Confession: In general, I don’t think East Africa is a great foodie destination. Although the region is rich in spices, for some reason, many local restaurants tend to under-season their food. I don’t know whether that caters to their tastes or those of expatriates (present in large numbers in the region). That said, I think Nairobi’s food scene is promising, and if you’re a foodie traveler like me, this guide to the best restaurants in Nairobi is a great jump-off point as you eat your way through the city.
We spent a little over two weeks in Nairobi and ate at over 20 restaurants (some multiple times, too!). I’ll share my favorites, those I liked (but could be better), a few “just fine” places, and several I would have loved to try but didn’t get a chance to visit.
✈️ Travel Tip: As you plan your visit to Nairobi, I’d recommend booking stays in two main parts of town: Karen and the Westlands area. These are great base locations (roughly 30 minutes apart on good traffic days) for exploring surrounding areas.
16 Best Restaurants and Cafes to Eat at in Nairobi
Here are some of my favorite places to eat in Nairobi:
Bang Bang Thai Kitchen
Verdict: LOVED! 🥰
This is a Thai restaurant run by a Thai chef. We visited after a string of meh meals in the city, so I was PRAYING for a good experience, and it was just what the doctor ordered.
After several overly acidic drinks, we breathed a sigh of relief at the first sip of our drinks here. I had the Flower Power mocktail, which had hibiscus. Perfection. We ordered the peanut satay skewers to start, and the second I tasted it, I knew I’d made a great choice.
I had the green Thai curry, and the flavors were so perfectly balanced. Just the right amount of cream and heat with perfectly tender chicken and fluffy basmati rice. My husband ordered the chicken pad Thai and (even as a non-adventurous eater) he loved it too.
Budget: $$$ (Bang Bang Thai Menu)
Location: The Village Market Mall
Rocomamas
Verdict: Liked It! 👍🏼
This is a nice fast-food chain in Nairobi that sells the usual chicken and chips and pork ribs. We went to the Sarit location one night when we were at a loss for what to eat and did not want a fancy restaurant. It’s pricey for a fast-food place, but the ribs are pretty good, with a nice smoky taste. We went about three times in two weeks.
Budget: $$
Location: Sarit Mall (and other locations in Nairobi)
About Thyme
Verdict: OK 🤷🏽♀️
This was the first restaurant we ate at in Nairobi, and I had such high expectations because it was at the top of many must-do restaurant lists. The ambiance and location are cozy, and the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. If you’ll be sitting outside, be sure to bring a sweater because it gets chilly in the shade.
We started with the fried (Togarashi) calamari, which was pretty good. Then I had the Simple Snapper with lime cilantro rice and Mediterranean vegetables. The snapper was underseasoned, but the rice and vegetables were fine. My husband had the barbecued pork chops with stir-fried pak choi and it was also underseasoned.
Still, we enjoyed the experience (we just had to add some extra salt and pepper to our meals) because everyone was so welcoming, and the vibes were great.
Budget: $$$ (About Thyme Menu)
Location: Eldama Ravine Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Mercado
Verdict: OK 🤷🏽♀️
This place was also high on my list of must-try places, but I was so let down by everything except the decor and one or two food items.
Mercado is a Mexican restaurant near Sarit. It has a nice outdoor seating area, but it was a nightmare to locate the restaurant in the huge building where it is.
When we finally found it, we ordered two mojitos but received four (awful–pure lemon only) margaritas (it was happy hour). The server insisted that they were mojitos, but after we protested, returned the drinks with an apology and brought us (extra-lemony) mojitos. Their bartender was not killing it.
I ordered beef fajitas, which tasted ok (just too salty). Thankfully, the side dishes were really good (especially the rice, guac, and refried beans). We survived the experience but, of course, never went back.
Budget: $$ (Mercado Menu)
Location: Kenrail Towers, Terrace (T) Floor, South Wing, Mkungu Close, Off Parklands Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Barista & Co.
Verdict: OK 🤷🏽♀️
This is a cute cafe chain with a couple of locations in Nairobi. They have an extensive menu (for a coffee shop) and their coffee is good, if a bit small in terms of portions. We went 2-3 times during our stay.
I ordered their Jerusalem Breakfast Bagel (which ended up being more deconstructed and larger than I hoped for). The side vegetables were super fresh though and the bagel itself was nice. I also tried their Spanish latte and we ordered macarons – both of which were nice enough.
I’d say it’s fine for breakfast or a quick brunch and coffee refill, but nothing spectacular.
Budget: $ (Barista & Co. Menu)
Location: Sarit Center (I went to this location)
Lucca
Verdict: LOVED 🥰
This was our first restaurant visit in Nairobi, and it set a pretty high bar. Maybe that’s why I was not impressed with so many of the other places we tried?
Lucca is an Italian restaurant at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel (we stayed here for a week – see my recommendations of where to stay in Nairobi). We had lunch here, and it was divine! The food portions are small, but every bite was a flavorful experience.
I had the spinach ravioli (and loved it even though I’m not big on spinach). It was chewy and buttery and served in a butter sauce that just melted in your mouth. My husband had the rigatoni bolognese, and it was superb. The drinks were also fantastic. It was such an A+ experience. You also get complimentary focaccia.
Budget: $$ (Lucca Menu)
Location: Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel
Haandi
Verdict: Liked It! 👍🏼
Indian food is our safe choice when traveling, so we ordered delivery from Haandi’s one night after a long day of exploring. I ordered the chicken curry while my husband had the chicken tikka masala. Both were really tasty and well-seasoned, although I much preferred the flavor of the chicken curry.
💁🏽♀️ Tip: Many people recommended Open House, another Indian restaurant in Karen, and the meal was tasteless. Do not recommend it. Eat at Haandi instead.
