The 7 Best Rooftop Spots for Sunset Cocktails in Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the best cities in South Africa for nightlife, bars and cocktails, with lively beachfront bars and restaurants offering the best views and atmosphere. The city is surrounded by mountainous and hilly terrain, offering the best backdrop for your sundowner. 

From vibrant and quirky rooftop hangouts to hotel terraces and beachfront havens, Cape Town has its fair share of rooftop spots that give you the perfect undisturbed view of the horizon as the sun begins to set. 

The best rooftop spots for watching the sunset with a cocktail in hand

7. VUE Restaurant & Bar

This chic and sophisticated rooftop bar in the heart of the city offers everything you could possibly want – flavourful food, the perfect ambience, a steady flow of cocktails and wine and, the main event, amazing sunset views. One of the city’s best places to relax with your favourite classic cocktail and watch the sun go down, VUE Shortmarket should be the most talked about spot in town, if it isn’t already. If the sunset views aren’t enough for you, you can also enjoy the best views of Table Mountain, which is one of the city’s most iconic sights.

6. Grand Daddy Sky Bar

Decked out with retro-style airstream caravans and a mini outdoor cinema, the Sky Bar at Grand Daddy is definitely stand out compared to other rooftop bars around. The Sky Bar is one of the perfect places to gaze over the cityscape and skyline as the sky turns orange, or becomes scattered with city lights after dark. The Grand Daddy boutique hotel offers welcoming and cosy vibes, with its unconventional accommodation and intimate bar and rooftop setting. As for what’s on the menu, you can expect funky cocktails and the best selection of wines and beers. 

5. Strolla Bar 

Strolla Bar is your go-to laid back hangout for any kind of vibe you want – morning coffee chats with friends, full sit-down dining, cocktails as the sun goes down or light bites as an afternoon pick-me-up. Overlooking the ocean, and with poolside drinking and dining, Strolla is definitely the place to be for the ultimate relaxation and unwinding after a busy day exploring the cape. Strolla Bar is a favourite spot among both locals and tourists for the undisturbed sunset views it offers, and the classic cocktails that are expertly curated and prepared. 

4. Cafe Caprice 

We’re cheating a little with this one, as it’s not exactly a rooftop bar space, but we’ve included it simply because of how stunning the views are and for its reputation among both locals and tourists. Cafe Caprice is a trendy bar located in Camps Bay, which is known for its unmatched sunset views and lively beach, which Cafe Caprice is just over the road from. The bar comes alive and buzzing with chatty drinkers, dancers and sunset gazers, and the DJs spin the tunes that makes the atmosphere all the more inviting to passersby. Spend even the smallest amount of time here, and you’ll understand why we absolutely had to include Cafe Caprice in our rankings.

3. Leopard Bar

Nestled atop the 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa, Leopard Bar is one of the city’s most happening spots, offering passionate and professional service, the best array of signature and classic cocktails and local wines, and a lively atmosphere that attracts people from all walks of life. Leopard Bar is also celebrated for being one of the best places for a sundowner, as the rooftop hangout allows for the perfect panoramic sunset views. 

2. Rita’s Bar

Combine cocktails with rooftop views and a buzzing atmosphere, and you have Rita’s. The Mexican-influenced cocktail bar on Kloof Street offers a classy yet lively vibe with cocktails and tacos as the forefront. The bar is also hailed as one of the best spots to watch the sunset on one of the liveliest and trendiest streets in the city. Rita’s Bar is more than likely to be recommended to you by locals or well-versed tourists, and with good reason, as it offers an ambience and experience quite like no other.

1. Chinchilla Bar 

Chinchilla Bar in Camps Bay is one of the best places in Cape Town for views of the sun, sea, and surrounding landscapes, which is why we’ve put it at the top spot. The interior decor is trendy, chic and colourful, and the rooftop overlooks the beach to give you the perfect spot for a refreshing drink. The top drinks of choice here are of course cocktails, and a wide array of whisky and wines to enjoy while DJs spin the decks as the sun begins to set – there’s nowhere quite like Chinchilla Bar, and if your goal is to find somewhere to watch the sunset with cocktails, then look no further.