One of the inner city’s most iconic bars, The Twankey Bar, relaunched following a creative reinvention. The bar’s update is strongly influenced by prohibition America, where sipping cocktails was a luxury and innovation was used to make the most of the ingredients on offer. The Twankey Bar’s renaissance is spearheaded by Cape Town Mixologist, AJ Snetler, the winner of numerous mixology awards and custodian of the decadent, crafted cocktail menu. 

Located on the corner of Wale and Adderley streets, The Twankey Bar is associated with the five-star, luxurious Taj Cape Town hotel. Using intriguing cocktail-making methods from wood-chip smoking and blazing to teapot brewing, every ingredient is made fresh on the premises: every infusion, syrup, and garnish is made from scratch.

BLQ_No-17jpgKaya Onaran, Food and Beverage Director at Taj Cape Town says AJ was able to bring something completely new to the bar. “His incredible gift and passion has meant our new offering is highly curated, with an ever-changing cocktail menu featuring the freshest and most exciting ingredients the Western Cape has to offer. The bar is a sumptuous sanctuary in the Cape Town city centre attracting creatives, professionals, tourists and locals alike.”

He said the deep traditions of the Spice Route are evident in the food menu. “The food is an eclectic melange of carefully created tapas-styled dishes. It features refined versions of Indian street snacks as well as local and international influences in dishes like the Asian salmon tataki, the spiced lamb and blue cheese croquettes and fish and chip sliders.”

AJ explains his vision for the bar is based on an intuitive, personalised style. “A good barman is able to read a patron’s mood and serve a drink which will perfectly suit the occasion.  We are all about a unique, exceptional experiences. Our barmen have been hand-picked and trained in the art of cocktail making. We see ourselves as an academy that will be sending highly skilled bar-people out into the world when they are ready!”

The Twankey Bar’s décor with its curved leather and mahogany chairs, marble bar counters and wooden floors all invite long, lingering visits.

BLQ_No-18

Leave a Reply