Rooftop bars Cape Town

Complete guide to the 14 best rooftop bars in Cape Town [2020 update]

South Africa

Made by the world's leading experts on rooftop bars

Last updated: September 15th, 2020

Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The best way to enjoy amazing views over the water and the surrounding mountains is to head on up to one of the Cape Town rooftop bars. To help you find the top venues, this complete guide comes packed with all info you need about the very best rooftop bars Cape Town: dress code, pictures, opening hours, maps and a lot more. From elevated drinks and bites with an amazing Cape Town sunset, to relaxing ocean views in Camps Bay and refreshing dips in one of the Cape Town rooftop pools. There is a Cape Town rooftop for everyone. Just scroll down and find the Cape Town rooftop bar best suited for you.

Or use the Cape Town rooftop map in the top right corner.

Area:Cape Town Harbour
Rooftop bar The Silo Rooftop Bar in Cape Town
1

The Silo Rooftop Bar
$$$$ Silo Square, V & A Waterfront
  • Highlights
  • 11th floor
  • Rooftop pool
  • Panoramic views
  • Luxorious

Perched on top of the fantastic The Silo Hotel, located at the Waterfront of Cape Town, this rooftop bar offers an amazing view, with panoramics all over the city, harbor, ocean and mountains. Equipped with one of the world's coolest rooftop infinity pools, this is the perfect spot for luxurious lounging high above the city. While the pool is only available to guests at the hotel, the rooftop bar is available to all. Just remember that you have to make reservation before you visit. Enjoy nice bites, classic cocktails or South African wines.

Area:De Waterkant
Rooftop bar Sky Bar at The Grey Hotel in Cape Town
2

Sky Bar at The Grey Hotel
$$$$ 49 Napier St, De Waterkant
  • Highlights
  • 3rd floor
  • Rooftop pool
  • Cocktail bar
  • Table Mountain view

A cozy and contemporary African rooftop bar, located on top of the fabulous boutique Grey Hotel in the vibrant De Waterkant of Cape Town. The top feature of this rooftop is probably the amazing views over Table Mountain, completed with panoramic vistas over the city and its surroundings. Not only views, the rooftop also comes with a rooftop swimming pool and a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. Serving tasty signature creations along with familiar classic cocktails it is a great place for both daytime pool-lounging or pre/post dinner cocktails.

Area:Cape Town City Centre
Rooftop bar 14 Stories Rooftop Bar in Cape Town
3

14 Stories Rooftop Bar
$$$$ 23 Buitengracht St
  • Highlights
  • 14th floor
  • Amazing views
  • Cocktail bar
  • Rooftop pool

Located in the heart of town, on top of the SunSquare Cape Town City Bowl, this Cape Town rooftop bar offers some fantastic views over Table Mountain, Signal Hill and the V&A Waterfront. Part indoor lounge with panoramic windows, and an outdoor terrace covering several sides of the building, 14 Stories is modern and stylish in decor, mixing comfy lounge sofas with regular bistro-tables. Serving a light menu of casual snacks and tasty signature cocktails, this is a perfect spot for some fine sundowners high above the city.

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Area:Tamboerskloof
Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar in Cape Town
4

Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar
$$$ 12 Kloof Nek Road
  • Highlights
  • 4th floor
  • Rooftop pool
  • 360-views
  • Relaxing

Located close to the popular Kloof and Long Street, Cloud 9 is a charming and relaxing rooftop bar, offering some fantastic 360-degree views over pretty much all of Cape Town. Including majestic close-ups over Table Mountain and Lion's Head. Set over two levels, here you can spend hours in the comfy sofas, but also take a dip in the crystal clear rooftop pool, open to all. The rooftop bar serves signature cocktails, local wines, beers, and ciders, along with bar bites and sourdough pizzas.

Area:Camps Bay
Rooftop Bar Chinchilla Rooftop Café & Bar in Cape Town
5

Chinchilla Rooftop Café & Bar
$$$$ Victoria Rd, Camps Bay
  • Highlights
  • 2nd floor
  • Ocean views
  • Tropical chic
  • Cocktail lounge

Hot and trendy, yet cool and laid-back, the Chinchilla Rooftop is located on the second floor, just across the street from the Camps Bay beach. So by no means sky-high, it still offers some fabulous views over the ocean. With a modern decoration that really screams tropical chic, the rooftop offers a menu filled with café classics with a contemprary twist, along with a long list of wine and champagne, as well as a great selection of crafted signature cocktails. Packed with beachside lounge vibes, usually with live DJs creating the soundtrack.

