English is not widely spoken, even in Luanda. Get your papers in order. From until Angola was a socialist, one-party state closely aligned with Russia and Cuba. In a hangover from its Cold War mentality, Angola still treats foreigners with suspicion, and it will seem like some embassy officials take pride in complicating things for would-be tourists.
Factor in at least one month to sort out visa matters. Different consulate officials will tell you different things about which documents you need to bringβand you will need a letter of invitation from an Angolan citizen or a company.
Expect to spend. Luanda is one of the most expensive cities in the world for expats. But thanks to recent hotel openings and under-the-radar bed and breakfasts, prices are becoming more competitive. The recently-opened Thompson House on the Ilha do Cabo the closest thing Luanda has to a hostel vibe , Hotel Ilhamar which also has a great restaurant and Rouxino Boutique Hotel are decent hotels at decent pricesβfor Luanda.
Bring an appetite. In fact, I moved back to Luanda in to run a food start-up focusing on online restaurant reviews and gastronomic events after living in the U. Several of our most popular dishes are stew-based, such as moamba de galinha chicken cooked in a red palm oil sauce called moamba de dendem and calulu similar to moamba but cooked with dried and fresh fish. Most high-end restaurants in Luanda are filled with expats, but places like Kintal da Tia Guida attract many more Angolans and entire families on weekends, creating a boisterous, festive atmosphere.
Look beyond the Ilha for cheap eats. Check out one of the hundreds of backyard restaurants quintais where the vast majority of Luandans have lunch on weekdays. I love taking friends from out of town to Kitanda da Esquina for Portuguese-Angolan small plates, or A Grelha, headed by a well-known Angolan chef, serving generous portions of unusual dishes, such as pineapple fried rice and a huge steak-chop for two.
