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downtown to more upmarket hangouts.
Revellers who have extra cash are literally flocking to Libby’s, Reds in Newlands, East 24 along Samora Machel Avenue, Londoners in Strathaven and Chez Ntemba.
The party starts on Friday at Libby’s where youthful crowds clad in their designer wear come to have a drink or two.
The selection of music by the disc jockeys is “new skool” as opposed to yesteryear hits at other places.
The usually quiet Newlands Shopping Centre has become the hub of entertainment as scores of music lovers converge for a night out.
Although Libby’s is not so much of a pub many enjoy the cool ambience outside in the garden.
If you have never been there you probably don’t know what you are missing as the place has become the in-thing for youths.
As the music blares at Libby’s, on the other side there is another hangout where big things are happening.
The place is called Reds, perhaps a name taken from the colour of the building.
Here anything goes from hard rock, rave to dancehall – you name it.
The DJs don’t stop until the last man standing.
Reds is patronised by mature and multiracial crowds.
Last Friday, the hangout was packed to the rafters with hardly any space to swing a cat but the only bad thing was that it took years to make an order for drinks.
Although the place was rocking, most revellers would go outside to catch a breather.
The trend these days is that the nightclubs have since stopped charging entrance fees because most people are not willing to pay at the door but would rather spend their money on drinks and snacks.
The same scenario is at Londoners where Sundays are reserved for reggae/dancehall.
Although the place is popular with dance groups, which are at times accused of exposing too much during sessions such that some people mistake it for stripping, it is a hive of activity throughout the weekend.
The average price of beer at these venues is about US$2 for local beers while ciders go for anything between US$2,50 and US$3 depending on the brand.
But prices are not the draw card for huge crowds.
In fact, there is a tendency in Harare that people who want to go out for a night of fun follow the crowds.
It used to be rare for the Harare to have more than two hangouts that will be rocking at any given period, but that has since changed.
With just US$20 you are assured of a night of bliss even if you are out with five friends.
But one up-market club that is always rocking is Chez Ntemba.
Like all the other Chez Ntembas in the region, it is the last place to close.
The club, which recently reopened, boasts of having two dance-floors one for rhumba/African music and the one upstairs, where they play R&B, soul, dancehall and hip-hop.
Revellers who have been there confess that they find it hard to leave the joint before midnight.
The reason, simply being that the club gets very exciting after midnight and unless you have a “curfew” half the time you stay until very late.
Some people dread to go to Chez Ntemba be it on Friday or Saturday because they will not be able to deal with the hangover.
Phew!
Weekends will never be the same again and whoever coined the saying “Harare is the city that never sleeps” was definitely right!