Area:De Waterkant
Rooftop Bar Utopia - Dining Elevated in Cape Town
6

Utopia - Dining Elevated
$$$$ 40 Chiappini St
  • Highlights
  • 15th floor
  • 360-view
  • Fine dining
  • Boutique wines

Utopia offers a fine dining experience, elevated above the hustle and bustle of Cape Town. Set 15 floors up at the Mirage building on Chiappini Street in De Waterkant, the rooftop comes with some truly breathtaking 360-views over the water and the city skyline. Part stylish indoor dining room with panoramic windows, and part outdoor terrace mixing dining tables with more comfy bar and lounge seats, the rooftop offers freshly cooked flavours, specialising in seafood and grilled meat, complemented with a list of handpicked boutique wines.

Area:V&A Waterfront
Rooftop Bar RED Roof Bar in Cape Town
7

RED Roof Bar
$$$ Silo 6, Silo Square
  • Highlights
  • 9th floor
  • Fantastic views
  • Vibrant
  • Rooftop pool

Located in the hot and trendy Silo District, the RED Hotel V&A Waterfront Cape Town comes with a hot and trendy rooftop bar, called RED Roof Bar. Equipped with a refreshing rooftop pool and a very visible red drink van, the terrace also offers amazing views over the ocean, the city skyline and Table Mountain. Fun and vibrant in atmosphere, the RED rooftop is always a good spot for sunny / sunset cocktails and sky-high vibes. Quite often, the vibes get even higher with everything from DJ events to pool party's.

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Exclusive offer

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Area:Greenmarket Square
Rooftop bar Cape Town Sky Bar at The Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town
8

Sky Bar at The Grand Daddy Hotel
$$$ 38 Long St, City Centre
  • Highlights
  • 3rd floor
  • Rooftop cinema
  • Trailer park
  • Downtown

The fabulous Grand Daddy Hotel, located right in the heart of Cape Town, comes with a truly unique and very eventful rooftop terrace. Complemented with cool views of downtown and the outlines of Table Mountain, this venue is close to a must visit. Up here you can either stay in one of the seven authentic Airstream trailers, visit the Sky Bar for cold beer and classic cocktails in a very relaxing atmosphere or go for the weekly Pink Flamingo Rooftop Cinema.

Area:Cape Town City Centre
Rooftop bar Cape Town Gigi Rooftop in Cape Town
9

Gigi Rooftop
$$$$ 118 St Georges Mall
  • Highlights
  • 6th floor
  • Beautiful setting
  • Morning to night
  • Stylish yet easy-going

The chic and charming Gigi Rooftop Restaurant and Bar is found on top of the Gorgeous George hotel, located right in the heart of Cape Town City Center. With a stunning decoration, the rooftop comes with an indoor dining room that feels like its outside, and an outdoor terrace with an emerald-green pool and cool views over the neighboring heritage buildings. Open from breakfast to late dinner and drinks, the Gigi menu includes a tasty selection of contemporary cuisine, along with crafted signature cocktails created by the in-house mixologist.

Area:Camps Bay
Rooftop bar Cape Town Baptiste Rooftop in Cape Town
10

Baptiste Rooftop
$$$$ The Promenade, 201 Victoria Rd
  • Highlights
  • 3rd floor
  • 360-views
  • Bright & trendy
  • Rooftop pool

Located in Camps Bay, on top of The Marly Boutique Hotel & Spa, the bright and beautiful Baptiste terrace comes with both a refreshing rooftop pool, comfy sun loungers, sofas and amazing 360-degree panoramics over both the Atlantic Ocean and the iconic Twelve Apostles mountain range. Quite exclusive in setting, the rooftop is free for anyone staying at the hotel, but outside visitors should make reservations to enjoy contemporary poolside dishes, crafted signature cocktails and a nice selection of bubbles and wines.

