Nightlife & Entertainment
Zimbabwe offers a range of evening entertainment options, from sophisticated cocktail bars to lively clubs with Afrobeat and amapiano. Whether you’re looking for a quiet sundowner or a night of dancing, this guide covers the main entertainment scenes.Safety First: As with nightlife anywhere, take sensible precautions. Use trusted transport (not walking alone at night), keep valuables secure, and let someone know where you’re going. Most venues are safe and welcoming.
Victoria Falls
The tourist hub offers the most accessible nightlife scene for visitors.Bars & Lounges
The Lookout Cafe
Vibe: Sunset spot with gorge viewsBest For: Sundowners, dinner
Music: Background/acoustic
Hours: Open for lunch through dinner
Dress: Smart casualHighlights:
- Stunning gorge views
- Great cocktail menu
- Perfect for sunset
- Popular with tourists and locals
The Stanley Terrace (Victoria Falls Hotel)
Vibe: Colonial eleganceBest For: Refined evening drinks
Music: Light background
Hours: Afternoon through evening
Dress: Smart casual to formalHighlights:
- Historic setting
- Views of Victoria Falls Bridge
- Afternoon tea to evening drinks
- Dress up a bit
Three Monkeys
Vibe: Casual pub atmosphereBest For: Casual drinks, meeting travelers
Music: Various, sometimes live
Hours: Late afternoon until late
Dress: CasualHighlights:
- Pool tables
- Sports on TV
- Pub food
- Traveler hangout
Zambezi House
Vibe: Riverside restaurant-barBest For: Dinner and drinks
Music: Background/live on weekends
Hours: Lunch through dinner
Dress: Smart casualHighlights:
- River views
- Good food
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Sometimes live music
Clubs & Dancing
Victoria Falls Clubs
Shoestrings
- Backpacker bar that heats up late
- DJs on weekends
- Younger crowd
- Casual dress
- Many lodges have bars with evening entertainment
- The Boma dinner includes traditional dancing
- Sunset cruises have bar service and sometimes music
- Check for special events at hotels
Evening Activities
Beyond bars and clubs, Victoria Falls offers:
| Activity | Description | When |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset Cruise | Zambezi river cruise with drinks | Daily, 4-6pm |
| The Boma Dinner | Traditional dining with drumming & dancing | Nightly |
| Stargazing | Clear skies, some lodges offer telescopes | Year-round |
| Night Drives | Safari drives in Zambezi National Park | By arrangement |
| Dinner at Falls | Some venues offer falls-view evening dining | Year-round |
Harare
The capital has Zimbabwe’s most diverse nightlife scene.Upmarket Bars & Lounges
La Fontaine (Meikles Hotel)
Vibe: Elegant, upmarketBest For: Business drinks, special occasions
Music: Light background
Dress: Smart/formal
Location: Central HarareHighlights:
- Classic cocktails
- Sophisticated crowd
- Central location
- Good wine list
40 Cork Road
Vibe: Wine bar, trendyBest For: Wine lovers, casual chic
Music: Background
Dress: Smart casual
Location: AvondaleHighlights:
- Extensive wine selection
- Tapas-style food
- Popular with professionals
- Regular events
Amanzi Restaurant & Bar
Vibe: Modern, stylishBest For: Dinner and drinks
Music: Background to DJ
Dress: Smart casual
Location: Sam Levy’s Village, BorrowdaleHighlights:
- Contemporary vibe
- Good cocktails
- Outdoor seating
- Weekend crowds
Tin Roof Cafe
Vibe: Live music venueBest For: Live bands, jazz, local music
Music: Live performances
Dress: Casual to smart casual
Location: AvondaleHighlights:
- Regular live music
- Local and international acts
- Great atmosphere
- Check event listings
Clubs
Harare Club Scene
Book Cafe (Harare)
- Iconic arts and music venue
- Live music performances
- Poetry readings
- Cultural events
- Check their schedule
- Popular nightclub
- DJs and live music
- Younger crowd
- Weekends busiest
- Sam Levy’s Village (Borrowdale) - restaurants and bars
- Avondale - cafes and bars
- Central Harare - mix of venues
- Thursday nights start the weekend
- Friday and Saturday busiest
- Things get going after 10pm
- Clubs often open until 2-4am
- Cover charges common at clubs
- Dress codes vary—smarter is safer
- Use app-based taxis or known drivers
- Keep valuables minimal
Live Music
Music Scene
Genres You’ll Hear:
- Sungura - Zimbabwean guitar-based music
- Chimurenga - Revolutionary music tradition
- Afrobeat/Afropop - Pan-African sounds
- Amapiano - South African house genre, hugely popular
- Dancehall - Caribbean influence
- Jazz - Strong local jazz scene
- Gospel - Very popular
- Tin Roof Cafe
- Book Cafe
- Various hotels and restaurants
- Special events and festivals
- Thomas Mapfumo (Chimurenga)
- Oliver Mtukudzi (Tuku Music) - legacy
- Jah Prayzah (Afro-pop)
- Winky D (Urban Grooves)
- Ammara Brown (Contemporary)
Bulawayo
Zimbabwe’s second city has a more laid-back but vibrant scene.Bars & Entertainment
Popular Spots:Indaba Book Cafe
- Arts and culture venue
- Live music
- Book events
- Creative crowd
- Historic venue
- Classic bar
- Special events
- Live music venue
- Local bands
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Castle-turned-guesthouse
- Unique setting for drinks
- Must book
- Suburbs area has various bars
- Hotel bars (Rainbow, Cresta Churchill)
- Check local listings for events
Safari Lodge Entertainment
Bush Evenings
Safari Camp Experiences
After a day on safari, evenings are special:Standard Evening:
- Sundowner drinks in the bush
- Return to camp for dinner
- Campfire with drinks
- Early bedtime (5:30am game drive!)
