Antananarivo Nightlife

I love dance music, so this place was the best of the places we tried. From the cool entrance, you descend into pounding dance music, which rotates from electronica/trance to rap to R&B, plus some local flavor. Drinks are certainly cheaper than back home, but fairly stiff for Madagascar. As with every place we went out, prostitutes were everywhere, and somewhat entertaining in watching them dance with a 60 year old who almost falls down every 30 seconds.

Dress Code: Anything you like, but I certainly wouldn't recommend flip-flops/thongs, as the floor gets messy.

Sometimes, "Vendredi Joli".

Or so are simply called Friday evenings. Friday evenings are cool because it’s, for urbanites, when week-ends begin. It’s usually made for letting the steam off, partying, going out with friends, to clubs, cabarets, karaoke. Let's get carefree, light. That's the ultimate goal. “Zoma mahafinaritra” is now an institution. For those Friday evenings, newspapers usually print out “l’agenda culturel”, a compilation of all cultural happenings in Tana. You’d expect them to do it esp. on long week-ends. My favourite “agenda culturel” newspapers is at Les Nouvelles. L’Express de Madagascar is quite interesting too. A big cons though: both dailies, like all we have here, are in written French.

Now, you could always check it out at Hôtel Glacier (on Araben’ny Fahaleovantena, the main avenue downtown). They have those concerts, events bills sticked up at their door. Chances are they are in French. Guess you could ask about their program too since, imo, you don’t need to understand the language to appreciate Mozika Mafana. Mozika Mafana is the rhythm Cabaret Glacier (cabaret room of Hôtel Glacier) is specialized in. Literally translated “Hot Music”, it’s about tropical rythms such as our salegy, our tsapiky made for dancing, partying. For who is in the know, salegy king Jaojoby is nearly a resident there, performing his art cabaret style. Not too big a room. Not that uncommon to see Merina folk groups perform vako-drazana either at Cabaret Glacier. Another cabaret spot I’ve heard good things of is Piment Café, located in Behoririka.
You may check at your hotel too, as some like Radama, Palissandre, Carlton (ex-Hilton) reportedly hold regular venues too.

Else, Tana youngsters like karaoke a lot (not my stuff). I’ll give you addresses upon request.
By the way, depending on finance, Zoma mahafinaritra in Tana can be a booze-up evening on the backseat of a car, parked in a parking lot. With all the kalin-taoka: fried chicken, kebabs, meatballs, snacks... mostly meat… to accompany all the booze. As simple as that… and… as long as it’s fun.

Since sun sets at 17 in winter and 18.30 in summer, and because of unsafety (it has much decreased though !), nightlife in Tana is more about clubbing, caf?s, restaurants as well as entertaining oneself in cultural centers.

A tip in the tip: For you guys, just beware of lonegoers girls... Malagasy girls and women never go out alone. They are accompanied by friends (most of time male ones, be it friends or relatives). Lonegoers would ask money for their company. Call it whatever you want but take necessary protection since prostitution circles are a real concern as far as AIDS is concerned.

Also, beware that prostitution comes in all types & ages: schoolgirls, university girls in daylight & prostitutes at night. Most confusing, some would still wear schoolgirls attire even in nightclubs. No sexy stuff. Jeans & bulky trainers & sweaters would do.

In clubs, they can even "fish" as a cluster of 3-4 females, dressed in jeans, striped shirts bone fide white-collar women wouldn't ignore. It took me the seasoned eyes of my male fellows to distinguish who was in the services & who was not. No, really, the only way to know whether they could be in the services is the fact that they go out alone.

I'm not being judgemental about it. The whole society has this thinking and yes, we, women do not go out alone, use to be accompanied (if not by a husband, fiance, boyfriend, could be our male cousins).

Call it whatever you want but it can be risky for your health ! Anyway, act safe.

Dress Code: Depending on the institutions. In most institutions, no rotten jeans *lol* It's not that you're somewhere tropical, poorer, far that you'd behave that differently from home. Show some respect.

On week-end nights, restaurants and other premices dedicated to entertainment attract people who are seeking for some exciting shows.
Those shows are blues and jazz live music, starring talented local artists (mostly interpreting Malagasy and European standards and their own songs)..
Audience is mostly made of up to 25 as youngsters use to go to nightclubs for techno or dance, pop music.

Also, it could be a nice program for your St-Valentine celebration, to accompany the red rose whenever you and your honey happen to celebrate it in Tana. On such occasions, there use to be special programs (duets, food, classical jazzy love songs). Check the newspapers the days before Feb. 14, the rooms & clubs use to advertise about their St-Valentine evening program.

Addresses: Le Glacier Analakely, RADAMA Hôtel, La Boussole, Le Pavé, Capitol

For other types of shows, check it out:
http://www.tourismemadagascar.com/loisirs/sortir/sortir.htm

Dress Code: No rotten jeans :-)