Guidebook for Lilongwe

Michelle
Guidebook for Lilongwe

Everything Else

Cheap grocery store that is not worth visiting, if not for the fact that it happens to be Lilongwe's BEST PLACE TO EXCHANGE USD.
Sana Cash & Carry
Kenyatta Road
Cheap grocery store that is not worth visiting, if not for the fact that it happens to be Lilongwe's BEST PLACE TO EXCHANGE USD.

Essentials

City Mall Supermarket is open until 7:30pm daily. There's a Standard Bank ATM (takes international cards), Debonair's Pizza, Marylane Chicken, KFC, and a Chinese shop that sells almost everything.
8 người dân địa phương đề xuất
City Mall
Kamuzu Processsion Road
8 người dân địa phương đề xuất
City Mall Supermarket is open until 7:30pm daily. There's a Standard Bank ATM (takes international cards), Debonair's Pizza, Marylane Chicken, KFC, and a Chinese shop that sells almost everything.
Closest liquor and wine store. Especially on weekends, Malawians like to buy alcohol and sit under the trees in the courtyard outside.
Mbowe Puma Filling Station
Kamuzu Procession Road
Closest liquor and wine store. Especially on weekends, Malawians like to buy alcohol and sit under the trees in the courtyard outside.
Fabulous quality beef at cheap prices. Some basic vegetables. Other stuff is mediocre, but budget-friendly.
8 người dân địa phương đề xuất
City Mall
Kamuzu Processsion Road
8 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Fabulous quality beef at cheap prices. Some basic vegetables. Other stuff is mediocre, but budget-friendly.
Fanciest grocery store around stocked with a lot of baked goods (croissants and apple pie!), gluten-free products, bulk food items (nuts, granola, etc.), and other packaged imported food. Also has some prepared food and an espresso to-go bar. However, the produce is not the best, so head down the mall to Shoprite for fresh vegetables and fruit.
Food Lovers Market
Fanciest grocery store around stocked with a lot of baked goods (croissants and apple pie!), gluten-free products, bulk food items (nuts, granola, etc.), and other packaged imported food. Also has some prepared food and an espresso to-go bar. However, the produce is not the best, so head down the mall to Shoprite for fresh vegetables and fruit.
Standard grocery store that hits a good price vs. variety vs. quality sweet spot. Also has gluten-free pasta.
Shoprite Gateway Mall
Standard grocery store that hits a good price vs. variety vs. quality sweet spot. Also has gluten-free pasta.
Fancy boutique grocery with hard-to-find imported items like curry pastes and rice wine.
Bowers Grocery
Fancy boutique grocery with hard-to-find imported items like curry pastes and rice wine.

Shopping

This is a massive complex with everything from restaurants to supermarkets to Airtel and banks. There's a craft market across the street if you're in the mood to shop!
Game Lilongwe
This is a massive complex with everything from restaurants to supermarkets to Airtel and banks. There's a craft market across the street if you're in the mood to shop!
When you can't find something anywhere else, you'll find it at Santa Plaza. Guaranteed.
Santa Plaza
M1 Road
When you can't find something anywhere else, you'll find it at Santa Plaza. Guaranteed.

Parks & Nature

There's an unimaginative zoo with animals in enclosed fences in front. However, if you take the side trail by the river, there is a large network of trail paths in the back, where one can wander for hours and feel lost in the woods! Very relaxing and nice retreat from the city and traffic.
7 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Lilongwe Wildlife Center
Kenyatta Road
7 người dân địa phương đề xuất
There's an unimaginative zoo with animals in enclosed fences in front. However, if you take the side trail by the river, there is a large network of trail paths in the back, where one can wander for hours and feel lost in the woods! Very relaxing and nice retreat from the city and traffic.
Private wildlife reserve 1.5 hours from Lilongwe, where one can rent cheap A-frames and chalets, bicycles for day use, and wander around a large park filled with animals. There's also a great sunset deck. Highly recommended.
Kuti Wildlife Reserve Main Gate
Private wildlife reserve 1.5 hours from Lilongwe, where one can rent cheap A-frames and chalets, bicycles for day use, and wander around a large park filled with animals. There's also a great sunset deck. Highly recommended.
Excellent 2-hour hike about a 45-minute drive from Lilongwe. Great views from the top! Park behind the Nkhoma Mission Hospital and head uphill to the trailhead.
Nkhoma Mountain Hut
Excellent 2-hour hike about a 45-minute drive from Lilongwe. Great views from the top! Park behind the Nkhoma Mission Hospital and head uphill to the trailhead.
Nice place to visit for a day trip!
Kamuzu Dam II Viewpoint
Nice place to visit for a day trip!

