Maputo

The fresh fish market. You chose you own prawns, clams, crab, Grouper, Coral and Rock cod, Squid and a galaxy of other tropical fish still flapping at the market, then retire to one of the many small restaurants behind the stalls where they are cooked beautifully. Everyone's favourite Sunday afternoon.

Multiracial meeting place with bar and restaurant, including pizza. Lots of televisions tuned to sport from South African channels. Internet free for 30 min per day, after that for moderate charge.

Good, mainly seafood, restaurant on the seafront.

Decent food in a very nice old building.

Very popular with the Portuguese. A mostly expensive and mostly Portuguese menu. Try the accorda.

Another popular Portuguese place.

Icon over 70 years old. Average seafood in low-key atmosphere. Booking recommended at weekends and if you want an outdoors table. It's also possible to stay overnight as they have a few hotel rooms.

Part of the Sheik entertainment complex. Offers high-end Chinese and African cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. The disco below has dancing, drinks, and fun until the wee hours of the morning.

Modern, sleek eatery, good menu selection. Big terrace in the front overlooks the road to the bay, with an open kitchen dining room inside. Worth the money (which is still cheap by western standards!).

Restaurant and bar, located in the Radisson Blu Maputo, offers exquisite Italian cuisine in a stylish atmosphere. Straightforward, simply cooked Italian food. Friendly and fast-paced unpretentious service. Wide selection of wine.

This is in a good location downtown 1 block south of the Palacios dos Casamentos among skyscrapers and restaurants. Has balcony and lots of African decor, a/c, bar, and breakfast. Good base for exploring Maputo.

Like an African eco-friendly budget beach resort wedged between the surf and Incomati River, with pool and restaurant, for when you want to get away from it all. Units are individual huts, and the beach is just a few steps away. But it is about 1 hr 15 min from Maputo.

The grande dame of Maputo hotels, a colonial era masterpiece by Sir Herbert Baker, famed South African architect (who also did the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town). As close to perfection in service, food, pool, view, etc. as can be found in Maputo. Good place to have a drink, or to have lunch in the Tea Room.

14 luxurious rooms that are individually decorated by leading Mozambican artists. Inconvenient to find, approximately 45 min from the CBD (via crowded public boat, then taxi), located on a remote dirt road on the opposite side of the bay. It has a bar, beach, library, pool table and swimming pool. Internet access is available. Rates start from about €60, up to €380, depending on type of room selected.

Opposite the traffic circle from the Natural History Museum. It is a solid 4-star hotel although things often tend to go wrong. Staff fluent in English. A great garden to have a drink in and watch the sun set over the Baixa and Rio Santo. Doubles with a river view and airconditioning were US$140 or more in May 2009.

5-star hotel on Avenida Julius Nyerere. Has large and fairly comfortable rooms. Rooftop pool and bar for excellent sunsets and a good way of appreciating the rather confusing geography of Maputo. Several restaurants (Thai, Greek, Indian and pub style) within a few minutes. Hotel shuttle to and from the airport available. Free access to the Internet. Rooms from around US$170 (April 2009) including good breakfast but really the only thing that is 5-star about this hotel is the price.

The international hotel chain, Radisson Blu has a 12-storey building with 154 rooms in one of the city's trendiest spots on the marginal road along the beach. This property has ocean views. There are several restaurants and bars across the road. Free Internet for guests and delegates.