The Gin Bar in De Waterkant opened as Cape Town's first bar dedicated to gin, arriving at the right moment as the city's artisan distilling scene started to take off. The list runs to well over a hundred gins, with strong representation from South African producers — Inverroche, Clemengold, Six Dogs — alongside the international standards. Staff are knowledgeable and the tonic selection is treated with the same seriousness as the spirits.
The room is compact and fills up quickly on weekend evenings; mid-week is easier. De Waterkant is a short walk from the City Bowl and has a good density of other bars and restaurants nearby, making it a natural starting point for an evening out in that part of the city.