Day & Nights Out

Looking down oxford st, in Osu.Frankies hotel and bar can be seen in background

Where ever you are in Accra or anywhere in Ghana for that matter, there is usually a " spot bar " with a sound system playing some artist such as Daddy Lumba, so there is no problem if you want to chill out, have a drink & listen to music.

If you want to go somewhere a bit more upmarket you can visit a hotel as a none resident; hotels such as the Shangrila Hotel have live bands like a lot of hotels at the weekend.

Other Venues such as " Big Millys" at Kokrobite beach they have a live bands usually a reggae band over the weekend.

But where would be the equivalent of say Leicester square in London, which would be good to visit either day time or at night , having a choice of restaurants and a place to strut your stuff on the dance floor ? The answer for most Ghanaians would be to head to Oxford Street in Osu.

"Oxford St" (I guess there is some wishful thinking when they refer to it as Oxford St) is situated just off Danquah Circle, Osu and is a busy high street with small petty traders at some points along its length, mixed with boutiques, banks, jewellery stores, hotels, restaurants & casinos ,along with Airtel (formerly Zain), mobile internet & phone supplier. Also there a several retail units selling Hewlett Packard printers and computer stuff, including lap tops.

Papaye restaurant

For restaurants you have a selection of cuisine to choose from. Papaye is a three level building which serves what my wife describes as Lebanese come Indian style food; actually the main menu is has several items consisting of grilled chicken which has been seasoned with ginger and spices but I wouldn’t call it curry. They had a limited range of alternatives to chicken, which was served with chips or rice. The prices were not too bad though.

For traditional Chinese food cooked by Chinese there is the Dynasty restaurant also not overly expensive and the editor can recommend the quality, assuming they have the same chef as when I last went which was 2010.

Dynasty Chinese Restaurant

This year 2011, I found another Chinese called " Tip Top " which is situated in Oxford St, in front of the star world casino & incidentally not far from Dynasty ; so if you fancy a Chinese head for Tip Top or Dynasty & make your choice! I thought Tip Top was very good value for money & particularly liked the noodles.

Considered exclusive and the in place at the moment in Oxford street is Citizen Kofi which is a several level building with a bar on the top floor. My wife went there with some girl friends she was quite impressed, but thought it expensive.

Citizen Kofi building

I went back with my wife for a light dinner and drink. The food was excellent and actually not expensive if you compare it to London prices; for instance Lobster was quoted at 35 Cedis, that less than 20 pounds. Most of the food was international like T Bone steak, lasagne, local dishes are served up till 6pm. The club is 30 Cedis for Blokes and 10 Cedis for women to get in. Ticked all the boxes for me i felt welcome, comfortable, safe with good food and a place to let your hair down, if I had any!

So Oxfords street is worth a visit either in the day or for night out, an itinerary at night might be have a drink, pop in a casino, have meal & finish off at a place like Citizen Cofie for dancing & more drinks! This can not be bad wish, and I had the energy & was forty again! One thing i can say is that for what ever your going to do in Oxfords street its one of the places that will not dissappoint