Best restaurants in Nairobi

Love it or hate it, Carnivore serves up Kenya's most famous nyama choma (barbecued meat) – it's been an icon for tourists, expats and wealthier locals for over 25 years. At the entrance is a huge barbecue pit...

Out beyond Milimani in the west, Roadhouse Grill is widely touted by locals as the best place for nyama choma (barbecued meat). The meat (choose the goat) is prepared just as it should be: medium rare and...

The Coffee Garden offers diners five areas in which to enjoy its varied menu, including the plush L’Amour dining room, the historic 1901 Swedo House and the recommended main section, a casual restaurant set in a...

This place has all the ingredients to be a Nairobi favourite: a quiet garden setting in Karen, great coffee, amazing juices, an Ottolenghi salad bar and a commitment to healthy eating. Despite the cafe vibe, full...

Fish dominates the menu here: the whole fried tilapia from Lake Nakuru is the signature dish, especially when ordered with ugali (a maize or cassava-flour staple) and kachumbari (tomato-and-onion salsa). Wildly...

This classy cafe-bar-restaurant remains fashionable with the Karen in-crowd and it rivals any of Kenya’s top eateries for imaginative international food. The comfortable lounge-like rooms mix modern African and...

Roast camel, fried goat and plenty of pilau rice dishes just like Somalis and like-minded Kenyans love them make this busy 1st-floor place a hit, especially at lunchtime. The food is excellent (and halal) and...

Nairobi's first and best food truck is very cool. With an African take on burgers and a location primed and ready for Westlands' night-time crowd, Mama Rocks' highlight is the Mango Masai Mama, a burger topped...

In a welcoming garden setting in the city's north, About Thyme does some fine international dishes such as pumpkin-and-amaretti tortellini or battered red snapper in tamarind sauce. There's a quick lunch menu, a...

If you want a little fun with some food, this is a go-to place, particularly if there are a few of you. Serving a variety of snacks and drinks (the pizzas and pitchers of sangria are popular), Bao Box has a huge...

This smart and upmarket place has a huge menu that takes in everything from pizza to sushi, including great salads, sandwiches, burgers and meat grills. Service is attentive and polite, and kids are welcome –...

The Stanley Hotel’s legendary pavement cafe is still a traveller favourite, and it caters to most tastes with a good mix of food. The original thorn-tree noticeboard in the courtyard gave rise to the general...

The cafeteria vats here always brim with Kenyan and Western favourites, which is probably why this local chain has a strong following. The buffet is small but (unusually for those who’ve been staying in safari...

If you have your own wheels and a taste for barbecued meat, take the road southwest out of Nairobi, past Kiserian on the road to Lake Magadi, to Corner Baridi, where this simple little place serves up roasted...

This popular rendezvous spot has been the unofficial starting and ending point for East African safaris since 1904. While the atmosphere may be a bit too colonial for some people’s tastes, there’s no denying the...

Widely regarded as the best Indian restaurant in Kenya, Haandi rises above its nondescript shopping-mall location. The expansive menu includes wonderful Mughlai (North Indian) spreads, tandoori dishes and plenty...

Some things just don't change (this place has been around since 1981) and thank heavens for that! This classy Italian restaurant, swathed in trellises and plants, offers excellent pizzas, homemade pasta,...

Nyama Mama is a small Afro-fusion restaurant chain, characterised by its colourful decor. This restaurant draws a young, urban clientele. Favourite dishes include goat curry with chapati, baked tilapia with...

Ankole is named after the iconic cattle of East Africa, so it's unsurprising that this trendy steakhouse is all about grilled meat ( nyama choma). The top sirloin steak is a favourite, as is the 'Congo Bongo'...

J's is one of Karen's most popular venues. The food that emerges from the open kitchen is excellent, from creamy risotto with beetroot, ginger and veggies to burgers and traditional fish and chips. The wine list...