When many of us travel we like to let off a bit of steam and have a drink or two with dinner. In some of the destinations we choose, however, a drink is simply not possible. For those that travel to North Africa you will find that there is no blanket rule for this region and that each country, while on the surface a little similar, there attitudes towards drinking are very different. In Libya, it is simply outright illegal, Tunisia on the other hand it is very prevalent.
So where does Algeria stand? With French colonial architecture everywhere throughout the capital Algiers you’d think that wine could also be flowing in abundance, however, this is not so much the case. Simply put, is it legal? Yes! Is it easy to find? Kind of but also not as much as you’d think.
In the capital, you can find watering holes hidden behind opaque glass and in hidden restaurants. These places are completely legal, however they will always be away from public view. Once in though, the atmosphere of some of these glorious old-school venues will transport you back to a different time. Each place usually will have wine, tap beer and an array of local characters no doubt chain-smoking cigarettes.
What about outside of Algiers?
Outside of the capital, it is much more difficult, with only some bigger cities like Constantine and Oran have some hotels that stock it. In Constantine, there are no real bars left anymore and it can be quite difficult to find, so if you’re thinking of coming here for a boozy meal, you may want to re-think that.
Going south and getting deep into the Sahara you will find much more conservative communities where you won’t be able to source any alcohol. You will however, most likely come across some of the most delicious sweet tea the desert has to offer courtesy of the generous Tuareg hospitality.
Is it expensive?
For people coming from Western countries, you will not find many things in Algeria expensive. Wine will be on the pricier side, however, if you want to stick with beer you can expect a big glass of the local tap beer to come in at around 400 DZD or just under $2 USD. Can’t really complain about that at all.
Is there Duty-Free?
Yes, despite not much wine being commonly sold around the country you can buy local wine at the International Airport in Algiers.
To come and experience the amazing food scene of Algeria and to experience the local speakeasy-esque culture of Algiers, join one of our Algeria tours in 2025.
You can see our North Africa tours here or send us an email to [email protected] to sign up!
