Evenings at Mylica Cocktail Lounge
As the evening light begins to glimmer at Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Mylika Premium Lounge draws people in. The lounge sits high, looking west across the Rift Valley to the Virunga Volcano lineup, and the view changes by the minute as mist and cloud move through the rugged country below. Inside, the room is easy and social. There is music, conversation, the sound of ice in the bar, and the sense that dinner is close but not quite yet.
That is when the masterclass begins. You step up to the bar with our mixologist and learn one cocktail properly, from the build and balance to the final garnish. The drinks lean into Uganda where they can, with Uganda Waragi, tropical fruit such as pineapple, passion fruit, and mango, plus lime, ginger, and herbs that may come from the lodge gardens. You are shown the recipe as you go, so you can save it, take a screenshot, and try it again at home after the trip.
Mylika building has been part of the lodge for years. It began as the original reception, dining, and volcano-viewing spot. With renovation, the building has settled into a different role as the cocktail lounge and volcano-viewing spot. The room still feels like a place people gather. You just have more time now to enjoy the bar, the view, and the hour before dinner with a good drink in your hand.
Mylica Bar Experience
When your turn comes, you step up to the bar with the mixologist and make one drink from start to finish. He talks you through the recipe as he goes, showing you how the spirit, fruit, citrus, ice, and garnish work together in the glass. You follow each step, mix the drink yourself, and leave with a version of the recipe you can save on your phone and try again at home.
The ingredients shift with the season and the style of drink being made that evening. Uganda Waragi often leads the line-up, along with pineapple, passion fruit, mango, lime, ginger, and herbs or fresh picks from the lodge gardens. Some classes lean into a spirit-led cocktail. Others can be made without alcohol, using the same attention to balance, freshness, and finish. What stays the same is the way the class is taught: one drink, clearly explained, with enough detail to make it feel useful long after the stay.
Once your cocktail is ready, you take it back into the lounge and enjoy it there. By then the room has usually settled into its evening mood. The windows hold the last light over the valley, the bar keeps moving, and dinner is close.
Planning Essentials
The Mylika Cocktail Masterclass suits couples, friends, solo travelers, and small private groups who want something easy and social before dinner. You do not need any cocktail experience. The class is guided step by step, and the pace stays relaxed.
It works best in the evenings at Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge when you want to stay close while waiting for dinner, enjoy the view, and ease into the night without heading back out. The premium lounge can seat up to 30 guests, so there is always some life in it, but your time at the bar still feels personal because the mixologist teaches each guest in turn.
If someone in your group would rather skip the class, that is fine too. They can still spend the hour in Mylika, order a drink, and enjoy the room with everyone else. Guests who do not drink alcohol can also take part with a non-alcoholic cocktail.
If you are still shaping the stay, start with the current offers. If your dates are already set, book your room and add the Mylika Cocktail Masterclass to one of your evenings at the lodge.
