GQ Recommends: These sundowner bars at the Taj Cape Town are our favourite chill spot

If Idris Elba were to stop for a sundowner in Cape Town, where do you think he’d go? Our money is on two of city’s best sundowner spots, the Lobby Bar or the Whiskey Bar at the Taj Cape Town; a venue that’s fast becoming a favourite amongst those who place as much value on atmosphere as what’s in the glass.

The Whiskey Bar is the latest addition to a hotel that has become one of the best-loved Cape Town establishments; admired as much for its design (think no holds barred luxury) as its heritage location in St George’s Mall.

With the very best of all the Cape has to offer, from winelands to winding hikes, just a short drive away, it’s not surprising the Taj Cape Town has always been a go-to for local and international tourists, as well as the members of parliament, barristers and corporate dynamos who work in the area.

That reputation was cemented last year when the hotel unveiled its new look ground floor. Always impressive (as you’d expect from a hotel that has made its home in the former premises of the South African Reserve Bank), the Taj Cape Town is now even more suited to people who enjoy life’s little indulgences.

But, more than its good looks, it’s the fresh range of experiences that have everyone talking. That’s where the Whiskey Bar comes in. Everything about the venue shouts old school cool, from the nostalgia of the framed heritage photographs to the classic wood and leather furnishings.

But it’s whiskey that brought you here, and whiskey you shall have: choose from an extensive array of Scotch, Irish and Japanese brands, all curated by the Taj Cape Town’s in-house whiskey sommelier. Want something light to eat, the new wood-fired small plates menu is the perfect accompaniment for the whiskey tasting experience.

The Taj Lobby Bar and Lounge is a similarly singular experience. Although it could always be counted on for a great crowd, the bar is even higher up on everyone’s list following last year’s refresh.