Asoka
Higgovale, Cape Town
Bar in Cape Town, South Africa
Book with PearlThe Read
Kloof Street Cocktail Authority
Why go
Asoka is worth booking when you want a lively Kloof Street bar with recognised cocktail credibility and a social, late-night feel. It is less suited to quiet conversation or a food-first plan, so first-timers should use it as a drinks-focused stop in Gardens rather than the anchor for the whole evening.
About Asoka
Book Asoka if you are looking for a Cape Town bar with a clearly documented piece of international recognition: it placed #45 on World's 50 Best Bars in 2009. Beyond that accolade and a smart-casual dress code, public details are limited, so Asoka works best as a bar to research directly before making firm plans.
The useful way to think about it: Asoka has enough recognition to merit attention, but there is not enough publicly available information to support specific claims about its menu, crowd, service style, pricing, seating, or current booking demand. If those details matter for your night, confirm them with the venue before you go.
Go for the bar pedigree, not unsupported specifics
The bar's strongest confirmed signal is recognition from World's 50 Best Bars, where it placed #45 in 2009. That does not tell you what to order now, it should not be treated as a current ranking, but it does give Asoka a documented place in bar-world history.
For a first visit, keep the plan simple. Choose Asoka when you want a Cape Town bar with past international recognition and a smart-casual dress code. Do not rely on assumptions about a particular drinks program, food format, seating setup, or walk-in availability.
Where it fits in a Cape Town bar crawl
Use Asoka as one Cape Town bar option to compare against other venues before setting an itinerary. For broader bar research, start with our full Cape Town bars guide, then compare naturally with options such as Asoka, Planet Bar, Publik Wine Bar, Sin Cero, The Power & The Glory, Yours Truly.
If the evening needs more structure around the bar, build from the city guides rather than guessing. Our full Cape Town restaurants guide helps if dinner needs to come first; our full Cape Town hotels guide is useful for keeping late-night travel simple; our full Cape Town wineries guide works for daytime planning; and our full Cape Town experiences guide covers the rest of the trip.
For comparisons beyond a single stop, keep the focus on confirmed details: Asoka is in Cape Town, has a smart-casual dress code, placed #45 on World's 50 Best Bars in 2009. Other Cape Town venues may suit different plans, but current specifics about Asoka should be checked directly.
Planning details
- Location
- 68 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
- Website
- asoka.za.com
- Phone
- +27 21 422 0909
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Asoka reads like a quietly established neighbourhood bar that leans into warmth and familiarity rather than spectacle. Dark interiors and a terrace that catches the evening air off the mountain create a private, cocooned feel; the text explicitly notes the venue’s age and solidity, which anchors its character in the streetscape of Kloof Street. Rather than performing for tourist attention, Asoka earns local loyalty through consistency—recent review counts and historical recognition on the global stage underscore a programme that values steady, well-executed hospitality over flash.
Best For
Asoka is best for late-night evenings when Kloof Street comes alive and regulars drift in with purpose. Its intimate, warm interior and outdoor terrace suit low-key date nights and small group outings that prefer atmosphere and reliable drinks over high-volume theatrics. The bar’s history—highlighted by appearances on the World’s 50 Best Bars list—also makes it a destination for visitors who want a sense of Cape Town’s cocktail history without the tourist-focussed performance of other venues on the strip.
Ordering Tips
Expect a confident, carefully maintained drinks programme given the bar’s international recognition; the description stresses programme quality rather than gimmicks. If you want the clearest sense of Asoka’s character, take a seat on the terrace to catch the mountain air in the evening, or settle into the darker, warmer interior for a quieter experience. The crowd tends to be ‘self-selecting,’ so arrive with an intent—locals often know what they’re coming for—and be prepared to trust the bar team’s steady, consistent approach to service.
Venue details
Ambiance
Candlelit with dim lighting, warm wood interiors, fairy lights on the central tree, and a mystical laid-back atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
View
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Cocktail Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- House Music, Jazz
- Live Music
- Yes
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Sin Cero, Notable alternative
- Publik Wine Bar, Notable alternative
- The Power & The Glory, Notable alternative
- Yours Truly, Notable alternative
- Planet Bar, Notable alternative
Bar context
How It Compares
Choose Asoka over Sin Cero when the brief is a livelier Kloof Street night with a stronger recognition signal; its World's 50 Best Bars #45 placement from 2009 gives it more historical bar credibility than a casual drop-in pick. Choose Sin Cero instead if the priority is a lower-friction alternative and the booking pressure around Asoka feels like too much effort.
Publik Wine Bar is the better cross-shop for drinkers who care more about wine than cocktails, while Asoka is the clearer fit for a louder, more social first stop. The Power & The Glory and Yours Truly make more sense for casual, flexible plans; Asoka is the one to prioritise when the night needs a more deliberate bar booking.
Planet Bar is the safer choice for a polished hotel-bar mood and easier conversation. Asoka is stronger for energy and Kloof Street atmosphere, but it is not the fallback for a quiet drink. If the group is split, send cocktail-focused first-timers to Asoka and anyone wanting a calmer, more controlled room to Planet Bar.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Asoka guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Asoka
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Asoka | Cape Town | 2012 World's 50 Best Bars · #502009 World's 50 Best Bars · #45 |
| Sin Cero | Cape Town | No published awards |
| Publik Wine Bar | Cape Town | No published awards |
| The Power & The Glory | Cape Town | No published awards |
| Yours Truly | Cape Town | No published awards |
| Planet Bar | Cape Town | 2010 World's 50 Best Bars · #292009 World's 50 Best Bars · #43 |
How Asoka Cape Town compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the crowd like at Asoka?
Asoka is a Cape Town bar with World's 50 Best Bars #45 recognition from 2009 and a smart-casual dress code.
Is Asoka good for a date?
It may suit a date if you want a Cape Town bar with past international recognition, but the room layout, noise level, privacy, service style should be confirmed directly if those factors matter.
Do I need a reservation at Asoka?
Is the food good at Asoka?
The clearest confirmed signal is Asoka's World's 50 Best Bars #45 placement in 2009.
Does Asoka have happy hour deals?
Does Asoka have outdoor seating?
Confirm the current setup with Asoka before choosing it for that reason.
Is Asoka good for groups?
If you are planning for a group, contact Asoka directly and note the smart-casual dress code.
