Chris van der L.
Google
Johannesburg isn’t exactly short on places to drink, but Sin + Tax (don’t say “Sin and Tax” just call it “Taxes”) isn’t just a bar. It’s the kind of room that reminds you why we leave the safety of our own bottles at home and go searching for something more. Dim, conspiratorial lighting. That low murmur of intent. The kind of place you take someone you actually want to talk to.
The cocktail list is a map of the world—familiar landmarks you’ll recognize, but also detours into uncharted alleyways where things get interesting. It never feels like they’re trying too hard. No silly smoke machines or liquid nitrogen circus acts. Just well-built drinks, balanced and brave enough to surprise without making you feel like the butt of some bartender’s inside joke.
The staff are sharp, trained, and they know their spirits. You’ll never feel abandoned or misled. Do they run a little cool? Maybe. A touch more warmth would turn professionalism into hospitality. But if it’s competence you’re after, you’re in good hands.
And here’s the kicker most people miss: the food. This is where the bar becomes more than a place to drink. Bao buns that are as soft as whispered promises, dumplings that don’t just fill the stomach but keep you anchored to the table longer than you planned. These aren’t afterthoughts. They’re proof that Taxes is playing a different, better game. The menu shifts and refreshes often, like a traveler who refuses to stand still.
It all adds up to something rare here: a cocktail bar with a passport. A sense of being in on the good stuff, away from the noise, but still tethered to the world beyond. Taxes isn’t just the premier cocktail bar in Johannesburg—it’s one of the few places where the city feels worldly, cosmopolitan, and worth lingering in.
