Finding meaningful friendships as an adult can be challenging, especially in Cape Town. However, there are social clubs all over the city that make it easier to meet like-minded people across a range of ages and interests. Whether you’re looking for casual chats over coffee, creative workshops, or a shared love of books, these clubs provide welcoming spaces to connect in a relaxed setting.
From women’s networking groups and art meetups to board game nights and swing dancing, each club on this list offers a unique way to socialise at your own pace. With a focus on genuine connections and shared interests, these social clubs make it easier to build lasting friendships while enjoying activities you love.
The Design Kids Cape Town
Hosted by a global artist collective that helps young artists build their careers, this regular social meetup is for creatives of all kinds to chat, work on passion projects, and engage with their community in a laid-back, cosy setting.
Every month has its own, a previous one being “Unfinished Business”, where attendees were encouraged to bring along their half-finished, overdue, neglected projects that they’ve been meaning to finish. Meet-ups are not limited to crafting socials; they host a range of other creative-minded events, such as art-themed quiz nights, talks, and workshops.
Everyone is welcome, whether bringing a craft project or a laptop, and encouraged to invite friends along. Events are free to join. RSVP using the website and keep up with each meeting on Instagram.
When: Monthly | 6.30pm – 10pm
Where: Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room, 133 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
Cape Town Swing
At Cape Town Swing, swing dancing in all its forms is taught through a structured approach that blends classes, workshops, and social events, with complete beginner classes for those wanting to learn.
Beginner lessons are open to members and drop-ins and are held on a regular schedule so anyone can get in the groove and build their confidence over time. There is no need to bring a partner, as partners are rotated in class, and anyone can lead or follow.
Those with more experience can join the improver and intermediate classes to find partners who can keep up, while expanding their vocabulary of lindy hop, charleston and solo jazz movement. There are also social dancing sessions, where those of all skill levels can use what they’ve learned to relax and enjoy themselves in a completely pressure-free environment.
Those who want to commit to swing can pay for a monthly membership plan, which grants access to unlimited weeknight classes and discounts on other offerings.
All scheduled events can be found via the online calendar. Bookings are not needed – attendees can sign in and pay before classes start.
Cost: R170 per drop-in (beginner classes) | Free entry (social dancing) | From R550 per month (students & pensioners membership)
When: Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays | 7.30pm – 8.30pm (Fri beginner classes) | Various times
Where: Cape Town Unitarian Community Centre, 64 Hout St, Cape Town City Centre (Friday classes) | Various locations
Obs Can Feed You
Those who want to meet new people while supporting a good cause can join Obs Can Feed You’s family of volunteers who gather every weekend to make sandwiches and bowls of oats and donate them to those in Observatory who need them.
All food is prepared by volunteers at Trenchtown, an iconic Obs nightlife venue turned community hub, and distributed in the square across from the Kwikspar, frequently serving over 100 people per day. Meetings are always vibrant and social, with the mission of helping those in need making for a wholesome atmosphere among everyone involved.
Donations of supplies like oats, bread, and mayonnaise are always welcome. Those interested can keep up to date with the latest news on their Instagram.
When: Saturdays & Sundays | 8am – 9.45am
Where: Trenchtown, 143 Lower Main Rd, Observatory, Cape Town
Cape Town Craft Club
The Cape Town Craft Club circle brings creative people in the city together to make stuff in a laid-back, fun, judgement-free space. Everyone is welcome, from seasoned makers to absolute beginners.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their embroidery kit, clay toolbox, Copic markers, sewing machine, or whatever creative project they’re working on, and to join the club at Bree Street Community Hall. Craft circles are hosted by Andie Reeves, teacher, textile artist, and founder of Cape Town Craft Club.
Craft Club is an ideal activity for individuals and friend groups who want to meet like-minded people who make stuff, commit to making time for creativity, need guidance or input on a creative project, would like to work among those who inspire them, or simply crave a creative outlet. Details for club meetings are on Instagram.
Often, the club hosts other themed events, including its famous Cinema Craft Club, where crafters bring small projects (preferably not taking up too much space) while enjoying a classic film at the iconic Labia Theatre.
Cost: R150 per person. Tickets can be bought on Quicket.
When: Wednesdays | 6pm – 9pm
Where: Bree Street Community Hall (behind Clarke’s), 133 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre
Read our 2024 interview with the founder of Cape Town Craft Club, Andie Reeves
Fanaticus Games
Describing itself as a “third space”, Fanaticus Games provides a dedicated space for board game enthusiasts to meet, play, and explore new games. The store hosts regular game days and themed game nights, where players can join open tables, bring their own games, or try out demo copies from the store’s collection.
Sessions are open to everyone, allowing walk-ins of all skill levels to join for interactive games among friends. An admission fee of R80 grants all-day access to the gaming space and library, with 50% of the fee converting into store credit.
Fanaticus also offers private bookings for team-building sessions and corporate events, tailoring the experience to suit different group dynamics. The store’s online shop provides a wide selection of board and role-playing games, shipping across South Africa.
There are game nights every Tuesday and Thursday, with a dedicated role-playing game evening on Fridays, and even more games on Saturday mornings. The events calendar is available online.
