My favourite places to drink Guinness in Cape Town

When I left for Ireland, I didn’t think about Guinness much. Something about the colour of it made me think it tasted like coffee. I imagined it to be thick and viscous, like molasses, and I thought people drank it as an after-dinner treat, kind of like an Irish Coffee.

But when I arrived in Dublin for the year to do my Masters, I obviously had to try one. I don’t like having FOMO and I was terrified of not making friends, so I decided I was going to be the cool chill gal who ordered pints. I tried my first one at a meet-and-greet with all my new classmates who were ordering “one pint of a Guinness please” and receiving foul looks from the bartender. Ever the student, I took note of what not to do, and as casual as can be said, “a Guinness pint please, I mean one of Guinness please!” ‘Cool’ and ‘chill’ are not words people use to describe me. The bartender looked at me with disgust, as he mumbled something that ended with “get a clue” and “when will it end.” Oh, the shame.

Here was this creamy, bitter-like-burnt-caramel beer that was somehow both refreshing and like a warm hug in my belly.

After the bartender shoved the pint over to me and I took a sip, I realised everything I thought about Guinness was not only wrong, but also a bit embarrassing. Here was this creamy, bitter-like-burnt-caramel beer that was somehow both refreshing and like a warm hug in my belly. I deserved all of the bartender’s disdain. I resolved to spend the next year drinking as many pints as I could to make up for lost time. Guinness became my after-class drink, my I-need-something-to-warm-me-up drink, my I’ve-made-a-new-friend drink. It became something I’d associate with a good mood – a feeling that, during a year of being very alone in a different country, was few and far between.

One thing I learnt from the Irish is that rainy weather shouldn’t stop you from leaving the house.

It also became something I associate with grey skies and colder weather. Ireland is an exceptional place, but warm it is not. One thing I learnt from the Irish is that rainy weather shouldn’t stop you from leaving the house. So, now back home in Cape Town winter, I crave Guinness. This craving gets me out of the house on cold days and reminds me to celebrate little things, even if it’s just me being in a good mood.

My top 5 places to grab a pint in Cape Town

Story Horse
📍104 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town

This is an extraordinary pint. Creamy all the way down to the last sip and bitter with an excellent moussey mouth feel. They are one of the few bars in the city that have the Guinness keg dispenser, which is designed to dispense nitrogenous beers, and it shows! It’s the best pint in town.

The Twelve Bells
📍9 Kloof Nek Rd, Gardens, Cape Town

For months, the Guinness at Twelve Bells tasted a bit like I was licking a tin. But my most recent visit was such an improvement that I asked the owner if something changed. Instead of SAB-made Guinness, kegs are coming straight from St. James Gate in Dublin. Praise be! It felt like I was sitting in Grogan’s off Drury Street, drinking a pint after class.

Fireman’s Arms
📍25 Buitengracht St &, 25 Mechau St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town

I love sitting at the bar in Fireman’s. Sure, sometimes the pints aren’t the creamiest, but they’re served with fun ‘foam art’ and I get to people watch all the regulars. Also they make a mean ‘Baby Guinness.’ If you don’t know what I’m talking about, ask for one the next time you’re there and thank me through the airwaves.

Forester’s Arms (Forries)
📍52 Newlands Ave, Newlands, Cape Town
↗ Reserve A Table

Admittedly, I don’t frequent Forries much, but I recently went for their Sunday Carvery (highly recommend, a classic) and their pint was very decent. Just be wary of the burly men trying to steal Castle Lites off the pass if you do happen to sit at the bar. Yes, this happened.

Woodcutter’s Arms
📍7 Main Rd, Hout Bay, Cape Town

A quick stop after a South Yeaster visit one Saturday turned into one of the best pints I’ve had in Cape Town. Also ten out of ten for the classic pub feel and the old man in the corner with his book and bottle of white wine. Love.