Must-see nightlife in Africa

  • Tom’s Bar

    Malawi

    Popular little spot for both locals and visitors to commune with a cold beer.

  • Apex

    Sierra Leone

    This bar and club at the Wusum Hotel gets noisy on the weekend.

  • Tash's Craft Bar

    Sunshine Coast

    A lively bar overlooking the harbour. It also serves meals.

  • Lancer’s Inn

    Lesotho

    This modern hotel bar is a comfortable city-centre retreat.

  • Spot 6

    Jinja

    One of the livelier nightlife options.

  • Babez

    Jinja

    Features DJ jams and dancing.

  • Station on Bree

    Cape Town

    You'll either love or loathe the London Underground theme here, which stretches to huge screens playing Central Line videos and even train memorabilia in…

  • Café Sidi Bouhdid

    Hammamet

    At the foot of the kasbah, this domed zaouia (shrine for a local patron) has been converted to a lovely cafe that's perfect for watching a sundown over an…

  • rhdr

    L'Auberge Espagnole

    Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle

    It's a bit dark, smoky and blokey, but L'Auberge Espagnole is a decent enough place to drink if you're looking for a sports bar (though most of the space…

  • Café du Fort

    Cap Bon

    This little cafe just below Fort de Kelibia has colourful rugs spread over stepped seating across several levels, including a roof terrace. The splendid…

  • Hole in the Wall Bar

    Tangier

    For chuckles only, walk up Rue Prince Héretier from the Terrasse des Paresseux one-and-a-half blocks and you'll see a swinging black door, Old West style…

  • Rockpool Restaurant

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    The old La Vie is popular for cocktails and pizzas (R100) within sight of the Sea Point Promenade. Tables on the front terrace are hot property. It's…

  • Brunch at Shadowboxer

    Shadowboxer

    Johannesburg

    This bar and brasserie features a cool warehouse-style interior and a balcony overlooking the leafy street. It specialises in tequila-based drinks, with…

  • Regine Club

    Tangier

    Welcome to the 1980s. This disco has stayed the same so long it's a museum piece, replete with a glass-reflecting ball and purple velour couches. It doesn…

  • Pienk Piesang

    Cape Town

    Camp and Afrikaans cultures collide at the 'Pink Banana' parties, which have replaced the erstwhile Gat Parties as the gatherings where local gays and…

  • New Florida

    Nairobi

    The ‘Madhouse’ (or 'Maddi' to its friends) is arguably the most famous of all Nairobi's nightclubs, although a few changes of venue over recent years have…

  • Café des Palabres

    Cameroon

    Housed inside a 1905 colonial German residence, this charming cafe-restaurant on Bonanjo's main square has a great garden terrace perfect for an evening…

  • Zhivago

    Cape Town

    If you're looking for a late-night party and dance spot in the Southern Suburbs, with a young, up-for-it crowd, Zhivago (the old Tiger Tiger) is the place…

  • Café de France

    Marrakesh

    One of the Djemaa's old timers, the balconies of Café de France still have some of the best views of the square, but don't they know it. Service is often…

  • Churchill Bar

    Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle

    On their trips to Marrakesh, former British prime minister Winston Churchill and US president Franklin D Roosevelt spent their downtime at La Mamounia…

  • Club London

    Windhoek

    Formerly La Dee Da’s, this relocated club has undergone a makeover. Check out the Facebook page to see whether it's a foam party, glow-stick event or some…

  • Yours Truly

    Cape Town

    Inspirational sayings in bold, graphic, white-on-black lettering cover the wall at this cute cafe that is the original in what is now a small chain. You…

  • Tree House

    Nairobi

    About halfway between the city centre and Westlands, close to the National Museum, this stalwart draws massive crowds for its top-notch DJs, excellent…

  • Naivasha Coffee House

    Southern Rift Valley

    This sleek hole-in-the-wall coffee stop serves herbal teas, hot chocolate, frappuccinos and caramel concoctions, as well as – obviously – decent coffee…

  • Stardust

    Cape Town

    This cheesy but hugely popular ‘theatrical diner’ gets packed with groups who come to enjoy their tagines (R160-180) and other dishes while listening to…

  • Twigs with Beans

    Cape Town

    This neighbourhood cafe nestled in the heart of historic Harfield Village attracts the area's young professionals, freelancers, joggers, dog walkers and…

  • Zigzag

    Cairo

    This bar-club, set in the old Arabesque restaurant, hosts local bands on weekday nights while Thursday and Friday nights are DJ sets with electronica, R&B…

  • Cafe & Restaurant Maratonga

    Luxor

    This friendly outdoor cafe-restaurant, in front of Medinat Habu, is the best place to stop after wandering through Ramses III’s magnificent temple. Sip a…

  • Casablanca

    Nairobi

    Lounge-style chill-out venues are all the rage in Nairobi, but this Moroccan-style place was doing it long before the trend took hold. It continues to be…

  • Soma Caffe

    Cairo

    An ahwa dedicated to Kawkab Al Sharq, the ‘Star of the Orient’, a title for the famous Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. Look for the huge busts of the singer…

  • Franki Bananaz

    KwaZulu-Natal

    This upmarket cocktail bar is a great spot to mix with a cross-section of locals. It’s particularly popular with students and young professionals,…

  • El Mashrabia

    Hurghada

    This is our favourite pit stop in Hurghada for a juice, shai (tea) or shisha. El Mashrabia is slap on Sigala's main road, with shady outdoor seating and a…

  • Tribe Woodstock

    Cape Town

    Woodstock's creative hub developments wouldn't be complete without an on-site artisan coffee roaster and cafe, and the Woodstock Foundary is no exception…

  • Cayenne

    Kampala

    An attractive outdoor set-up with a sprawling tree, luxurious pool and popular restaurant, Cayenne is a top place to hit night or day. However, the party…

  • Bar Ankoay

    Nosy Be

    Spilling onto the street, the Ankoay (ank-way) is Hell-Ville's most popular bar. Inside a shopping gallery, it's done up like the interior of a ship with…

  • Workshop Bistro

    Cap Bon

    Workshop tries to tap into the hipster vibe, with a '90s hip-hop soundtrack and walls of Route 66 signs. Coffee snobs might turn up their noses at the…

  • Le Marrakchi

    Marrakesh

    This dimly lit restaurant is the only one with views directly onto the square that serves alcohol, but the viewing is through glass windows and unless it…

  • Café Restaurant La Noria

    Fez

    Set in a tumbledown riad by a splashing fountain, this old-fashioned cafe is a pleasant place for coffee or juice, and convenient to Jnan Sbil and the…

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