This city caters to all tastes, from laid-back lounges offering chilled beats, to raucous bars with balconies overlooking Long Street in the Cape Town City Centre, comedy venues, upmarket nightclubs that are open to the early hours and just about anything and everything in between. This means that you will nearly always find things to do in the city after dark, whether it’s the middle of the week or a Friday night.

The first step to deciding what your evening will entail is determining what you are in the mood for trying. Cocktails, food, dancing, relaxing, live music or perhaps karaoke? Once you have an idea of what you feel like doing, you will be able to choose your destination.

For cocktails, the best places include Wakame in Moulle Point, Café Caprice in Camps Bay, Asoka on Kloof Street, Orphanage on Bree Street, Bascule at the Cape Grace in the Waterfront, Beluga in Green Point and La Vie in Sea Point.

If you want to enjoy some live music then The Dubliner on Long Street often has live bands, while The Assembly in the East City District caters to a wide range of live music events. Mercury Live in District also often has bands performing, as does Zula Bar on Long Street. The V&A Waterfront Ampitheatre often features concerts and other live events too. Also, Zula Bar and Ragazzi on Long Street both host comedy evenings during the week. Neighbourhood on Long often has pub quiz nights and regular screening of sporting events, plus a decent food menu. Fireman’s Arms near Buitengraght Street also has quiz nights, with an outdoor beer garden and cosy pub inside.

And for those nights when you simply feel like chilling with a few friends over a beer and snacks, there are many great bars to be found in Cape Town. Chukkachurri in Green Point has an Argentinian polo theme, while El Burro in Green Point has a wide range of tequilas and excellent Mexican food. Rafikis on Kloof Nek is one of the city’s most laid-back bars, with a spacious balcony, good food and good vibes.

Some of the hottest nightclubs in Cape Town are Fiction or Waiting Room on Long for Dub Step, Drum ‘n Bass if you are in the mood for clubbing. Loop nightclub on Loop Street provides an upmarket club with diverse music styles. Deco Dance in Sea Point is where you can dance the night away to old school 80s and 90s tunes.