Diego Suarez (Antsiranana)
This old favourite dance club has a popular bar and restaurant upstairs serving the usual mains of zebu steak or calamari from Ar12,000. It hosts special…
Must-see nightlife in Africa
Agadir
Want to know why the hip young things of Agadir pack this lightless, pleathery cavern filled with sweet shisha smoke every night? Let us know if you…
Lusaka
This South African chain pub, popular with South Africans and Brits, is ideal if you like fake Irish pubs and a more Western drinking experience. There…
Asilah
A good place for a coffee, mint tea or breakfast, with street-side tables overlooking Bab Al Kasaba. The waiters don't mind if you linger over your drinks…
Cotonou
This Cotonou institution has been around for yonks and isn't showing signs of slowing down. If you want to rub shoulders with hip-gyrating Beninese…
Asilah
The main attraction of this simple little cafe in the medina is its sunny seating area in the square in front of El Khamra Tower. It's a great place to…
Meknes
This grand cafe is among the most popular for Moroccan men to sip their mint tea. Sitting outside and people-watching is a great breakfast pastime. There…
Burkina Faso
Come and shake your stuff to coupé-décalé (Ivoirian beats) and other Afro-beats at the funky Provencale. The Sunday matinée is particularly popular.
Abidjan
Expats and travellers congregate here on weekends: a drinking lounge with walls the colour of Ivoirian soil. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed.
Sousse
Somewhat bizarrely offering Brazilian coffee and snacks, this place has indoor and outdoor seating. The clientele is young and predominantly male.
Kinshasa
Black & White is a popular downtown Kinshasa club with ear-splitting noise on its raucous dance floor. Upstairs is a bar with a pool table.
Tunisia
Set in front of a maze of caves (once used by local pirates), this run-down open-air cafe overlooks the rubbish-filled water of the old port.
Boulangerie Pâtisserie Majestic
Rabat
The shaded terrace at this old-school cafe is lovely, but stick to coffee and people watching; pastries were flyblown on our last visit.
Kampala
An old timer along the notorious Kabalagala strip, this open-air shack is less raucous than others, but is still open around the clock.
Kampala
Popular with students, Club Silk has a pumping dance floor (mainstream, East African pop and Nigerian music) that goes until late.
Cotonou
Le Soweto hops until the wee hours with strong cocktails, a relaxed and mixed crowd and loud music, from pop to blues.
Lomé
This trendy nightclub is a favourite haunt of rich young Togolese, with music ranging from electronic to hip hop.
Middle Atlas
A modern cafe with plenty of pavement seating and one that’s not threatened by the concept of female customers.
Southern Tunisia
This place is at the intersection just south of the clocktower and spills out onto the street in the afternoon.
Cotonou
A pulsating club near the airport. It plays African and Western tunes and doesn't really kick off before 1am.
Abidjan
A fancy club that attracts wealthy Ivoirians and well-off expats, and anyone who's anyone in Abidjan.
Liberia
This nightclub bops into the wee hours with a mix of rock, pop, trance. It also serves mediocre food.
Douz
Serviceable cafe – coffee, tea and the usual underemployed men killing time over cigarettes.
Zimbabwe
For those looking for a drink in town, this is very much a local affair, but friendly enough.
Tunis
One of Ave Habib Bourguiba's main people-watching hubs, but an almost totally male preserve.
Sunshine Coast
This watering hole popular with students is much less atmospheric than the bars on New St.
Liberia
For beachside drinks (you can sip with your toes in the sand), Oceanview can't be beaten.
Île Sainte Marie
The bar is the favourite hang-out of French retirees and the atmosphere can be seedy.
Abidjan
Popular with well-heeled Ivoirians. You can sometimes dance to Afro-Cuban rhythms.
Burundi
Locals come from far and wide to relax with a Primus beer and munch on the tasty brochettes that are served at this large beachfront bar. By 11pm the…
Burundi
Out the front is the trendy Balneo Lounge Bar with comfy leather chairs, mood lighting and private nooks. The Havana Club itself is out back and is one of…
Mali
Bamako is a city that comes into its own after dark, and on weekends it's a party town. Clubs don't get going before midnight and close around 06:00…
Mali
This is Mali's most sophisticated bar, and though regulars lament that it has lost something since being glassed in and blasted with air-con, it's still…
Niger
If you can get over the number of prostitutes and the glowing Christmas tree light-interior, this club (next to 2005) can be quite fun. There's a pool…
Niger
For a more African experience, head to this bar perched on the river behind the Piscine Olympique D'Etat (Olympic swimming pool).
