I remember coming to the book café during my junior year of college, when I was studying abroad at the University of Zimbabwe and the Zim dollar had yet to reach its epic inflation fail. The Book Café has weathered the economic downfall and also lived to see the implementation of the U.S. dollar and the country’s tentative economic rebound. And despite the change of centuries, it remains one of the most progressive places in Harare, and the spot the listen to live music or hear the latest author or poet read.

Right in the heart of the CBD, stumbling distance from the Meikles Hotel, the no-frills café offers a different genre of live entertainment six nights a week (they are closed on Sunday) – one night its live jazz, the next it’s a poetry slam and the third might be a stand-up comedy show or reading from an African author. Check the Book Café’s Facebook page for what is going on. Also note the serve food, coffee and drinks and do in deed sell books – there is a large selection of works by Zimbabwean and African authors plus a small area devoted to international bestsellers.