Where to Watch All Blacks Games in Cape Town
Twice this August, Cape Town gets to do the thing it does best on a big rugby weekend: fill up, dress up in green and gold (with a few splashes of black and white), and make an astonishing amount of noise. The All Blacks are in South Africa for their first full tour in 30 years, since their legendary 1996 tour, and Cape Town has landed two of the biggest fixtures on the schedule.
First, the Stormers take them on under Friday-night lights on 7 August. Then, three weeks later on Saturday, 29 August, the Springboks vs All Blacks meet in the second Test of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. Same opponent, same stadium, two completely different flavours of weekend.
You probably already know the catch: tickets are mostly gone, and the ones that remain will cost you roughly the same as a respectable air fryer. But in our humble opinion, watching from the stadium is only one way to do a game like this, and it's not necessarily even the best one. There's a strong argument that the better version involves a big screen, a shorter queue for beer, a plate of something hot and a room full of strangers who become your closest friends the moment someone scores. That's the version we're here to help you plan.
A tale of two weekends
The two matches call for slightly different energy. The Stormers game on 7 August is a Friday-night warm-up, so expect it to be slightly more relaxed – the kind of fixture where the pressure's off and the beer goes down easy. It's a chance to see how the All Blacks are travelling before the main Test matches.
The 29 August Test is the main event, and the whole city behaves accordingly. Expect a fuller house wherever you go, louder gees, and the sort of collective breath-holding that only a Bok Test can produce.
Which brings us to the one piece of advice that matters more than any other: Book. In. Advance. In fact, book right now, as soon as you’re done reading this article. For both games, but especially the 29th. The best tables at the best spots will go the way of the actual stadium seats, which is fast and early. A big-screen bar with no plan is just a crowd you're standing behind. Phone ahead to reserve a table with a clear line of sight to a screen, and have a backup or two in mind.
Where to watch rugby in Cape Town
A quick geography note first, for those who are new to town. The DHL Stadium sits in Green Point, and on match day, the Fan Walk runs from the city centre down through Green Point to the stadium. If you’re looking for the best sports bars in Cape Town to soak up the pre-game atmosphere without a ticket, the spots nearest that route and the V&A Waterfront put you right in the thick of the crowd.
Quay Four is about as close to the action as you can get without a ticket. As one of Cape Town's premier sports-viewing spots, it has big screens, legendary vibes, tank beer, and game-day combos. Its Waterfront setting puts it within easy reach of the Fan Walk crowd (which also makes it one of the first places to fill up). Book accordingly.
Mitchell's Scottish Ale House, also at the Waterfront, is an institution for a reason. Imagine hearty pub food, proper pints, and a welcoming, lively room where locals and travellers end up sharing a table over fish and chips and live music. Big screens throughout mean you won't miss a try, and its spot near the walk down to the stadium makes early booking non-negotiable.
Mojo Market in Sea Point brings a different flavour. More than 30 food stalls, craft beer taps, cocktail bars, live music on rotation, and multiple giant HD screens make it one of the most sociable rooms in the city for a big rugby moment. If your group can never agree on where to eat, this solves the argument before it even starts. It's an easy hop across from the Green Point action, so get there early to stake out a good screen.
The Fireman's Arms has been pouring pints since 1864, which makes it older than most of the rivalries being played out on screen. It's a lively, sports-first bar with big screens everywhere, dependable pub grub, and plenty of beer on tap. With loads of screens, a good view is almost guaranteed, and its central position keeps you close to the Fan Walk. it's also where we'll be hosting our Neighbourgood viewing party for the Stormers game on 7 August.
If you’d like to join us, reserve your spot here.
Image source: https://firemansarms.co.za/
Holding the proud title of South Africa’s oldest pub, the historic Perseverance Tavern on Buitenkant St offers a palpable sense of history alongside match-day gees. With an impressive variety of draught beers, hearty pub fare, and plenty of screens, it’s the ultimate classic spot to settle in for the action.
Join us here for our dedicated Neighbourgood viewing party for the 29 August Test to experience one of the city’s oldest traditions in style.
Grab a spot here.
If you'd rather trade proximity for character, the Southern Suburbs will also deliver. Foresters Arms ("Forries" to the regulars) has been the Newlands game-day hub for generations. Screens inside and out, classic pub fare, cold beers, tasty cocktails, and a garden that fills with Springbok gees. Fittingly close to the spiritual home of Cape Town rugby, and just as likely to be full, so reserve your spot ahead of time.
Image source: https://forries.co.za/
Woodstock Brewery offers the same rugby but a different world: tongue-in-cheek beer names, artisanal brewers who take flavour seriously, and an industrial-cool setting in Cape Town's creative heart. Multiple screens, hearty food, cold craft beer, and a relaxed room that's ideal for watching with friends who care as much about the pour as the score. A little further out of town, but well worth it.
The rivalry that unites us
There's real magic to be found in watching a big match in a room full of people who care as much as you do. The collective groan when a kick drifts wide, the roar when the line gets crossed, the stranger who grabs your shoulder at full time like you've known each other for years. You don't get that on the couch, and you don't need a high-priced ticket for it either – just a good screen, a cold drink, and the foresight to book before everyone else does.
The All Blacks have a dedicated following in Cape Town, too, which only makes it better. A rivalry this old has the potential to split the room, but on an occasion as momentous as this, it fills it. The tries get applauded (whoever scores them), and by full-time, you're all just rugby people who had a great afternoon.
So pick your weekend, or do both: the Stormers on 7 August, then the Test on the 29th. It's been 30 years since the last time. Some things are worth leaving the house for.
Need a place to stay while you're in town? Check out our Atlantic Seaboard Neighbourgood locations, including Disandt House, Hill, Romney and Cape Quarter.
