Balboa Balcony Bar — Restaurant in Stellenbosch Local Municipality

Oh my word!!

Recap Touched base a couple of times with friends over a weekend in Stellenbosch, late July. Terrible exp with bartender & drinks, never happened such thing over 10 years in South African pubs / bars. Not keen to return. Again, tons of 5-star reviews on here made by complacent local tour guides which have right to get 50% off on every venues, meals, drinks, wine tastings etc and across the Paarl-Franschhoek-Stellenbosch area, when not drinks & meals on the house of course!

Story One of these nights - supposed live music thus we payed R20,00 p/p although we could not enjoy as we left the place very much disappointed and p* off- we ordered London mule which had to explain to bartender how to make it (he knew about the Moscow mule only).

It ended up we were served the smallest glass ever served with gin based cocktail but with zero, underlined three times, zero gin in it! It was a ginger beer cocktail with ice.

Raised our concerns straight away to bartenders, they called over the one who take our order who returned to us claiming he poured double gin in it and “give it some time”. Gosh…never heard such thing! We answered back nicely we could not either smell or taste any gin in it but no, he insisted to sip our cocktail and basically f* off.

We barely finished it, disgusted with the arrogant service and the smoking all around of clients gathering at the Balcony Bar which is not an open balcony at all.

You sit in a classic bar, windows right next to your neck which clients keep open - in full winter - to please their heavy smoking glued to other clients sipping their fake gin (or anything else)-based cocktail.

Regarding the windows kept open disrespectfully to no-smoking clients worth adding winter nights in Stellenbosch area can be very cold.

Back to our awful night there, been charged R180,00 (2.5x avg.price of cocktails in the area) for 2 fake gin cocktails plus gratuity which we provided ie. Tot R200,00 in a matter of kindness that they did not show to us at all.

Debrief The Bilboa Balcony Bar is not cool at all mostly for their approach yet is not the only unpleasant situation you may feel stuck in...

Having lived in Stellenbosch for 7 years, having originally been a student but now in the hospitality industry, this is the place to be. You wanna get away from the hustle and bustle of the chaotic student life? Balboa is the place to go. Although most people see it as expensive, it's actually reasonably priced depending on what you want to drink. Honestly, the biggest selling point is that it's an over 23 venue. As someone who once enjoyed the student life but is now older and can't find anywhere else to go that isn't surrounded by first years, my first go to is Balboa. 12/10 would recommend. Great staff, great service and an amazing atmosphere. The music is perfect and if you're an indecisive customer, like myself, the bartender's will always make a compromise. So long as...

What a cool bar, we really enjoyed our experience here up until the unknown book reading.

We were a big group and had no idea about this book reading as we arrived a good 1-2 hours before it started. Just a suggestion to the manager, instead of complaining to your other barmen about us making a noise (we had no idea that we could not talk in a bar that was extremely lively when we walked in) come and tell us. Be considerate and let your patrons know of the book reading and the restrictions on them before they sit down. To avoid the death stares from all the other patrons.

Besides the million death stares from all the other people in the bar it was lovely and I suggest visiting this place when you get a chance. Just remember to keep quite when someone is on...