Last year my family and I went on a trip to Kenya. We travelled around the vibrant country: Mombasa, the Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha and Nairobi. We’re all food lovers and so our time in Nairobi was spent (among other things) eating a lot of good food. With all that intel, I had to write this guide to the best restaurants in Nairobi.
Some caveats, before we begin: I am a tourist and so a lot of the places we went to are more touristy. Plain and simple: I lack local knowledge to recommend local hidden gems. However, I did my best to research extensively before the trip and I think this list is a great place to start. My second caveat: we had one vegetarian and one fussy pescatarian (me) on our trip. This is why you won’t see restaurants like Carnivore on this list.
Cultiva Farm (Karen)
Yes, I know: every list starts with Cultiva Farm. It’s undeniable: the food is delicious and creative, the ethos is great and the venue is absolutely gorgeous. It comes highly recommended for a reason. Hot tips: budget PLENTY of time to get there in Kenyan traffic (we left on time and were 45 minutes late). Also, don’t panic when you start going down a road with the most potholes you have ever seen (Pofu Road). Cultiva is open Tuesday to Sunday at the time of writing: make sure you can squeeze it in while you’re in Nairobi.
Talisman (Karen)
Talisman is where I had my first taste of Ugali and of a Dawa cocktail (I don’t like vodka and I ended up drinking dawa the whole time I was in Kenya). The food is absolutely delicious and the setting was lovely and serene. We had a safari guide who took us on safari through the Nairobi National park, the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage, Karen Blixen’s house and then onto Talisman for lunch. It was a nice little itinerary that made the most of being in Karen (a drive away from Nairobi proper). Talisman is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
Beit E Selam (Westlands)
Beit E Selam was possibly my favourite meal of the trip. The cocktails, the food and the setting were all so lovely! The food is Pan African fusion and there were so many delicious dishes to choose from. Come hungry!
Hero Bar (Gigiri)
I went to Hero Bar for the cocktails, but ended up having an absolutely delicious corn dessert as well. Everything was SO GOOD and I also really liked the Village Market mall where it was located. The Hero menu is Japanese inspired with lots of sushi and miso options. They have a generous vegetarian menu as well which is great for veggie travellers. The vibe was fun and casual and the views were great – I highly recommend it.
Bamba (Lavington)
Bamba was an absolutely delicious little lunch spot recommended by a relative who lives in Nairobi. The menu is Lebanese/Mediterranean inspired and there is something for everyone on the menu. It is also conveniently located around the corner from Hikuri Espresso where I had the best espresso on my trip to Kenya.
Nairobi Street Kitchen (Westlands)
Was this the best meal I have ever had in my life? No. But the venue is incredibly cool and I can see it would be an absolute vibe on a busy day. We went on a Sunday evening and it was very quiet (although there was a salsa club dancing downstairs which was cool to watch). There are a number of different food vendors and you can sit down to order anything through the host. There is also a covered outdoor bar upstairs which would be absolutely pumping on a busy day.
Peppertree (Westlands)
Peppertree is a cute little restaurant located on the second floor of Delta Towers in Westlands. It took us a minute to find it, but once we did we had some delicious food. They have burgers, tacos and some more Kenyan style dishes (among other things). Peppertree is located in a secure business lot area that also houses a lively pub downstairs (some excitable pub trivia was on when we left) and Urban Eatery, which was also on my list.
Kenyan cooking class
Is it a restaurant? Not quite. But if you are a tourist, I can highly recommend a cooking class. You get to take a matutu to a local market and shop for ingredients before cooking them in a Kenyan home. The food was delicious and it was such a cool way to experience parts of Nairobi that are hyper local otherwise. I took Nimoh’s cooking class and had the best day (not an affiliate link, just a genuine recommendation).
Places I wanted to try
As with any trip, I couldn’t find the time to eat at every single venue I had on my list. So, here’s my long list of places I wanted to try but couldn’t squeeze in (this time).
Red Ginger (Parklands)
Red Ginger is an Indian and Pan Asian restaurant that came recommended on essentially every Reddit thread I poured over. It seems to be a bit of an institution!
Mama Oliech
It can be tricky to find authentic Kenyan cuisine in Nairobi as a tourist, which is why I had Mama Oliech on my list. There seems to be a few venues dotted around the city but I had my eye on the Kilimani location.
Inti (Westlands)
Inti is a Japanese Peruvian restaurant that tops just about every list of where to eat in Nairobi. The menu looks divine and I am sad we didn’t have time to squeeze this one in. Inti is located in Westlands and has a great view by the looks of it.
Embark (Karen)
I have to say, Embark wasn’t on my radar until I started writing this article which I am very sad about. A fine dining restaurant with 12 seats, Embark is all about using seasonal produce and local ingredients. Embark also offer breakfast Wednesday to Sunday, according to their Instagram.
Ezo (Westlands)
Ezo is an Asian cuisine restaurant with a Peruvian chef located in Westlands. It comes highly recommended from a whole host of sources and it was on my list of places to eat.
More resources for Kenya
- Nairobi itinerary
- 3 day Masai Mara Safari
- Lake Naivasha, Kenya
- Mombasa, Kenya
- Best coffee in Nairobi (coming soon)
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