Area:Gardens
Rooftop bar Cape Town Up Yours at Yours Truly in Cape Town
11

Up Yours at Yours Truly
$$$ 73 Kloof St
  • Highlights
  • 2nd floor
  • Urban
  • Vibrant
  • Weekend DJs

Up Yours is the lush and happening rooftop of the café and bar Yours Truly on the vibrant Kloof Street. With the look and feel of an urban jungle, this rooftop is less about views and more about music and atmosphere. The rooftop bar offers a great selection of fine wines, spirits and craft beers, while the downstairs café also serves tasty pizzas and gourmet sandwiches. Visit Up Yours for vibrant after-work drinks or weekends packed with live DJ sessions, local bands and a great atmosphere.

Area:Foreshore
Rooftop bar Harald's Bar & Terrace at Park Inn by Radisson in Cape Town
12

Harald's Bar & Terrace at Park Inn by Radisson
$$$$ 29 Heerengracht St, Foreshore
  • Highlights
  • 11th floor
  • Rooftop pool
  • Table Mountain view
  • Large cocktail list

A luxurious and modern cocktail bar perched on the 11th floor of the Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore. The roof terrace, called Harald's Bar & Terrace, comes with spectacular views of Table Mountain and panoramas over the city skyline. Open from early day to late at night you can visit for daytime lounging in the comfy sun loungers and dip your feets in the splash rooftop pool, or visit at night and enjoy the colourful lights and relaxing atmosphere. The rooftop bar menu is quite large, both in terms of food as well as drinks.

Area:Greenmarket Square
Rooftop bar Cape Town Tjing Tjing in Cape Town
13

Tjing Tjing Rooftop
$$$ 165 Longmarket St, City Centre
  • Highlights
  • 3rd floor
  • Japanese house
  • Handcrafted cocktails
  • Downtown

Tjing Tjing House really brings a slice of Japan right to the heart of Cape Town. Renovated and refurbished during summer 2018, here you find Tjing Tjing Torii (street-food Japanese) on the ground floor, Tjing Tjing Momiji (fine dining Japanese) on second, and if you make your way up to the top (as you should) the Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar. The rooftop bar serves fantastic and well-made cocktails, many with a Japanes touch, in a casual but trendy ambience.

Area:City center
Rooftop bar Cape Town The Waiting Room in Cape Town
14

The Waiting Room
$$ 273 Long St, City Centre
  • Highlights
  • 3rd floor
  • Hipster vibe
  • Live music
  • Downtown

Located on top of the Royale Eatery, right in the heart of Cape Town, The Waiting Room is a chilled and hip rooftop bar offering great views across Cape Town and the busy street below. Not at all fancy, but retro, urban and chic, this place comes not only with rooftop patio but also an indoor lounge and dancefloor, plus an adjecent balcony. While the indoor part is a lot about live music, DJs and weekend party-vibes, the rooftop terrace is a bit more chill and with hanging lanterns it's a cosy place for pre- or post dinner cocktails.

About the author

This guide was made by The Rooftop Guide, the world's leading experts on rooftop bars. With over 600 rooftops visited over the last two years, we keep you up to date in the ever growing universe of rooftop venues.

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The Silo Rooftop - Luxurious atmosphere and the best infinity pool in Africa

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Cloud 9 - Charming hotel with perfect location and lovely rooftop

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Collaboration
Corniche watches
Use code 'Rooftop'
Exclusive offer

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Rooftop bar Cape Town

Rooftop-grade: 8/10
Prime season: Sep-May
Residents: 3,7 millions
Climate: mediterranean

When speaking of rooftop bars, there are a lot of good ones in Cape Town.

The views from the view spots here, vary a lot, but on a whole there is something for everyone here in terms of drinks, views and atmosphere. You get really cool views of the ocean, mountains, city and landscape from most of the sky bars located here.

There's also a great varaity among the rooftop bars in Cape Town, where some a very fancy and some a little bit more laid back.

About Cape Town

Cape Town is South Africa's second largest city after Johannesburg. It is also the legislative capital of the country, which means that the Parliament is based here. The city is located in southwest Africa near the Cape of Good Hope at the Atlantic coast. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate with distinct seasons. Hot summers and fairly cold winters. Cape Town is one of South Africa's most popular destination with attractions such as Table Mountain, surfing, white shark diving and its fine architecture.