Living in Angola

Restaurants, Jazz Clubs, and Nightclubs

This section consists of a sampling of some restaurants and clubs tried and tested by various U.S. Embassy employees. Each has its own charm or ambience, and others just have good quality for the price. For more thorough "restaurant reviews" from Luanda, visit The Adventure Dinner Club website, composed by some expatriates.

Restaurants:

• As Maiangas - International cuisine. Associated with Catermar catering company. It is a beautiful restaurant, very pricey by Luanda standards, but very good and the service is even better. It is located just up from USAID across the Maianga circle on the right (Rua Kwame Nrumah, no. 3). The only landmark is the alley just past it and the brass plaque on the gate. They take credit cards! Tel. 222-393-702/222-299-255.
• Espaço O Bahia - International cuisine. Located on the Marginal, close to the Fort end (has a large palanca negra in front). Good food, but rather pricey and long waits if in a large group. Tel.: 222-398-601.  
• Bordão - Angolan and Portuguese cuisine. Located on the Ilha de Luanda, at the very end just as the U-turn is made to come back. (Look for blue and white striped awnings.) Reasonably priced. Nice atmosphere, popular for lunch. Tel. 309-028.
• Cais de Quatro - Recently opened European restaurant located behind the British Airways and Wimpy building on the Ilha, Avenida Murtala Mohamed. Has patio seating on the bay, nice view of Luanda at night and usually a pleasant breeze. Tel. 222-309-430, e-mail: reservas_caisdequatro@hotmail.com.
• Caribe - Angolan, Portuguese, and European food. Located on the ocean side of the Ilha de Luanda, with its own beach. Tel. (cell) 912-202-887.
• Catermar Guest House - Portuguese and European food. Small, nice atmosphere. Reservations are recommended. Expensive. Near Chinese Embassy in Miramar, toward the end of Rua Houari Boumedienne #188/190. Tel. 222-442-199.
• Chez Wu - Chinese restaurant located on Av. Massano de Amorim #8, Chicala, Ilha de Luanda. The food is good, but pricey. One of the only restaurants on the Ilha with air conditioning.
• Coconuts - Angolan, Portuguese, and European food. Menu in English, Portuguese, and French. Very nice atmosphere (patio, overlooking the ocean side of the Ilha), their food is good. Nice grilled fish and steak. Pastas okay as well. Moderately to expensively priced. This restaurant has its own beach area and lounge chairs for sunbathing in the afternoon.
• Espanhol - Spanish restaurant and bar. Rua Mercadores #16. Very quaint neighborhood. Located next door to the Royal Pub. Very good and highly recommended for its "paella". Also features Cuban cuisine. Moderate prices for lunch and dinner. Tel. 222-338-668.
• Farol Velho - Brazilian restaurant located at the end of the Ilha de Luanda. Very pricey, but all-you-can-eat traditional buffet.
• Flor da Sé - Pub/Bar located on Rua dos Mercadores #39. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 1800-0100, Saturday 2200-0300. Tel. 222-338-422, Fax. 222-335-495.
• Hong Kong - Chinese restaurant located on the Largo do Kinaxixe #20 (look for the big red Chinese lanterns). Good food, better prices than Chez Wou. Nice atmosphere. More popular with the lunch crowd. Tel. 222-343-910.
• Hotel Continental - Located just off the Marginal, on the end closest to the fort. Nice restaurant, but very pricey.
• Hotel Marinha - Located on the Ilha, Travessa Mortali Mohamed. Chinese and Korean restaurant. Casino bar. Tel. 222-390-645/222-390-992/222-391-886.
• Hotel Le Presidente Meridien - Restaurant and bar on the 6th floor, located at Largo 4 de Fevereiro, Marginal. The restaurant in this hotel has an excellent Sunday brunch for approximately $20 per person. Pricey for other meals. Tel. 222-310-104/222-310-859/222-311-449/222-311-717.
• Hotel Tivoli - Located down the hill from Hotel Trópico on Rua da Missão. Has a good restaurant, though pricey for what you get. Varied entrees.
• Hotel Trópico - Rua da Missão on the left. The restaurant is on the top floor, prices are expensive, but the view from the restaurant of the city and bay is very lovely.
• Lua Nova - Located not far from the Miramar compound, this restaurant is known for its Embassy regulars at lunchtime. A reservation should be made in advance for lunch. This restaurant has fast service, tasty/abundant food, and inexpensive prices. Best value in town. There are usually at least two different entrees to choose from daily. Hours are 1200-1400, 1900-2100. Tel. 222-441-750 or cell 923-306-075.
• Macau - Small Chinese restaurant located about halfway down the Ilha in a small white building on the ocean side. Less expensive than Chez Wou, but inconsistent in quality of food.
• Miami - Bar and restaurant right on the beach, neat atmosphere. Located on the Ilha de Luanda, ocean side.
• Naquele Lugar - Often referred to as the Fort restaurant because it is located behind the fort, intimate with limited seating, but wonderful food. Call 912-508-320 for reservations.
• A NAVE - Bar/Pub and CiberCafé. Located on Rua da Missão #51, down the hill from the Trópico Hotel. Good prices, good music and art exposition every day. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 1800-0200, Saturday-Sunday 1800-0500.
• Onjango - Resort club located on the Ilha de Mussulo. Lunch buffet on weekends. A little pricey.
• Pims - Expensive restaurant, recently reopened. located on Rua Garcia de Resende #112, off the Marginal. Tel. 222-326-920.
• Pizzeria Bela Napolis - Italian, their specialty is pizza. They also have other items on the menu, such as "hamburgers" and grilled chicken. Good ice cream, as well. Reasonable prices.
• Restaurante Tajmahal - Possibly the only Indian restaurant in Luanda, located on the bay side of the Ilha at No. 7A Rua Mohamed Mortala (the former Pezinhos N'Agua). Tel. 222-309-409 or (cell) 912-209-835.
• Rialto - Pizzeria, bar, ice cream stand. Their pizza is good, as well as their ice cream. Prices are reasonable and service is marginal. Open veranda atmosphere. ("Take out" stand for their ice cream, sells by the liter or cone). Located on the Marginal, Av. 4 de Fevereiro. Tel. 222-391-827.
• Ritz, The - Rua Commandante Valódya. Very reasonable prices, excellent presentation and delicious dishes. Nice atmosphere.
• Sonabrasa - Restaurante Esplanada e "Take Away" located at Rua João Seca #21, Maianga. Their menu looks good and offers normal standard fare. Prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is patio, with potted and hanging plants, very pretty. Take-away is fast, depending on the item ordered, it is advised that customers go to the restaurant to order rather than calling ahead. Tel. 222-345-683/222-348-634.
• So'Tam "No. 8" - Vietnamese restaurant located on Rua Paralelo Massano, Ilha de Luanda. Also known as the "restaurant in a tree" for its outdoor dining room. Highly recommended for more elegant evening dining. Try their specialties of fish soup and spring rolls, which are very good. Moderate prices on most items. No dinner service on Tuesdays. Hours are 1230-1530, 1730-2200. Tel. 222-393-429.
• Surf - Located on the Ilha de Luanda at Murtala Mohamed #262, this outdoor restaurant is a fun place to people watch. The café atmosphere makes it a place for casual dining. The grilled "gambas" (shrimp) are particularly tasty. The Surf serves lunch and dinner daily. Closed on Mondays. Hours are 1230-1530, 1730-2200.
• Swim Bar - Located at the Alvalade swimming pool complex (Piscina do Alvalade). Patio type restaurant and bar. Very calm and peaceful in the evenings, a common hang-out for some people. Tel. 222-325-197. Restaurant hours are 1000-midnight, Bar hours are 2000-0200.
• Tambarino - Portuguese restaurant located at Av. Amilcar Cabral #23. This restaurant has a nice bar/lounge area. It serves lunch and dinner, however there is no dinner service on Saturdays. Closed on Sundays. Moderate to expensive prices. Hours are 1230-1400, 1930-2300. Tel. 222-396-884/222-397-343.
• Veneza - "Steak on a Rock" Portuguese restaurant located on Rua Comandante Che Guevara #116/120. Large, cafeteria type atmosphere. Good food and large portions with reasonable prices. Tel. 222-320-954.
• Zero - Restaurant, Bar and Pub. Portuguese restaurant located on the Marginal, Av. 4 de Fevereiro #96, on the corner just before the National Bank of Angola (second floor). "Ritzy" and expensive. Lunch is a better bargain than dinner. Their Chinese food is good. Clean, quiet atmosphere with good service.

Take-away:

• Frango no Churrasco - Rua Americo Boavida #135, located pretty close to USAID. They offer grilled chicken, pork, beef; rice; salads; puddings; ice cream bars. A nice, clean "hole in the wall" place with friendly people and excellent service. For a last minute meal decision, this is the place to go! Take out only. On the weekends it is wise to call ahead and order because they can be quite busy. Open from 0900-2200 every day, except Sundays, when open from 0900-2100. Tel. 222-395-868.
• Pimentinha - A little Angolan food take-out place. Located just across from Kinaxixe circle, just after turning right, off Rua Marechal Broz-Tito (coming from the US Embassy). Tel. (cell) 912-503-189.

Jazz Clubs:

• Cenarius Bar - Art gallery and jazz bar, located next to the Ministry of Defense on Plaça do Povo (closed Sundays).

Nightclubs:

• Don Quixote club - Closed Sundays.
• Palos - Located near the Casa Inglesa compound.