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Africa and Middle East bars to visit in 2020

While some governments are cracking down on alcohol, there are plenty of places serving innovative top-of-the-range cocktails. We present the most exciting bars worth making a stop for.

The Art of Duplicity bar in Cape Town features in our pick of bars to watch next year (Photo courtesy: Benjamin Reisner)

The unifying characteristic that continues to bind together the African and Middle Eastern nations is the ability to confound expectations. The tension between Islamic tradition and modernity is still present in many Middle Eastern cities – Turkey tightened its alcohol laws in 2013 – but rising social liberalism among the region’s millennial generation cannot be underestimated.

Indeed, visitors are often surprised by the level of dynamism in the region; the younger firmament is fuelling burgeoning nightlife scenes in Israel, Morocco and Beirut – including a noticeable growth in LGBT‐friendly venues – while investment is largely being driven by local entrepreneurs, rather than global enterprises.

Yet the major conglomerates also continue to invest heavily in the region, which suggests political forces calling for further alcohol restrictions will not triumph over a society increasingly looking outwards, not inwards. Even the United Arab Emirates (a notoriously alcohol‐phobic region) has a thriving nightlife industry, albeit the customers are almost exclusively tourists and expats.

Meanwhile, using the epithet ‘Third World’ to describe Africa is now grossly outdated and ridiculous. This is a continent experiencing unprecedented levels of economic growth and development – key African economies are now transitioning from resource exporters to consumer markets. Where wealth has historically been concentrated within the elites, prosperity is starting to find its way to the broader population who desire the same entertainment options as their western counterparts. That, combined with the (general) lack of cultural restrictions regarding alcohol consumption, has led to an explosion in urban nightlife in recent years.

From Accra to Nairobi, Lagos to Johannesburg, African cities now play to the tune of thumping beats, cocktail shakers, sophisticated lounge bars and cutting edge mixology. You’ll notice South Africa features heavily in our list of bars to watch; Cape Town and Johannesburg have transformed their cocktail scenes over the past decade, ensuring that Nelson Mandela’s Rainbow Nation is the best place to enjoy a night out in this beguiling continent.

Click through the following pages to discover Africa and Middle East’s bars to watch in 2020.

Not to be missed: The Art of Duplicity – Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town has witnessed a rash of bar openings in recent years, although few destinations can hold a candle to The Art of Duplicity. Housed in a renovated 1894 Victorian warehouse, The Art of Duplicity exudes Prohibition glamour.

Burlap coffee sacks stacked to the double‐ volume ceiling are dimly lit. The antique apothecary, ceiling‐high bar is the focal point of the space, showcasing rare and exquisite spirits.

The brainchild of entrepreneur David Donde, the bar opened in October 2018 with the aim of bringing world‐ class craft mixology to Cape Town. Leading bartender Brent Perremore designed the extravagant cocktail menu, with an emphasis on locally sourced botanicals and in‐house concoctions.

There’s plenty of raw talent at The Art of Duplicity, but no bad attitude, which is probably why it went on to win Best New Cocktail Bar at the South Africa Bar Awards 2019.

Gracious, attentive service and wonderful acoustics set the stage for live jazz, with international legends such as Lee Thomson and the Muneeb Herman quartet featuring regularly. Any downsides? The owner likes to keep the location a trade secret. “Half the romance is the joy of finding us for the first time,” enthuses Donde. He’s absolutely right.

The Art of Duplicity has been has been named our overall Africa and Middle East bar to watch in 2020.

Mix Bar – Johannesburg, South Africa

Photo courtesy: Delvin Cross

Jo’burg still has a long journey to take before it can rival Cape Town in the tourism stakes, but establishments such as Mix Bar are helping to lure night owls away from the undeniable beauty of the city’s fierce rival.

Opened in 2017, Mix Bar’s concise cocktail list was designed to reflect the bountifulness of South African produce. Manager Delvin Cross has pioneered an in‐house fermentation programme, making use of acid alternatives and vinegars.

Waste is also kept to a minimum by way of thoughtfully designed recipes and clever use of fresh ingredients. All of this would be for nothing, however, if the cocktails were less than first rate. Thankfully, the classy, bespoke concoctions are as irresistible as the warmth of Mix Bar’s hospitality.

Bellboy – Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv’s nightlife is riding a wave of investment and dynamism. Today, there is a surfeit of high‐class options: chic beach bars, craft beer specialists, a vibrant LGBT scene and increasingly world‐class cocktail bars.

The most sophisticated and on‐trend is Bellboy, situated at the boutique Hotel B Berdichevsky. The setting is unashamedly retro – expect red velvet seating, vintage tin ceilings and parquet floors.

Meanwhile, unparalleled and creative cocktails make full use of the bar’s jaw‐dropping assortment of vessels. One cocktail is served in a miniature bathtub complete with rubber duck. That Instagram‐friendly cocktail is the Keep Clean, a mix of vodka, citrus liqueur, apricot brandy, carob syrup and boozy foam.

Little Fox – Johannesburg, South Africa

Prepare to fall in love, because the Little Fox is an old pro at capturing people’s hearts. And who wouldn’t swoon at the thought of superlative gin cocktails, excellent service and brick‐oven pizza on tap.

Like many of the city’s emerging hipster haunts, this bar is intentionally tricky to find. But do persevere, because in a small alley around the corner from the popular Urbanologi restaurant lies one of South Africa’s most friendly and lively cocktail bars.

Adjoining a craft gin distillery, the emphasis is, unsurprisingly, on the perennially popular white spirit in all its guises, from classics such as the Gimlet to more innovative creations.

Fairmont The Palm – Dubai, UAE

While some visitors to the UAE may balk at the thought of international chains dominating the local scene, the truth is that the leading five‐star hotels are your safest bet for excellent service, setting and cocktails.

Naturally, there’s plenty of choice in this department, but Fairmont the Palm is 10 leaps ahead of the competition. An idyllic resort situated in Dubai’s most sought‐after island community, Palm Jumeirah, the glamorous lounge and bar area has unrivalled views of the Arabian Gulf and glittering Dubai Marina skyline.

But there’s also substance to complement the style – its craft cocktails are among the best in Dubai.

Alexandra – Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey’s political class may be intent on curtailing the country’s night‐time economy, but investors and bartenders are fighting hard to keep Istanbul’s famous liberalism and exotic nightlife alive.

Alexandra is a particularly hot place of late, thanks to its gorgeous wood‐ panelled interior, waterside location and concise, expertly crafted cocktail list. One of their most popular signatures, the Amor Duro, was created by the city’s maestro bartender, Osman Fethi Baysan, who won the Tahona Society Cocktail Competition. Alexandra’s place in Istanbul’s first division of exciting bars is guaranteed.

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