2
World Traveler -
3 weeks ago
Oh my word!!
Recap u003eu003e Touched base a couple of times with friends over a weekend in Stellenbosch, late July. Terrible exp with bartender u0026 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 u0026 meals on the house of course!
Story u003eu003e 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 u003eu003e 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 there. Bil..bye ????
