Happy hour · 4pm to 6pm · Seven days

The 2-for-1 happy hour that has not moved in years.

Four until six, every day of the week, at 74 Waterkant Street. House spirits, house wine, dumpies, tequila and Long Islands — order one, the second is free. No loyalty card, no minimum spend, no “selected Tuesdays only”.

Every day 4pm–6pm2 for 1De WaterkantWalk-ins welcome
On the list

What’s included in the 2-for-1

Happy hour here is deliberately simple. There is no tiered menu and no asterisk. If it is on this list, you order one and a second arrives with it.

House spirits
Gin, vodka, rum, whisky, brandy — single or double, mixer included.
2 for 1
House white & red wine
By the glass. Poured properly, not measured meanly.
2 for 1
Castle Lite dumpies
Ice cold, straight from the fridge, never from the shelf.
2 for 1
Black Label dumpies
For the people who know what they want.
2 for 1
Tequila shotsPopular
Olmeca Gold. Salt and lime on the house.
2 for 1
Long Island cocktailsBest value
Coke or cranberry. The most drink per rand in De Waterkant.
2 for 1

Everything outside that list — the full cocktail menu, premium spirits, craft beer, bottles of wine — runs at normal price during happy hour. We would rather keep the 2-for-1 list short and actually honour it than publish a long one full of exclusions.

Why it works here

Cape Town’s most reliable happy hour

Plenty of bars in Cape Town run a happy hour. Most of them run it Monday to Thursday, or 5pm to 6pm, or only in the low season, or only in the section of the bar nobody wants to sit in. The specials get quietly withdrawn in December when the city fills up.

Ours runs seven days a week, two full hours, all year. It runs on Christmas Eve. It runs during Pride. It runs when the place is packed and it runs when it is quiet. That consistency is the entire point — you should be able to tell a friend “meet me at Manhattan at half four” without checking anything first.

The other thing worth knowing: the kitchen is open the whole time. Happy hour at a lot of venues means drinking on an empty stomach until the kitchen opens at six. Ours has been running since 11am, so the full food menu — burgers, grills, salads and starters — is available throughout.

Best time to arrive

  • 4:00pm — the room is quiet, you will get the good table by the window, and you have the full two hours ahead of you.
  • 5:00pm — the after-work crowd lands. Best atmosphere, still an hour to run.
  • 5:45pm — possible, but you are ordering fast. Last 2-for-1 order goes in before six.

Bringing a group

Groups of six or more are worth a heads-up so we can put tables together — especially on a Friday. Ten or more and we would rather you talk to us properly about the space. Message 021 002 8867 on WhatsApp.

Stacking happy hour with the day’s special

Happy hour runs alongside whatever else is on that day. On a Monday that means 2-for-1 drinks and buy-one-get-one-free burgers at the same time. On a Thursday the R20 tequila and Jäger shots start after the happy hour ends, so the cheap drinks essentially run from four until close.

See the full weekly specials list.

Common questions

Good to know

What time is happy hour at Cafe Manhattan?

4pm to 6pm, every day of the week, including weekends and public holidays.

What drinks are included in the 2-for-1?

House spirits, house white and red wine by the glass, Castle Lite and Black Label dumpies, tequila shots, and Long Island cocktails. Premium spirits, the full cocktail list and bottled wine are at standard price.

Do I need a card or a booking for happy hour?

Neither. Walk in any day between 4pm and 6pm and order. Groups of six or more are worth messaging ahead so we can seat you together.

Is the kitchen open during happy hour?

Yes. The kitchen runs from 11am to 10pm, so the full food menu including the burgers, grills and starters is available right through happy hour.

Is Cafe Manhattan's happy hour on over the festive season?

Yes. It runs every day of the year, including December and public holidays. It is the one thing here that does not change.

Four o’clock is closer than you think

Walk in, or grab a table if you are bringing the whole office. Either way the second drink is free until six.