The hippest coffee bar in Jinja, Flavours is furnished with stylish rattan sofas, soft lighting, a great soundtrack and tall bar stools. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows look out over the action on Main Street, the town’s biggest thoroughfare.

The coffee bar is the focus of the lounge area, while in the back there’s a book exchange and some large communal tables equipped with wifi access and benches – a great spot to sit down and fire off some emails back home.

The atmosphere here is usually buzzing, making it a good spot for an evening drink, or for breakfast, lunch or dinner (it’s open from 8.30am until 11pm every day.) This spot is popular with Ugandans, as well as backpackers and higher-end visitors, and the menu combines cheap options with fashionable salad plates and creative twists on things like the humble hamburger. Plus, with regular concerts and jam nights, it’s a must for local live music too.

We tried the yummy Moroccan salad with chickpeas, ginger and carrots, followed by an unusual but equally delicious veggie burger: made with crushed beetroot and beans. The dessert menu includes home-baked cakes, cookies and chocolate delights, but we went for the apple and passion-fruit crumble, served with a soft scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The dry white wine was good by Jinja standards, and there’s a nice selection of beers and fresh juices for sale.

Of course, it would be rude to come to a coffee bar and not try the coffee. The bar staff here double as baristas, and the freshly ground Kenyan beans go down well with the regulars. There’s also a healthy range of herbal teas available, including local specialties.

Mixing international style with a Ugandan vibe, this is by far our favorite hangout spot in Jinja. And although the service can be slow at certain times – such as Sunday lunchtime, when everyone comes by – the staff are good enough to warn you.