Rooftop Bars With a Stunning Cape Town View

The Silo has quickly become one of the best-known hotels in South Africa, occupying a former grain elevator atop the Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa). And atop this 28-room boutique hotel, the roof terrace has arguably the finest view in town, with a 360-degree panorama of the V&A Waterfront, Table Bay, the city towers and the impressive bulk of Table Mountain. Cool off in the glass-sided pool and toast the view with a signature Rose Ginvino cocktail.

Raise a glass among the rooftops of central Cape Town and rub shoulders with a hip after-work crowd at this 200-year-old attic with an adjoining outdoor terrace. Wooden mansards create the cosy feel of an alpine chalet, which is mixed with chic décor inspired by shinto shrines – continuing the theme of the Japanese restaurants and lounge on the lower floors. There’s always a good electronic and indie soundtrack for the Japanese whisky, house wine and experimental cocktails.

The chichi beachfront neighbourhood of Camps Bay is somewhere to see and be seen, especially when you enjoy the views of Lion’s Head and the palm-fronted sands from Chinchilla. Scattered sofas and bamboo awnings encourage afternoon lounging, while DJs and mixologists ensure the sunset atmosphere is equal parts mellow and euphoric. It’s a member of The Kove Collection, along with the dreamy Baptiste rooftop pool bar nearby.

This dependably mischievous nightclub and live venue has long attracted party-loving Capetonians to its perch above bar-lined Long Street. Much of the action happens on the top floor, where bands and DJs get feet moving with genres from deep electronic to classic hip hop. Climb to the roof for fresh night air with Table Mountain views and a conversational crowd of backpackers, students and locals.

So much has changed in recent years, and a profound development for Capetonian slackers has been this cocktail stalwart’s move around the corner to Kloof Street. Still, the Casablanca posters and exotic Maghrebi furnishings remain, now accompanied by a roof terrace with killer views of Table Mountain. If you can’t get a seat up top, grab a table on the historic villa’s wraparound balcony and console yourself with happy-hour specials (3pm to 6pm). Afterwards, continue down Kloof for more altitudinous drinks at Yours Truly.

True to the fun Radisson RED brand, this hotel at the V&A Waterfront has a quirky roof bar with a fire-engine-red drinks van serving cocktails and smoothies, amid tessellated tiles and a sparkling pool. Sip a negroni with views of Table Mountain and the ocean, or retire to the shaded area for snacks, poke bowls, steaks and more. In the spirit of the Silo District, the post-industrial design hub around the neighbouring Zeitz MOCAA, the corrugated walls and pool sides here bring shipping containers to mind.

The Cloud 9 rooftop bar is known as Mountain Club for its 360-degree views of flat-topped Table Mountain, flanked by Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head. Gaze at the tablecloth cloud cascading down the mountain, and toast the cable cars ascending to the 1,000m (3,300ft) high plateau. The good news is that nonguests who spend more than 200 rand (£10) are welcome to enjoy a dip with a view in the plunge pool.

This rooftop bar in Cape Town perches atop a 13-room boutique hotel amid the cobbled streets of De Waterkant, a charming neighbourhood and LGBTQ-friendly area on the lower slopes of Signal Hill. There’s plenty of character to the view from the rooftop pool, with Table Mountain providing a backdrop to the multicoloured houses of the area, some built centuries ago by Cape Muslim craftsmen. Continue your evening at the Piano Bar downstairs or with 15th-floor fine dining at the nearby Utopia rooftop restaurant.