New South African Bar and Hangout Opens This Friday

Zebras will be features at the new hangout.Photo bysutirta budimanonUnsplash

If you had a dime for every time you read about a new taco stand, burrito joint, burger restaurant, or pizza parlor opened you’d probably be very rich (or, maybe even have enough to pay off those student loans). While this exists in Tucson, you’ll find it very much is true in just about every other city around the country. The vast majority of restaurants are centered in very specific culinary styles with minor tweaks along the way. So it is worth highlighting when something new and original opens. That is exactly what is happening on Friday, August 16, when a South African hangout and bar opens here in the Old Pueblo. 

Located at 82 South Stone Avenue inside the Citizen Building, Unicorn Zebra will be offering guests a look into the world of South Africa. Unlike other ventures around the city where owners open an eatery with no actual connection to the culinary style they’re sharing, or because they visited a city in Italy for a week and decided they could master the cooking method and open their own restaurant, Unicorn Zebra is a direct transplant from Cape Town.

Owners Lourens and Sandy du Plessis hail from Cape Town, where they worked for years. While life eventually brought them to Tucson, no amount of moving can ever take away someone’s hometown. So, while it’s not possible to always return to South Africa and frequently visit, they decided instead to bring a slice of the African nation to Tucson. 

The decor harkens back to vibes of South Africa, with small touches scattered throughout the space. The bar very much feels alive thanks to the bursts of color, plant life, and small bits of artistic flair. While Unicorn Zebra will feature several locally produced beverages, it will also showcase some popular flavors from South Africa.

While the cocktails will feature some ingredients from South Africa, you will also be able to try wine from the region as well. Most of the time, when visiting restaurants or stopping into the grocery store for a bottle, the majority of wine comes from Europe, Australia, Chile, and Argentina. You don’t always find many African labels, and yet the region has a number of exceptional wineries, and, as is the case with every wine region in the world, there are subtle flavor profiles that can only be found in the given regions.

While official hours of operation are not yet available, feel free to stop by starting this Friday for an evening drink and say hi.