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Kibo Lobby Lounge at Johari Rotana
The all-day lobby lounge of the five-star Johari Rotana on Sokoine Drive, serving coffee, tea, pastries, desserts and light meals by day and cocktails later on.
At a glance
- Type
- Hotel lobby lounge café
- Area
- City Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- rotana.com
Good to know
- All-day service
- Pastries
- Coffee and tea
- Cocktails
Why we recommend it
The Kibo Lobby Lounge is the all-day café of the Johari Rotana, a five-star hotel on Sokoine Drive in the central business district, overlooking the harbour and the Indian Ocean. It is a smart, comfortable place for coffee, tea and a light bite at any time of day.
The menu covers coffee, tea, light meals, pastries and desserts, with cocktails served as the day goes on. It is the kind of place that suits a business meeting, a late breakfast, an afternoon break from sightseeing or a quiet drink before dinner, and the calm of a hotel lobby is welcome after the noise of the downtown streets.
The hotel has several other venues if you want to stay on. Zafarani serves all-day buffets and à la carte dishes from the Mediterranean, India, the Arab world and the Swahili coast; Noble House specialises in Chinese food; Hamilton's Gastropub offers British and American classics; and the Cigar Lounge serves cigars and spirits. Zafarani and Hamilton's both take table bookings, which is worth doing if you plan to stay on for dinner. The hotel also has an infinity pool on the eighth floor, a gym open 24 hours and the Zen Spa, where massages are by appointment, so the lounge is also a natural place to wait before a treatment.
The lounge suits business travellers, people meeting friends in town and visitors staying in the city centre who want a reliable, air-conditioned stop. Prices are those of an international hotel rather than a neighbourhood café. The dress code is not specified, but smart casual clothes fit the setting.
Johari Rotana is about a kilometre from the National Museum, and St Joseph's Cathedral is also on Sokoine Drive, so the lounge works well as a pause during a walking tour of the old city, the Kivukoni fish market and the harbour front. The hotel is around 30 minutes from Julius Nyerere International Airport in normal traffic, which also makes the lounge a practical place to wait before an evening flight. Call the hotel's main number to check current opening times and any afternoon tea or seasonal offers.
Kibo Lobby Lounge at Johari Rotana FAQs
What is the Kibo Lobby Lounge?
The all-day café and lounge of the Johari Rotana hotel in the city centre.
What is served?
Coffee, tea, light meals, pastries and desserts, plus cocktails.
When is it open?
It serves all day; call the hotel to confirm current hours.
Where is it?
In the Johari Rotana on Sokoine Drive, in the central business district.
Is there a dress code?
None is published, but smart casual clothes suit the setting.
Are there other restaurants in the hotel?
Yes. Zafarani, Noble House, Hamilton's Gastropub and the Cigar Lounge.
How far is it from the airport?
About 30 minutes by road in normal traffic.
What is nearby?
St Joseph's Cathedral, the National Museum and the Kivukoni waterfront.