The Mocambo has been a firm favourite for Eritrean tourists for generations, but how many remember the restaurant when it first opened in Italian times?

This postcard captures the simple elegance of the place: the flowers on the tables, the white table cloths and the lilies in the background. How many Italian officers sat here in the 1930’s, talking of home? How many secrets traded and alliances formed?

Today it is still a feature of Asmara, but has a rather different atmosphere, as this entry from the Lonely Planet guide suggets.

This hopping nightclub exhilarates dance junkies every weekend with live music, both traditional and Western. Hours are erratic, but you’ll hear it before you see it when it’s open (usually from around 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights).