Cape Town
The motto here is 'wine first, food second', so while there is a short menu, it's the range of 200-plus different wines from across the Western Cape that…
Must-see nightlife in Africa
Réunion
A trendy crowd flocks to this popular bar with two entrances (one on Rue Jean Chatel, the other on Ruelle Edouard). Besides featuring a wide choice of…
Port Elizabeth
At this excellent wine bar and boutique, you can sample the output of Stellenbosch and beyond (tastings and wine by the glass start at R36), with craft…
Cape Town
This place is hopping from early morning to late at night. Travellers mingle with hipster locals, who come for the excellent coffee, craft beer, gourmet…
Cape Town
Sample the small-batch premium gins of this company here. Buchu (a local type of fynbos), citrus and lavender flavours feature in the 'wine-base' gin; the…
Stellenbosch
This place has a dozen local craft beers on tap and plenty more in bottles. There's also a decent wine list and a great selection of spirits. If you can't…
Cape Town
'Forries' has been around for well over 150 years. The English-style pub offers a convivial atmosphere in which to enjoy a dozen draught beers (mostly…
Sharm El Sheikh
All nooks and crannies, floor cushions, Bedouin tents and swinging lamps, Farsha is the kind of place that travellers come to for a coffee and find…
Cape Town
At this perennial favourite, the deal is to grab a beer (13 types on draught), order a pizza (R100) and settle in at a wooden table outside to enjoy the…
Mombasa
With lashings of sexy Mombasa style, this lounge cafe is the perfect spot to chill out in cushion-strewn, arty surrounds. Did we mention that it has great…
Grand Baie
The top pick for a night out on the town, the 'little terrors' has a roaring dance floor, a chilled-out lounge and a special VIP section that overflows…
Cape Town
Babylon's broad balcony provides panoramic views towards Table Mountain. The vibe inside this new LGBT dance venue is laid back and friendly with plush…
Green Point & Waterfront
The food is so-so, but the drinks are fine at this classy all-day cafe serving everything from breakfast coffee and croissants to nightcaps. It's a lovely…
Tamatave (Toamasina)
An old railway carriage has been converted into the most happening bar in Tamatave. It has monthly cocktail specials using seasonal fruits, plus there's…
Cape Town
This relaxed, unpretentious bar does a brilliant job at digging out hidden gems of the Cape's wine and gin scenes. Taste drops from sustainably farmed…
Garden Route
Enjoy great coffee and homemade cakes at this funky cafe with eclectic decor and ocean views from the deck. It's an awesome spot to spend a couple of…
Green Point & Waterfront
Walk through the hotel to the spacious deck bar and restaurant with a prime Table Bay position. It’s a great place to enjoy a sunset cocktail; you can…
Sharm El Sheikh
Camel is a favourite among dive instructors for its relaxed, casual vibe. This is the optimal place to start off the evening, especially for divers…
Djibouti City
Ah, Mahad and its oh-so-smooth, oh-so-thick fruity concoctions (over 45 varieties)! Grab a seat outside and watch the world go by. Also serves tea, coffee…
Cotonou
One of the most atmospheric spots for a drink is the terrace of this pub in Haie Vive, which serves as one of the biggest expat hangouts in town.
Burundi
This place, with its whitewashed weatherboards, palm-studded beach, blue-and-white nautical-inspired decor and a huge terrace-fronted villa, is where…
Cape Town
One of South Africa's most innovative breweries has moved to colossal premises outside the city. It's a somewhat unlikely location, on a large industrial…
Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle
Want to hang out with the Marrakshi cool kids? Head straight to the covered rooftop bar at Kechmara after sunset and watch it pack out with a buzzing…
Cape Town
As the boutique gin wave washes over South Africa, Hope on Hopkins remains one of the country's most progressive micro-distilleries. Occupying a disused…
Sea Point to Hout Bay
The attention to detail at this stylish, bustling cafe is magnificent. Beans are roasted in house and the coffee menu features everything from espressos…
Tangier
Inside an apartment building, left after the entrance, this bar is perennially popular with expats. The decor is adorably funky, as is the bar's CD…
Accra
Owned by hiplife legend Reggie Rockstone. There's a lounge bar decked out with white leather sofas, an outdoor terrace and regular live music. At the…
Johannesburg
There's a cool 1920s prohibition feel to this welcoming space with a long wooden bar and outdoor tables right on the Tryone Ave shopping strip. It's hard…
Tangier
The former hang-out for Beat writers William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg has been renovated to suit the next generation, and now teems with…
Tangier
On the top floor of this kasbah guesthouse is a bar and terrace, with fabulous views across to Spain. Sip a cocktail in the retro-chic lounge full of…
Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle
This upstairs cafe-bar is a chilled-out spot with draft beer, coffee, bar snacks, cushy seating and walls of books to browse and buy. Come for happy hour …
Alexandria
This expansive and breezy Alexandrian classic is reputed to have the best shisha in town, served with a flourish by attentive boys in smart two-toned…
Mauritius
Come for a meal, sure, but the main reason to visit is to sample one of Mauritius' best brews. The Flying Dodo, the country's first craft brewery,…
Lalibela
Also known as Askalech, Torpido serves tej along with traditional azmari song and dance after 8pm. It gets a lot of tourists, but locals usually outnumber…
Alexandria
El Qobesi has crowned itself the ‘king of mango’ – take one sip of the juice here and you will bow down, a loyal peon. Slivers of several ripe mangoes are…
Marrakesh
This 1920s hotel offers drinkers double trouble. At sunset, head straight up to the Sky Bar, a secret haven of stylish, shady day beds and trickling…
Accra
This stylish architect-owned cafe, bar and music venue sits in a beautifully restored building right in the heart of old Accra, just across from the sea…
Accra
With its bright red walls, black-and-white photos, vintage postcards and outdoor wooden deck, this fab bar wouldn't look out of place in Brooklyn. Here,…
Windhoek
This bar is in a lovely historic mansion that actually used to store the town’s water supply, but now houses the city’s premium wine selection. Staff here…
Harare
Across the road from Avondale Shopping Centre is this cool little bar that attracts a mixed, friendly crowd of students and professionals. There's a good…
