Things We Actually Loved in Lusaka This Year ( 2025)

A running list of the small wins, excellent massages, unexpected bathroom moments, and pleasures that made life in the city feel good.

We've spent the year curating your weekends and talking to you all via our Instagram stories—not in that aspirational, "curated lifestyle" way, but in the way you'd text a friend: Go here. Try this. You'll thank me. Now, as we close out the year, we wanted to share a snippet of what we actually enjoyed. No algorithm, no sponsorship, just the stuff that worked for us.

The Treatments Worth Booking Again

Let's start with the massages, because honestly, a good one can rescue an entire week. Prime Venue's Bazela Treatment is the kind of deep, grounding work that makes you feel like you've been physically reset. We left loose-limbed and vaguely new.

Mavis at Latitude 15 Spa is consistent in that rare, reliable way—never a let-down, always worth the drive. She's trained in therapeutic work, the kind that addresses injuries and adapts to what your body actually needs. Gentle pressure where you're tender, deep work where you're holding tension. She reads your body and adjusts accordingly, which is exactly what separates a good massage from a great one.

And before your treatment at Sirah Lodge & Spa, they serve you lemongrass tea that's so good it deserves its own line item. It's the kind of small, thoughtful detail that makes you want to return before you've even left.

For the dogs, Wagging Tails Dog Salon is the move. Proper grooming, no fuss, and your pup comes back looking like they've had a spa day too.

The Places That Made Leaving the House Feel Worth It

A birthday dinner in a private room at Musubi is where you start when the occasion calls for ceremony. Fresh, precise dishes, and that serene Musubi quiet that always wraps around you at the right time.

Pizza da Francesco up on Leopards Hill does pizza the way pizza should be done—no gimmicks, just excellent dough and toppings that make sense. It's one of those places we recommend without caveats.

The Whisky Sour at Mabula in Woodlands is a drink we still think about. Smooth, balanced, and served in a space that doesn't try too hard.

Similarly, Bellini offers an easy, breezy atmosphere and one of the better sunset views in the city—ideal for the kind of evening where you don't need much beyond a cold drink and good company.

After a round at Lusaka Golf Club—cool air, long fairways, a few smug shots, and a couple of humbling ones—the real winner is Bonanza Clubhouse. Calm space, beautiful grounds, and a pizza that is far better than it has any right to be.

The Nyama Choma at the East Park Piazza Concert was pure Lusaka energy: smoke curling into the night, live music, and that specific buzz that only outdoor events here seem to have. It's chaotic in the best way.

For something quieter, the Woolies Coffee Cart remains a small, dependable joy. Coffee and croissants that just work, no drama.

Steep and Sip is a new addition we loved—a calming spot that does tea properly.

The Unexpected Wins

Sometimes it's the small efficiencies that make you irrationally happy. 543 Zambia's mobile money and swiping system at events is seamless in a way that shouldn't be noteworthy but absolutely is when you've dealt with clunky alternatives. No fumbling for cash, no long queues, just smooth transactions that let you get back to enjoying the moment.

Laundromat East Park does laundry well—efficient, reliable, no stress. They do laundry the way it should be done, which is to say: without drama, without mystery, and with your clothes coming back actually clean. Sometimes that's all you need.

Micmar's customer service caught us off guard in the best way. Genuinely helpful without the usual Lusaka retail fatigue. Refreshingly kind. The kind of service that reminds you what good customer care actually feels like.

And here's a sentence we never thought we'd write: The bathrooms at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport are excellent. Clean, modern, and shockingly well-maintained. It's the kind of thing you notice and then can't stop telling people about. A small grace in transit chaos that somehow makes the whole airport experience better.

The Experiences You'll Want to Repeat

Playpad for Kids is a godsend for parents. The kids burn energy, you get a break, everyone survives. It's not glamorous, but it works.

Climbing at Pa Mitengo is fun, active, outdoorsy—the kind of thing that reminds you Lusaka has more to offer than malls and traffic. A hands-on, heart-rate-spiking way to wake the body up and shock the brain out of autopilot.

Speaking of resets, skateboarding with Selako at lunchtime became a quiet ritual: empty, peaceful, the perfect midday escape. A slice of private rebellion. Just you, the concrete, and the luxury of no audience.

