From deluxe hotel lounges to chilled beach bars, take a sip trip across Africa and the Indian Ocean to discover the hottest watering holes serving up high-end cocktail craft
Smoking Kills, Johannesburg
@smokingkillsbar
At the tip of the continent, in Joburg’s funky Melville neighbourhood is where you’ll find this unapologetically grungy dive bar. Edgy it may be, from its tagged walls to steady stream of live gigs, but it also has an undeniably excellent, rum-heavy drinks programme, including a locally loved piña colada menu. With their warm-hearted and inclusive approach, co-owners Aimee May Donofrio and Chris Pheiffer have built a dedicated following through a diverse and delightful space where everyone is welcome.
Tea House Restaurant, Zanzibar
@emersonzanzibar
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The beautiful Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar has a somewhat chequered past. One of the most infamous trading posts, historically it dealt with everything from silk and spices to the horrors of slavery. Today, on the rooftops of moody Stone Town, perched above a sprawling hotel – originally the home of an advisor to the sultan and with all the ornate fixtures and furnishings of this bygone era – you’ll find the Tea House Restaurant.
Watch the fishing dhows return to the harbour as the sun goes down from the comfort of Swahili cushions, cocktails in hand, before enjoying traditional Zanzibar dishes such as coconut-crusted songoro fish with black pepper, banana and tamarind sauce. The compact drinks list features classics with a Zanzibar twist, such as Hibiscus Kir Royale or more local flavours such as the Dawa (konyagi rum, pemben honey, lime).
Hero Bar, Nairobi
@hero_nairobi
A hero’s welcome awaits in Nairobi at, well, Hero Bar, which was ranked No.75 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 extended 51-100 list. At this comic book-themed speakeasy, drinks showcase Kenya’s natural bounty and guests can try quirky concoctions made with locally sourced ingredients crafted in compelling ways – think tree tomato banana oleo, berbere-infused spirits and lacto-fermented spiced watermelon. There’s also ample opportunity for guests to refuel their superpowers with Japanese-inspired small plates including beef fillet tataki and octopus and rhubarb sushi rolls.
Kubu Bar at The Royal Livingstone Hotel, Zambia
@Royallivingstone_anantara
At the waterside Kubu Bar, set within the palatial five-star Royal Livingstone Hotel, you can sample beautifully crafted drinks while listening to the rumble of Victoria Falls, just a few minutes downriver. Tailor-made G&Ts are the order of the day here – made to each customer’s exacting garnish, tonic and brand of gin from their extensive selection. You can even try gin infused with the local Mundambi flower and produced by the New Harbour Distillery in Cape Town especially for The Royal Livingstone Hotel. Don’t be surprised if you cross paths with a giraffe or zebra while wandering back to your room post sip, as they freely roam the grounds.
Flip Lounge, Lagos
@fliplounge01
The neighbourhood of Langbasa in Lagos might seem unassuming at first glance, but it’s here that Emmanuel Oyira – president of the Bartender's Guild of Nigeria – has created an oasis of accessible luxury where guests can get a world-class cocktail experience that rivals the hotspots of Lekki and Victoria Island. Expect loungey vibes, Nigerian beats and a good time from the bar that set up Nigeria’s very first dedicated cocktail training programme. The bar has a small on-site lab where the team make their own in-house syrups and cordials and staff go to hone their tastebuds and shaking skills. Don’t leave without trying their signature cocktail the Flip Side, which includes gin, cinnamon syrup and orange juice or the African Pop (spiced rum, popcorn syrup, fresh oranges, orange and lemon juice).
Front/Back, Accra
@frontbackaccra
Just over the northern border, in Accra, you’ll find the most marvellous member’s club with stylish surrounds. It took more than 40 artisans to create the space and design everything from the decor and fabrics to the artwork that adorns the walls, plus, nearly everything guests see can either buy or order bespoke to take home a piece of the party when they leave. This celebration of African creativity spills into the drinks menu, which takes inspiration from across the diaspora, and is reflected once more in the dazzling outfits worn by the front row fashionistas that are Front/Back’s clientele. The three sections of the bar, comprising The Restaurant, The Library and The Terrace, run like clockwork under the watchful eye of director Kojo Aidoo. The drinks list is compact but effective with original creations such as the Kandanka Sour, which shakes blanco tequila, mandarin, dragon fruit and lavender.
Buddha-Bar Beach at Sugar Beach Hotel, Mauritius
@buddhabarbeachmauritius
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Across the tourmaline waters of the Indian Ocean, just off the east coast of the continent on the l'île Maurice, you’ll find the seaside village of Flic en Flac and the Sugar Beach Hotel. Conveniently west facing, you can watch the sun dip into the azure waves from the bohemian Buddha-Bar Beach. Sip sundowners such as the Vanilla Me, a vodka-spiked cocktail featuring the vanilla this island is famous for, or the Make a Wish, made up of lemongrass, passionfruit puree, curry leaf and hibiscus syrup from the island’s native plant life. Stay post cocktail hour for succulent seafood served next to the pearlescent shore to a backing track of Buddha Bar beats.
Gare aux Gorilles, Casablanca
@gareauxgorilles
Casablanca, in all its Hollywood golden age glory, is the home of a nascent mixology community that’s largely being driven by Achraf El Moufadal, founder of mobile-bar initiative and consultancy company Moroccan Mixology. The cocktail menu at Gare aux Gorilles has been designed to complement the venue’s incredible French and Japanese-inspired cuisine. From classic sips to cocktails with a local twist, everything is lovingly crafted using handmade syrups and clarified spirits. Don’t leave without trying the daiquiri-style Moroccan in Cuba, with pear-infused rum and yellow apple cordial.
Bikini Bottom, Seychelles
@Bikinibottomseychelles
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Travel to the palm-fringed shores of the Seychelles to discover the delightfully quirky Bikini Bottom, which was named after SpongeBob Squarepant's underwater home, and which is (almost) just as magical. This simple beach bar at Anse Severe Beach has a serious cocktail offering including coconut caipirinha and strawberry gin fizz. As well as alcoholic drinks, it’s the ideal place to sip smoothies, milkshakes and iced coffees in your swimsuit with sandy feet and salty hair. Watch out for the gigantic tortoises that ramble around the area.
Shinkō, Cairo
@shinkocairo
Perhaps better known for pharaohs and pyramids, Cairo also has a burgeoning cocktail scene with progressive bars such as Shinkō at its heart. This classy cocktail lounge offers refuge from the city within an exclusive residential enclave called Swanlake Compound. Here, beverage director Walid Merhi has constructed a superlative drinks menu, which includes signatures, such as the Baked Pineapple Martini, which uses celery tagetes gin, baked pineapple vermouth and cardamom froth, and the Penny Bun Old Fashioned, with porcini, marzipan, smoke and bitters, and the ultimate end-of-the-night tipple, a martini from the bar’s dedicated menu, to the classic.
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