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Sports and bars are big in Bloemfontein. In the heat of summer a cold beer goes down really well, while the fresh winter nights (zero degrees Celcius and lower) demand a strong bottle of red wine or some shooters to defrost toes and ears. Prices are competitive and the quality of Cape wines (in bottles, not carton boxes) and preservative-free beer (from Namibia) is good.
The venue that features the most live acts is the local state-of-the-art theatre house – the Sand du Plessis. Anything from ethnic music shows, well-known popular singers, drama, dance, ballet, cabaret and stand-up comedy are on the bill nightly, except maybe Sundays.
The other theatre in town is the Observatory – also called Die Sterrewag – at the top of Naval Hill. Daily newspapers will carry updated listings of performances.
If that’s too formal for you, the market at Loch Logan offers arts and crafts for sale and features some pretty good buskers. Markets are generally an excellent opportunity to see some local expression of creativity, social commentary and street food. The Bloemfontein waterfront area on Kingsway Street houses a shopping complex with boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and cinemas; your best one-stop venue.
Come night-time, music venues beckon. If it’s ambience you enjoy, opt for one of the smaller live music venues around town, like the Roxy Rhythm Bar at 4 Ella Street or Kicks in Ferreira Road. Rhythm Devine at the showgrounds is gay-friendly. Grab the local newspaper for up-to-date guides on the live shows and entertainment available.
The Fishpaste Restaurant & Bar is cheeky – what a name for a landlocked spot! It’s at 31 President Steyn Avenue and is popular with the young crowd. For good steaks and seafood grills, try Margaritas at 59 Milner Road or Barba’s Café in Westdene.
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In Bloemfontein, people still bake bread, cook jam, tend their roses and enjoy a good old barbecue. For a true Free State experience, stay on a farm just outside of town where the cock will still crow you awake and you’ll get coffee and rusks in bed before sitting down to a farm breakfast, grandma-style. Walk or ride it off exploring the sprawling grounds. Otherwise, just visit a farm like De Oude Kraal for a Sunday lunch you’ll never forget. You will need to book, though – it’s an extremely popular venue.
Sporty types can use their time out for a game of tennis or bowls, a leisurely cycle or a short hike. If you like to be pampered, there’s always the massage table and the spa. On weekends, locals flock to Maselspoort, a green spot on the Modder River where parents can stoke the barbecue fires while the young ones explore the surrounds.
Know this, though: if you’ve attended a sports match, eaten some barbecued or cured meat (called “biltong” – the national snack), hailed the sunset with a drink and visited with the local wildlife (two- or four-legged), you’ve pretty much had a quintessential “Bloem” experience.
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