|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Bloom Bar and the Ghost of Venus Past
If we were to pick a venue that captured the spirit of December in Accra, this place comes to mind. The signature tree, lights and open court are well known in the city, and a blueprint for outdoor lounge spaces since 2016. Bloom Bar is the brainchild of Kofi Adjei-Maafo and Keith Edem Aweke, Ghanaian entrepreneurs and nightlife innovators. It was a no-brainer to feature this staple of December events, especially as it celebrates 5 years on the year-round social calendar. Five years since its inception, there have been several new establishments creating their own special vibe, but Bloom continues to be special. At last count, Kidi, Magnom and R2Bees have immortalized Bloom bar in Accra culture and in the fabric of the city’s history.
Not quite a club, not quite a spot, Bloom bar rides the sweet spot between pre-game and night out, that Venus Lounge vacated in the year of its inception. Anyone that frequented the lounge, understood the importance of a location where the after work crowd and the club crowd merged before they went their separate ways. Bloom filled that gap with ease.
Bloom is for dancing. The music is good from opening to close and, throwing away the typical formula of saving the best for last, patrons start to melt into the jams as soon as they walk in.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s at 6pm or 12am. The roster of talented DJs rotate all the party hits, (yes, including All I Do Is Win), for as long as there are feet on the dance floor. It’s very common
to see half the crowd in their omce Friday wear and the other in club fits getting down and dirty without a care in the world. The energy stays up all night, and “I’ll leave at 10pm.” turns into “One more song.” with ease.
The cocktail menu is the stuff of legends. Most locations have signature drinks that they are known for. However, not since Venus’ Long Island Iced Tea has a bar taken this job so seriously. When the bar first appeared in the corner of it’s courtyard, it broke barriers with the fish bowl™ ; an almost science-fiction manifestation of hangovers to come. Two shandy bottles were flipped mouthfirst into a potion of several spirits. An ode to pre-pandemic pre-gaming, this was a communal drink, and the act of sharing a fish bowl with friends jump-started the highly social culture of Bloom nights. Since then, the fishbowls have been joined by the fast track, which lives up to its name in that it puts you on a speedy one-way to party like it’s 1995, the wild Lemonade and Bellinis, all favorites made by a heavy – handed bartender.
You don’t have to wait until December to partake in the Bloom experience. They host several events throughout the year which culminate into the
holiday parties and club nights. From sports and You don’t have to wait until December to partake in the Bloom experience. They host several events throughout the year which culminate into the holiday parties and club nights. From sports and album watch parties to Independence Day parties and, most recently, All you can drink happy Thursdays, there’s no limit to the possibilities the space provides.
Bloom bar has always been a living breathing organism. With each year, the bar has grown spatially and conceptually, keeping up with growing interest from Ghanaians and the diaspora. The feel of the space remains the same, in that talented DJs conduct the mood set by voluminous drinks. However, with each year, the founders have found new additions that cater to the changing needs of the night scene.
It is clear that Bloom bar has been influential in the night scene, encouraging other business owners to push the boundaries on what constitutes a bar/lounge. Whether or not there is a causal relationship is inconsequential, because it begs acknowledgement that Ghanaians (and their guests) want more out of their night time experience and new establishments are ready to respond to those needs.
