From Wikitravel

Blantyre is the economic capital of Malawi.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By car 2.4 By bus 2.5 By boat 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Learn 7 Work 8 Buy 9 Eat 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Drink 11 Sleep 11.1 Budget 11.2 Mid-range 11.3 Splurge 12 Contact 13 Stay safe 14 Cope 15 Get out

Understand

Get in

By plane

South African Airways fly's every week on Wednesday and Saterdays from and to Johanesburg, South-Africa to Blantyre. Air Malawi also had some flights.

By train

By car

By bus

By boat

Get around

See

• Mandala House home of the La Caverna Art Gallery and cafe.

Do

Learn

• Society of Malawi(Situated above the Mandala House)[www.societyofmalawi.org] is a great place to visit if you like to read up on the history of a place. , the library and archives are open weekdays from 9 to 12 and the last Thursday of the month from 6-7:30PM.

Work

Buy

Eat

Budget

• Vendors are all over the streets in Blantyre. They sell a range of food items from fried chips, chicken, etc. to hard boiled eggs, bread (mostly milkscone variety and yellow buns), biscuits (locally made from Universal Industries), and so on. Plenty of ripe fruit and vegetables are also readily available for a good price. On the whole, however, street food is nowhere near as tasty as many other African countries tend to offer.

Mid-range

• Alem Ethiopian Restaurant, in the heart of the busy city Alem offers Malawian favorites (like nsima with rice, chicken and chips, etc.) as well as authentic Ethiopian dishes served in bowls straight from Ethiopia. Ethiopian coffee, served with cloves and salt, is a must-have for any coffee lover. The owners, friendly Ethiopians themselves, have been running the restaurant for over ten years.
• Café Mexicana, located on Glyn Jones Avenue just past Kabula Hill Road (heading towards Namiwawa and Chilimoni). Site formerly known as Christines. Opened in December 2005, this ethnic favorite of North Americans now offers American-style 'Mexican' specialties like the Seafood Enchilada, Fajitas, homemade Nachos with a nice mango salsa, and some of the most rich desserts available in the city. A coffeeshop, open during hours when the restaurant is not, complements the restaurant/bar. Of special note is the play area for children, making it very child-friendly. Phone: 09216180, 08546808, 01621987
• Cappineros offers a relaxing outdoor or indoor setting just a short ride from downtown Blantyre, but far enough away that it feels out of the city. To get there just go past the casino and you'll see the entrance on the right (if coming from downtown Blantyre). Phone: 08 843 892
• Chez Maky, a delightful out-of-the-way respite from the city, is a great place to get together with business associates or a few friends (space is available for conferences). Situated on a multi-level wooden deck protected from rain, the proprietor is a delightful host originally from Cameroon who makes everyone feel right at home. Grilled meat is particularly well-done here (some of the best in the country) and real coffee with desserts are a nice addition to any meal. Located on Kabula Hill Road past Seventh Day Adventist Hospital (just go past the hospital, which will be on your right, and the road almost will end right at the entrance to the residence/restaurant). Open every day from 8 to 5. Phone: 09203029, 01622124
• Greens, rumored to be among the best in town for grilled meat, braii style. Warning to families: the restaurant opens late and will not allow children.
• Hong Kong is the place to go in Blantyre if you're craving Chinese cuisine, or at least this Westernized version of it. Run by a Chinese-American, the place is set up to look like any Chinese restaurant you'd find in the U.S. with the food to match. Situated almost right next to Mt. Soche Hotel. Phone: 01 820 859
• Hungry Lion, found in the Shoprite complex opposite Chichiri Stadium, is a favorite with Malawians because of the simple chicken and chips menu it offers. A franchise, this location is often so pitiful (unless you only want an ice cream cone) that some visitors who don't like the long wait or poor operation in general have stopped giving it a go altogether.
• Jungle Pepper Pizza is the place for a wide assortment of pizza and various toppings. Very tasty! However, the seating is limited and mainly outdoors (up the hill from Portugalia/formerly Nandos). Great for take-away. Phone: 08 826 229
• Portugalia, formerly known as Nandos but now no longer a part of that chain. A popular destination for anyone traveling by minibus but a headache to those driving their own vehicle. This restaurant is famous for the blends of Lemon Herb or Peri-Peri chicken. The setting is very busy, but now that the vendors have been removed much quieter than formerly. Once inside the store you can forget the crowd of minibuses right outside and enjoy pita wraps, chicken and chips, pine nut burgers, and more. An adult meal (children's also available) will cost about about 700 kwacha ($5-7).
• Royal Taj Phone: 01 822 376

Splurge

• 21 Grill, at Ryalls Hotel. The attention the servers give you is alone worth a reason to go (far superior to most other places where 'service' is not really a thing people know about). Kudos to 21 Grill for their terrific food AND service! Phone: 01 820 955.
• Bombay Palace, opposite Ryalls Hotel, offers delicious authentic Indian cuisine. Reservations are recommended as it can be busy on weekend evenings. Phone: 08 200 200
• L'Hostaria, in a new location (as of 2004), is THE place to go if authentic Italian is your thing. With plenty of space for hosting special parties, the food is very good with service to match. Phone: 01 636 025.

Drink

• Doogles

Sleep

Prices unknown for the following:

• Chichiri Lodge Phone: 01 672 365
• Colony Club Phone: 01 823 283
• Eclipse Lodge Phone: 01 821 555
• Indaba Exec Lounge Phone: 01 657 643
• Kanjedza Lodge Phone: 01 642 500
• Michiru Lodge Phone: 01 669 038
• Mount Pleasant Inn Phone: 01 878 188
• Namiwawa Lodge Phone: 01 669 069
• Nalis Lodge Phone: 01 643 603
• Shire Highlands Phone: 01 640 055
• Superior Hotel Phone: 01 621 700

Budget

• Doogles Phone: 01 821 128
• Kabula Lodge, has tidy rooms (2 or 3 beds) from 5 US$ (or Kwacha equivalent). Kitchen is available to use or meals can be ordered. Run by friendly Malawians. (May 2005) Phone: 01 821 216

Mid-range

Splurge

• Le Meridien Mount Soche Phone: 01 820 588
• Ryalls Hotel Phone: 01 820 955
• Hotel Victoria Phone: 01 823 500

Contact

Stay safe

Night time muggings or robberies do occur. Private taxis are cheap and readily available. Ask around and bargain.

Cope

Get out

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