- Boma dinners - Traditional outdoor dining
- Stargazing - Southern skies are spectacular
- Night drives - Many camps offer these
- Bushman stories - Guides share local lore
- Traditional dancing - Some camps arrange
- Pack a warm layer for evenings (cold in winter)
- Bring a flashlight for walking to dinner
- Don’t walk around camp alone at night (wildlife!)
- Enjoy early nights—safari mornings are early
Cultural Entertainment
Traditional Performances
Cultural Experiences
The Boma - Victoria Falls
- Traditional dinner experience
- Live drumming and dancing
- Interactive (you can join!)
- Fortune telling optional
- Book in advance
- Many lodges arrange traditional entertainment
- Dance troupes visit camps
- Drumming performances
- Cultural storytelling
- Village tours often include dancing
- Cultural centers in major cities
- Ask your hotel to arrange
- Drumming and marimba music
- Traditional dance forms
- Often audience participation
- Respectful photography usually okay
Arts & Theatre
Harare:
- Reps Theatre - Plays and performances
- National Gallery - Exhibition openings
- Alliance Française - French cultural events
- Book Cafe - Poetry, music, culture
- Bulawayo Theatre - Performances
- Indaba Book Cafe - Cultural events
- National Gallery Bulawayo
- HIFA (Harare International Festival of Arts) - Major annual festival
- Intwasa Arts Festival (Bulawayo)
- Vic Falls Carnival (December)
Practical Information
Safety Tips
Staying Safe at Night
Transport:
- Use lodge transport or known taxi services
- Apps like inDriver operate in cities
- Don’t walk long distances at night
- Arrange return transport before going out
- Don’t carry excess cash or valuables
- Stay aware of your surroundings
- Drink responsibly
- Stay with your group
- Let someone know where you’re going
- Trust your instincts
- Avoid isolated areas
- Be cautious accepting drinks from strangers
- Keep your phone charged
Dress Codes
| Venue Type | Dress Code |
|---|---|
| Hotel bars | Smart casual |
| Upmarket lounges | Smart/formal |
| Casual pubs | Casual |
| Clubs | Smart casual (no flip flops) |
| Safari lodges | Clean casual/smart casual |
- “Smart casual” = neat trousers/jeans, collared shirt or nice top
- Some clubs enforce dress codes
- No athletic wear at upmarket venues
- Safari dinners—long pants and closed shoes often required
Opening Hours
Typical Hours:
Peak Times:
| Venue | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel bars | 4pm | 11pm-midnight |
| Restaurants with bars | 5pm | 10-11pm |
| Pubs | 5pm | Midnight-2am |
| Clubs | 9pm | 2-4am |
- Bars get busy from 7-8pm
- Clubs don’t get going until 10-11pm
- Weekend nights are busiest
- Thursday can be lively in Harare
Events & Festivals
Annual Events
Major Events
| Event | When | Where | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIFA | April/May | Harare | Major arts festival with music, theatre, comedy |
| Intwasa Festival | September | Bulawayo | Arts and culture festival |
| Vic Falls Carnival | Dec 29-31 | Victoria Falls | New Year’s music festival |
| Jacaranda Music Festival | November | Harare | During jacaranda bloom |
| Shoko Festival | September | Harare | Urban arts and music |
- Check hotel concierge
- Local newspapers (Herald, Chronicle)
- Social media—Facebook events popular
- Ask locals for recommendations
Quick Tips
Last updated: January 2025 Nightlife scenes change frequently. Ask locals for current recommendations and check that venues are still operating before visiting.