Stay at Meikles for Harare's 1915 grand-hotel address
- Harare, Zimbabwe
- Posted on
About this tip
Meikles Hotel has stood on Africa Unity Square since 1915 and remains the city's classic grand-hotel address, in the middle of the CBD. Central Harare is walkable by day because many locals are on the streets, so you can step out to the National Gallery and other sights on foot, then take a taxi or ride-hailing car after dark. It is among the pricier options, so compare booking channels and ask what is included.
Where
Stay at Meikles for Harare's 1915 grand-hotel addressAfrica Unity Square, central Harare
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)More Tips & Traps in Harare
14 posts from Local Friends and travelers who know the city.AS TrapSleepAsk about water and power backup before booking a stay
Harare, ZimbabweWater and electricity supplies in Harare are frequently disrupted, and the city's taps run dry or erratic even as bills rise, so a cheap room without backup can turn into a bucket wash and a dark evening. Before booking, ask whether the place has a borehole or storage tank and a generator or solar backup, and read…
IA TipEventsInternational Images Film Festival for Women, every August
Harare, ZimbabweEach late August Harare hosts the International Images Film Festival for Women, run by the ICAPA Trust with screenings, masterclasses and a closing ceremony. In recent editions the venues included the Alliance Française, the National Gallery and community halls such as Dzivarasekwa. Check the organiser's page for the…
TipEventsShoko Festival: Harare's urban culture nights each September
Harare, ZimbabweShoko Festival bills itself as Zimbabwe's longest-running festival of urban culture and fills Harare each September with comedy, hip hop and a big Mash Up Night at Harare Gardens. The 2025 edition closed with a free open-air show in Chitungwiza, which is the pick if you want a local crowd. Tickets for the main nights…
BS TipMusic & NightlifeBira ReMbira: hear mbira played live every September
Harare, ZimbabweSeptember is Mbira Month in Zimbabwe, and Bira ReMbira, a festival of mbira players in Harare, is its high point. It returns each year, so a late September visit is the best time to hear the instrument played live in front of a crowd that knows it well. Venue and date are announced shortly before, so check local press…
TipShopNewlands craft market: stone, wood and wire animals
Harare, ZimbabweBehind Newlands Shopping Centre, along Enterprise Road, a roadside craft market sells carved stone, wood and wire pieces such as hippos, elephants and warthogs. Sellers do not pressure visitors, and haggling is fine as long as you still pay a fair price for the craftsmanship. Walk the whole line before buying, because…
OL TipShopOld Stables Market: Saturday crafts and lunch
Harare, ZimbabweThe Old Stables Market at Borrowdale Racecourse is an outdoor bazaar where regional artists sell hand-painted pottery, wire and bead animals, jewellery and clothing, with food vendors and a gin bar on site. One local guide lists it as a Saturday market, so plan for late morning and stay for lunch. Check the market's…
UT TipGetting AroundUse inDrive for rides, and agree the fare for street taxis
Harare, ZimbabweMany locals book rides on the inDrive app, and travel guides name it as the best way to get a taxi in Harare, so set it up before you arrive and use it for evenings out. If you flag a taxi on the street, agree the fare before you get in because many drivers do not use meters. Kombis are cheaper but have no route maps…
CT TrapMiscellaneousCarry small US notes: big bills and change cause trouble
Harare, ZimbabweShops, taxis and vendors in Harare mostly deal in US dollars, though the ZiG is also in use, and change is the usual problem. Cash machines tend to give large notes that sellers cannot break, and change under a dollar may come back in ZiG. Carry plenty of small US notes, refuse torn or damaged ones, and change money…
Know Harare well?
Share a tip, or warn travelers about a trap. It only takes a few minutes.