Cost: R80 per person (day access). Fees can be paid in person.
When: Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays | 6pm to 10pm | 9am to 3pm (Sat)
Where: The Clubhouse, 3 Sonneblom St, Parow North
Lekker Chats
A social group for those who enjoy meaningful conversations, Lekker Chats hosts regular events that bring participants together in small groups to explore thought-provoking topics. With the help of light question prompts, they naturally foster open dialogue and facilitate the building of new connections through important topics.
Discussions are structured around eight key questions, with small groups of four to five people spending an hour together before reshuffling for the final hour. This allows everyone to meet many of their peers, while still spending a good amount of quality time with them.
With a focus on curiosity, openness, and personal growth, Lekker Chats offers a space for enriching discussions beyond small talk, completely free to attend in a variety of locations across Cape Town. The gathering schedule is available on the website. Those looking for a more regular space can join the weekly Lekker Wednesdays evenings at Ground Zero in Observatory.
When: Sunday afternoons | 1.45pm for 2pm | Wednesdays @ 5.45pm (Lekker Wednesdays)
Where: Various locations | 122b Lower Main Rd, Observatory (Lekker Wednesdays)
Open Mic Film Night
A regular event dedicated to Cape Town’s filmmakers and cinephiles, Open Mic Film Night is a space where local films are screened for audiences, followed by group discussions hosted by the filmmakers themselves. With South African cinema going through ups and downs in recent times, Open Mic Film Night is one of the few places where audiences gather to watch, dissect, and celebrate local filmmaking in an all-inclusive space.
Most gatherings are free to attend, and film submissions are free as well, enabling younger filmmakers with fewer resources to find their audience. Details for each meeting can be found on their Instagram. RSVPs are available on Quicket.
Socially Gathering
Socially Gathering is South Africa’s biggest female networking platform: a women-only community that provides a space to form friendships and professional connections through in-person events.
Regular events include the bi-monthly ‘She Means Business Coffee Club’, where women from all over the Mother City meet before work to connect and grow their network over a cup of coffee. Additional gatherings, such as promenade walks, paint-and-sip lunches, movie watchalongs, networking sessions, and business panels, are occasionally organised.
Socially Gathering welcomes women from all backgrounds, encouraging connection in a supportive environment. Event details are shared via social media and WhatsApp groups for those interested in joining.
Cost: Various prices, often free
When: Monthly | Schedule is available online
Where: Various locations
Curves on Trails
Curves on Trails is a Cape Town-based hiking group created for women who want to move their bodies in a supportive, judgment-free environment. Designed specifically for curvier women and complete beginners, the group focuses on making outdoor activity feel accessible, enjoyable, and inclusive.
Great for starting a fitness journey or even simply looking for a more relaxed way to explore the outdoors, Curves on Trails offers a space where comfort and community come first. Walks and hikes are intentionally beginner-friendly, with an emphasis on building confidence, enjoying nature, and connecting with like-minded women.
Curves on Trails is taking a break in July and plans to resume when the weather improves for Women’s Month in August.
Each hike is listed on their Instagram and is completely free to attend, with no sign-up required. Attendees are encouraged to view the level of difficulty before going.
Pretty Girls Like Film
To celebrate women in the local film industry, Pretty Girls Like Events hosts evenings for the community to socialise and connect. The programme often features a curated selection of short films by local women filmmakers, and, after the screenings, there is a panel discussion where attendees can ask questions and converse with creators & creatives on their films, their subject matter, and issues surrounding women’s filmmaking in Cape Town.
Pretty Girls Like Film is an initiative that promotes women filmmakers and provides women in the industry with a platform to meet and discuss pertinent issues in a safe and inclusive space. All film enthusiasts are welcome at their inclusive events to watch, learn, and converse.
Cost: R30 per person. Tickets to the next event can be booked on Quicket.
When: Monthly | 6pm – 10pm
Where: Gorgeous George (The Pink Room), 118 St Georges Mall, Cape Town City Centre
Silent Book Club
Silent Book Club’s Cape Town chapter provides a quiet, pressure-free space for book lovers to read alongside others without assigned books or required discussion. Meetings are held in public venues like cafés and bookstores, where attendees bring their own reading material—whether a novel, audiobook, or magazine—and enjoy uninterrupted reading time in a social setting.
Sessions start with an optional conversation before an hour of silent reading, after which members can continue socialising or head home. With 10,000 attendees in Cape Town alone, Silent Book Club welcomes all readers, offering an easygoing way to connect with fellow book enthusiasts while making steady progress on personal reading lists.
All meetings are completely free to attend. Details for each meeting are available online.
When: Most weekends | 2-hour sessions
Where: Various locations
My Soul Sistas
Another women-only social group, My Soul Sistas is a well-run club with its own dedicated app where organisers post a wide variety of events meant to connect women throughout Cape Town. Whether it’s walks through the Cape Winelands, visits to the Aquarium, or kayaking for the sunrise, they are well-suited to anyone looking to make lifelong friends without needing to share niche hobbies – just show up and socialise.
Memberships come with a once-off R350 fee, which gives women access to the members-only app with information on each event. Each event attended is R50 per person, with no monthly fee or yearly donation needed.
More information is available on the website.
