4 Best Bars in Cape Town, South Africa

Among the few Cape Town venues with live African music, Mama Africa is a good spot, albeit squarely aimed at tourists. It has a live marimba band performing Monday through Saturday, participatory drum circles some nights, traditional Zulu dance performances on Wednesday, gumboot dancers kicking it up on Friday and Saturday, and the in-house Mama Africa band on Sunday. Plus there is always authentic food—from crocodile steaks to matoke (green banana-and-peanut stew)—from different parts of Africa.

This venue brings to life the live music scene that has been steadily fading in recent years. They feature intimate performances by artists from all corners of South Africa's massively diverse music scene. It's also an option for laid-back sunset drinks with a beautiful view of the mountain and city center. Tickets need to be purchased in advance online.

On any old night, the Green Dolphin Jazz Restaurant attracts some of the best mainstream jazz musicians in the country, as well as a few from overseas. The cover charge is R30–R35. It's open nightly from 8:15 pm to midnight.

It's a tradition for jazz festival performers to play the Monday night jam at Swingers, a well-known but out-of-the-way jazz club in Wynberg. Dance music is played Friday and Saturday, but Monday (no cover charge) is the night for jazz aficionados. There's also a full restaurant serving traditional Cape curries, seafood, and steaks.