Enjoying yourself Gabon
Timetable Gabon
Restaurants are generally open from 12pm to 3pm and from 7pm to 11pm. Some also serve as cafeterias, welcoming customers all day long.
Budget & Tips Gabon
From the maquis to the luxury restaurant, Gabon has something for everyone. In the big cities, some establishments are true gastronomic references. In such cases, you should expect to pay between 25,000 and 45,000 FCFA for a menu. For more modest restaurants, expect to pay around 7,000 FCFA for a main course. In the maquis, you'll be able to feast on good meat or fish kebabs for around 3,500 FCFA. However, avoid those set up on sidewalks, to avoid turista.
In São Tomé and Príncipe, expect to pay around 250 STN in a village outside the capital. In more comfortable restaurants, expect to pay around 350 STN for a meal.
What costs extra Gabon
Tipping is not instituted as it is in some countries, but it's always appreciated, especially when the service is up to scratch.
The local way Gabon
For a meal on the run, try coupé coupé, a local snack of charcoal-grilled beef or mutton with onions, chillies and various sauces. Vendors can be found on the street from morning till night.
To be avoided Gabon
We advise against drinking tap water, even though in Libreville it is checked daily. If bottled water is not available, drink a soda or beer instead. Avoid eating raw vegetables, salads or unwashed fruit, and be careful where you eat fish and seafood.
Smokers Gabon
Since 2016, Gabonese law has prohibited smoking in places open to the public, including restaurants.
Take a break Gabon
Timetable Gabon
Cafeterias open early in the morning, around 7am, and close at the end of the day. Night bars open at the end of the day, around 7pm, and closed around 2am before the coup. Since then, a curfew has been put in place between midnight and 5am, and night bars now close at around 11pm, to give everyone time to go home. Unofficially, some maquis remain open until the early hours of the morning...
Budget & Tips Gabon
In Gabon, there are many maquis where you can drink a large Régab, the Gabonese beer, or a soda for around 800 FCFA, in a 100% local atmosphere.
Age restrictions Gabon
In Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe, the legal drinking age is 18.
What's very local Gabon
Gabonese people love Régab, the local beer produced in the country. It's a light blond beer drunk with friends as an aperitif.
Kids Gabon
Minors under the age of 16 are not allowed in nightclubs. They may enter certain establishments, provided they are accompanied by an adult.
