Hotel bars have become quite the thing and in Joburg you’ll find everything from swanky cocktail lounges located in some of the city’s hottest hotels; to good old-fashioned establishments offering unpretentious, rowdy, fun-loving, beer-swilling crowds. It doesn’t matter whether it’s old or new, in Jozi the hotel bar scene swings. Here are our top ten:

The Polo Bar at The Westcliff (now closed)
Old-world glam meets new-age urbanite at this luxurious bar-with-a-view which serves up light tapas-style lunches while offering an extensive drinks menu including a fine selection of champagnes.
Signature drink: The High Tea Cocktail and The Vanilla-Chocolate Martini

Central One Bar and Restaurant at Radisson Blu Hotel  
Sip fabulous cocktails in this slick, chic bar which can either precede or accompany a gourmet dining experience.
Signature drink: The Hennessy Twist

The Circle Bar at The Rosebank
This contemporary bar plays host to Jozi’s trendy social scene as only the seriously hip sip cocktails here.
Signature drink: The Tequila Originals; namely Ubuntu, The Devil Made Me Do It and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Skye Bar at Holiday Inn Sandton
Go for the stunning panoramic city views and the impressive menu of international wines, whiskies and cocktails.
Signature drink: The Strawberry Daiquiri

The Whisky Bar at the Southern Sun Hotel Hyde Park
This late night whisky bar and cigar lounge is where the in-crowd go to be seen after work and to drink sundowners at the poolside while gazing over the view of Jozi’s northern suburbs.
Signature drink: For whiskey: Johnny Walker Black and for cocktails: the Mojito

The Peech Boutique Hotel
There’s a chic little boutique bar located here, which serves lovely cocktails as a pre-cursor to dinner at the fabulous Peech bistro.
Signature drink: The Peech Bellini

The Sports Bar at The Troyeville
This Jozi-south institution is a classic watering hole, which offers an extensive selection of beers, which are perfectly cold and go down well with the tasty Portuguese fare.
Signature drink: Beer or try the Portuguese brandy called 1920 a.k.a “Firewater”.

San Bar at Sandton Sun
This popular bar offers loads of variety from an outdoor deck to massive fire-pits, where you get to drink cocktails with the added bonus of keeping warm on chilly nights.
Signature drink: The Sandtonista

Ndau Lounge at The Hyatt Regency
This fabulous venue, which is a new addition to the ever-popular Hyatt, flows onto an outdoor terrace and lush gardens, where light meals are served and go down a treat with the menu’s exotic cocktails. Signature drink: The Ndau Martini

The Winston Hotel
This little nook-of-a-bar is wonderfully contemporary yet set against a sophisticated colonial-chic backdrop, where cocktails are abundant and the wine list impressive.
Signature drink: The Maverick Martini and The el Florita

By Laurel Pretorious