The Zulú Experience
- Rolanda Stinson
- Aug 15, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 26
By Rolanda Stinson
Have you heard of a restobar? Well it’s exactly what it sounds like - a restaurant and a bar in one. Believe it or not, Manta had a pretty large restobar scene before the pandemic. I arrived here during the downturn of the pandemic and never really had a chance to experience Manta in all its glory. I heard that Manta had a very lively nightlife before the pandemic. As of 2022, the city is reopening and with that comes back the nightlife scene. Many of the clubs, bars, and live music venues are reopening and rebranding. I had the pleasure of visiting one such location this past month, Zulu.
Zulu is a newly opened restobar as of April 2022. It is located in Plaza Del Sol on Calle 32. It’s down the road from the Wyndham Sail Plaza and is on the second floor of Plaza Del Sol. Going up to the 2nd floor the first thing you notice in front of the bar is a doorman, impeccably dressed, in a full black suit. You must make reservations and that gentleman is there to check the list. Once inside Zulu, you are escorted to a woman behind a window who takes your cedula in exchange for your drink card. It is very common in Manta to exchange your cedula for a drink card at clubs and restobars. This way the establishment ensures that drink bills are paid by tipsy customers at the end of the night. Once you get inside Zulu, the decor transports you to another place. It is so beautiful and artfully done. The interior has a modern African tribal theme with plenty of greenery, murals, and mirrors. There are two levels inside, with the bottom level being more of the restaurant and the top level more for standing and socializing. There is a stage in the front for performers and a sitting area with sofas and cocktail tables tucked in a glass lounge room just to the side of the stage. It looks like a posh VIP section. The bar stretches across the room and is fully equipped with top shelf liquor. There are multiple TV’s throughout the restaurant advertising Zulu’s signature drinks and entrees.
