Africa boasts a host of classy and creative bars, especially in South Africa, while the Middle East is similarly pushing the cocktail envelope. By James Lawrence.

Ray’s Bar in Abu Dhabi is among the top Africa and Middle East bars to visit in 2018

When Archbishop Desmond Tutu called South Africa the Rainbow Nation he described the very essence of what makes the entire African continent so extraordinary – its amazing diversity and optimism. Today, this is still evident throughout Africa, where massive global investment has given rise to unprecedented levels of economic growth and a burgeoning middle class who, like their Western counterparts, now wish to enjoy the finer things in life, whether it be consumer goods, haute cuisine, or simply a memorable night out.

Indeed, from Nairobi to Lagos, Africa is teeming with exciting new venues and investments, driven by younger people who have travelled and worked abroad and now seek to hone their expertise and talent back home. Nevertheless, South Africa, as a leading tourist destination, naturally has a major role to play in the continent’s development and is still one of the best places in Africa to go searching for world­-class nightlife.

Its numerous hotels and bars have all bases covered: from rustic to chic, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for. But Cape Town’s hegemony is increasingly being challenged by fierce rival Johannesburg. Moreover, the benign climate also means that there are alfresco options a plenty, and it’s quite rare in South Africa to be forced to drink indoors.

Meanwhile, visitors to the Middle East, despite the theoretical confines of Islam, continue to marvel at the range and quality of options available, even in the infamously anti­-alcohol United Arab Emirates. Yet insiders point to an expanding bar scene in nations like Abu Dhabi, with molecular and savoury cocktails becoming ever more popular, in addition to ‘closed-­loop’ cocktails that are made with ingredients that traditionally people would throw away. This is just one example of the many surprises and contradictions inherent to this complex and endlessly fascinating part of the world.

Click through the following pages to discover the Africa and Middle East bars to watch in 2018.

Not to be missed: Blind Tiger – Johannesburg, South Africa

If Cape Town is South Africa’s star attraction, then Johannesburg is surely this proud nation’s most underrated city. But in recent years serious investment into Johannesburg’s infrastructure from entrepreneurs like Roman Slepica has done wonders for the city’s reputation. His award­-winning venue Blind Tiger is now a model for others to follow. Named after the 1920s US slang for speakeasy, Blind Tiger has quickly earned a formidable reputation for its superbly crafted cocktails, sublime cuisine and innovative service that shows no signs of abating.

“Traditionally, Johannesburg had a lot of pubs and sports bars, but neighbourhood cocktail bars were very thin on the ground,” says owner Slepica. “So I felt there was a niche to fill – I wanted to emulate the sorts of bars you’d see in places like San Francisco or New York, places where you sit at the bar and the bartender knows your name and your drink.”

He has clearly succeeded: Blind Tiger boasts a chic yet casual vibe, with an Art Deco feel and a delightful summer terrace perfect for sipping Margaritas in the sunshine. It’s the first of its kind in Johannesburg, and, hopefully, the first of many: a friendly neighbourhood bar serving fusion food – Korean fried chicken wings, black bean and caramelised onion quesadillas – paired with superlative cocktails. And, unlike the soulless bars of fenced-­in suburb Sandton, there’s hardly a tourist in sight.

Blind Tiger has been named our overall Africa and Middle East Bar to Watch in 2018.

Ray’s Bar – Abu Dhabi, UAE

Ray’s Bar is the high point, both literally and figuratively, of any night out in Abu Dhabi. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine a more stylish spot in the Emirates to imbibe. Positioned on the 62nd floor of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, patrons come to gaze in awe at the spellbinding views as much as to enjoy the first-­rate cocktails and chic vibe.

But it’s definitely not just a case of style and no substance at Ray’s Bar – manager and senior bartender Kseniia Shipulina can whip up more than 25 signature cocktails, in addition to the classics.

Harringtons – Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town’s bar scene has changed a lot in the past few years, with locals demanding far more from their bartenders, who are creating an environment conducive to “breaking boundaries and coming up with new and exciting drinks all the time”, according to Harringtons bar manager, Warren Cowdy. He’s something of an expert: Harringtons is a poster child for Cape Town’s growing firmament of world­-class cocktail bars, offering carefully curated cocktails and tapas with sustainability, seasonality and quality in mind.

Capitole – Beirut, Lebanon

A sophisticated cut above most bars in Lebanon, this glamorous rooftop bar feels like it belongs in Barcelona or Manhattan, rather than Beirut. But then you remember that this city is the proclaimed ‘Paris of the Middle East’, which, despite its turbulent history, knows how to party hard.

Today, Capitole offers a welcome respite from the summer heat, serving delicious cocktails such as the Mojito and a diverse range of wines by the glass to both stylish locals and tourists in dire need of a pre­-dinner libation. After the sun goes down, however, Capitole takes on a less sedate and more frantic vibe, with live DJs, impeccably dressed crowds and views to die for.

Spicehaus – Tel Aviv, Israel

Spicehaus revolutionised the cocktail scene in Tel Aviv, offering an innovative concept whereby the bartenders are pharmacists in disguise, crafting bespoke cocktails that are served in beakers. The backdrop is no less spectacular: rows of beakers and antique medical devices line the walls.

But ultimately, it’s the cocktails that take centre stage, and rightly so. Okinawa Vesper is Spicehaus’s most famous creation (sake, gin, vodka, lemongrass tea, and elderflower liqueur), while the Istanbul­-Louisville Express is a real crowd-­pleaser, a heady mix of gin, lychee, aloe vera, rose-­flavoured tea and tonic water.

Bascule at Cape Grace Hotel – Cape Town, South Africa

With more than 400 whiskies to choose from, a glamorous setting and flawless service, it’s easy to see why Bascule is one of Cape Town’s most popular destinations. And although this is no one-­trick-­pony – well­-mixed cocktails and a fine wine list served by smartly dressed waiting staff make this a place for the more discerning drinker – whisky is at the core of any night at Bascule.

Its regular whisky tastings are a must for anyone who has a love for the spirit, while its cocktail offering is constantly updated.