sin & taxes

this place fits the bill of a hidden gem. no signage outside. what a great place. some of the best cocktails i have ever had. very skilled barmen really made the evening. and a great pizza added the final aspect

the cocktail menu is intriguing - nothing is the norm. i had to try the one containing olive oil and basil - it was interesting, but i have discovered i am definitely more inclined towards girlie drinks. however, one needs to be adventurous as there are so many delicious flavour combinations out there that need to be explored.

the drinks are on the pricey side - but for good reason - you're paying for the experience, quality and art, the bartender is an absolute artist.

how do you even review a hideaway ! what a great find , went with a friend i'd rather forget some weeks ago , but my experience of this spot remains glorious !

pizza and never tried before cocktails , this is a yummy secret in joburg !

cocktails are absolutely incredible! the situation of this lounge is pure brilliance! order yourself the bumpy g, nuts and olive platter. well done peeps!

what a treasure. it is so rare to find a place that cares so much about their art.

from the second you walk in you get the distinct feeling that you're in for an adventure.

this speakeasy is far and away the best bar in joburg. i love the dynamic nature of the seasonal menus coupled with the consistency of the house favourites.

you can taste the integrity, passion and pride in every drink. the combinations are often unusual and will likely include some alcohols that you have never heard of, but don't worry - the guys behind the bar will talk you through the selection and will guide you to the right choice.

last night we bid farewell to the warmth of the ember menu, my favourite menu so far. i was really happy to walk away knowing what the colour orange tastes like.

can't wait to sample the drinks from the road to mexico and the rest of the menus to come.

the highlight to our evening out. loved the decor and ambiance. our waitress was more than helpful when it came to picking our cocktails. 5 people 5 different cocktails and each one was moreish. definitely a place that deserves to be visited again

this cozy little bar has to be one of the best hidden gems in joburg. it's in a very unsuspecting location, you enter thro a red door and then you enter what feels like an underground secret. their cocktails are unique, and julian made them with passion (and a bit of showing off😉)
but i luv'd it.

it's all about the experience. at any one time there's only a handful of people allowed due to some "rules". however, once you make it inside, the space becomes really great.

i am a huge fan of gin so part of my life's mission is to sample as many gin cocktails and kinds as possible. i must say although their cocktails are really great, i found them a bit sweet. the rest of the people i was with thoroughly enjoyed the experience so we will definitely come around for some more exploration.

update: went there again, found love with the paintbrush cocktail. delicious cocktail, not too sweet and packs a hell of a punch

great ambience, great look, amazing music and of course delicious cocktails.
service is phenomenal. i didn't have to try get attention from the staff at any stage of the evening. they all on the ball.
best cocktail bar in jhb for sure!

so the infamous secret bar in joburg! i actually wish there were more places like this ( if there are please let me know)...

we went to sins late at night after bar hoping all night. it gives off cape town vibes... the cocktails are a bit to strong though not sure who does the quality test but damn mr barman!! anyway great ambience, good music! love it

a real old fashioned prohibition bar. this place was incredible. i took my boyfriend there for date night and it was an amazing evening. wednesday night. not to packed and such a good vibe. the bar tenders were extremely knowledgeable about their product and make excellent recommendations. i would highly recommend sin & taxes. i know i will be visiting again. well done on an amazing venue.

a very well hidden gem in rosebank. the decor, lighting and entrance lend itself to the secrecy of sin and taxes. the vibe is good, cocktails interesting and delicious. always had a good time here and definitely will be going back!

rude, unpleasant experience!
catching on to the old tradition of amazing cities like new york and melbourne - a hidden entrance and password one might expect to find a fun and pleasant experience. i am no stranger to these experiences throughout the world and when johannesburg- a city i have recently returned to was doing something just as edgy - i thought wow - and round up a bunch of my friends to try it out. it was highly unpleasant and the rude wanna be cool door lady and her protector were as pretentious and rude as the seedier mainstream clubs which people who value themselves don't frequent. remember the word pretentious comes from the word pretend. you don't have to pretend - you are. you have nothing to prove - you have done something cool - own it. but instead - your door girl played this down and let her little "power hungry access control" role get to her head instead - and then i realised all too quickly that johannesburg is in it's infancy - it's still pretending. it isn't yet new york or melbourne - it's still trying to prove its worthiness. and then i realised this bar was not my place. this was about ego, exclusivity, power, low vibration and just plain rudeness. if you really don't want to be the next fad - ensure that customer service is a top priority. people are fickle - the fad will fade - and you'll be left with nothing because you did not nurture your patrons, your regulars and those that truly believed in the beauty you were trying to create. and although i do - i will not subject myself to rude door ladies who don't. do yourself a favour and hire people at the door who are already assured deep down of just how awesome they are and treat others with the same respect. we are nothing until we learn how to treat each other.

best cocktail bar in jhb!!! if you are looking for a speakeasy bar that is similar to hidden speakeasy bars in europe then this is the place to go. amazing cocktails. perfect place for a date.