AJABU Cocktail & Spirits Festival Cape Town

AJABU 2025: Africa’s Leading Cocktail Festival Returns to Cape Town - Celebrating Craft, Culture, Community and The Art of The Cocktail.

Africa’s most dynamic cocktail and spirits festival, AJABU, returns to Cape Town from 25–30 November 2025, for the 4th edition, uniting some of the world’s finest bartenders with Africa’s most exciting bar talent.

Born from the Swahili word meaning miracle or something wondrous, AJABU continues to redefine Africa’s position on the global drinks stage — not just through its world-class events, but by building pathways for education, equity, and representation across the industry.

A festival that celebrates more than cocktails.

AJABU has evolved into a global movement that champions creativity, community, and connection. Each festival edition brings together leading local and international bars to collaborate on exclusive seminars, workshops, experiences and AJABU Mashups; unique one-night pop-ups designed to Celebrate the Art of the Cocktail through African ingredients, stories, and style.

AJABU Mashups

This season, guests are invited to explore select bars across Cape Town, each offering a signature half-price crafted cocktail (R86) as part of the festival menu. Celebrating collaboration and creativity, globally recognised local distillers, makers, and bar owners as well as international brands have joined forces to curate a series of inspired menus that showcase the very best of Cape Town’s bars, brands and cocktail culture.

Discover the bars, bartenders, local brands and more information by following our social media platforms for updates.

The following international bars will be joining AJABU to celebrate Africa and the growing AJABU community:

1. Front/Back — Accra, Ghana: Discovery Bar, The World’s 50 Best Bars.
2. No.19 — Accra, Ghana: Discovery Bar, The World’s 50 Best Bars.
3. Hero — Nairobi, Kenya: Ranked No.70 on The World’s 50 Best Bars and awarded Best Bar in Africa.
4. Funky Monkey — Diani, Kenya: Discovery Bar, The World’s 50 Best Bars.
5. Milky Way Cocktail Bar — Montreal, Canada: Ranked No.39 on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025.
6. Bissa — Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
7. Trailer Happiness — London, UK: BIH Spotlight Awards 2025.
8. LAB Bar Revival — London and Cape Town: Originally founded in 2002.
9. Fire Station — Brussels, Belgium.
10. Muthaiga Country Club — Nairobi, Kenya: Procera Gin Best Bartender 2025.

The Festival

Get Involved as AJABU Celebrates the Art of the Cocktail from 25 - 30 November 2025.

Tickets & Registration

• Festival access is complimentary and includes entry to all participating bars and festival events.
• AJABU Welcome Desks at Bokeh (84 Regent Road, Sea Point) and Cause Effect (V&A Waterfront) will be open daily from 3-7pm from Monday 24th to Saturday 29th November, while Batanga (70a Kloof Street) and HiBall (61 Shortmarket Street)will be open from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th November , from 3-7pm for you to collect your AJABU Festival bracelet following your registration online.
• Attend workshops, tastings, and masterclasses for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

What to Expect

• Cape Town will come alive with AJABU Mash ups: World-class bartenders from leading international bars, collaborating with South Africa’s finest bartenders to create once-in-a-lifetime cocktail experiences.
• Across the city, you’ll find unique pop-ups, collaborations, and consumer events, all celebrating African ingredients, creativity and hospitality.
• Explore more than 30 Cape Town bars with your AJABU wristband for 5 nights from Tuesday to Saturday.
• Wristband holders can enjoy a unique half-price signature cocktail at R86 in each of these 30 bars on any night during the festival.
• Your pass also unlocks an exclusive 10% promotion with AJABU’s retail partners, Norman Goodfellows, online for 3 weeks from 24th November to 15th November for any of our brand partners at the festival. You will receive this unique code at the welcome desks (brand subject to stock availability).
• On Thursday 27th, is Celebrate Africa Night with 8 of the top bars from across Africa, including Hero from Kenya that just won Best Bar in Africa at Worlds 50 Best, popping up across Cape Town creating exceptional cocktails.
• On Friday 28th and Saturday 29th, there will be an additional 10 of the world's top international bars popping up with some of the finest bars in the city creating amazing cocktails celebrating local ingredients.

How It Works

1. Register for your wristband by buying your complimentary ticket.
2. You will receive a confirmation email with a QR code.
3. Show your QR code at the Welcome Desks to unlock access to all festival events.

We look forward to sharing all the friendship, love and pleasure of AJABU with you this November – a true celebration of African excellence in cocktails and spirits.