10 Bars & Lounges in Gaborone
Published: 7 April 2026
Gabs is popular for its lounges and hangout spots where the vibe can start early in the afternoon and go well throughout the night. You’ll find anything from the popular lounge-type places, sometimes accompanied by Shisanyama (open braai/bbq type setup, common at bars and lounges throughout Southern Africa), all the way to classy wine bars with smooth jazz playing in the background. Similarly to where it’s difficult to tell apart restaurants and cafés, even when talking about lounges and bars there likely is a blend of many things where a lounge might well be a restaurant, and a café can grow into a bar as the day progresses. Check out all of our lists to get the full picture, and we’re confident that you won’t go bored in Gabs.
Bars & Lounges:
Thapong Café & Deli
Main Deck
Park27
Skyview Lounge
Cin Cin Wine Bar
Rhapsody’s Sebele
Touch Down
Ayoba
Altitude Deck
Cappello
BONUS
Thapong Café & Deli
Though called Thapong Café & Deli, we think of this place as a lovely lounge to hang out and enjoy a drink and good food with friends. They are located next to Thapong Visual Arts Centre and have a chill vibe with comfortable seating and generally a visually nice place.
Explorer’s note: We love the music nights at Thapong – you can find big names coming in from time to time!
Neighborhood: Village
Location: Google Maps
Socials: Facebook, Instagram
Contact: +267 77 675 377
Opening hours:
Mon – Fri: 10:00 – 23:00
Sat: 10:00 – midnight
Sun: 10:00 – 22:30
Main Deck
Main Deck at Main Mall, a cool one to hang out at and more of the typical bar-type place with a variety of beers and drinks, together with your pizzas, steaks, fries and even Setswana dishes.
Explorer’s note: A popular spot among expats and visitors (maybe because of the choice of beers on tap?)
Neighborhood: Main Mall
Location: Google Maps
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Contact: +267 391 7800
Opening hours:
Mon – Thu: 8:00 – 22:30
Fri: 8:00 – midnight
Sat: 10:30 – midnight
Sun: 11:30 – 22:30
Park27
Park27 has evolved more and more toward the 'lounge' label, starting out as more of a restaurant (which it still is!) to having increased the music volume and introduced bottle policies at certain tables. But we can’t deny the vibe and setting at this place, one of the most notable and popular spots in town!
Explorer’s note: This one wears many hats, from morning coffee to business lunch or long vibey evenings, you’ll have it all.
Neighborhood: Broadhurst
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Contact: +267 391 0007
Opening hours:
Mon – Sun: 8:00 – 23:45
Skyview Lounge
Right next to The Fields Mall, Skyview is a beautiful rooftop lounge in the CBD with good drinks and vibes. Come here to enjoy sunset hour overlooking the city with chill Amapiano or Afrohouse beats in the background.
Explorer’s note: Skyview comes with great music from resident and guest DJs.
Neighborhood: CBD
Location: Official pin: Google Maps / accurate pin: Google Maps (opposite The Fields Mall)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Website: www.skyviewloungebw.com
Contact: +267 77 583 618
Opening hours:
Tue – Thu: 16:00 – 22:00
Fri & Sat: 12:00 – midnight
Sun: 12:00 – 22:00
Mon: closed
CIN CIN Wine Bar
When you know, you know… Another powerhouse brought to you by the creators of Two Six Seven and The Daily Grind, CIN CIN has recently opened and knowing the levels set by the other two establishments, you know the great experience and amazing food to expect from that beautifully-designed wine bar.
Explorer’s note: Great wine, great tapas and a great ambiance altogether – setting a new standard in Gaborone.
Neighborhood: Main Mall Area
Location: Google Maps
Socials: Facebook, Instagram
Website: www.bukharacafe.com
Contact: +267 71 691 578
Opening hours:
Tue – Fri: 17:00 – 23:00
Sat: 15:00 – 23:00
Sun: 12:00 – 17:00
Mon: closed
Rhapsody’s Sebele
We can’t put together a list like this without mentioning Rhapsody’s. A very popular spot for a night out in Gabs and as close as it gets to a nightlife type of lounge. Rhapsody’s is a brand coming out of South Africa and they have their city location at Sebele Shopping Mall and another branch in Phakalane.
