Top 7 venues in Pretoria for craft beer lovers
We have nothing against bigger beer breweries, but there’s just something about the taste of artisanal beer. And, while Cape Town is home to most of our local craft beer breweries, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite venues in Pretoria where the craft culture is thriving.
Capital Craft, Menlo Park
We’re just going to go out and say it: Capital Craft has the best beer menu in the country. With over 25 beers on tap and way more served by the bottle, theirs is the most extensive menu we’ve seen. Furthermore, their selection includes beers from breweries all over the country, as well as a range of international favourites. Their food is also delicious. While excellent quality pub food is the name of the game, burgers – both meat and vegetarian – is what they do best.
Contact: 081 877 6924
Location: Greenlyn Village Centre
Operating hours: Monday – Saturday, 10:30 – 23:30 | Sunday, 10:30 – 19:30
Lucky Rodrigo, Lynwood
Nicknamed Lucky’s, this restaurant and bar is a firm favourite among students and adults alike. By day, it provides a relaxed atmosphere just out of the way of the busy Lynnwood Road. From spectacular salads (we don’t say that lightly) to deep-fried finger foods, burgers and grills, the restaurant serves fantastic food. By night, it turns into a party complete with a dance floor in their back bar. In addition to the food menu and the party vibe, their beer menu features a decent list of local breweries, as well as SAB beers, at rather competitive prices.
Contact: 012 348 8937
Location: Corner of Hillside Street and Alpen Way
Operating hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:30 – 01:30
Kapstadt Brauhaus, Menlo Park
Located in the same centre as Capital Craft, Kapstadt Brauhaus offers a very different experience. As the name might suggest, Kapstadt Brauhaus offers hearty traditional German cuisine, including eisbein, schnitzels, pretzels, German sausages and Alpine pizza. One of ten franchise stores, their success is no surprise. In addition to their extensive wine and cocktail menu, their beer menu features a long list of local and international craft beers to complement the German atmosphere. It’s a great place to watch sports matches and sometimes they even have live entertainment – not limited Oompah groups.
Contact: 061 537 8079
Location: Greenlyn Village Centre
Operating hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11:00 – 23:00 | Friday and Saturday, 11:00 – 00:00
Blos Café, Faerie Glen
Last week we featured Blos Café for their delicious vegan-friendly menu. While we described it as quite the multi-faceted venue, it also deserves a mention for their beer menu. Blos Café serves a decent selection of ice-cold craft beers on tap and by the bottle. Located in a particularly forest-y setting, what sets this venue apart from the others on our list is its tranquil ambiance. In fact, it’s perfect for a family outing.
Contact: 012 991 1790
Location: Plot 66, Corner of Olympus Road and Leander Street
Operating hours: Monday – Saturday, 07:00 – 23:00 | Sunday, 07:00 – 15:00
Hudsons, Hazelwood
Hudsons – also known as the ‘The Burger Joint’ – has a reputation for serving delicious burgers that cater for every food preference. They also have specials for almost every day of the week. Mondays are for half-price vegan burgers and Tuesdays are for two-for-one pizzas. Sundays are for Long Island Iced Tea specials and one litre Black Label specials. And, happy hour – which means discounted beers on tap – is from Monday to Friday between 16:30 and 18:30.
Contact: 012 346 2619
Location: 18 Pinaster Avenue,
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday, 12:00 – 23:30
The Tasting Room, Waterkloof
The Tasting Room is another venue we featured quite recently. While our previous feature highlighted them as a great venue for a unique wine experience, wine is far from all that they do. As the name suggests, guests can enjoy a variety of tasting experiences. They tend to focus on specific wine farms and breweries at a time, but never for too long. At the moment, their beer tasting experience focuses on a wide selection of beers from the popular Cape Brewing Company.
Contact: 087 821 7708
Location: 198 Long street
Operating hours: Monday – Thursday: 10:00 – 22:00 | Friday – Saturday: 10:00 – 23:00 | Sunday: 10:00 – 15:00
The Taproom, Hazeldean
Located on the Hazeldean farm behind the Cowhouse Market, The Taproom offers a unique experience. Surrounded by veld and old farm-style buildings, a visit to the brewery makes you forget, for a brief moment, that you’re in Pretoria. While they’re famous for their gourmet burgers and wood-fired pizzas, they also brew a number of delicious speciality beers on the premises.
Contact: 083 669 8588
Location: End of Ridge Road, Tyger Valley
Operating hours: Thursday and Friday, 11:00 – 20:00 | Saturday, 08:00 – 20:00 | Sunday, 08:00 – 18:00
