News Cafe
News Cafe operates from the Riverwalk shopping complex in Gaborone, a South African franchise that delivers a reliable formula of cocktails, bistro food, and a terrace that becomes the see-and-be-seen spot on Friday and Saturday evenings. The venue has an air-conditioned interior seating about 50 and a terrace seating another 40 to 50, overlooking the Riverwalk parking lot and the surrounding commercial area. The menu is franchise standard: burgers, steaks, salads, pasta, and a brunch menu. The cocktail program follows the franchise recipe book, producing consistent results across all locations. The wine list sources from South African estates. The crowd is young professional Gaborone: banking sector workers, corporate employees, and the social aspirants who treat Riverwalk as their weekend stage. Friday evening after-work drinks and Saturday dinner-and-drinks sessions are the peak times. The franchise model ensures predictability, which is both the strength and the limitation. You know what you'll get at News Cafe, and what you'll get is competent, comfortable, and safe. For visitors from southern Africa, it's a familiar face in a new city. For international visitors, it's a reliable baseline.
What to Expect
A franchise entrance in the Riverwalk complex opens to a modern, well-lit interior with booth and table seating. The terrace beyond has views across the parking area. The menu is laminated and photographed. A server in franchise uniform takes your order efficiently. The cocktail arrives in a branded glass. The experience is polished, predictable, and comfortable.
Corporate social. Polished, comfortable, and predictable. The terrace adds outdoor energy on pleasant evenings.
Franchise playlist of international pop, R&B, and dance music at background volume. No live music, no DJ.
Smart casual. The Friday crowd comes from corporate offices. The Saturday crowd dresses for the social scene. Clean and presentable is the standard.
Corporate after-work drinks, reliable food and cocktails, Southern African visitors wanting a familiar brand. Groups wanting a safe, predictable option.
All cards accepted (Visa, Mastercard, Amex). Cash (Pula, Rand) accepted. Mobile money accepted. Full franchise-level payment systems.
Price Range
Cocktails BWP 50-100, beer BWP 30-50, burgers BWP 60-100, steaks BWP 90-160, wine BWP 40-80 per glass
Cocktails ~$4-8 / EUR 3.70-7.40, burgers ~$4.80-8 / EUR 4.40-7.40
Hours
Daily 11 AM to 11 PM, Friday-Saturday until midnight
Insider Tip
The terrace is the social scene; request outdoor seating. Friday after-work (5-7 PM) is the busiest social window. The Riverwalk parking lot has security, making this the easiest venue for driving yourself. The Long Island iced tea is the strongest cocktail and the best value.
Full Review
News Cafe at Riverwalk is what franchise bars do best: provide a known quantity in an unknown environment. For visitors to Gaborone who haven't yet found their personal favorites, News Cafe is the safe choice that won't disappoint or surprise.
The Riverwalk location adds value through context. The shopping complex is Gaborone's most modern commercial space, with security, parking, and surrounding shops that create foot traffic and a sense of safety. Arriving at and departing from News Cafe involves none of the street navigation that central Gaborone's Main Mall area requires after dark.
The terrace is where the social action concentrates. On Friday evenings, the tables fill with banking and corporate sector workers who've finished the week and want cocktails in company. The conversations run networking, weekend plans, and the social dynamics of Gaborone's small professional community. Saturday brings a more dressed-up crowd who've made the evening a planned event rather than a work decompression.
The cocktail menu follows the franchise formula. Each drink is made to a standardized recipe with measured pours, producing consistent results regardless of which bartender is working. The Long Island iced tea is the value play: generous spirits portion at a price that undercuts ordering individual cocktails. The mojito and cosmopolitan are safe choices. None of the drinks will challenge a cocktail enthusiast, but all are competently made.
The food menu is extensive by Gaborone standards. Burgers are the strength: properly sized, well-seasoned patties with fresh accompaniments. The steaks are South African-sourced and cooked to reasonable accuracy. Salads use fresh ingredients. The brunch menu on weekends draws a crowd that stays through the afternoon.
The franchise limitation is character. News Cafe at Riverwalk looks, sounds, and feels like News Cafe in Sandton, Windhoek, or anywhere else in the southern African franchise network. For visitors seeking Gaborone's unique personality, Sanitas Tea Garden or Bull & Bush deliver more local flavor. But for a comfortable evening with reliable food, drinks, and service, News Cafe's franchise model earns its popularity.
The Neighborhood
Riverwalk is a modern shopping complex south of the Main Mall, with retail stores, restaurants, and a cinema. The complex has guarded parking and security. The surrounding area is commercial and well-developed by Gaborone standards.
Getting There
Taxi from the Main Mall costs BWP 20-40 ($1.60-3.20), 5-10 minutes. Walking from central Gaborone takes 15-20 minutes. The complex has its own parking with security guards. From the airport, BWP 100-200 ($8-16).
Address
Riverwalk, Gaborone
Other Venues in Main Mall Area
Bull & Bush Pub
Gaborone's iconic British-style pub near the Main Mall. Cold beer, pub food, big screens for sport, and a social atmosphere that draws everyone from government workers to students. Been here for decades. Beer BWP 25-40.
Lizard Lounge
One of Gaborone's few dedicated nightclubs with a dance floor, DJ sets, and weekend events. Music runs from kwaito and amapiano to international pop. Young crowd, lively atmosphere. Entry BWP 50-100.
Sanitas Tea Garden
Quirky garden bar and restaurant near the Main Mall that serves as an evening gathering spot. Craft cocktails, light food, and a relaxed outdoor atmosphere under string lights. A favorite for sundowners. Cocktails BWP 50-90.
Maitisong Cultural Centre Bar
Bar attached to Gaborone's main performing arts venue. Live music, cultural events, and a crowd that comes for the performances. When a show is on, the bar fills with an engaged, arts-minded audience. Beer BWP 25-40.