Cafe del Mar (Ilha de Luanda)

Angola's very own Cafe del Mar is located near the end of Ilha de Luanda, in between Miami Beach and Coconuts. The setting couldn't be more suited for this establishment, with beautiful views of the ocean on a nice sandy beach. As you might expect it feels different, very different, to the two restaurants next door as it's more laid back and spacious. I sometimes feel a bit spaced out and claustrophobic at Miami with the army of people fighting to get on the beach at the weekend, that doesn't really happen at Cafe del Mar.

I don't know if the owners have any links with the original Cafe del Mar chain, but I think they're doing a pretty decent job of things here. They play some of the original chill out tracks and it just feels so right to sit there on a sunday afternoon with a caipirinha and watch the sun go down.

Their food menu isn't that bad either for a place that's mainly a bar. Prices are in the range of 1800 to 2500 kwanzas, not very expensive for this part of Ilha. They have some nice sandwhiches and pizzas. I've heard a lot about their sunday brunch too. The waiters are friendly and professional and you don't wait that long for your order. It's definitely becoming one of my favourite places to hang out on Ilha because of its chilled out ambience and cool music which is never played too loudly. In the evenings they also show football matches on the big screen.

I recommend a visit to Cafe del Mar, it's a great place to relax, have a drink and grab a small bite to eat.

Cafe del Mar

Avenue Murtala Mohamed, - Ilha do Cabo Luanda – Angola
Tél.: (+244 2) 30 92 41 (+244) 912 205 777 / 923 581 333
Capacity: 120 people
Open Monday to Friday, 11 am to midnight.

Saturday and sunday: 10am to 11pm.