12 Great places to celebrate your Birthday

Party in an underwater world, hang out on a city rooftop or escape into nature for your birthday

Birthdays are special – whether you like them or not – and deserve to be celebrated. If you’re looking for a fresh way to mark the occasion, you’re in luck. How about an all-African township-style feast or some fun on a sand dune that’ll make you feel like a kid again? Or maybe fine dining or beach cocktails are more your speed. Whether you’re into the big bash or something a little more low-key, you’ll find your perfect birthday venue with this round-up of Cape Town hot spots.

BRING YOUR OWN WINE ALONG TO THIS GRILL ROOM

The premium grill room, which has 13 Western Cape locations, is famous for its speciality steaks and its award-winning wine list. Although the wine list is extensive, there is absolutely no corkage fee, so you and your friends are welcome to bring along your own choice of wine. Besides the excellent steaks, there are also poultry, seafood and vegetarian dishes at The Hussar Grill.

Good to know: There are set menus available for large get-togethers

Location: Various locations in the Western Cape

CELEBRATE WITH LIVE MUSIC

You can party inside the intimate spot or settle in on the rooftop to soak in the views with a cocktail at the Skybar (which has a pool and a view of Table Mountain). A moody De Waterkant musical joint, The Piano Bar is the place to go for easy listening funk, soul and blues. The sophisticated venue features live music every night of the week and serves up inventive cocktails and diverse tapas. Expect an enticing drinks menu, casual but top-quality cuisine, and a venue that’s as vibey in summer as it is cosy in winter at The Piano Bar.

Good to know: The Piano Bar is a great place for functions – you can hire out the entire venue or just reserve one section.

Location & Details: 47 Napier Street, De Waterkant, +27 (0)21 418 1096 bookings@thepianobar.co.za

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH A SIDE OF SWIMMING

If you’re a summer baby, your party is pretty much set at Ficks, with its outdoor wine bar and lounge-style decor, basking in the sun. The restaurant is set along the cliffs surrounding Fick’s Tidal Pool, with wraparound decks offering an exquisite ocean view. Keep an eye on the weather: this is very much an outdoor venue. They don’t take bookings, so it’s a great option for smaller groups. Fadzi, the resident culinary master, is determined to bring guests the taste of Spanish-inspired dishes and a unique experience at Ficks.

Good to know: Check Ficks’ Instagram (Social Media Pages)  to find out when they have special events taking place.

Location & Details: 8 Marine Drive ,Hermanus , +27(0)28 312 4082 | info@ficks.co.za

INVITE 14 FRIENDS FOR A FUN, INTERACTIVE SCAVENGER HUNT

If you’re looking for a totally unique birthday party, you’ve found it. This scavenger-hunt-meets-wild-goose chase is a fun and interactive way to bring your friends closer together in a competitive environment. Every team receives a smartphone loaded with a variety of challenges with set points. Teams compete to complete the challenges, send in photo evidence and score points to keep their rank on top of the live leaderboard. You can even watch the live photo feed to see what the other teams are up to. Plus all the photo evidence is yours to keep after the game, so the fun never stops with The Gallivanting Goose.

Good to know: Pricing works on a scaling system. The bigger the group or the more times you play, the less you pay. Prices start at R6750 for 15 participants and from there, the price drops per person for 21 participants. Contact The Gallivanting Goose for more details. Games are catered for up to 100 participants.

Location & Details: Various locations in and around Cape Town or Stellenbosch , www.thegg.co.za ,+27 (0)82 468 3052, talktome@thegg.co.za

HAVE SUSHI INSTEAD OF BIRTHDAY CAKE

Love sushi and looking for a birthday-party venue? Asami’s has six branches. From spacious restaurants to adjustable seating arrangements, you can bring a large group and the restaurant waiters will make a plan for your seating. Asami’s also has specials that can feed an army, like the three-for-two sushi combos on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays that cost between R129 and R139 in combo sizes from 16 to 21 piece. There’s also the two-for-one on sushi plates on Tuesdays and Thursdays and if you’re having an intimate affair you can do the all-you-can-eat sushi buffet at R179 per person (R115 for children). There’s everything from salmon, tuna, avo and even caramelised prawns and many more specials at Asami’s.

Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-10pm, Sun: 11am-9pm (Stellenbosch closes at 9:30pm on Sundays)

Location:  Somerset Mall, Centenary Dr, Firgrove Rural ; Paradyskloof Padstal R44 &, Blaauwklippen Rd, Stellenbosch, 7600

PARTY ON A ROOFTOP OR IN A PRIVATE LOUNGE

Voted one of the best new bars in the world by Condé Nast Traveler in 2012, Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar has been a favourite hang-out since 2011, and is as popular as ever. Killer cocktails, views and an inner-city vibe under wooden mansards in an old attic with an open rooftop area make this rooftop special. There’s also great indie and electronic music, moreish bar snacks and cool décor, like the red Japanese-shrine-inspired bar and the black and white Tokyo photo wall. One floor down is the moody, intimate Momiji Lounge, with sunken booths and a long, low couch. Sip on Japanese folklore-inspired cocktails, or something from the extensive wine or spirit list (including Japanese whiskies). Both Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar and Momiji Lounge are ideal for private functions or events.

