adminSOMETIMES after a long day’s work people just want to relax and in most cases they do not want to go straight home, what with the 36-hour load-shedding exercise in some suburbs by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority.
Some go to watch movies, some go to after work prayer sessions while a good number prefers to go for drinks with friends, and Harare has several drinking spots where people can go and wind down as they relieve themselves of the day’s pressures.
The most ideal place for winding down should be laid back and not too noisy, some even prefer a nice car park at a not too pricey liquor store.
While most after work hangouts have failed to cope with the economy, one has stood the taste of time.
Chelsea Bar and Grill
The club restaurant, which is situated at Angwa City, one of the few modern architectural works in the capital, is a true example of a central business district (CBD) bar that every drinker, during or after work, has to pass through.
While many such places in the CBD have closed down due to various challenges, Chelsea’s has been offering its patrons exceptional service for the past 15 years.
With an indoor and outdoor sitting area, patrons get to enjoy their drinks while they are engulfed by the ambience from the busy streets of Harare, making it ideal for mid-afternoon drinks.
The music is not too loud, which is why the bar is a favourite for those people who would want to drink while conversing, which is one of the reasons why some business people choose to conduct their meetings there.
The owner of the restaurant, Tony Mtero, used to run an art gallery and is still an art collector.
His art pieces are strewn all over the place, adding the much needed class and colour to his enterprise.
Being some of the first tenants in the exquisite Angwa City building at the start of the new millennium when it was opened, Chelsea’s became one of the most popular hangout spots in the capital and with its centralised location, access was also easy.
Inner City Cafe
There are several other club restaurants in the central business district that also offer services to people who like to relax and unwind.
The recently opened Inner City Café is another ideal spot for enjoying a drink or two while heading home from work.
Despite being located in the busy downtown area, the setting is classy, accommodating people from all walks of life and their service is extraordinary. They also have a great menu and during the night live bands provide entertainment.
The Base
Another popular place with after work drinkers is The Base, which is situated along Samora Machel, opposite the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Regular patrons at the place say they love it because it is a largely quiet environment.
“This is a perfect sports bar. Unlike other clubs where they only show soccer, here I can catch up with all sporting news and activities.
There is little or no music during the week and that does it for me as I can enjoy a good conversation without shouting at the top of my voice,” said Peter, a regular patron.
Beer Engine
Located at the Jameson Hotel, Beer Engine has become the go to spot for many young professionals who throng the place mostly for their affordable draft beer towers.
The entertainment is on point, with a huge line-up of DJs that will be on rotation and their restaurant serves exceptional burgers among other dishes.
Besides Beer Engine, there is also The Usual Place within the same hotel, a popular hangout for the mature.
In fact, hotels which are dotted around the CBD are proving to be popular hangouts among the well-heeled.
Gijima Sports Bar, Lion King, Bootleggers, Montague and Duriro, are some of the popular spots with after work drinkers in Harare.
Meanwhile, the Out and About team, which is forever club-hopping was caught up in the “All White Party” craze that characterised two upmarket clubs last weekend.
On the Saturday, Raydizz hosted his annual All White Summer Party, which coincided with the official opening of Pabloz VIP Deck.
With the dress code being smart casual, the gig turned out to be a fashion fete, which saw notable socialites showing off their style within the classy crowd that thronged the place.
DJs Rax, Raydizz and Rawse took turns behind the decks to pump the place up and they managed to keep the dance floor fired up till 5am the following morning.
There were however some elements within the crowd who seemed to be colour blind, ignoring the colour code and ruining the picturesque setting.
Not to be left out, Judgment Yard Sound also hosted their All White Party during their Mad Sunday session at the Red Fox Hotel.
With the crew having passed through Motor Action Sports Club to advertise their gig, a move which saw a large number of followers going back home to change and coming back dressed in white, they set the tone for a long night.
On arrival at the hotel, the party mood was evident from the parking lot where patrons could be seen milling around donning flashy white outfits.
The venue was packed to capacity and the DJ line-up, which comprised of Bodyslam boss DJ Trouble, Judgment Yard’s Flavor, 2 Bad and MC Abisha Palma kept on unleashing dancehall and reggae hits till the wee hours of Monday morning.
Online Reporter