It seems like Windhoek nightlife is expanding, as cool new spots open up left right and centre. Just when you think things are going to stay the same, something new and exciting catches your eye, and you can’t help but want to sit down, order a drink, feel the beat of the music and stay all day long.
That is the vibe you get from the Tipsy Rabbit Hole, the city’s latest attraction, right in the heart of the CBD.
It gets its name from its mysterious downstairs lounge.
“The lounge has a rabbit hole feel to it because it’s semi-underground. Entering the Tipsy Rabbit Hole has a burrowing feel to it, and we obviously sell alcohol,” says Panashe Daringo, part owner of the establishment.
It is reminiscent of a cross between the Wonderland Alice found herself lost in and a private lounge somewhere completely far from where you are, with the decor looking like something right out of a Cape Town or an Ibiza travel catalogue. It is dark and eerie, with just enough mood lighting to see the upmarket furnishings.
The rustic outside does not at all allude to the enigma that lies below, and that helps them sometimes cater to different moods and crowds.
When you first arrive, you will find a DJ spinning the decks, patrons sitting on benches, smoking shisha and and sharing a casual laugh.
First opening its doors on 1 December 2019, Daringo says the space is open to “the casual middle aged lounger” but that private party clientele in the ‘hole’ can be a mixed bag. Entertainment upstairs is also pretty laid back, creating more of an environment for conversation.
“We have contemporary music every day, a live DJ on weekends, high quality hubbly by Calean Masters, as well as free board games like 30 Seconds, Monopoly, Balderdash and others every day and of course everyone’s favourite pastime; karaoke on request. For our more private events, we even have dancers,” says Daringo.
They currently do not sell something to nibble on, but that is soon to change, as their kitchen gets its final touches.
“As from next week we will have food on sale. We will be serving Windhoek’s most loved Confab burger, wings, hotdogs and an assortment of platters.”
In future the little lounge plans to just keep growing growing.
“We are planning on having more live performances, to open up a car wash, to host many more private parties with modern themes, we are having a cool block party in March and of course we will start keeping our kitchen open up to almost midnight as we know how hard it is to find good food in Windhoek after 22h00.”
Despite the public’s challenge of late night munching, Daringo did however praise the growth of the night time entertainment industry in recent years and he appreciates that there is always something to do.
“Several establishments are opening up in the CBD within two kilometres of us. This will start bringing people back to town and start creating a Cape Town or Jo’burg feel. Good healthy competition is good for the industry at large.” Daringo says.
The Tipsy Rabbit Hole is situated on the corner of Fidel Castro Street and Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue and is open every day from 16h00 until late and even earlier on Tipsy Sundays. To catch their notices and announcements follow them on social media.
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