Mombasa Nightlife Tips by muguruki Top 5 Page for this destination

77 (saba saba): 7 7

7 7 is a bar cum night club. The sign outside reads 77 but everyone knows the place by its Kiswahili translation Saba saba (seven seven).

This place is a bit of a throw back to a time when bars across not just Mombasa but throughout Kenya and especially down River rd in Nairobi were all like this. A large open bar area with a stage for live bands and food being served, usually not much more than a butchers shop that grills meat by the kilo. On my first visit to Kenya apart from a few discos in Nairobi and Mombasa all night spots were like this. So it is probably more accurate to say that Saba saba has not changed in its entire existence.

Situated on the cross roads on Kenyatta avenue and Ronald Ngala Street in Mombasa where there have been traffic lights for years but only in the last year or two have I seen these traffic lights actually working.

Last time I poked my head around the door an Akamba band were playing on the stage, thinking about it on many of my previous visits to 77 an Akamba band would have always been playing. This was a Saturday evening and as in most bars in Africa on a Saturday the large TV screen was showing an English premiership game. Only a few customers were dancing, one of whom was a one legged women who managed (with the aid of a crutch) to swivel quite convincingly to the staccato guitar riffs.

On the TV Man U scored and a huge cheer went up from those in the bar watching the footie and the band played on without missing a beat. Class.

Theme: Live Music

Millennium bar: Friendly boozer

This photo of me was taking during the day at the Millennium bar, a bar where I spent far too much time during my last trip to Mombasa. I had been to this boozer on many previous visits but was made really welcome by all the bar staff and management on this morning as I was walking into town from the airport.

As you can see from the photo things are pretty quiet during the day but this 24hour boozer doesn’t really get going until evening time when chairs and tables are set up outside on the pavement in front of the two separate barrooms that make up the Millennium bar as well as in front of the adjoining shops and cafes either side of the boozer. From sun-down the place starts to fill till it reaches its peak at around 11 when a spare seat is pretty hard to come by inside or out including the chairs that disgorge around the corner of the street.

In Feb 2011 a beer Tusker would cost 110 KSH

Address: Jomo Kenyata Rd

Directions: On the opposite corner to Saba Saba.

Theme: Other

The Hide Corner Park Bar: Boozer

Aha! Now this is where I spend far too much of my time whilst in Mombasa, The Hide Corner is one of a few half decent bars in Mombasa town centre. This particular bar used to be a real favourite of mine years ago when it was called The Mvita bar. Above the bar was a hotel of the same name and this would be where I would stay for weeks on end some of that time was spent with stinking hangovers and malaria fevers. Even though The Mvita has in the last few years been transformed into The Hide Corner Bar a few of the old regulars still frequent the new place but it is a shadow of its former self.

Directions: Behind the A1 supermarket on Digi Rd.

Theme: Other

Bar above Hermes Hotel: Smart roof top bar

I don't think this place has anything to do with the Hotel itself it is just one of those businesses that has sprung up on the roof similar to the salons below that have started in the vacant rooms of the Hermes Hotel below. Beer is reasonable and it is a tidy place for a cold hassle free midday beer with views across Mombasa.

If anyone remembers the Splendid Hotel rooftop bar this is a similar kind of set up, you can actually see what’s left of the Splendid bar from the Hermes bar these days its all faded walls and rotten makuti!

Address: Msanifu Kombo street

Theme: Other

Salambo: Reggae nights

Go down the stairs along the corridor and over the daft little bridge to enter this cheap and cheerfull nightclub in the centre of town. It hasn't changed in years this place. Not as busy as it once was but a faithfull bunch come here usually to ldance isten to (but not exclusivly) reggae music.

Dress Code: Red yellow and green seem to be the colours of choice on the dance floor.

Directions: At the corner of Digo and Moi.

Theme: Nightclub

Sky Bar: Sky Bar

This place used to be a real busy place in the centre of Mombasa, 5 minutes walk from the famous tusks that bestride Moi Avenue; but over the years as the near-by Casablanca grew in prominence as this part of the coast’s premiere night spot so Sky Bar began to wane. At one time I would spend a night happily going from one bar to the other having a beer in each. The last time I was in Mombasa I was the only person with a drink in front of at the Sky Bar and this was a Saturday night at 11pm, apart from me there was a gaggle of working girls who were probably only in the Sky because they were barred from Casa B. It amazes me how Ali the owner can afford to keep this place going. Each time I arrive in Mombasa I am expecting to see the place either boarded up or under new management but as yet it still manages to exist. One good thing about the lack of custom is that the beers tend to spend more time in the fridge so making them probably the coldest beers in Mombasa.

UPDATE
Bad news I'm arfraid the Sky Bar's long battle for existence and has ended since I was last here in may 2007. It had been dying a death for the last few years but what killed it off was a court battle between Ali the guy whos business was the bar and the bloke who actually owns the building. The court case will be sorted in afew months but in the mean time builders have moved in and divided up the bar onto shops.

Another one bites the dust!

Address: Moi Avenue

Theme: Nightclub

Istanbul

Istanbul was the best bar in Mombasa but sadly shut up shop 15 years ago!

And I still miss the place. How sad is that! Last time I passed where it used to be the plot was still abandoned no one has touched the place for all these years, a real shame.

Theme: Nightclub