Money, Money, Money
First off if you are coming from the UK you get R10 to the Pound. This means that a bottled lager in a pub or club will cost you 60p, seeing a film (often released here before the UK) will cost 1.20, a 3 course meal in one of the fantastic restaurants - with an excellent bottle of Cape wine - will cost you around 20 pounds. The most expensive club will be 4 pounds on the door. So, it's very very cheap if you have a strong currency.
Having said that, most night type activities take place in the CBD, a relatively small area surrounded by the mountains on one side and the sea on the other. This guide is about that area (it's where I live innit!)
Record Stores
There are 3 stores worth checking out.
The biggest is DJ Syndicate (Parliament Street). They cater for all styles, concentrating on American house. Speak to Rudi.
Phat Beats in Long Street has a really good selection of deep house and techno, as well as an Internet café. Speak to John or Pierre.
Rugged Vinyl, also in Long street, concentrates on trance and progressive/hard house. Also has a good selection of drum and bass and breaks. Speak to Nick or Chris.
Clubs
Cape Town is very much a seasonal city, with far more activity in the summer than in the winter. If you enjoy lying about on the beach all day, then you should come between November and February. That said, as I'm writing this it is supposed to be the middle of winter and it's around 25 degrees! In my opinion, the best time to visit is in Autumn (March-April) when the cheesy tourist season is ending.
The best club in the city is called More (Bree Street). Music policy is deep house. Apart from the excellent residents, the club is also host to the Deepa South events. Recent guests have included the Wam Kids (excellent), Gemini (absolutely brilliant), Murray Richardson (crap) and Callum Walker from Fresh and Low (reasonably good). Upcoming events here will feature Luke Solomon, Derrick Carter, Kenny Hawkes, Rob Mello, and a summer tour from Naked Music. The sound system could do with a tweak. Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
The Rhythm Divine (Long Street and my residency) features two rooms, one playing house and the other whatever - usually a mixture of breaks, techno, electro. Some excellent on-off and monthly events here. Open every night.
The Piano Lounge (Loop Street) hosts the only weekly drum and bass event in the city. If you are into tech step this is the place to be. I must admit to being put off by the testosterone levels. And that's just the Dj's! Open every night.
Then there's the fluffy trance massive who get down every Saturday at Unity, owned by two ex-pat English guys. Very nice lads, but the music sucks. The crowd is exclusively white suburban e-head.
If it's breakbeat you are after, try 206. Be warned that the breakbeat Dj's in this town are really, really bad.
Trance (of the psychedelic persuasion) goes down every night of the week at Getafix (Shortmarket Street) and Afro-Galactic (Bree Street).
In addition to the regular club nights, there are at least six different events every Friday and Saturday night. These range from low-key nights in bars to massive outdoor festivals. Get flyers from the record stores and the bars and coffee shops in Long Street.
Local Dj's to look out for: Odwa, Nick Birkby, Rob White, Ryan Dent, Omar, Erefan, Jack, Gareth, Mabuso, Ready D.
There are also all manner of cheesy pretentious wine bar/club type places. If that's what you're after look somewhere else.
Bars
Too many to mention. My favourites are the Long Street Café (in Long Street obviously), Upstairs (above Mama Afrika in Long Street), Lola's in Long street, Café Camissa in Kloof Street, Mr. Pickwicks, Joburg (yes, I know, but that's what it's called). If you are feeling particularly swish and Wallpaper like go to the Cohibar or the East City Café.
