Expatriates Forums in Zimbabwe

FOOD & DINING IN ZIMBABWE / ZIMBABWE DINING GUIDE

Zimbabwe Info — Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:00 am

Author: Zimbabwe Info

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:00 am

FOOD & DINING IN ZIMBABWE

GENERAL

Zimbabwe is a cosmopolitan society and enjoys both local and international cuisine. Eating out is popular and comparatively cheap. Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage. Imported wines, spirits and liqueurs are available in hotels. Sample Zimbabwe’s staple traditional mealie sadza (thick porridge) and mhunga sadza (millet). Also, do try the popular soups of nhedzi (wild mushroom), muboora (pumpkin leaves) and game soup alongside a wide choice of other locally made soups.

National specialties

• Sadza (a stiff maize meal) eaten with meat and/or gravy and a relish.

• Nhedzi soup (wild mushroom).

• Game meat, including ostrich, warthog and crocodile tail.

National drinks

• Whawha (traditional maize beer).

Things to know: Table service is the norm in restaurants. Public bars are almost always part of a hotel. Licensing hours in Zimbabwe are 1030-1500 and 1630-2300. Major hotels have 24-hour bars and room service.

Tipping: A 10 to 15 per cent tip is usual.

PLACES TO DINE

Morgans Restaurant
P.O. Box 9289,
Hillside,
Bulawayo
Tel: +263 9 79404

The Boma - Place of Eating
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge,
P.O. Box 29,
Victoria Falls
Tel: +263 13 4725 / 8
Fax: +263 13 4792

Bon Journee Restaurant
105 R Mugabe Way,
Bulawayo
Tel: +263 9 64839
Fax: +263 9 64839

Cascais Restaurant
139 Samora Machel Avenue,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 704830 / 1

Coimbra Restaurant
61 Selous Avenue,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 700237
Fax: +263 4 725467

Le Francais Restaurant
P.O. Box 2638,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 704330
Fax: +263 4 704323

Libby’s Restaurant
Shops 7-10 Mon Ropos,
Newlands,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 786471 / 2
Fax: +263 4 496550

Mateos
105 Robert Mugabe,
P.O. Box HG 462,
Highlands,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 252281
Fax: +263 4 252285

Ntepeya Restaurant
78A Herbert Chitepo Street,
Bulawayo
Tel: +263 9 67950

Oriental Lebanese Restaurant
135 Samora Machel Avenue,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 705080

Pan African Restaurant
6 Grant Street,
Cnr Chinhoyi Street,
Borrowdale,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 737660

The Regency Restaurant
159 Fife Avenue/ 6th Street,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 733085
Fax: +263 4 790228

Sherrols In The Park
137 H. Chitepo Avenue,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 705323
Fax: +263 4 790977

Vila Peri Restaurant
3rd Street/Baines Avenue,
Causeway,
Harare
Tel: +263 4 722381
Fax: +263 4 700865

NIGHTLIFE IN ZIMBABWE / ZIMBABWE NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Zimbabwe Info — Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:59 am

Author: Zimbabwe Info

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:59 am

NIGHTLIFE IN ZIMBABWE

Nightlife in Zimbabwe is restricted to the urban parts of the country which mainly is confined to eating and discos. However, the larger cities have nightclubs, cinemas, and repertory theatres as well as casinos.

The weekend nightlife in the capital, Harare, once pulsated with guitar bands playing for dance-happy crowds till early in the morning. Fans followed their favourite stars on the circuit from the Mushandira Pamwe Hotel, and Job's Nite Spot to the remote Hideout, and countless other clubs and beerhalls around this sprawling city. This was the musical haven Afropop Worldwide found and fell in love with in 1988. Unfortunately, the years have taken a heavy toll on Zimbabwe, and the music scene, like everything else in this besieged and suffering nation, has declined markedly.

SHOPPING IN ZIMBABWE / ZIMBABWE SHOPPING GUIDE

Zimbabwe Info — Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:43 am

Author: Zimbabwe Info

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:43 am

SHOPPING IN ZIMBABWE

Local fabrics, wood and stone carvings, Nyaminyami images, unique embroidery, basketry products, beads, Zimbabwean designs, shoes and an array of other souvenirs that create a lasting impression. A sales tax of 10 to 22 per cent is added to all purchases, the higher rate being on luxury items, except those which are to be exported.

Shopping hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1700 and Sat 0800-1300.

Banking hours

Mon-Tues and Thurs-Fri 0800-1500, Wed 0800-1300 and Sat 0800-1130.

Currency

Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWD; symbol Z$ ) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Z$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of Z$5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Currency exchange

Major foreign currencies can be exchanged at bureaux de change, banks and major hotels at the official exchange rate.

Credit & debit cards

American Express, Diners Club and Visa are widely accepted, whilst MasterCard has more limited use. Some ATMs accept credit cards. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Traveller's cheques

Banks and major hotels will exchange these. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions

The import and export of local currency is limited to Z$15,000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited. The export of foreign currency is unlimited as long as supported by the visitor’s currency declaration form.