As South Africa’s craft drink industry continues to grow, more and more distilleries, wineries and breweries popping up in bustling urban locations. From a trendy gin distillery to a hidden winery nestled in the city streets, here are five great places that brew and distill some of your favourite sippers.

The working brewery at Tuk Tuk Microbrewery on Franschhoek’s main street. Photo supplied.

Dorrance Wines at Bouchon Bistro (Cape Town, City Bowl)

La Boheme’s sister restaurant, Bouchon Wine Bar & Bistro, is also home to a charming urban winery. Dorrance Wines offer City Bowl wine enthusiasts and foodies the opportunity to enjoy international and local wines by the glass alongside wine barrels and a working cellar. The wines included are made in the French tradition and showcase some of the Cape’s best fruit in chenin, chardonnay and syrah varietals. The tasting room is open to the public on Monday to Friday from 12pm to 5pm thereafter; patrons can grab a table at Bouchon for some Mediterranean-style tapas.

Dining in the cellar at Dorrance Wines at Bouchon Bistro. Photo supplied.

Distillery 031 (Berea, Durban)

Local entrepreneur and independent distiller Andrew Rall opened Distillery 031 late last year to offer a new range of independent, Durban-distilled, limited-edition artisanal spirits, including vodka, spiced rum, gin and absinthe, as well as cordials and all-natural tonic water. Durban’s first craft distillery has also added an inventive street-food menu to the mix to complement its cocktail selection. Enjoy a guided spirit tasting before dinner or simply head to one of their Sunday music sessions for boozy gin-filled brunches.

The working distillery at 031 Bar and Restaurant. Photo supplied.

Hope on Hopkins (Hope on Hopkins, Cape Town)

This small but trendy distillery in the heart of Salt River prides itself on crafting its own spirits from scratch. Their artisanal gins and spirits are infused using a range of botanicals including juniper, Angelica root, coriander, citrus and rosemary and can be sampled at the distillery at pre-booked tours and tastings. Bookings are open for Wednesdays in the late afternoon and on Saturdays for groups of up to 12 people. The public are also welcome to book a private gin experience and a tour of the distillery. The Gin Experience and Tour costs R85 per person.

Smack Republic Brewing Co. (Maboneng, Johannesburg)

This Jozi brewery is situated on the east side of the city at the Arts on Main building in hip Maboneng. This urban setting, with its rich history, provides a perfect backdrop for Jozi’s first city microbrewery.  The multi-purpose space not only brews the beers but also plays host to art and music shows, beer and food pairings and Sunday taste sessions. Sip on the likes of Hillbrow Honey pale ale, Maboneng Maverick saison and Braamfontein Brawler India pale ale between 10am and 3pm every Sunday while brushing up on your brewing knowledge.

Beer and Mexican eats at Tuk Tuk Microbrewery. Photo supplied.

Tuk Tuk Brewery (Franschhoek, Cape Winelands)

The first of its kind on Franschhoek’s main street, Tuk Tuk offers locals a cool bar experience with spicy taquería-style eats and a chance to observe the beer brewing process by brewmaster Dewald Goosen. Visitors can sit indoors and watch their favourite craft beer being expertly made, or find a spot outdoors on the leafy main street of Franschhoek. Six CBC beers are on offer – CBC Lager, CBC Mandarina Bavaria IPA, CBC Imperial IPA, CBC Pilsner, CBC Amber Weiss and CBC Krystal Weiss – while four exclusive handcrafted Tuk Tuk branded beers – a lager, weiss, dunkel and pale ale – will be released later this year.