Nairobi
Situated in the eclectic new food hall of the Village Market shopping complex, Off The Rocks is the place to sip a cold glass of champagne and sample…
Must-see restaurants in Kenya
Kilifi
The picnic tables under the trees and the welcoming interior of this makuti (thatched-roof of palm leaves) cafe entice travellers to break their journey…
Nairobi
It is always the source of a heated debate, but Pomodoro is the best pizza in town for many locals. This unassuming little pizzeria in the Village Market…
Northern Kenya
Burgers and toasted sandwiches join local curries and various meaty fried dishes on the menu, all served in an open-air boma on the large grounds. It…
Malindi
This Old Man’s been serving excellent seafood, using a combination of local ingredients and fresh recipes, for years. However, don't come to eat at this…
Nairobi
This small self-service cafe has locals queuing outside in the mornings waiting for it to open. Food ranges from African- and Indian-influenced stews to…
South Coast
This beachfront pizzeria makes the best ice cream in town. (We've never heard anyone disagree.) The pizzas are pretty good too, as are the burgers, only…
Lamu Island
There are waterfront restaurants all over the place, but the Stopover’s friendly staff and excellent grub (of the spicy Swahili-seafood sort) make it a…
Diani Beach
For a theme restaurant set in a coral cave, this is actually quite good and not cheesy at all. The focus is seafood and steak, cooked up poshly and…
Nairobi
This hole in the wall restaurant isn’t set in the fanciest of locations, but it serves up authentic, flavourful dishes such as pad Thai and crunchy papaya…
Diani Beach
This roadside crowd-pleaser is your one-stop shop for anything from good coffee and banoffee pie to daily specials such as baked oysters and BBQ pork ribs…
Diani Beach
Want to give the overpriced tourist restaurants a miss? Want to eat where the locals eat? Coast Dishes ticks both of these boxes and, if you’re sensible,…
Masai Mara
Just 400m from the Sekenani Gate, this casual roadside shack has a few tables out the back where they serve up breakfasts, home-baked bread, vegetables…
Mombasa
The legendary, decades-old Moi Ave eatery has migrated to a new location, but the shish kebabs are as flavourful as ever. The coconut prawns and fruit…
Lamu Island
This craft-shop-cum-cafe serves the tastiest samosas in Lamu – spicy, flavourful triangles with vegetable, prawn or meat filling. Wash them down with a…
South Coast
This reliable Italian restaurant is behind Nakumatt Nyali shopping centre, with a big pizza oven, al fresco dining on the verandah and reasonable prices.
Lamu Island
Casual little cafe that serves good samosas and other snacks, and more substantial mains such as Swahili pizzas and seafood, chicken or mutton biriyani.
South Coast
Even if this friendly, air-conditioned place didn’t serve fantastic ice creams, we’d still consider including it just because of the name!
Nairobi
This family-run Greek deli is part of a new food hall in the Village Market shopping complex. The shelves are full of traditional Greek treats from…
Mombasa
Mombasa’s dilapidated ‘covered’ market is packed with stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables. Roaming produce carts also congregate in the surrounding…
Nairobi
This is the spot for all your cheesy needs. Established in 1979, the family-run Brown’s Cheese has opened a small shop in the new wing of Village Market…
Kenya
The food here is great value and only a few shillings more than the town’s cheap eateries. Steaks come with a soup starter, mounds of veggies and starch …
Karen Blixen Restaurant & Coffee Shop
Malindi
Everyone in Kenya, it seems, wants to be Karen Blixen. This place isn't sure if it's a shabby-chic Karen Blixen or a blinging Karen Blixen, so it's gone…
Lamu Island
This place is a backpacker institution, though food isn't quite as good as it's supposed to be. The large portions of biriyani, grilled fish and other…
Mombasa
There's nothing to bring on the blues at this cheap-and-cheerful fast-food (well, sometimes) diner. On the menu, there's a long list of sandwich options,…
Nairobi
One of two branches in the city, this bakery has a mouth-watering selection of open sandwiches and French pastries on offer. The Black Forest cake and…
Kenya
Formerly Bomas pub, patrons are still afforded unadulterated views of downtown Embu, complete with acrid diesel fumes and views of the slightly depressing…
Southern Rift Valley
Jolly by name, jolly by nature (if a little frayed at the edges). This colourful old-fashioned cafe attached to the Silverview Hotel has greasy plates of…
Nairobi
At these backstreet stalls near the Railway Museum, behind the Shell petrol station, foreigners are a rare sight, but you’ll be warmly welcomed and…
Southern Rift Valley
Located on the ground-floor terrace of Westside Mall, the Nakuru branch of the popular Java House coffee chain is probably the best place to eat in town,…
Mwana Arafa Restaurant Gardens
Lamu Island
Mwana Arafa has the perfect combination of garden seating and views over the dhows bobbing about under the moonlight. With barbecued giant prawns, grilled…
Mombasa
This smart and cool cafe serves up great breakfasts, but as it doesn't open until 9am it's not much use to early risers! However, if you can wait until…
Lamu Island
Built around a sturdy tamarind tree, this wonky tree house–restaurant overlooks the dhows on the waterfront. Lobster, prawns, squid and catch of the day…
Mombasa
Most people come to this open-air, parkside restaurant for the chicken tikka and the beef mishkaki (marinated, grilled meat kebabs). Eat it with lovely…
Northern Kenya
Inside the popular hotel of the same name, JeyJey serves local favourites as well as the odd curry. Take a good book to read while your food is prepared,…
Lake Naivasha
This local joint has bright-blue walls and long, communal benches. It serves beef dishes, beans, gari (cassava) and chapati, with sides of village gossip…
Kenya
There are two storeys of bustling eating goodness at this cheap hotel. The downstairs restaurant specialises in all things fried, while upstairs houses…
Western Kenya
Along with New Sunshine Hotel, this is regarded as one of the better restaurants in town, though in truth the fried chicken and chips here were no…
Kilifi
Atop a cliff on the edge of the bay, this restaurant/bar has the best location in Kilifi. Unfortunately, not all of the staff seem so thrilled to be here…
Mombasa
This canteen-style restaurant is constantly packed with ravenous locals – and you have to be ravenous to tackle one of the monster portions of mutton or…