Tip: There is no venue hire cost at Tjing Tjing House.

Location & Details: 165 Longmarket Street, Cape Town | +27 21 422 4920 | info@tjingtjing.co.za

A FAMILY DESTINATION IN THE ELGIN FARM VALLEY

Super cosy, minimum tech and maximum relaxation are what it’s about at this luxury glampsite in the Elgin Valley, just 50 minutes from Cape Town. There’s also a large events space which is ideal for mini-festivals (hint: you don’t pay venue hire, just the accommodation) and big birthday parties. Not to mention the luxury tents with real beds and armchairs inside – with grazing zebra and springbuck right outside. It’s cosy in winter, romantic and lovely for the kids at Cherry Glamping.

Good to know: There are more camps coming because it gets booked out quickly.

Location & Details: : Groenrug Estate, N2, Grabouw , +27 (0)82 788 9837, info@cherryglamping.co.za

ETHIOPIAN STEWS AND COFFEE

This Ethiopian eatery in the heart of the city centre is a great place to share a memorable meal in a warm and communal manner. They offer set menus of two to three courses. The flavourful stews are served in a pancake-like sourdough base called injera. And when you’re done, you can enjoy traditionally made Ethiopian coffee. Get together in a traditional, beautiful and relaxing setting at Addis in Cape.

Good to know: Your vegan, non-vegan and gluten-free friends are easily catered for.

Location & Details: 41 Church Street| City Centre, +27 (0)21 424 5722 celebrate@addisincape.co.za

COCKTAILS ON A SURFBOARD TABLE WITH YOUR FEET IN THE WATER

You, a few friends, sipping R&Rs (raspberry and rum) with your feet dangling in the shallow pool below your table, looking out over Big Bay’s views of the mountain and Robben Island. The menu – including crocodile tail pie with pineapple-chilli salsa, Soweto-style chicken wings or maize-crumbed shrimp – is one of our favourite finds. There’s a live DJ that plays on weekend afternoons at moyo at Eden on The Bay.

Good to know: Come on a Friday, between 12pm and 6pm, for R25 draughts and R39 cocktails during moyo’s drink specials.

Location & Details: Eden On The Bay Mall, Otto Du Plessis Dr, Big Bay/Blouberg | blouberg@moyo.com, +27 (0)21 286 0662

SHARKS, TURTLES AND OTHER INTERESTING PARTY GUESTS

With enough spectacular marine displays to make you feel like a kid again, this underwater wonderland boasts a number of venues that can be booked for private events. The Atlantic Ocean Gallery, with displays of spider crabs, anemones and jellyfish, holds up to 100 people; the I&J Predator Exhibit, home to ragged-tooth sharks, turtles and stingrays, holds up to 250 people. You can be sure that your guests will never attend a birthday party quite like yours at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Good to know: You get free entry on your birthday at the Two Oceans Aquarium birthday experience.

Location & Details: Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town , +27 (0)21 418 3823, Website

CELEBRATE IN STYLE WITH A WINE EXPERIENCE

This Franschhoek Valley estate boasts sociable tasting facilities, a versatile food offering, culinary tutoring and a novel food and wine pairing experience. The offering can be tailored to suit your needs and there are six venues to choose from, including the veranda (with modern couches and lower tables), tasting room and the inviting Family Table at Leopard’s Leap.

Good to know: Some areas can be interlinked with one another for greater versatility.

Location & details: R45 Main Road, Franschhoek Valley, +27 (0)21 876 8002 , manager@leopardsleap.co.za

FINE DINING 400M ABOVE SEA LEVEL IN STELLENBOSCH

Located along the Helshoogte Pass just outside Stellenbosch, Tokara offers contemporary cuisine, fine wine and incredible views over Stellenbosch and False Bay. It’s a refined plaaskos (farm cuisine) menu of semi-dehydrated tomato with tomato consommé, tempura tofu, celery and basil for starters, beef rib-eye with Heerenboontjie, green beans, turnip, thyme jus and roasted garlic tapioca for mains and a dessert of dark chocolate with granadilla and cacao nib ice cream.

Good to know: There are five large-scale tapestries by world-famous artist William Kentridge from the “Porter Series”. No other venue in the world displays as many.

Location & Details: Helshoogte Road, Stellenbosch, +27 (0)21 885 2550, reservations@tokara.com

Source: Capetownmagazine.com; https://bit.ly/3dgFhCY