The Power & The Glory
Higgovale, Cape Town
Bar in Cape Town, South Africa
Book with PearlWhy go
The Power & The Glory on Kloof Nek Road in Tamboerskloof draws a neighbourhood crowd rather than a tourist one; which is either exactly what you want or a reason to look elsewhere. Booking difficulty is easy, walk-ins work on quieter nights, it fits best as a regular spot or a low-key drinks stop rather than a destination evening out in Cape Town.
About The Power & The Glory
Should You Book The Power & The Glory?
If you want a bar in Cape Town's Tamboerskloof neighbourhood that draws a local crowd rather than a tourist one, The Power & The Glory at 13d Kloof Nek Road is worth knowing about. Seats at the right spots in this bar move quickly on weekend evenings, so if you have a specific visit in mind, plan ahead rather than assuming you can walk in at peak hour and find exactly what you want.
Who Goes Here and Whether You'll Fit In
The Power & The Glory occupies a section of Kloof Nek Road that functions as a neighbourhood spine for Tamboerskloof and lower Gardens residents. The crowd skews local and returning rather than first-time visitors working through a list of Cape Town highlights. If you've been once and found yourself comfortable in that mix, you're likely to find the same on a return. First-timers who prefer a room full of tourists or a more curated hotel-bar atmosphere may feel slightly out of step here, but that's not a flaw; it's a feature for the right person.
The bar suits a drinks-focused visit more than a full evening of dining. If you're arriving from elsewhere in Cape Town, Tamboerskloof is accessible by rideshare from the City Bowl in a short trip, Kloof Street's broader stretch of bars and restaurants gives you easy options before or after. For those already living or staying in the area, The Power & The Glory functions well as a regular spot rather than a destination outing.
Booking and Timing
Booking difficulty here is rated easy, which means walk-ins are generally achievable outside of Friday and Saturday peak hours. If your visit is on a weekend evening, contact the venue in advance to confirm current capacity and whether any reservation option is available. For a midweek visit or an early evening drink, showing up without a booking is a reasonable approach. The venue's address on Kloof Nek Road is direct to find, sitting within a few minutes of the Kloof Street restaurant strip.
How It Compares
See the comparison section below for how The Power & The Glory sits against other Cape Town bar options including Asoka, Cafe Caprice, Planet Bar, and Cassette.
Pearl Picks Nearby
- Our full Cape Town bars guide; if you're building a multi-stop evening
- Our full Cape Town restaurants guide, for dinner options before or after
- Our full Cape Town hotels guide, if you're still sorting where to stay
- Our full Cape Town wineries guide, for daytime options in the region
- Our full Cape Town experiences guide, broader itinerary planning
- Sin + Tax in Johannesburg, worth knowing if you're travelling further north
- The Wine Shop by Caraffa in Pretoria, a strong wine-bar option if Pretoria is on your route
- Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, for internationally minded readers planning ahead
Planning details
- Location
- 13d Kloof Nek Rd, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
- Phone
- +27 21 213 1213
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Power & The Glory registers as a quietly proud neighborhood bar that thrives on local allegiance rather than tourist spectacle. Nestled on the Kloof Nek strip in Tamboerskloof, it sits among independent operations that favour craft programs, small-batch producers and ethical sourcing. The tone is unflashy and focused: bartenders and operators write for regulars, foreground Western Cape distillers and distillers and pursue lower-waste practices. That combination gives the place a rooted, intimate personality — a charming, relaxed spot where provenance and thoughtful technique matter more than showy theatrics.
Best For
This is a classic neighborhood bar for locals and craft-minded visitors. It suits after-work pours, casual hangouts and late-night stops with a steady stream of regulars rather than transient tourists. The Power & The Glory is a good fit for solo visits and small groups who want focused drinks from Western Cape producers and house-made elements. Visitors looking for a low-key, provenance-driven cocktail experience — rather than a high-energy nightclub or tourist destination — will find it especially rewarding.
Ordering Tips
Order with provenance in mind: the bar aligns itself with Western Cape distillers and lower-waste programs, so ask which spirits are locally sourced. Bartenders at venues described here often feature house-made syrups and shrubs that reuse citrus byproduct, so inquire about seasonal or house-made mixers and shrubs. If you want to sample the bar’s approach to sustainability and craft, request recommendations that highlight small-batch producers or seasonal pours — and ask staff about their sourcing and waste-reduction practices.
Planning details
Location
13d Kloof Nek Rd, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Asoka; Notable alternative
- Cafe Caprice; Notable alternative
- Planet Bar; Notable alternative
- Cassette; Notable alternative
- Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen; Notable alternative
Bar context
How The Power & The Glory Compares in Cape Town
Against the broader Cape Town bar scene, The Power & The Glory sits in a different lane from the city's more polished or high-profile options. Planet Bar at the Mount Nelson Hotel gives you a formal hotel-bar experience with stronger service structure; better if you want reliability and a dress-code environment. Cassette skews younger and louder, with a DJ-driven atmosphere that suits late nights more than early evening drinks. The Power & The Glory sits between those poles: less polished than Planet Bar, less high-energy than Cassette, aimed at a crowd that's comfortable with a neighbourhood-bar register.
Asoka in Kloof Street is the closest geographic competitor and worth comparing directly. Both draw a local crowd, but Asoka has a stronger food offering and garden seating that makes it more versatile for groups or longer evenings. If you're deciding between the two for a sit-down evening, Asoka edges ahead on flexibility. Cafe Caprice in Camps Bay is a different proposition entirely; sea-facing, tourist-friendly, better for afternoon drinks in the sun than a Tamboerskloof evening. If you're after cocktail precision over atmosphere, Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen is the category leader in Cape Town for drinks-focused visits and warrants a separate booking.
Book The Power & The Glory when you want a low-key local evening in Tamboerskloof without the formality of a hotel bar or the volume of a club-adjacent venue. If you're building a longer Cape Town itinerary and want to compare options across the city, our full Cape Town bars guide gives you a ranked view of the full category.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Power & The Glory guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Power & The Glory
| Venue | Awards |
|---|---|
| The Power & The Glory | No published awards |
| Asoka | 2012 World's 50 Best Bars · #502009 World's 50 Best Bars · #45 |
| Cafe Caprice | 2010 World's 50 Best Bars · #27 |
| Planet Bar | 2010 World's 50 Best Bars · #292009 World's 50 Best Bars · #43 |
| Cassette | No published awards |
| Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen | Top 500 Bars 2026 · #455 |
A quick look at how The Power & The Glory measures up.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation at The Power & The Glory?
No reservation needed on most nights. Walk-ins at this Tamboerskloof spot are straightforward outside Friday and Saturday peak hours, when demand picks up along Kloof Nek Road. If you're visiting on a weekend, arriving before 8pm gives you the best chance of settling in without a wait.
Is The Power & The Glory good for groups?
Small to mid-size groups fit reasonably well here, given its neighbourhood bar format at 13d Kloof Nek Road. Larger parties should aim for an off-peak weeknight to avoid crowding out the space. For a more structured group setup with confirmed seating, Asoka or Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen offer easier pre-booking options.
Where is The Power & The Glory located?
The Power & The Glory is located in Cape Town, at 13d Kloof Nek Rd, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa.
