Bar review: Makumba brings Africa to Lan Kwai Fong

Makumba Africa Bar/Lounge
2/F Ho Lee Building, 38-44 D'Aguilar Street, Central
Tel: 2810 5300

Its new home still has handicrafts on the walls, an African-themed menu, "mock croc" covers on the seats at the island bar, and live music from house band Ezo (whose name means "flame" in one of the dialects of Togo) every Tuesday to Saturday.

The drinks: the hunter of rare brews can try N'Zingha lager from Cameroon on draught for HK$65 a glass, and there are wines from South Africa (pinotage at HK$420 a bottle, for example, and Douglas Green Chardonnay at HK$320) and Australia.

But the more adventurous should look to the cocktail menu, where, alongside classic Margaritas and Cosmopolitans at HK$95 to HK$120, are house specials that include the African Hurricane (rum, ginger juice, pineapple, vanilla and mint) and the Amandla, meaning "power" in Zulu (rum, dry Curacao, pineapple, guava, orange juice and lime).

The bar snacks menu, which includes African spring rolls for HK$75, four different kinds of wraps (shrimp, fish, chicken and vegetarian) for between HK$68 and HK$95, and chicken bamun (wings, wild pepper and chilli, HK$75) is tasty.

The dinner menu has more substantial dishes including kedjenou, a chicken stew, for HK$138, poulet DG (chicken fricassee) for HK$148 and fish fricassee for HK$158.

The verdict: a change from the standard LKF booze bars, with the music especially welcome.

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