Finding something to do on a Friday evening in Mombasa is no longer just about heading to a club close to midnight. You can step out after work, have a genuinely good evening and still be home before midnight for a fresh Saturday morning. Or, if you are in the mood for a late night, there are plenty of places where DJs and live performances carry on well into the early hours.
Here are a few ways to switch up your Friday nights in Mombasa.
1. Comedy Night at Kigotho’s
What better way to unwind after a long week than with a good laugh?
Mombasa Comedy Club, a collective of local comedians, hosts its Friday comedy nights at Kigotho’s Hotel & Apartments on Links Road in Nyali. The show usually runs for around two hours, with a short break in between.
The comedy night is free to attend.
The advertised starting time is 7pm, although in my experience things really begin to get going around 7:30pm or 8pm. Arriving earlier may mean finding the team still setting up, so if you would rather walk into a show already underway, aim for a little later.
And if you still have some energy after the comedy, karaoke follows afterwards. It is usually a fun, relaxed affair, particularly if you are out with friends and do not mind putting your singing skills to the test.
Mombasa Comedy Club has also expanded beyond Mombasa, with shows in Kilifi. Some of these are ticketed, with previous shows charging around KSh 500 in advance and KSh 700 at the gate.
For current Friday-night details and upcoming shows, check Mombasa Comedy Club’s Instagram page or contact them on +254 706 778 181.
2. Salsa Night at Mira Heights
Every Friday, Mira Heights Suites and Conferencing on Simba Lane, off Links Road, hosts a salsa night at its rooftop bar.
The event is free to attend.
Having been a number of times myself, I would not rush to arrive at the advertised 7pm starting time. Most nights, the dancing really begins around 9pm, so arriving from about 8:30pm works well.
The rooftop setting is part of the appeal. You get views across the surrounding area, with the swimming pool glowing nearby once it gets dark.
You do not need to know how to dance to enjoy the evening. You can sit back and watch, or join the dancers as they move through different styles including Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Konpa and Semba.
The music is bright and energetic enough that sitting still can become difficult after a while.
There are also food and drink offers during the evening, including promotions on pizzas, cocktails, burgers and beers. These can change, so it is worth confirming what is running before you go.
The dancing usually winds down around 11pm, making this a particularly good option if you want a proper Friday night out without committing to an all-nighter.
For current details, contact Mira Heights on +254 729 815 643 or check their social media pages.
3. Theatre, Performances and Cultural Events
Little Theatre Club
Little Theatre Club is one of the places worth watching if you are interested in theatre, music, dance and poetry.
The venue itself has retained much of its older character, so walking in can feel quite different from visiting one of Mombasa’s newer entertainment spaces.
The programme changes rather than following the same schedule every Friday, but theatrical productions and other performances are held here throughout the year. Many of the productions tackle social and cultural issues, making this the kind of evening that can leave you thinking about what you have just watched long after the performance ends.
Admission depends entirely on the event. Some have been free, others have used unusual forms of entry such as donations of sanitary pads, while ticketed performances can cost around KSh 1,000.
Because the programme changes, it is best to check Little Theatre Club’s social media pages before making plans.
Swahilipot Hub
Swahilipot Hub is another space worth keeping an eye on if you are interested in arts, culture and community events.
Its programme varies widely. One recent example was the Longest Barbecue Marathon, where Chef Yusuf Garani took on a Guinness World Record challenge over the course of a week.
The hub has an open-air amphitheatre where many of its arts and cultural events take place. Its location close to the Indian Ocean adds something to the experience, particularly in the evening when the sea breeze comes through the space.
Swahilipot does not necessarily have the same event every Friday, so this is another venue where checking the current programme before heading out is important.
Follow their social media pages for upcoming events and registration information.
4. Going Out Later
If your idea of welcoming the weekend still involves loud music, DJs and staying out until late, Nyali has no shortage of options.
Al Capone
Al Capone has become one of the more noticeable names in Nyali’s current nightlife scene, particularly on busy Friday nights.
Located behind City Mall, it works as both a daytime and evening venue. You could arrive earlier for food and drinks before the atmosphere gradually shifts as the night gets going.
Friday nights usually feature DJs and changing themes rather than one fixed weekly programme.
The venue can start filling from around 8pm or 9pm. If you are primarily going for the nightlife, around 10pm is a good time to arrive, when the energy has picked up and the DJs are well into their sets.
It can turn into a very late night, so this is quite different from somewhere like Mira Heights, where the evening finishes much earlier.
Unless you are going with a large group or want a particular seating arrangement, you can generally turn up without making elaborate plans beforehand. On particularly busy nights, however, checking ahead is sensible.
Their Instagram page is the best place to see what DJs, themes or performances are scheduled for a particular Friday.
1922
1922 takes a slightly different approach. The venue regularly brings artists and live performers to its stage and has previously hosted names including Kodong Klan, We Are Nubia, Joshua Baraka and Ali Kiba.
There is no single Friday programme to rely on, which is part of the reason it is worth checking their social pages. You may look one week and find a DJ-led night, then discover a live performance scheduled for the next.
Some events are ticketed, sometimes with the ticket value redeemable inside the venue, while others have free entry.
From around 9pm is a good time to arrive on a normal Friday, as the DJs will usually already be playing by then.
If a popular artist is performing, reserving a table is a much better idea. The venue can become crowded, and arriving without a plan may leave you struggling to find somewhere with a decent view of the stage.
Where Al Capone can feel larger and more energetic, 1922 generally offers a more contained, laid-back atmosphere.
Maasai Nyali Original, opposite The Reef Hotel Mombasa, is another familiar option for a Friday night out.
Kingstone Beach Resort on Baobab Road and Moonshine Beach Bar on Mount Kenya Road, off Links Road, are also worth checking depending on the kind of atmosphere you are looking for.
Their programmes can change considerably from one Friday to the next, so it is better to check what is actually happening before choosing a venue rather than assuming every week will be the same.
Keep an Eye on the City’s Cultural Spaces Too
Alliance Française Mombasa and Baraza Media Lab Mombasa are also worth following.
Both host events throughout the week rather than limiting their programmes to Fridays, and some are free to attend.
Even when an event is free, registration may still be required, so always check the event announcement before heading there.
That is perhaps the biggest advantage of Friday nights in Mombasa now: you do not have to do the same thing every week. One Friday can be comedy and karaoke, another salsa on a rooftop, another a play or cultural event, and another can still end with DJs playing until morning. The only real trick is checking what is happening before you leave home.
Article by Rehema Zuberi