It is late afternoon on the Msasani Peninsula and the light is going soft over the water. Boats are coming back from Bongoyo, the market stalls at the Slipway are still open, and people are settling into the bars and restaurants to watch the sun drop before deciding where the rest of the evening goes.
Dar es Salaam's nightlife is spread out rather than concentrated in one strip. It runs from the downtown and peninsula nightclubs to hotel bars with air conditioning and happy-hour specials, to lounge-style places with a view of the Indian Ocean. It suits visitors who are happy to move between a few areas by taxi rather than walk a single street, and who want either a relaxed drink or a late night out, depending on the evening.
Where to go out in Dar es Salaam
1. Downtown and the peninsula clubs
There are a number of nightclubs in Dar es Salaam downtown and on the peninsula. This is the most straightforward choice if you want a proper late night rather than a quiet drink.
Plan on taking a taxi between areas, since the two zones are some distance apart.
2. Hotel bars
All of the large hotels have full bars with air conditioning, and many offer 2-for-1 happy-hour specials in the late afternoon and early evening. This suits an easy start to the night, or an air-conditioned pause between other stops.
3. Lounge and chill-out venues
If you prefer a chill-out evening, the Mediterraneo Lounge has a large collection of chill-out music. At the Mediterraneo Hotel & Restaurant Lounge you can take in a view of the Indian Ocean over a drink. The source notes that venues more in town are somewhat less romantic but still beautiful.
4. Slipway and the Msasani Peninsula
The Slipway is an upscale set of shops and markets on the Msasani Peninsula, just north of the city. It is the departure point for boats to Bongoyo Island, and when you come back you can get ice cream or a meal at several of the Slipway restaurants and watch the sun set. The market also has Tinga Tinga paintings and other crafts.
This suits an early evening that turns into dinner rather than a late club night. Note that the boat to Bongoyo leaves from Mashua Waterfront Bar & Grill at the Slipway.
5. Coco Beach and the peninsula waterfront
Coco Beach is a public beach on the peninsula which is very busy on weekends; go any afternoon to see people relaxing and eat local food. The source warns that you should not walk on the beach, as muggings are too frequent.
Treat this as a daytime or early-evening stop for food and the scene rather than a place to linger after dark.
6. Kigamboni, across the channel
Kigamboni, also known as South Beach, is reached by a ferry that is not the same one as for Zanzibar; the crossing takes about five minutes. Once across, you can hire a taxi to the beaches, most of which are accessed through hotels along the coast.
This suits an evening built around a hotel beach rather than a bar crawl. The source notes a strict no-photo rule on the ferry and at the terminals, and that public beaches have been sold to developers, so access is generally through hotels.
7. Cinema
There are modern cinema halls, including Century Cinemax on Sam Nujoma Road inside Mlimani City Shopping Mall and Suncrest Cineplex on Julius K. Nyerere Road inside Quality Centre Mall. New World Cinema on Bagamoyo Road hosts the annual European and Asian film festivals.
This is a good option for an early night or a rainy evening. Check current schedules before you go.
8. Cultural centres and events
l'Alliance Française, the Goethe Institute, and the Iranian and Russian cultural centres offer special events, along with some events occasionally sponsored by embassies. There are always events such as dance and music performances, artist openings at painting and photography galleries, and movie festivals.
Read the weekly 'What's Happening in Dar' and 'Advertising Dar' for what is on, including weekend get-away specials.
How a night out unfolds
The sources describe happy-hour specials at large hotel bars in the late afternoon and early evening, which suggests that is when many people start drinking. Beyond that, they do not give specific dinner times or closing hours. What they do indicate is that the evening can be shaped around a sunset: returning from Bongoyo, the last ferries leave around 16:30, and back at the Slipway you can eat and watch the sun set. Nightclubs downtown and on the peninsula carry the night later, but no closing times are stated.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- European and Asian film festivals, hosted at New World Cinema on Bagamoyo Road — no season given in the source.
- Dance and music performances, gallery openings and movie festivals — described as always happening, with no fixed season.
Frequently asked questions
What should I drink in Dar es Salaam?
Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Safari are local beers popular with Tanzanians and foreigners; Safari is the stronger at 5.5% alcohol. Imported beers include Tusker, Ndovu, Stella Artois, Castle Lager and Heineken. Konyagi is a popular local gin, with a variant called Konyagi Ice. For soft drinks, Krest is bottled locally by Coca Cola and Stoney Tangawizi is a popular ginger ale. Drink only bottled water.
How much does a beer cost?
Local beers are typically TSh 2,300–3,000 for 500-ml bottles in local spots, but can cost TSh 4,000 or more at some bars and restaurants. African imports are not much more expensive than local beers, while European beers can be three to four times the price of domestics.
Where can I find out what is on?
Read the weekly 'What's Happening in Dar' and 'Advertising Dar' for news of what is going on, including weekend get-away specials. Cultural centres such as l'Alliance Française and the Goethe Institute also put on special events.
Is it safe to walk on the beach at night?
The source advises against walking on Coco Beach, stating that muggings are too frequent. It also warns that photos are not permitted on the Kigamboni ferry or at its terminals.
Work out your route and your transport before the evening starts, and you can move between the waterfront, the peninsula and downtown without wasting the night.