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12 Apostles Peaks, Table Mountain, Cape Town

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Cape Town Nightlife

Balmy evenings, excellent local wines and the Afro-Euro mix collide to make Cape Town a party place, especially in summer. Nightlife in Cape Town varies: young crowds cruise the string of bars, restaurants and music clubs in Long Street and Kloof Street in the city centre. Green Point is the main gay haunt, while the V&A Waterfront is awash with restaurants and nightlife for a generally older, more affluent crowd. Camps Bay is a hugely popular spot, thanks to its selection of beachfront bars.

Friday editions of the Cape Times (www.capetimes.co.za), Cape Argus (www.capeargus.co.za) and the weekly Mail & Guardian (www.mg.co.za) have entertainment as well as cultural sections.

Cultural offerings in Cape Town range from high-brow opera to pop concerts in the park, comedy clubs and poetry readings. The city is particularly big on jazz, too. Tickets for many events can be booked through Computicket (tel: 083 915 8000; www.computicket.com), which also has kiosks in malls including the V&A Waterfront.

Theatre

Fugard Theatre
The Fugard opened in February 2010 in the historic District Six area, and is named after Athol Fugard, one of South Africa's best-loved theatre personalities. The converted warehouse and church is now a 270-seat theatre, which is home to the Isango Portobello Theatre Company. The company's previous shows, A Christmas Carol and The Magic Flute transferred to London, and won awards as the best Off-West End productions.

Caledon Street, District Six
Tel: (021) 461 4554.
Website: www.thefugard.com

Vaudeville
Is it a theatre? Is it a supper club? A live music venue? Vaudeville is all of those and a whole lot more. It's a raunchy cabaret with sexy showgirls, acrobats , strongmen, risqué singers, tap dancers, highwire acts and even breakdancers. Eye candy galore for both men and women. The show comes with a good three-course meal and makes a highly entertaining, extravagant, exuberant experience.

11 Mechua Street, off Lower Bree
Tel: 0861 787737.
Website: www.vaudeville.co.za

Baxter Theatre
The Baxter houses a theatre with 666 seats as well as a concert hall, and stages a variety of shows including opera, children's theatre, comedy, classical concerts and mainstream and experimental theatre productions. Always worth checking because its' mission is to provide a variety of entertainment to suit all ages and tastes.

Main Road, Rondebosch
Tel: (021) 685 7880.
Website www.baxter.co.za

Music

Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
The Philharmonic is one of only two full-time professional symphony orchestras in South Africa. It was formed in 1914 and performs regularly at the City Hall in Grand Parade, at the Artscape Theatre Centre and at the Kirstenbosch Sunset Concerts held every Sunday evening in summer. Apart from traditional symphony concerts, the orchestra joins Cape Town Opera and City Ballet for their opera and ballet seasons. Performance details are available from its website.

Tel: (021) 410 9809.
Website: www.cpo.org.za

Opera

Cape Town Opera
The city's opera company is famous for successfully Africanising the classics. That's based on its self-declared mission to transform opera and the performing arts by bringing on board previously disadvantaged artists. Its 2010 season includes Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss and the more unusual African Songbook, a tribute to the life of Nelson Mandela.

Tel: (021) 410 9807.
Website: www.capetownopera.co.za

Bars in Cape Town

Julep

Julep
Charmingly described by its young, lively regulars as slightly grungy but cool, Julep is an unassuming little bar with a DJ and sometimes live music.
It offers all the classic cocktails and some originals. The décor lends itself to intimate evenings as you sink in its squishy sofas - and sink further as you work through the menu. It gets so crowded you're bound to make new friends. Bar snacks help balance out the alcohol.

2 Vredenburg Lane, off Long Street
Tel: (021) 423 4276.
www.julep.co.za

Address 2 Vredenburg Lane, Cape Town, South Africa
Telephone: (021) 423 4276
http://www.julep.co.za
Murano Bar

Murano Bar
A newcomer to the scene that's quickly picked up a following is Murano, in the revamped 15 on Orange Hotel. The 360 degree views of Table Mountain, Lion's Head, Signal Hill and the city add to the ambience. The bar looks a bit like a space pod with blue lighting and a cascading chandelier dangling 20,000 murano crystals. Beam me up, Scotty.

