Best restaurants in Dar es Salaam

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

With its luxuriant garden setting this Italian trattoria housed in an old colonial villa is one of Dar's most atmospheric dining options. The menu features classics such as wood-fired pizzas, melanzana parmigiana (an aubergine- and Parmesan-layered bake), pastas, seafood and grilled fillet steak. There's also a children's playground in the garden. Book ahead; it's very popular.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Dar es Salaam

Addis in Dar is decorated with embroidered umbrella lampshades, hand-carved seats and woven tables where food is served communally. Try a combination meal to sample a range of flavours. Everything is served on a large platter covered with injera (sourdough flatbread made of fermented teff flour); tear it off in pieces and use it to scoop up the spicy curries.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Dar es Salaam

From the high sheen of the marble-tiled floors to the elegant Asian-inspired furnishings, gloved waiters and immaculate sushi bar, the Hyatt's gourmet Asian restaurant aims to seduce and impress. Fortunately the expertly prepared sushi, bright papaya salads and intensely spiced curries and seafood live up to the opulent surroundings. Bookings recommended.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Dar es Salaam

Chapan Bhog’s Gujurati dhoklas (savoury steamed chickpea cakes), South Indian dosas (fermented crêpes) and thalis are a vegetarian nirvana in a sea of nyama choma (roasted meat). The all-vegetarian menu is extensive, and the restaurant has a prime position on temple-lined Kisutu St.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This streetside place is home to what many claim is Dar’s best grilled chicken, including spicy gujarr chicken, lemon chicken and chicken sekela (with tamarind sauce), as well as dry fried fish and bowls of urojo (Zanzibar mix).

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

Dine beneath a starry night sky on creative, contemporary dishes such as herb-crusted grouper, spicy jerk chicken and tuna carpaccio. The trendy, open-air terrace is dotted with candlelit tables arranged around a luminous swimming pool.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

Burgers, steaks, a salad bar, birthday celebrations, yummy desserts, fast service and a children's play area with video games make this place a favourite spot for families and children. Evenings, it's almost always crowded.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This bright courtyard-style place serves well-prepared crêpes, burgers, pasta and other light meals. It's worth checking its Facebook page for announcements about frequent evening special events.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This French-run bakery-cafe has a tempting selection of freshly baked breads, pastries, light lunches, paninis, banana crêpes and Middle Eastern dishes, plus good coffee.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This small, informal place, next to the well-signposted Wonder Workshop, has delicious, reasonably priced Ethiopian cuisine.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This efficient local-style eatery has tasty grilled fish, rice, ugali and other standards. Service is fast, and there is pleasant outdoor seating under the trees.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

Delicious pizzas and Italian food served in a pleasant garden setting or in the air-con dining room, plus a children's playground.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

Pricey but tasty pub fare and other meals at this upmarket sports bar at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This large compound is a favourite evening spot for local Indian families, with reasonably priced Indian veg and non-veg meals (thali, chicken biryani and more). Service can be slow at peak times, but there’s plenty of local atmosphere to soak up while you’re waiting. It's a social club so an additional Tsh2000 entry fee per person is charged to non-members.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This informal eatery is a Dar institution. Choose from grilled chicken, fish or beef plus delicious sauces and sides, including green chilli, red chilli and tamarind sauces and coconut chutney. Plates of shredded raw cabbage and sides of fries or ajam (similar to naan bread) top things off.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This informal eatery shares space with a bridal hire shop. There's no menu, but the lunchtime meal (ready around noon) includes tasty local staples such as ugali, spiced pilau, beans, mchicha (a dark green vegetable similar to spinach), cabbage, fried chicken, fish and goat.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This upmarket Indian restaurant serves tasty North Indian cuisine featuring rich, creamy curries seasoned with chillies, saffron, yoghurt and nuts alongside some tasty tandoori and kebabs.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

Located in the Slipway shopping complex, this place is Dar's most popular sundowner spot, with westerly views over Msasani Bay. Palm-thatched umbrellas shade tables overlooking the water, and happy hour merges seamlessly into dinners of seafood, steaks and oven-fired pizza.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

This long-standing and popular local eatery serves roasted chicken, biryani and coconut-crusted fish. In addition, the large menu features fast-food favourites such as pizza, Indian and vegetarian dishes. It's popular with families and hungry office workers.

Restaurants in Dar es Salaam

Dar's best Lebanese restaurant serves a good selection of hot and cold meze dishes, shish kebabs and salads. No alcohol is served but there are fresh juices. There's also a branch at Sea Cliff Village on the Msasani Peninsula.