Drinks & Nightlife

One of the best spots in town for live music, typically on Thursdays - Saturdays. Casual with great vibes. Check with owner Neil Nayar to get the latest event calendar. Shows usually start at 8pm and end by midnight, so get there early!
Grittah's camp
One of the best spots in town for live music, typically on Thursdays - Saturdays. Casual with great vibes. Check with owner Neil Nayar to get the latest event calendar. Shows usually start at 8pm and end by midnight, so get there early!
Fancy place for dinner and drinks by the swimming pool. Upscale by Malawian standards. Dress to impress!
Latitude 13˚
Mphonongo Street
Fancy place for dinner and drinks by the swimming pool. Upscale by Malawian standards. Dress to impress!
Expat bar with thumping music (usually hiphop/top 40) late into the early morning. Go after midnight and dance the night away among a sweaty, mixed crowd!
Harry's Bar
Expat bar with thumping music (usually hiphop/top 40) late into the early morning. Go after midnight and dance the night away among a sweaty, mixed crowd!

Food Scene

Indian-Malawian blend that keeps everyone going back for more. Cheap compared to other international food at only 2500 per person. Order: chicken curry, butternut curry, spicy green peas, daal, rice or chapatti (wet with butter or dry like tortillas), and grab a seat in the scenic graffiti-decorated courtyard. Weekday lunches ONLY!
Flavours Cafe
Indian-Malawian blend that keeps everyone going back for more. Cheap compared to other international food at only 2500 per person. Order: chicken curry, butternut curry, spicy green peas, daal, rice or chapatti (wet with butter or dry like tortillas), and grab a seat in the scenic graffiti-decorated courtyard. Weekday lunches ONLY!
Best grilled chicken in the world. Hands down. If you like beef, try the beef stew. Kidney beans are also incredible. Lunch runs 3000mk or so. Weekday lunches ONLY!
City Centre BBQ
Best grilled chicken in the world. Hands down. If you like beef, try the beef stew. Kidney beans are also incredible. Lunch runs 3000mk or so. Weekday lunches ONLY!
Fabulous Persian food at a very good value. Try the eggplant appetizers, any of the stews, and the rice dishes. The garden is stunning and a great place to relax on a nice sunny day. Open lunch and dinner, runs about 5000-7000 per person.
Orchid Café & Restaurant
Fabulous Persian food at a very good value. Try the eggplant appetizers, any of the stews, and the rice dishes. The garden is stunning and a great place to relax on a nice sunny day. Open lunch and dinner, runs about 5000-7000 per person.
Longstanding crowd favorite--reliable and delicious, with good service. Falafel wrap and Ama chicken salad are quite good. Only open for lunch and afternoon coffee until 5pm.
Ama Khofi
Presidential Way
Longstanding crowd favorite--reliable and delicious, with good service. Falafel wrap and Ama chicken salad are quite good. Only open for lunch and afternoon coffee until 5pm.
Brunch, lunch, and afternoon coffee place with excellent food and drink. Highly recommended. Closed on Sundays.
Lark Cafe
Mponongo road
Brunch, lunch, and afternoon coffee place with excellent food and drink. Highly recommended. Closed on Sundays.
Similar to Lark, also a brunch, lunch, and coffee place open during the daytime except Sundays. Highly recommended.
Land & Lake Safaris
Laws Avenue
Similar to Lark, also a brunch, lunch, and coffee place open during the daytime except Sundays. Highly recommended.
Secret Chinese restaurant with the best stir-fried vermicelli and authentic Chinese coastal food. Excellent value for money and will deliver to home for free.
Area 6
Secret Chinese restaurant with the best stir-fried vermicelli and authentic Chinese coastal food. Excellent value for money and will deliver to home for free.
Korean food - newly opened and quite good according to my Korean friends.
Mum's table
Korean food - newly opened and quite good according to my Korean friends.
Good Indian food - tandoori, curries, etc. Live music on Friday nights.
Country Lodge
Good Indian food - tandoori, curries, etc. Live music on Friday nights.
Very popular Malawian-owned Italian restaurant. Good service.
Mamma Mia's
Very popular Malawian-owned Italian restaurant. Good service.
Vegetarian South-Indian restaurant with specialties like dosas. Very popular among expats.
Veg-Delight Lilongwe
Vegetarian South-Indian restaurant with specialties like dosas. Very popular among expats.
Longstanding Chinese restaurant with simple basics. They sell tofu by the block.
Noble China Restaurant
Colby Road
Longstanding Chinese restaurant with simple basics. They sell tofu by the block.