Budget: $$ (Haandi Menu)
Location: Haandi, The Mall, Waiyaki Way, Westlands
ArtCaffe
Verdict: OK 🤷🏽♀️
This is another coffee shop chain that also sells cheese, flowers, and small food items like granola and juices. I love ArtCaffe’s ambiance and price point, and their coffee and masala chai are good. Unfortunately, I tried their breakfast, and the eggs were largely unseasoned, even though the potatoes were tasty.
If you’re looking to grab a quick coffee and croissant, though, ArtCaffe is fine.
Budget: $
Location: The Hub, Karen (This is the location we frequented most)
Fonda’s Taqueria
Verdict: Liked It 👍🏼
This was one of the pleasant foodie surprises on our trip. During one of our many nightly Sarit visits, I decided to try a burrito from Fonda’s Tacqueria and it was sooo good! The seasoning, the dips, the perfect tortilla texture–everything! Their mojitos are perfectly balanced, too–the best I had in Kenya.
We came back again, and I tried their tacos and empanadas. The empanada was divine (I bought two more to take home, and they heat up nicely in the microwave). Sadly, the tacos were quite dry because they didn’t add the sauce to the tortilla, so you had to pour them in yourself, which I thought was odd.
Budget: $ (Fonda’s Menu)
Location: Sarit Center
Karen Blixten Coffee Gardens
Verdict: Liked It 👍🏼
This is a cute restaurant near the Karen Blixten Museum. We made a reservation before visiting, and I’d recommend that because many tourists on safari come here.
This place had one of my favorite locations. It’s so green, breezy, and serene. The food was not bad. We had a pizza and some drinks and everything was alright. Not particularly memorable, but not bad either. Our server was very warm too.
Budget: $$
Location: Karen Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Shokudo
Verdict: Liked It 👍🏼
We went to this Japanese restaurant when I was craving ramen, and it did not disappoint. We started with some sake and the crispy fried chicken (which sadly was not crispy). Thankfully, my pork ramen was warm, creamy, and comforting.
💁🏽♀️ Tip: Again, many people raved about Haru, another Japanese restaurant in Karen, but their ramen broth was underseasoned; I much preferred Shokudo and would recommend them instead.
Budget: $$ (Shokudo Menu)
Location: Lenana Road Astrol Petrol Station, Nairobi, Kenya (It’s behind the petrol station, in the same compound)
Dragon Eye Kitchen
Verdict: Liked It 👍🏼
This was my husband’s favorite place to eat in Nairobi and I really liked it too. Dragon Eye Kitchen is an authentic Chinese restaurant selling Hong Kong style dishes. The elderly owners are very warm and welcoming and make you feel like a mini-celebrity.
We came two days in a row and tried so much of the menu, including the Char Siu Bao, spring rolls, egg noodles, pork fried rice, and more. The egg noodles were my favorites, and they’re served with a tasty chilly sauce. This restaurant also has some of the best iced tea (the Hong Kong silk tea is fantastic) we tried in Nairobi.
Budget: $$
Location: The Life Ministry Building, Rose Ave, Nairobi, Kenya
Tin Roof Cafe
Verdict: Liked It 👍🏼
I almost didn’t try this cafe because of the mixed reviews I’d read, but I ended up going twice to the Langata Links location. It’s a cute cafe with good food. I tried their breakfast and the masala chai was good. My favorite meal there was the peppered steak. The Green Goddess juice is so refreshing!
✅ Heads up: They recommend bringing your own container if you want takeaway.
Budget: $$ (Tin Roof Menu)
Location: Langata S Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Cultiva Farm
Verdict: LOVED 🥰
We visited Cultiva Farm on our first trip to Kenya, and we loved the ambiance, the farm-to-table concept, the inventive dishes on the menu, and the customer service. Although the menu changes regularly, I remember having pork tacos, and my husband ordered a pizza. The portions were large, and everything was so tasty!
Budget: $$$ (Cultiva Menu)
Location: Pofu Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Matteo’s
Verdict: Liked It 👍🏼
This was one of the last places we tried on our trip. Matteos is an Italian restaurant that serves everything from fancy pasta to pizza.
We were starving on that day, so take my review with a grain of salt (joking!). I ordered the seafood pasta with red sauce while my husband had the tagliatelle bolognese. I tried both and mine was better tasting by far. He actually went back the next day so he could order mine.
Budget: $$
Location: Ngong Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Talisman
Verdict: LOVED 🥰
I was so sad to not experience this restaurant in person, but on our last night in Nairobi, I was too exhausted to go anywhere, so we ordered delivery. It’s rated the best Nairobi restaurant on Trip Advisor.
I ordered the Tali Nyati wings (the best wings in Kenya) and fillet of salmon (the asparagus side was so nicely seasoned, and the mashed potatoes were so buttery), while my husband had the barbecue ribs.
Honestly, I’m sad I missed the restaurant plating, but glad the taste was preserved. My photos are terrible so I won’t even bother sharing.
Budget: $$$ (Talisman Menu)
Location: Ngong Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
My top three places to eat in Nairobi are:
If I had to choose, these would be my top three dining choices in Nairobi:
- Bang Bang Thai: Excellent Thai food like no other–don’t eat Thai food anywhere else in Nairobi
- Talisman: Fantastic, expertly balanced flavors and creative dishes
- Lucca’s: The best Italian food in Nairobi
Some Places We Wish We’d Tried
- Boho Eatery
- Fifteen Rooftop
- Nairobi Street Kitchen
- Mama Rocks Burgers
- Silk Noodles
- Abyssinia Restaurant
If you’re a foodie traveling to Nairobi, now you know where to eat! If you try any other places and find more gems, please leave comments below so I try them on my trip to Nairobi.
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