As evening settles over Accra, the sound of a saxophone, the pulse of a highlife guitar and the murmur of conversation come together at +233 Jazz Bar & Grill, a venue where the city’s musical traditions meet its cosmopolitan nightlife.

Located in the Ridge area, near Ghana Police Headquarters, +233 takes its name from Ghana’s international telephone dialling code. It is a fitting expression of local identity for a venue that has become a recognised meeting point for music lovers, performers and visitors seeking an authentic taste of Accra after dark.

A Stage for Ghana’s Musical Heritage

Music is the main attraction. Operating most nights from Tuesday to Sunday, with performances typically beginning around 8pm, the venue offers a programme spanning jazz, highlife, Afrobeat, blues and soul.

Highlife, a distinctly Ghanaian musical tradition shaped by local rhythms and influences from elsewhere, holds a special place in the country’s cultural story. Hearing it alongside jazz and Afrobeat creates an opportunity to appreciate the connections between Ghana’s musical heritage and wider global sounds.

The venue has welcomed established Ghanaian performers and international artists, while continuing to provide a platform for emerging talent. Its appeal lies partly in this balance between familiar favourites and fresh voices.

Music, Food and an Open-Air Atmosphere

Spread across two levels, the venue combines indoor seating with an outdoor terrace where guests can enjoy Accra’s evening breeze.

Bars on both floors make it easy to order a drink without losing touch with the performance.

The menu complements the music with grilled favourites such as kebabs, burgers, pork chops and chips. Cocktails, beers and soft drinks round out the experience, whether guests arrive for dinner or settle in for a full evening of live entertainment.

A Different Side of Accra

For international visitors, +233 offers a welcoming introduction to the capital’s contemporary music scene. For residents, it provides a place to meet friends and celebrate the musicians shaping Ghanaian sound.

With its blend of live performance, relaxed dining and local identity, +233 Jazz Bar & Grill makes a compelling case for experiencing Accra one song at a time.

The aroma of onions sizzling in red palm oil, ripe tomatoes softening into a rich sauce, and fresh green leaves releasing their earthy fragrance is enough to make many Ghanaians anticipate a satisfying meal.

Across Ghana, Kontomire, Palawa and Okro stews bring colour, flavour and nourishment to everyday dining, turning familiar local ingredients into dishes that connect families to home and tradition.

Kontomire: Earthy, Rich and Comforting

Kontomire stew is made primarily with cocoyam leaves, tomatoes and egusi, the ground seeds of certain melon varieties.

The leaves provide an earthy, distinctive flavour, while egusi adds richness and a pleasantly nutty taste.

Tomatoes contribute a gentle tang, creating a hearty dish that pairs beautifully with boiled yam, ripe plantain or rice.

Cocoyam leaves also provide fibre and micronutrients, while egusi contributes plant-based protein and healthy fats.

A steaming bowl of kontomire stew, freshly boiled yam or ripe plantain sizzling in a pan tells a story of Ghanaian food that goes beyond taste: it is a tradition with plenty of nutritional promise.

Ghanaian cuisine draws much of its appeal from familiar, locally sourced ingredients, including starchy staples, leafy vegetables, legumes, fish, meat and aromatic spices. When prepared thoughtfully, these foods can form the foundation of a balanced and nourishing diet.

The Goodness on the Plate

Walk through a Ghanaian market and you will find colourful displays of garden eggs, okro, tomatoes, peppers and cocoyam leaves, alongside heaps of yam and plantain.

These ingredients are more than kitchen essentials. They provide nutrients that support everyday health.

Kontomire stew, prepared with cocoyam leaves, tomatoes, and often egusi, offers fibre and useful micronutrients.

Okro brings its characteristic slippery texture to soups while providing fibre, and garden eggs add variety to stews and sauces. These vegetables are beloved for their distinctive flavours and their place in everyday Ghanaian cooking.

Yam and plantain provide energy, making them satisfying companions to soups, stews and protein-rich dishes.

Beans and groundnuts contribute plant protein, while fish supplies protein and, depending on the variety, beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

The fragrance of ginger, garlic, onions and fresh peppers gives Ghanaian dishes their unmistakable character, allowing cooks to build flavour from ingredients rather than relying entirely on salt.

Healthy Eating Starts with Balance

Traditional foods are not automatically healthy in every preparation. Large portions, excessive oil, salt and frequent deep-frying can affect a meal’s nutritional value.

Balancing starchy foods with vegetables and protein, choosing varied cooking methods and moderating salt and oil can make a meaningful difference.

Ultimately, Ghanaian cuisine offers a delicious starting point for healthy eating. From family meals to bustling roadside food stalls, its greatest nutritional strength lies in the ingredients, preparation and balance behind every plate.