Le Zanzibar (Saint-Gilles)

Le Zanzibar is a tropical-themed cocktail bar on the Rue du Lagon, the resort strip of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains on Réunion's west coast, in France's Indian Ocean overseas department. The venue is positioned as a step up from a beach shack: an evening-focused cocktail bar where the décor leans on the island and East African imagery implied by its name. The crowd consists mainly of holidaymakers, expatriates and locals in their late twenties to fifties, many of them having dinner nearby before moving on. The atmosphere is relaxed and sociable, with a smart-casual feel; beachwear is generally out of place after dark, while linen shirts, summer dresses and neat shorts are typical, and no rigid dress code is usually enforced. The music is a mix of lounge and tropical sounds, with live acoustic Séga sets on Thursday evenings. Séga is the Creole string-and-percussion music tradition of the Mascarene islands, and the acoustic format makes it accessible to visitors unfamiliar with the genre. The drinks programme centres on cocktails built around local rum, tropical fruit, lime and vanilla, alongside beer and wine. Prices range from about €5 to €12 per drink. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 18:00 to 02:00, with the bar closed on Mondays. There is no cover charge on weekdays, while a €5 cover applies on Friday and Saturday nights when the bar is busiest. Reservations are not typically required for standing or bar seating, but groups wanting a table on a weekend evening may wish to ask ahead or arrive early. Bottle service is not a defining feature. The bar is a short walk from Bar de la Plage and Le Privilege Club, so it fits easily into a progression from sunset drinks to a later club night in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains.