuisine and a chance to recline around copper tables on the finest cushions while you’re pampered like a Sultana, you won’t want to leave. You’ll be mesmerised by the beautiful and skilled belly-dancers as they weave in and amongst you and your fellow-diners.
Try: Their Iskender (Speciality Lamb Dish)
If you enjoy the exotic then Masala Dosa 021 424 6772 will please your taste buds. Inspired by South Indian Cooking, this restaurant is a really traditional experience. They expect you to eat with your hands and pride themselves on serving dishes that are not found in your typical Indian restaurants. The meals themselves are fresh, clean and organic.
Try: Traditional Masala Dosa
The Dubliner Irish Pub 021 424 1212 promises you an up market evening out. Listen to the Jazz as you sip on cocktails or suck on cigars from around the world in this authentic Irish establishment. With a snazzy interior and beer on tap, this place pumps the parties. Sit upstairs in their new lounge area for some sophisticated talking, or hit the dance floor downstairs to let you hair loose.
Try: Guinness Draft
The trendy crowd seems to hang out at:
– Neighbourhood Restaurant, Bar & Lounge 021 424 7260 for pre drinks or birthdays. Self-proclaimed “home away from home” this cosy venue offers a chilled spot to eat, drink and be hip.
Try: Chilli Poppers
– Fiction DJ Bar & Lounge 021 424 5709 for their fix of drum & bass, indie electro rock and a range of other dance music. The theme of classic fiction runs throughout the lounge, with artwork from cult movies, comics & TV spread across the walls. With a nostalgic tinge all around, Fiction also offers DJ’s a platform to promote underground or lesser established music. You’re bound to find some interesting and intriguing characters on this dancefloor.
Try: The Dancefloor
– Zula Sound Experience 021 424 2442 to indulge in some live and mostly local musical acts. The perfect venue for an intimate gig that often turns into crazy-stomping nights, Zula’s floors regularly feel like they’re gonna break from the frenzy of dancers. They also have a great menu for some snacks or a meal. The staff is friendly; you’ll feel as though you know them by the end of the night.
Try: Any Pizza
– The Purple Turtle 021 423 6194 is a familiar favourite with the long-time band-members and metal/punk heads. They’ve been around for years and seen some pretty crazy gigs on their stage. They will forever have a rocking 
out place in the hearts of some of the local bands (some still together, others which have moved on to other projects).
Try: A Beer
– Chrome 083 700 6078 / 9 is popular with local and international party-goers. Known for its cosmopolitan trendsetting, this club sees its fair share of VIPs strutting their stuff with a glass of champagne in one hand and a cigar or clutch in the other. The decadent décor and chandeliers hanging from the roof are bound to make you feel like a celebrity.
Try: Some Champers
These are just a few of the clubs and pubs lining Long Street. There’s a setting and vibe for every person looking for a great night on the town. Next time you want to have a party, take a turn up Long Street and lose yourself in the hearty soul of Cape Town’s nightlife.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
