Every good southern African town has its Afro Bar. It’s the kind of place where expats and tourists learn to dance Mozambican style, grinding their hips with local fishermen to the latest dance floor hip-hop. It’s the kind of place where one bottle of Laurentina Clara (Mozambican lager) or Laurentina Preta (dark ale) turns into six, where someone orders shots of South African Amarula liquor while the dancing gets wilder and the party gets messier, and you find yourself heading home just as the stallholders set up at the nearby market.
And yet, before the tables get dirty, it’s a pleasant place for an early evening sundowner and a bite to eat. By early evening, we mean 9 p.m., by the way: the beat doesn’t set in until at least midnight here. Wooden picnic tables are strung through a pretty yard, framed by cacti and bougainvillea, and there are nice stone walls dressed in tasteful African art. The waitstaff are friendly, and you’ll probably spot them joining in with the dancing if you stick around long enough. They’ll also be able to give you a heads up on when the next “Afro party” is. Those are even bigger than a regular Saturday night out here.
The drinks list runs the gamut of beers, including Mozambican brands Laurentina and 2M (and maybe even Impala, a rural high-alcohol brew), a few Portuguese wines and more spirits than anyone could possibly ever drink. The cocktails are nicely presented, too.
It would probably be wise to line your stomach with a plate of fish samosas or Portuguese pasteis de peixe (little fishcakes), or you could go for a main meal of calamari or grilled fish (250 Mets), or T-Bone steak with salad (250 Mets). For a place that’s better known as a party bar than a restaurant, the food is surprisingly good and doesn’t disappoint.
Expert Review
Every good southern African town has its Afro Bar. It's the kind of place where expats and tourists learn to...
Every good southern African town has its Afro Bar. It’s the kind of place where expats and tourists learn to dance Mozambican style, grinding their hips with local fishermen to the latest dance floor hip-hop. It’s the kind of place where one bottle of Laurentina Clara (Mozambican lager) or Laurentina Preta (dark ale) turns into six, where someone orders shots of South African Amarula liquor while the dancing gets wilder and the party gets messier, and you find yourself heading home just as the stallholders set up at the nearby market.
And yet, before the tables get dirty, it’s a pleasant place for an early evening sundowner and a bite to eat. By early evening, we mean 9 p.m., by the way: the beat doesn’t set in until at least midnight here. Wooden picnic tables are strung through a pretty yard, framed by cacti and bougainvillea, and there are nice stone walls dressed in tasteful African art. The waitstaff are friendly, and you’ll probably spot them joining in with the dancing if you stick around long enough. They’ll also be able to give you a heads up on when the next “Afro party” is. Those are even bigger than a regular Saturday night out here.
The drinks list runs the gamut of beers, including Mozambican brands Laurentina and 2M (and maybe even Impala, a rural high-alcohol brew), a few Portuguese wines and more spirits than anyone could possibly ever drink. The cocktails are nicely presented, too.
It would probably be wise to line your stomach with a plate of fish samosas or Portuguese pasteis de peixe (little fishcakes), or you could go for a main meal of calamari or grilled fish (250 Mets), or T-Bone steak with salad (250 Mets). For a place that’s better known as a party bar than a restaurant, the food is surprisingly good and doesn’t disappoint.