Cape Town is about to burst into colour, creativity and clinking glasses thanks to Cape Town Cocktail Week (CTCW), running from 10–16 December 2025.
For seven lively days, the Mother City becomes one giant flavour trail, with nearly 40 of the best cocktail bars joining forces to celebrate South Africa’s most exciting drinks culture moment of the year.
CTCW is built for wandering.
- Instead of being tucked into one venue, the festival spreads across the City Bowl: quirky speakeasies, elegant hotel lounges, rooftop favourites and neighbourhood gems. Guests receive a wristband, a guide and a map, and then the fun begins. Each venue serves its own R50 signature CTCW creation — along with delicious mocktails or alcohol-free versions for anyone who prefers the gentler route.
Festival founder Leah van Deventer, a global authority on cocktail culture and regional Academy Chair for the World’s 50 Best Bars, describes it best: CTCW is a “cocktail safari” where each guest chooses their own adventure. Explore the bars. Explore the city. Explore new flavours. Whether you end up strolling through the Company’s Gardens, catching the cable car at sunset or taking a detour along the Promenade, the experience is as much about Cape Town itself as what ends up in your glass.
And now, readers get to join the celebration for less.
Use code: FOODBLOG10 to get 10% off General Admission tickets on Quicket. It’s an easy win and the perfect excuse to build a week of tasting, learning and discovering new favourite spots.
Alongside the R50 festival serves, guests can enjoy guest bartender takeovers, masterclasses, brand activations and special CTCW experiences hosted across the participating venues. Some bars even have daytime menus, making it ideal for city explorers who want to pair a museum stop or garden stroll with a tasting moment.
With city views, creative drinks, an entire week of events and a festival designed for easy, choose-your-own-route fun, CTCW is shaping up to be Cape Town’s most dynamic summer celebration. Grab the discount, grab your wristband and grab your map — your flavour adventure awaits.
