Best local bars

Ahh, Lizzy’s. There’s a little place in our heart for Lizzy’s. Little more than a few  plastic chairs on a street corner, flanked by some very big speakers, this beer-fuelled spot is an edifying experience. Away from the pretence of some Accra nightspots, it’s reassuringly down-to-earth and one of the best places to mix with Accra residents. Fridays and Saturdays are when it really swings, and the mood and music both step up in tempo around 10pm. Order a large Star and watch Accra.

We’ll still keep recommending this bar as it remains one of the most happening bars in Accra right now, thanks to its relaxed, music-forward approach to the good things in life: alcohol, fried food and really great music. It’s a tiny space that tumbles out onto the street when things really kick off late on a Friday or Saturday. Album covers and black-and-white photos of music stars adorn the walls as Ghana’s best music blasts out (often jaw-dropping highlife music acts live on the terrace; check out the Facebook page and Twitter account for details – highlife legend Ebo Taylor has even played here). Even the cocktails use great ingredients not found anywhere else: the Republica is a caipirihna made from traditional palm wine. On a sunny day (and yes, it’s always sunny), try one of their ‘Wild Beers’: the Beer Sap has bissap concentrate added to it. Fittingly, the food is good beer fodder too – the cassava chips are a fabulous drinking accompaniment, while the Fire Go Burn You pepper soup and Ye Ye Goat curry are superb value for something this tasty.

The ever-popular Duplex has moved location within Osu and, if anything, is now more popular. The décor is brighter and more upmarket, and the small outside terrace fills up quickly on balmy nights. It has an easy-going attitude and manages to feel exclusive without being in the least bit snobbish. It’s popular with the young expat crowd.

Quite a transformation at Venus bar. It’s always been popular, but the recent refurbishment shows it has seriously upped its game. It’s now a hotspot by day for young travellers tapping away on MacBooks, enjoying a coffee, or a bite to eat from the reasonably-priced Lebanese-inspired menu in the air-conditioned bar, or outside on the comfortable and leafy terrace – both seem an age away from the busy intersection outside. By night, the cocktails and beer consumption ramp up and Venus becomes a seriously fun bar. 

Situated on the second floor of Frankie’s is this surprising little lounge and bar. While the rest of the Frankie’s complex feels like the fast food restaurant that it is, through the frosted glass doors is a much more sophisticated area. The air conditioning is usually set to ‘arctic’ – worth that alone.

Three eateries in one, all of which are likely to leave you happily replenished. Monsoon’s centrepiece is its bar, a reasonably plush spot that wouldn’t look out of place in any city, and its main à la carte selection offers a good choice of seafood and meat options. On the outside terrace, meanwhile, there’s access to two smaller eateries – a sushi parlour and a teppanyaki restaurant. Its central location makes it a good place to start a night out.

This bar is owned by ‘Godfather of Hiplife’ Reggie Rockstone. Reggie has succeeded in creating a kind of hip hop casual environment, so alongside the white leather sofas and bum-grinding beautiful people there’s a relaxed outside terrace and an easy-come dress code. There’s often live music on Wednesdays and it occasionally hosts the Bless the Mic collective (Facebook page). But it’s at weekends when things really get going, with booming hiplife carrying the crowd through to 6am. His GrandPapazz is next door – a VIP only area. But most people will end up on the terrace at some point.