Forries

Established in 1852 Forrester’s Arms remains one of the most happening and ‘must be at’ places in the beautiful city of Cape Town. Forrester’s Arms or Forries as its more commonly known is located in Newlands, which just so happens to be a stone’s throw away from the respective Rugby and Cricket stadiums in the area. Due to this convenient venue placement Forries often finds itself flooded with post match celebratory fans that are thirsty for some of the golden water or ‘beer’ as it’s more commonly known.


There is always something happening at Forries, no matter what day it is. This fine establishment is often packed with a diverse range of people. There are those who meet at Forries for a casual, business meeting. These meetings usually involve at least one of the respective parties having to make that dreaded but responsible phone call: “Babe I’m drunk come pick me up.” Incidents like these are the norm as people get carried away with the festive atmosphere. Then there are the students. These are some of the Forries regulars that return week after week to indulge in the festivities that Forries has to offer. These students are traditionally, some of the more poorly behaved of the Forries guests, however, their presence is entertaining and largely responsible for the incredible atmosphere that exists within the Pub. Finally there are the families. These groups of people form the backbone of the crowd that situates themselves at this establishment week in-week out. Particularly on Sunday, families flock to Forries to enjoy a casual beer and a welcome Sunday lunch. The parents keep themselves entertained with their banter and conversation. While the kids entertain one another in the small play area towards the back of the pub.


What separates Forries from any other ordinary pub in Cape Town are 2 things. Firstly, the food. Secondly, the vibrant outside atmosphere. When one things of traditional pub food you might not help but think of things like: pies, fish and chips, and perhaps a roast. What makes Forries stand a little bit taller than the average pub is its diverse, yet incredibly intriguing and delish menu. This diverse menu boasts a number of classic meals. From your traditional pies and roasts; to the more popular burger and pizza options. The Forries menu truly does have it all. One often finds with restaurants who have a variety of food options, their food isn’t always up to scratch. This is because the cooking staff are always busy with so many different dishes that they can’t really devote the care and attention they need to on every meal. This is not the case at Forries, as the food is of a high-standard. Whether it’s a pizza, a burger or even Fish and Chips: the food prepared is superbly done and is enjoyed by the Forries locals. The vibrant outside atmosphere is another reason why Forries, for me is unique to any other Pub in Cape Town. Most Pubs are obsessed with being the go to ‘watering hole’ for local sports fans in the area that they forget entirely about the atmosphere. Many traditional Pubs tend to be dark, dingy places. Forries however, attributes itself with a beautiful outside area that is perfect for any of the diverse customers. During summer time in particular there are few venues where I’d rather spend a casual afternoon.

On the whole, Forries is a great Pub/ Restaurant. Whether you looking for an ice cold draught with your mates; or a relaxed Sunday lunch with the family. Forries is the place to be. In my mind it is the best pub in Cape Town, and is unrivalled in terms of the drinking and dining experience it offers. It is a great pub, with an even better vibe. It rightfully earns itself the tag as; the most ‘must be at’ establishment in Cape Town.