Tapas Cielo offers a different lounge experience in Mombasa
Tapas Cielo is the latest in a string of lounges that have popped up at the Nyali business centre in Mombasa. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
This pub is fully stocked with more than 100 cocktails to choose from, the wine includes French, South African and Spanish selections, and last but definitely not least, a wide whisky selection hence the book-sized menu.
If you are lucky you will get sitting space at the pub terrace where the music is not so loud and privacy is guaranteed by small booths located at the far end and separated by large plants. The terrace is also the smoking zone.
There are two large television screens to keep you entertained in case you have no company. The service is efficient. Before you sit down, a waitress will already be waiting with a menu the size of a small booklet.
Tapas Cielo, which opened in June last year, is the latest baby in a string of lounges that have popped up at the Nyali business centre in Mombasa. Inside, the main bar is manned by male staff in black trousers and long-sleeved shirts. The rest of the space has low and high chairs depending on your preference.
About a third of the wall directly opposite the bar is an aquarium that allows patrons a glimpse of various marine life, including plants and fish. The fish usually prefer to keep out of sight but when they do come out, they seem oblivious to the music and banter taking place on the other side of the glass.
The interior design is contemporary with wood finish and lots of plants to give it the feel on nature, almost like you are sitting outdoors among trees and shrubs. This pub is fully stocked with more than 100 cocktails to choose from, the wine includes French, South African and Spanish selections, and last but definitely not least, a wide whisky selection hence the book-sized menu.
If you want to try one of the cocktails, go for the Tom Collins Margarita or the Gold Reserve – both old-fashioned signature drinks. The food caters for all palates, including vegetarians, and pays homage to its location with a vast array of sea dishes.
The profile of the clientele is dynamic. You will meet people from your local neighbourhood to high profile business people. You will also bump into a few of the who-is-who in the entertainment industry at the Coast and the rest of the country.
Tapas Cielo with its wide range of whiskies and other spirits has been nicknamed the ‘Caramel’ of Mombasa. A beer will cost you Sh250 while a bottle of premium whisky will set you back between Sh5,000 and Sh250,000. The Ace of Spades champagne costs Sh45,000.
Tapas Cielo director Sam Rabadia said they took four months to establish the menu to make sure it included all cuisines. It is a great place for a business meeting, an after-office sundowner or just to unwind, the steep prices notwithstanding.
