Nairobi
Ask any long-term resident of Nairobi to nominate their favourite Indian restaurant and a fair few of them will plump for Open House. The service is…
Must-see restaurants in Kenya
Nairobi
Dining at this wonderful place magically takes you out of the city for an hour or two, with views into the lush Karura Forest from the open terrace. The…
Nairobi
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…
Nairobi
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…
Nairobi
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…
Nairobi
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…
Southern Rift Valley
Great name, great place. The Kenyan tradition of nyama choma (barbecued meats) is alive and well here. Sidle up to the counter, try a piece of tender…
Southern Rift Valley
One of a number of roadside places serving grilled meats (you choose your cut of meat and it's then cooked and delivered to your table) at the Kikopey…
Nairobi
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…
Mombasa
This textbook hip, yellow-walled place with an industrial vibe in central Mombasa does several things few other local establishments do, including great…
Nairobi
Habesha is a favourite among Ethiopian cuisine enthusiasts. Let the aromas of frankincense and Ethiopian coffee waft around you as you devour traditional…
Nairobi
Silk Noodles offers the best hand-pulled Chinese noodles or lamian in town. This tiny restaurant in Remax Shopping Village churns out bowls of fresh,…
Nairobi
This sweet little cafe is tucked away under the shade of eucalyptus trees. It is the perfect pit stop after a walk, run or bike ride. Indulge in one of…
Mombasa
Once your eyes have adjusted to the dazzling strip lights, feast them on the tasty menu at this very popular Swahili restaurant. Mishikaki (marinated,…
Nairobi
Pan-African cuisine can be surprisingly difficult to find in Nairobi, which is one of many reasons to make the pilgrimage out to Mama Ashanti. Here, the…
Nairobi
Located in the new food hall of the revamped Village Market shopping complex, PoCha 254 Bar has just four chairs looking onto the little kitchen, evoking…
Nairobi
This is the koroga (meaning to stir in Kiswahili) place in town. This uniquely Kenyan style of dining involves groups cooking their own Indian dishes over…
Nairobi
This small Swahili canteen serves great food from the coast, including pilau (curried rice with meat), birianis (spicy rice casseroles) and coconut fish,…
Malindi
Pictures of vintage celebrities deck the wall at this, one of the best Italian places in Malindi. There's a formal dining room, which is great for an…
Lake Naivasha
The country club is a bit of an institution in these parts, and is the place to be seen having lunch. The daily buffet here is very good, served inside…
Diani Beach
Lymington's sits right on the beach, within Kenyaways Kite Village. Lounge on the sofas beneath the magnificent baobab tree or take a breezy table…
Mombasa
A very welcome addition to the Old Town dining scene, Forodhani has an appealing terrace overlooking the ocean. The menu is a crowd-pleasing, extensive…
South Coast
You'll find salt-licked walls, white tablecloths and – if you eat in the intimate little cove at the end – breakers crashing beneath your feet at this…
Nairobi
So many cool Nairobi venues and cafes are set in a garden, and The Arbor knows the formula well. The Southeast Asian cooking (think curries and laksas) is…
Southern Rift Valley
Even if you're not staying at Roberts Camp, the Thirsty Goat is an institution worth visiting. Sip sundowners, listen to snorting hippos, grab a book from…
South Coast
Catering both to midnight and regular munchers, this round-the-clock fast-food joint has baffling decor (vintage red telephone box, menacing wide-angle…
Kilifi
Even if you're not staying here, join your distant relatives for dinner at this great, laid-back eatery atop Kilifi Creek. We rate the bacon-and-avo…
Diani Beach
This place and its culinary siblings (there are two other branches, one about halfway down the beach access road and another at Ukunda junction) do…
Southern Rift Valley
The pick of the nyama choma (grilled meat) places at the Kikopey Nyama Choma Centre 31km north of Naivasha. The dining area is pretty run down, but the…
Kilifi
Jetties and boats, fresh crab and fries, salty air…there's nothing better than a long, lazy meal at the Boatyard, especially when it involves fresh…
Nairobi
There's nothing all that special going on here, but that's partly the point. It's all about good, honest local cooking, with dishes like fried tilapia –…
Lamu Island
The family that runs the Olympic makes you feel as if you’ve come home every time you enter, and their food, particularly the curries and biriyani, is…
Mombasa
A great Indian restaurant steeped in Mombasa history: the owner first opened the doors in 1962 to serve arriving and departing railway passengers. The…
Kenya
The full buffet here (when numbers permit) is an impressive piece of work, with some tasty mixed-grill options done up in a satisfyingly fancy fashion…
Western Kenya
It’s got style, it’s got glamour, it’s got big-city aspirations and it’s totally unexpected in Kitale. With cheap dishes and an old Morris car hanging…
Nairobi
Situated in Village Market's new Trademark Hotel, the modern and spacious restaurant on the second floor serves fusion cuisine with a good selection of…
South Coast
This legendary restaurant is on a floating pontoon on the north bank of Mtwapa Creek. It’s a fine place for a beer and serves great seafood and…
South Coast
We know, we know. It's a chain, but it's Kenyan and it's a good one. Java House's coffee always goes down a treat, and we're big fans of its BLT…
Nairobi
One of a number of Seasons outlets around the city serving Kenyan and Western dishes. This branch has a popular bar and beer garden, where you can bring…
Mombasa
Right opposite the entrance to Fort Jesus, Mombasa's main sight, this excellent restaurant is an obvious place for a meal after your visit. The speciality…
