Tjing Tjing, Cape Town

Housed within a 181-year-old Victorian building in the heart of downtown Cape Town, Tjing Tjing is an unlikely concoction of myriad architectural styles. Comprising of a rooftop bar and dance lounge shielded from the sky by a beautiful 200-year-old rafter ceiling, the interiors showcase varying design styles that somehow blend seamlessly. The black and gold furniture exudes a colonial vibe juxtaposed against rugged wooden planks running the length of the floor, and while the wallpaper within seems like it’s straight out of a bar in Tokyo’s Harajuka district, a polished red lacquer bar takes centrestage and holds all the elements together. The menu comprises of beer, cocktails and tapas (served right until closing), and the crowd is distinctly hipster. Go here for an unpretentious and crazy night of drinks and dancing—it’s one of the biggest nights out in Cape Town.