Welcome to The Neighbourhood

Monday blues? The Neighbourhood Club says they’ve never heard of them. And walking into Swakopmund’s newest little restobar on an early Monday evening, I’m inclined to believe them.

The colours are vibrant. An emerald bar grounds the eclectic space below a splash of tasseled lampshade chandeliers while a sage selection of marble tops, Moroccan-style tiles and a room-dividing wine wall add to The Neighbourhood Club’s cosmopolitan aesthetic.

Despite the intoxicating smell of garlicky crostini wafting through the space, photos of cocktails in the spirit of celebrity guests, jazz legends or movie stars highlight the establishment’s focus.

Open since early in December last year, The Neighbourhood Club is all about its cocktails, which arrive on elegant, elevated white coasters. My sister and I approve.

So, after a friendly hallo from Joseph, the knowledgeable barman, and our charming waitress Grace, we order a perfectly balanced espresso martini, an incredibly fresh and enlivening ‘El Diablo’ and a whipped feta dipping plate.

As we sip on our drinks, Joseph fills us in on some of The Neighbourhood Club’s lore. The owners are well-travelled, hence the mishmash of international aesthetics, and their opening night was all guns blazing.

“The first two days, the Friday and the Saturday, were hectic and busy, especially for a town like Swakop. Everybody comes to the coast in December. So, it was just rock and roll from opening day,” says Joseph.

In the few months since, The Neighbourhood Club has welcomed Windhoekers who’ve discovered the place on Instagram, curious tourists walking down Nathaniel Maxuilili Street as well as a stream of enthusiastic Swakopmunders.

Many of them order The Neighbourhood’s gin and lemon ‘Basil Smash’, which is one of the establishment’s bestsellers. Their vanilla vodka ‘Spicy 50’ and three liqueur (chocolate, hazelnut and coffee) ‘Bad Influence’ are also firm favourites

“It’s actually very difficult to say which are our bestsellers because a lot of our cocktails sell well in general. But for me, I’d have to go with a Basil Smash because it’s sweet and sour, nice and refreshing,” says Joseph.

“When it comes to our cocktails, we really strive to use fresh produce, so we squeeze our limes every morning. We make our own syrups. For us, the main point is being the best in town.”

On the food front, which The Neighbourhood Club currently keeps light and bright to complement the cocktail menu, there are a number of dipping plates. Loaded with pistachios, sundried tomatoes, cranberries, fresh herbs, parmesan and a balsamic reduction, the whipped feta dipping plate sends my sister and I into orbit.

Delicious, shareable and generously served, even at a half portion, the whipped feta plate is one of four food items (hummus, whipped feta, seasonal Parma ham and roasted pepper), and is accompanied by homemade mieliebrood and roasted crostini.

Topping off beautifully presented drinks and gorgeous food with a chill playlist and wonderfully clued-up staff, The Neighbourhood Club is an exciting new addition to Swakopmund’s social scene.

As The Neighbourhood Club lends itself to intimate, quieter jazz or acoustic evenings, I’ll put such musical developments on my wish list, but so far so good. Even on a Monday.

If you’re at Swakopmund sometime soon, be sure to welcome them to the neighbourhood.

The Neighbourhood Club is situated at 44 Nathaniel Maxuilili Street, Swakopmund. Opening hours are Mondays from 14h00 to 21h00 and Tuesdays to Saturdays from 14h00 to around 23h00.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

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