The fundraising night at the American School was surprisingly enjoyable—well-organized, lively, and full of the kind of community energy that makes you glad you showed up. And Adagio Studio's Sleeping Beauty ballet was a genuine cultural highlight—beautiful staging, strong performances, a reminder that Lusaka has a thriving arts scene if you know where to look. A soft evening full of poise and fairy-tale glow.

For a proper escape, Kampamba House offers the kind of rustic, calm retreat you forget exists until you're there. Underrated, and worth the trip. Rustic luxury wrapped in silence. If you need to disappear but not actually leave the city, this delivers.

The Shopping That Actually Delivered

Gift-giving in Lusaka can be tricky, but there are pockets of genuine thoughtfulness if you know where to go. Jagoda/Rock Craft & Café at 37D is full of handcrafted pieces that feel personal and deliberate. Aurum Stories does local luxury in a modern, impeccably curated way—nothing here feels like filler.

For bottles, Kyami distillery and Alvearium Gin (from Zambian Meadery) are both excellent local options, beautifully packaged and distinct enough to feel special. The Lusaka Collective and Leopards Hill Market remain reliable for artisan finds, while Team Five Crafts offers high-quality, locally made pieces that actually last.

Lumiere continues to make fun, wearable jewelry that brings joy to everyday dressing.

Growing in Zambia Calendar is fun, interactive, and such a pleasure to look at. A beautiful planting calendar that tells you what to grow and when—practical and gorgeous in equal measure.

Azimai's Joy Candle is warm, bright, and genuinely divine—the kind of candle that makes a room feel immediately better. Soft, elegant, addictive. A candle that fills a room without shouting.

Nou Koncept Makeup is doing luxury minimal beauty properly: clean, elevated, and refreshingly unfussy. That subtle but luxurious look where you didn't try, but somehow you look like a million dollars and no one can quite place why.

Bonnets from Leya's Little Things? Soft, well-made, ideal for gifting. Gorgeous, well-made bonnets from a local maker who understands edges and fabric like a love language. Sometimes the simplest things are the best.

A special thank you to everyone who knitted and donated beautiful bonnets for our winter drive—your contribution helped keep the babies at Kasisi Children's Home warm this year. Finding a Lusaka project to work on and support is one of the best ways to feel connected to this city. There's something grounding about giving back locally, about seeing the direct impact of your effort in your own community.

The Art & Culture That Caught Our Eye

Everyday Lusaka Gallery has been doing amazing work documenting and celebrating Lusaka's photography and art scene. Their commitment to showcasing local talent and capturing the city's visual story is something we deeply appreciate.

The Drinks & Discoveries

The sake tasting at Shardonnay Wine & Gin Bar was a standout—unexpected, well-curated, and perfect for anyone who likes trying something different. A quiet indulgence. Refined, intimate, and the kind of thing your adult self deserves once in a while. It's the kind of experience that reminds you Lusaka's food and drink scene is quietly becoming more interesting.

The Upgrades We've Been Waiting For

Woolies' new Beauty & Home section finally feels like the luxury upgrade the store needed. It's not groundbreaking, but it's nice to walk into a space that feels considered and polished. Surprisingly refined. Slick packaging, better curation, and a genuinely indulgent upgrade from the usual errand-run. Plus, the girls finally have a well-lit place to try out foundations properly.

Similarly, Greens & Grains (GNG Zambia) has become the go-to for organic shopping—where Lusaka goes to slow down. Organic groceries, good light, and a shopping pace that feels like exhaling. Take your time, browse properly, and leave with things that feel good to use. The kefir is excellent, and they serve it in old wine bottles—a nice touch for those of us who appreciate a good bottle.

A Note on This Festive Season

The festive season is here, and Lusaka comes alive in the best way. Enjoy it fully—dance longer, laugh harder, say yes to the spontaneous dinner invitations. Just remember the basics: use ride apps to get home, pace yourself (you have multiple parties to attend), and keep your phone charged. The city is yours to enjoy, and we can't wait to see what adventures you get into.

This list will keep growing. Every season brings new finds, new favourites, new reasons to stay curious about what's happening here. If you've got a recommendation, send it our way—we're always looking for the next thing worth adding. If you try any of them, tag us so we can share. Lusaka is bigger, warmer, and more interesting when we collect it together.