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A Cape Town favourite is turning 21, and Rick’s Café Américain is inviting its regulars, friends and fellow food and music lovers to raise a glass in celebration.

The Kloof Street institution will mark 21 years on Thursday, 1 October, with the birthday festivities getting underway from 17h00.

The evening kicks off with DJ Joey on the deck, followed from 19h00 by live jazz in the bar with Roy & The Ricksters, featuring Willy van Zyl on saxophone. Guests can expect plenty of music, good food and birthday cheer, alongside a selection of special drinks deals.

Birthday specials include Aperol Spritz at R60, while the first 60 guests will receive a complimentary shot of Espolòn Reposado. Woodstock Lager will be available at R25 a pint until the keg runs dry, with additional birthday surprises and specials promised on the night.

Tables are limited, so advance bookings are recommended on 021 424 1100.

A Kloof Street institution

Situated in the heart of Cape Town on Kloof Street, Rick’s Café Américain occupies a historic Victorian villa, originally built in 1912, which was meticulously renovated in 2020. Its Moroccan-inspired interiors and Casablanca theme give the restaurant and bar its distinctive character, drawing inspiration from the 1942 film classic Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

The venue is spread across several levels, with a restaurant, lounge, wraparound balcony, ground-floor bar and rooftop terrace offering panoramic mountain views.

The rooftop terrace and cocktail bar are particularly suited to Cape Town's warmer afternoons and evenings, with folding glass doors providing protection from the elements while retaining the views, as well as a misting system for hot summer days. It offers a relaxed setting for lunch, dinner, cocktails and sundowners.

Downstairs, the Aviation Cocktail Bar is known for an extensive drinks selection, with approximately 500 beverage options, including an award-winning wine list, more than 80 tequila brands and a wide selection of gin, rum, whisky and other spirits.

The food offering follows Rick’s longstanding philosophy of comfort food, with a seasonal selection of global tapas, salads, gourmet burgers, seafood, prime steaks and Moroccan and Mediterranean specialities.

Upstairs, the lounge continues the Casablanca theme, with the classic film playing on a loop, while the wraparound balcony provides another vantage point from which to enjoy a meal, sundowners or the energy of Kloof Street.

After 21 years, Rick’s Café Américain continues to embrace the convivial spirit that has made it a familiar gathering place on Kloof Street — a place to meet friends, enjoy a meal or cocktail, listen to live music and, in true Rick’s style, play it again.

Rick’s Café Américain 21st Birthday Celebration

Thursday, 1 October | From 17h00
DJ Joey on the Deck
Live Jazz from 19h00: Roy & The Ricksters featuring Willy van Zyl on Saxophone
Aperol Spritz: R60
First 60 guests: Free Espolòn Reposado shot
Woodstock Lager: R25 a pint until the keg is gone