Explorer’s note: Come early if you like it quiet, come late if you want it buzzing.
Neighborhood: Block 10
Location: Sebele Mall: Google Maps / accurate pin: Google Maps (no official pin)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Contact: +267 399 4184
Opening hours:
Sun – Thu: 7:00 – 22:30
Fri & Sat: 7:00 – 2:00
TouchDown
TouchDown is a sports bar and restaurant at the rugby grounds, often referred to as Wharic Park and home to the Hogs, on the southern end of the city. Asides of drinks, they offer great barbeque’d goods, burgers, pizza, and even sushi and seafood.
Explorer’s note: Great spot to watch sport on the screens, or live on the field (follow Gaborone Rugby Football Club for updates on fixtures)
Neighborhood: Commerce Park
Location: Google Maps
Socials: Facebook
Website: www.rugbyclub.co.bw
Contact: +267 75 086 025
Opening hours:
Mon – Thu: 8:00 – 22:00
Fri & Sat: 16:00 – midnight
Sun: closed
Ayoba Café Shisanyama
That terrace in the heart of the CBD might not seem as much during the day, but once the night falls, you’ll quickly realize that this is THE spot in town. Ayoba is arguably the most famous (an possibly infamous) nightlife place in Gabs, with the proper vibes of the night, 'piano beats, and even 24hours open on weekends.
Explorer’s note: Ayoba is accompanied by The Pond next door, sharing the same building and entrance area. Choose your vibe at the doors and head right or left – or you might even be convinced either way by staff ;)
Neighborhood: CBD
Location: Google Maps (at Mogobe Plaza)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Contact: +267 396 0282
Opening hours:
Sun – Thu: 8:00 – 22:00
Fri & Sat: 8:00 – 1:00/2:00
Sun: 8:00 – 22:00/23:00
Altitude Deck
Out in up-and-coming Setlhoa, the Altitude Deck is a rooftop bar on top of the 38 On Boulders Hotel and their Fine thirty-8 Restaurant (hello Bw establishments and their number names) and deserving of a mention for their views and overall vibe.
Explorer’s note: This one made it onto our 10 Sunset Places in Gaborone list too, for good reason with the views onto the faraway hills.
Neighborhood: Setlhoa
Location: Google Maps (at 38 on Boulders Hotel)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Contact: +267 75 350 939
Opening hours:
Mon – Sun: 8:00 – midnight
Zen Café Lounge
Zen Café is a popular lounge at the Westgate Mall that operates as a multi-faceted establishment. Zen Café is a lounge, a café, a restaurant, a bar, really anything and with it’s 24/7 operation (unique in Gabs) they are an option for late weekend nights as much as during a normal weekday.
Explorer’s note: We’re impressed how Zen Café can be a healthy breakfast spot, a sushi dinner option, a nightlife address, and much more at the same time. There’s better cafés and restaurants in town but still kudos to mastering the variety.
Neighborhood: Phase 2
Location: Google Maps (at/behind Westgate Mall)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram
Website: www.zencafe.co.bw
Contact: +267 71 600 620
Opening hours:
Mon – Sun: open 24 hours
BONUS: Déjàvu Lounge
For the ones who want to go beyond and take the night to the club, the best bet in town is called Déjàvu. The Déjàvu Lounge in the smaller iTowers 1 in the CBD is the go to spot for nightlifers and the most prominent nightclub in the city.
Explorer’s note: Check out the events they host, often with known names of DJs and Amapiano artists from South Africa – to be found on their socials.
Neighborhood: CBD
Location: Google Maps (at iTowers)
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Contact: +267 73 007 377
Opening hours:
Wed: 22:00 – 4:00
Thu: 22:00 – 6:00
Fri & Sat: 23:00 – 6:00
Sun: 22:00 – 6:00
Mon & Tue: closed