Indulge in Africa’s Biggest Spirits Event with AJABU Cocktail Festival

The AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival is back, bringing bartenders from some of the finest bars worldwide to the Mother City to partner with local bars and create bespoke cocktail menus that celebrate the magic and diversity of South African ingredients and talent.

Here’s everything cocktail lovers need to know.

How to Bar Hop with the AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival

Thirty of Cape Town’s best bars are participating in the festival, with ten core spots and a 20-strong rotation ensuring every evening can be spent trying something completely new.

A wristband gives guests access to all participating bars, allowing them to order at least one exclusive R86 signature cocktail at each spot. This year, the flagship cocktail is the beloved pornstar martini, with its roots in Cape Town making it an ideal choice for this year’s edition. This offer makes AJABU an affordable way for real cocktail enthusiasts to taste flavours from around the world and learn more about local watering holes that they haven’t tried yet.

One of the main attractions is undoubtedly the international guest bartenders, each bringing their own spin and style to Cape Town’s lounges, taverns, and speakeasies. AJABU continues to be an important platform for Africa’s best mixologists, with bartenders from Ghana (Front Back, Tribeca & more), Zambia (The Gathering), Kenya (Hero), Côte d’Ivoire (Bissa & Togosa), Jozi (Sin + Tax & Smoking Kills), and Bloemfontein (The Muse).

The international talent lineup includes bartenders from Atlanta (Hotel Phoenix), Denver (Williams & Graham), Baltimore (Mama Koko), and Montreal (Bisou Bisou). The full bar list is available online.

Wristband holders can join free workshops, masterclasses, and seminars, with the owners of both Bisou Bisou and Obscura offering classes, alongside sessions with hospitality coach Sean Finter and Cocktail Maven’s Thandi Walton. Spaces are limited, so sign up early. Each ticket also includes access to live music performances and a chance to win a trip to Goa, India.

Finally, those wanting the full AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival experience can spend a bit extra for a seat at the Tasting Table, where attendees meet the founders of more than 20 craft spirit brands and learn to make cocktails with them.

The minds behind AJABU

Co-founded by Colin Asare-Appiah (Bar World 100 Most Influential Figures 2023, Co-Author Black Mixcellence, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s 2024 Visionary Award Recipient) and Mark Talbot Holmes (Founder of U’Luvka Vodka), AJABU – meaning ‘wondrous’ or ‘miraculous’ – is Africa’s largest, bi-annual cocktail and spirits festival.

AJABU not only shines a light on Africa’s hospitality industry but also fosters connections across the continent’s bar industry, while building an international community of bars and beverage professionals through collaborations between global and local bars.

How to book tickets

Celebrating collaboration and creativity, globally recognised local distillers, makers, and bar owners, along with international brands, have joined forces to curate a series of inspired menus showcasing the best of Cape Town’s bars, brands, and cocktail culture.

Cost: R150 per person (8-day festival pass). Book now on Quicket.