About us

We believe democracy is both glorious and flawed, and we’re here to celebrate it all. Born from the idea that everyone deserves a say – and sometimes a re-vote – Democracy Bar is a toast to freedom and a good reminder that sometimes, democracy means you’ll end up with pineapple on pizza.

For this reason, every drinker and diner is also a voter at Democracy Bar. Polls run  every day of trade, with fresh votes constantly provided throughout the evening. It’s fast, it’s frequent, and it’s refreshingly fair…most of the time.

Vote on existential questions, music, cocktail specials, late-night games, and much more. Our food menu follows a different pace, evolving over time based on your collective choices.

To take part in our polls and vote, simply make a booking and come through – our team will explain everything when you arrive.

Your Music, Your Rules

Gone are the days of being at the mercy of a DJ’s style. At Democracy Bar, the power is in your hands, and the playlist is open for votes. If it’s on Spotify, it’s fair game. The more votes a song gets, the higher it climbs on the playlist, so rally your crew, upvote your favourites, and take over the sound waves.

Behind the scenes, we’re run by an expert team of managers with experience from some of Jozi’s hottest bars and restaurants, bringing that spark of excellence to every service. Our kitchen team is full of creativity, always ready to surprise with fresh flavours, while our bartenders mix up cocktails as delicious as they are inventive.

Our crew is as diverse as democracy itself, representing the rich heritage of South Africa – because every great team knows that different perspectives create the best experience.