15 on Orange, Orange Street, Gardens
Tel: (021) 469 8000.
www.15onorange.com

Address 15 on Orange, Gardens, South Africa
Telephone: (021) 469 8000
http://www.15onorange.com
Planet Bar

Planet Bar
Money no object? The Mount Nelson Hotel is an old institution, but it stays in the limelight, thanks to this upmarket champagne bar. Its velvet, satin and leather decor offers elegant colonial surroundings, while the wine and champers list is rivalled by a cocktail menu. What else should you snack on other caviar and oysters. There's a terrace outside, but if you really want to be among the stars, look up. Lights replicate the constellations for a truly stellar view.

Mount Nelson Hotel, 76 Orange Street, Gardens
Tel: (021) 483 1737.
www.mountnelson.co.za

Address Mount Nelson Hotel, Gardens, South Africa
Telephone: (021) 483 1737
http://www.mountnelson.co.za

Clubs in Cape Town

Jade Lounge

Jade Lounge
A mixed but mainly older crowd frequents the Jade Lounge, upstairs from Manos restaurant in Green Point. The style is vaguely French, with leather sofas and chandeliers, and it's mood is definitely more laid-back and sophisticated than hectically pumping. On Wednesdays, it offers old school swinging jazz.

39 Main Road, Greenpoint.
Tel: (021) 439 4108.
www.jadelounge.co.za

Address 39 Main Road, Cape Town, South Africa
Telephone: (021) 439 4108
http://www.jadelounge.co.za
St Yves

St Yves
Young wannabes are driving out to Camps Bay - although the rich ones already live there - and hitting St Yves. Maybe start there for sundowners to drink in gorgeous views over Camps Bay beach from the balcony. Do the pub crawl along the seafront to check out the talent, before ending the evening back at St Ives.

The Promenade, Victoria Rd, Camps Bay
Tel: (021) 438 7717.

Address The Promenade, Camps Bay, South Africa
Telephone: (021) 438 7717
Tiger Tiger

Tiger Tiger
Oh, so young! And they look even younger on the School Disco party nights, one of the regular themed evenings at this watering hole. Six bars and a spacious dance floor are unashamedly aimed at party animals, though there's no admittance for women under 18 or men under 20. Two resident DJs play funk, house, hip-hop and R & B. Candlelights on the walls and intimate seating areas let you get down to it on and off the dance floor.

103 Main Rd, Claremont
Tel: (021) 683 2220.
www.tigertiger.co.za

Address 103 Main Rd, Cape Town, South Africa
Telephone: (021) 683 2220
http://www.tigertiger.co.za

Live Music in Cape Town

Green Dolphin

Green Dolphin
If jazz is your scene, swim over to The Green Dolphin restaurant in the V&A Waterfront's Alfred Mall. It's hailed as the city's premier jazz venue with live music every night. It even has its own three-volume CD collection and has hosted Herb Ellis, Natalie Cole and Jim Galloway. Tuck into its continental and seafood and pasta specialities.

V&A Waterfront
Tel: (021) 421 7471.

Address V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
Telephone: (021) 421 7471
The Rainbow Room

The Rainbow Room
A recent addition to the city's live music scene, this jazz club has taken over the downstairs area in a lifestyle centre that contains an art gallery, deli and café. Spacious and air conditioned, with a Thai-leaning menu. Themes include Afro-jazz, avant garde and funk/soul. Not open every night yet, so check first.

Mandela Rhodes Place, Church Street
Tel: (021) 422 1418.
www.therainbowexperience.co.za

Address Mandela Rhodes Place, Cape Town, South Africa
Telephone: (021) 422 1418
http://www.therainbowexperience.co.za
The Waiting Room

The Waiting Room
Wait no more - this is becoming one of Cape Town's hippest spots, popular with the after-work drinks crowd and presenting a selection of local artists with diverse musical flavours. Originals, rather than cover versions, with the emphasis on folk and funky jazz. Once the waiting room for a popular burger bar for the Long Street mass market, it has now expanded and boasts a funky rooftop bar.

273 Long Street
Tel: (021) 422 4536.

Address 273 Long Street, Cape Town, South Africa
Telephone: (021) 422 4536
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