Ratz

Ratz is a bar at 9 7th Street in Melville that In Your Pocket calls one of the district's longest-running nightlife spots and a queer fixture since the mid-1990s. It relaunched under new management in August 2025, and the listing describes it as "late, loud, and proudly queer-forward". The kitchen serves peri-peri wings and crispy chips, the signature drink is the Coco's Sour Margarita, and tequila costs R20 in a daily happy hour from 23:00 to 00:00. Margarita Fridays and DJ sets of up to seven hours are listed in the Melville guide.

The music is alternative sounds, soulful house on Wednesdays and retro R&B on Sundays, played through Martin Audio speakers salvaged from Kitchener's Bar. Time Out's August 2026 report places it after 22:00 on a Friday route from the 7th Street bars, describes deep house and half-price cocktails, and says the doorman, Malebza, greets guests by name and reminds them to order their Uber when it is time to leave. Hours are 15:00 to 02:00 from Wednesday to Sunday and 17:00 to 02:00 on Tuesday, closed Monday. Not for you if you want a quiet dinner.