A new speakeasy-inspired jazz and cocktail bar dubbed The Art of Duplicity has quietly opened its doors in the heart of Cape Town’s CBD in a top-secret location.

 

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A post shared by Justin Awehwolf Shaw (@awehwolf_bar) on Oct 7, 2018 at 10:49am PDT

Inspired by the USA’s prohibition era, during which illicit establishments served alcoholic beverages, The Art of Duplicity is only accessible to those with a secret password. This is given – along with a series of prompts – to those lucky enough to get a reservation. Once you find the location, the doorman will ask for the secret phrase and will then lead you through a dark and dramatic alley until you reach the 1920s speakeasy.

The glow of the bar at Art of Duplicity. Photo by Nikita Buxton

The bar will transport you to another time using a space filled with luxury crystal glassware, mahogany, soft amber lighting and the hum of live jazz. Cocktails made by bartender Brent Perremore are quirky and whimsical, like the Hillbilly Breakfast Flip with bourbon, smoked maple syrup and free-range quail egg; the Sicilian Neck Tie with olive oil-washed vodka, limoncello, lemon juice and rosemary syrup; or the Bag o’ Brass-Knuckles with vanilla-infused bourbon, full-cream sherry, lime juice and root beer.

 

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While we can’t ruin the fun by revealing the location, we can say that it’s nestled in a warehouse at the back of an 1894 building store front found east of the City Bowl. The interiors were crafted by Jay Smith and Amanda Bussey of the Jay Smith Collection to evoke a 1920s underground feel.

 

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The Art of Duplicity is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 6pm to midnight, with live jazz every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The dress code is (not strictly) ‘Mae West meets Al Capone’.

And, most importantly, reservations to The Art of Duplicity can be made via 170120.co.za. You’ll receive further instructions via email or SMS.