Bulawayo Club
The Bulawayo Club stands on Josiah Tongogara Street as a physical monument to a different era, a colonial-era members' club established in 1895 that has gradually opened its doors to the broader public. The building is a stone and brick structure with high ceilings, dark wood paneling, a wrap-around veranda, and grounds that include manicured lawns and mature trees. The main bar retains its colonial-era fixtures: a mahogany counter, brass fittings, and framed photographs of long-dead members. Total capacity across the bar, dining room, veranda, and garden is around 150 to 200 for events. The club now operates a hybrid model: members still have priority access and reduced rates, but the bar is open to the public on most evenings and for weekend braai events. The beer is cheap ($1-2 for a Castle or Zambezi), the braai grill runs on weekends, and the atmosphere alternates between quiet colonial melancholy on weekday evenings and genuine social energy when events draw a crowd. The building alone is worth the visit, a time capsule from 1890s Rhodesia that Zimbabwe has neither demolished nor fully repurposed, instead letting it exist in an ambiguous space that mirrors the country's relationship with its colonial past.
What to Expect
A stone building with a wide veranda greets you at the entrance. Inside, dark wood and brass fittings recall a century-old past. The bar is staffed by someone who has probably worked here for decades. The lawn stretches beyond the veranda. On braai days, smoke and conversation fill the grounds. The atmosphere is layered: colonial history, contemporary Zimbabwe, and weekend socializing coexist in the same space.
Colonial grandeur aging gracefully into African reality. The building carries its history visibly, and the present-day use adds warmth to what could be a museum piece.
No amplified music inside the main building. Weekend events may have background music in the garden. The building's acoustics favor conversation.
Smart casual for the main bar and dining room. Casual for garden braai events. The building's character encourages a slight elevation in effort.
History enthusiasts, architecture lovers, anyone curious about Zimbabwe's colonial legacy. Weekend braai enthusiasts. Visitors wanting a unique venue that can't be replicated.
USD cash preferred. Some Ecocash acceptance. No card machines. Small bills.
Price Range
Beer $1-2, spirits $2-4, braai meat $3-6, membership annual fee $50 (not required for public events)
Beer ~EUR 0.90-1.85, braai ~EUR 2.75-5.50
Hours
Daily 4 PM to 10 PM, braai events Saturday from 12 PM, public events as scheduled
Insider Tip
Visit on a Saturday afternoon for the braai and the building. Walk through the interior to see the colonial-era fixtures and photographs. The veranda seating overlooking the lawn is the best spot. Ask the staff about the building's history; they share it willingly.
Full Review
The Bulawayo Club is not a bar in any modern sense. It's a building with a bar inside it, and the building is the reason to come. Established in 1895, five years after Cecil Rhodes' Pioneer Column founded the city, the club served as the social headquarters of colonial Bulawayo's white elite for nearly a century. The transition to independence didn't close it; it adapted, slowly, imperfectly, and with the kind of structural inertia that only century-old institutions possess.
The building rewards attention. The entrance hall has tile floors from the original construction. The bar features a mahogany counter that has been polished by a hundred years of elbows. The walls display photographs of cricket teams, hunting parties, and formal dinners that document a society that no longer exists. The veranda wraps around the building, with views over a lawn that looks like it should host a garden party. The architecture is a mix of Cape Dutch and British colonial, built to last in a climate that doesn't challenge stone.
The current operation blends old and new. The bar serves anyone who walks in, though the atmosphere can feel formal enough to intimidate casual visitors. The staff are welcoming regardless of background, and the cheap beer prices ($1-2 for a bottle) make the economics approachable. The dining room operates for members and guests, with a menu of British-influenced dishes that range from competent to nostalgic.
Saturday braai events are the most accessible entry point. The garden fills with a mixed crowd: longtime members, curious visitors, and Bulawayo residents who come for the meat and the setting. The braai grill produces standard fare (boerewors, steak, chicken) at prices that reflect the club's non-profit operating model. The atmosphere on these days is social, relaxed, and multigenerational.
The contradictions are part of the experience. Drinking a $1 beer in a building built for colonial administrators, served by Black Zimbabwean staff in a country that fought a liberation war against the system those administrators represented, creates a layered experience that no purpose-built venue can match. The Bulawayo Club doesn't resolve these contradictions; it simply continues to exist while they play out around it.
The Neighborhood
Josiah Tongogara Street runs through central Bulawayo, between the CBD grid and the northern suburbs. The surrounding area is a mix of commercial buildings and older residential properties. The club building is a landmark visible from the street.
Getting There
Walking distance from CBD hotels (10-15 minutes). Taxi from the Suburbs area costs $2-3. The building is on Josiah Tongogara Street and visible from the road. Street parking available.
Address
Josiah Tongogara Street, Bulawayo
Other Venues in Suburbs Area
Indaba Book Cafe
Bulawayo's premier cultural venue and live music spot. Jazz, poetry, acoustic sets, and panel discussions happen in a bookshop-cafe setting. The spiritual sibling of Harare's Book Cafe. Entry $2-3 for shows.
Cornerstone Bar
Neighborhood bar in the Suburbs area popular with locals and the small expat community. Relaxed atmosphere, cheap beer, and a braai grill running on weekends. The Saturday afternoon session is the main event. Beer $1-2.
Club Connect
One of Bulawayo's few dedicated nightclubs with a dance floor, DJ sets, and weekend events. Plays a mix of Zimbabwean urban grooves, amapiano, and dancehall. Entry $2-5. Gets going after 11 PM.
Cafe Sambuca
Restaurant and bar in the Suburbs area serving Mediterranean-influenced food and cocktails. The evening crowd skews professional. The garden setting makes it a pleasant spot for sundowners. Cocktails $4-8.