Vol. 168 The Cape Town Club Post Established 1858

Cape Town, South Africa Club News · Perspectives · Occasions August 2026

Lieder Concert Cape Town 2026: Opera and Fine Dining

Join mezzo-soprano Lilitha Nkuku for a formal Lieder Concert and refined three-course Pelagos dinner in the historic Ballroom of The Cape Town Club on 19 September 2026.

Lieder Concert at The Cape Town Club featuring mezzo-soprano Lilitha Nkuku

The Cape Town Club Opera · Fine Dining · 19 September 2026

Lieder brings poetry and music together in its most intimate form. For one formal evening, that tradition will fill the Ballroom with live performance, history and a natural sense of occasion.

Guests will experience mezzo-soprano Lilitha Nkuku live, followed by a refined three-course dinner prepared by Pelagos. Only 100 places are available for the evening.

Explore the Lieder Concert

Private Events Page 02

How to Choose a Venue for a Celebration in Cape Town

Birthdays, bridal gatherings, bachelor celebrations and reunions all ask something different of a venue. Start with the experience, then choose the room that supports it.

Heritage celebration venue atmosphere at The Cape Town Club

The Cape Town Club Celebrations · Dining · Private Events

A good celebration venue is about more than maximum capacity. Guest count, atmosphere, food, privacy and the way people move through a room all shape how an occasion actually feels.

This practical guide looks at the details worth considering before you book, with ideas for milestone birthdays, bachelor celebrations, bridal gatherings, dinners and reunions.

Read the venue guide

Professional Membership · Finance Page 03

The Business Case for Belonging More Than a Meeting Room in Cape Town

A closer look at how private club membership can work as a practical professional base for advisers, accountants, bankers, wealth managers and finance leaders.

Financial professionals at The Cape Town Club

Membership for Financial Professionals Meet · Work · Host · Connect

In finance, trust is built through judgement, clarity, discretion and consistency. The setting cannot replace those qualities, but it can support them.

The Club brings private meeting infrastructure, quiet work areas, client hospitality, professional connection and a central Cape Town base together in one membership.

Read the membership story

Founded in 1858 and revived in 2024, the Cape Town Club is an historic members’ club reimagined for a more modern, more inclusive Cape Town.

CAPE TOWN LEGACY

Founded in 1858, The Cape Town Club is one of the city’s most historic institutions, long serving as a gathering place for leaders, thinkers, and citizens. Revived for a modern era, the Club preserves its rich heritage while embracing a renewed spirit of community, offering members a refined space in the heart of Cape Town where tradition, conversation, and connection continue to thrive.

ACCOMMODATION

A BRIEF HISTORY

Established in 1858, the Club took residence in its current home in 1898 — a landmark building designed by Sir Herbert Baker and funded by Cecil John Rhodes. Over the decades it played host to many pivotal moments in South Africa’s history, including the drafting of the 1939 declaration of war by Jan Smuts. Women were welcomed as members from 1979. Following its closure in 2017, the Club reopened in 2024, beginning a new chapter that respects its legacy while embracing a broader and more inclusive vision.

FLAVOURS OF THE CLUB

Three venues. Three moods. From laid-back coffee to elevated dining and live performance — experience the full flavour of the Club, all under one roof.

Victoria's Cafe

Fresh food, great coffee, and casual café culture — with a peek into the Club’s historic charm.
Open to all.

The Gallery

Modern Cape cuisine served with sweeping views of Table Mountain. Mid-century style meets fine dining, day or night.

Mara Lounge

An intimate lounge for live music, cocktails, and late-night energy. Jazz, DJs, and more — exclusively for members.

A BALLROOM WITH STORIES

Social, elegant, and steeped in history

Once the Club’s original ballroom, the Grand Salon now serves as a welcoming space for both refined gatherings and relaxed member lunches. With its high ceilings, historic detailing, and warm winter fireplaces, it blends timeless grandeur with comfortable, everyday hospitality.

A QUIET, CULTURAL HAVEN

Read, reflect, or gather for conversation

Surrounded by historic volumes and artefacts, the Library offers a quiet retreat where members can read, work, or simply pause. From time to time, intimate talks and discussions bring new ideas into this calm and thoughtful space.

HOST WITH ABSOLUTE PRIVACY

For intimate meals and conversation

Seating up to eight guests, this classic Club room offers a private dining setting with dedicated service. Framed by historic silverware and timeless heritage details, it is an ideal space for special occasions and refined, discreet gatherings.

WHERE STORIES ARE POURED

The members' cigar lounge

The social heart of the Club and an exclusive members-only cigar lounge. Deep Chesterfields, a well-stocked humidor, and a bar where the barman remembers your usual create an atmosphere of quiet familiarity. It’s a place for unhurried conversation, private connection, and the enduring rituals of Club life.

HERITAGE MEETS HIGH FUNCTION

Smuts & Rhodes Rooms

These two elegantly appointed boardrooms combine modern business functionality with historic character. Equipped with presentation technology and Wi-Fi, the rooms also showcase rare artefacts connected to South African history, offering a distinguished setting for meetings, strategy, and private discussions.

GLOBAL REACH.
LOCAL SOUL.

Global
Reciprocity

Architectural
Heritage

Access to partner clubs across continents

An historic home in the heart of Cape Town

Enduring
Legacy

Modern
Culture

165+ years of influence and distinction

Inclusive culture that reflects today’s Cape Town

A Global Club Network

Members of the Cape Town Club enjoy reciprocal privileges at a curated network of private clubs across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas — opening doors to culture, connection, and comfort wherever you travel.

BECOME A MEMBER