Over the past decade, Nairobi’s culinary food scene has exploded. Tradition has met innovation, which has led to some of the best places to eat sprouting up over the city, solidifying Nairobi's position as East Africa’s gastronomic capital.
During our three-month stay in Kenya's capital, we went on a personal journey to find the best places to eat and drink in Nairobi. Places where every dish tells a story and every sip is a toast to the city's relentless energy. We tried a blend of old traditions and modern influence and uncovered an array of cuisines to please every palate.
So join us as we explore the bustling streets and discover our favourite places to eat and drink in Nairobi, Kenya.
Street Food: Nairobi Street Kitchen
Nairobi first hit the culinary scene with its unapologetic street food. While many newer places focus on sit-down dining, Nairobi Street Kitchen has taken a modern approach to street food and the food truck eatery experience, turning it up a notch and creating a space for every occasion.
Nairobi Street Kitchen is not just one eatery thought but a whole host of different places all under one roof, cooking up everything from Indian Street Food served from a brightly-painted multicoloured bus to a good old-fashioned backyard Texan BBQ. No more arguing about what you are eating tonight. Just grab whatever you want, meet back at the bar with your personal dish, and enjoy eating together with a nice cold beer.
Location: Mpaka Rd, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 707 800 800
Website: Visit Nairobi Street Kitchen Website
Lunch and Cocktails: Peppertree
Peppertree is a restaurant and cocktail bar that uses the best of local Kenyan ingredients and applies them to an array of dishes from all over the world. The result is fresh and indulgent dishes that will appeal to anyone who sits in their bright open-air restaurant or rooftop lounge area.
What sets Peppertree apart, though, are their craft cocktails. The menu ranges from easy drinkers, such as the Gardeners Sip, perfect for an afternoon delight, to heavy hitters, like my personal favourite, the Blueridge Manhatten.
Location: Delta Offices, 2nd Floor, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi
Telephone: +254 721 172950
Website: Visit Peppertree Website
Middle Eastern: Tambourin
Located on the rooftop of the 5-Star Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel, Tambourin is an enchanting Middle Eastern dining experience that goes beyond just an extraordinary plate of flavours. It isn’t just a place to eat; it’s a fully-rounded night out.
As you settle into the traditional majlis-inspired cabanas, you’ll be transported to faraway exotic places with exceptional Lebanese-inspired foods such as mezze platters, shish taowk, lamb kofta, tandoori paneer, biryani and much more.
If you're lucky enough to be there Thursday, Friday or Saturday, you’ll also be treated to an evening of entertainment by traditional belly dancers. Tambourin gives you a rich taste of the Middle East on and off the plate, making you completely forget that you are still in Africa.
Location: Rooftop at Villa Rosa Kempinski, Chiromo Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 703 049000
Website: Visit Tambourin Website
Curry: Khans Pakistani Kitchen
One of my favourite cuisines in the world is Indian food. Sweet, spicy, packed with flavour, and always leaves me full to the brim; thinking about it right now is actually making me salivate! But ever since I travelled to India a few years back and had REAL Indian food, the rest of the world has never held up, and I have struggled to find a decent curry that fully satisfies my cravings.
Now, I’m not sure if it was the fact that I hadn’t had a curry in months or that the food actually did hold a flame to curries of the past, but Khans Pakistani Kitchen hit the spot when I needed it the most. Yes, it’s Pakistani and not Indian, but honestly, it was so good it didn’t matter. If you are in the mood for a curry and want one of the best in town, Khans Pakistani Kitchen is where you go.
Location: Mpaka Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 798 312600
Website: Visit Khans Pakistani Kitchen Website
Traditional Nyama Choma: Ashaki Grill
You can’t come to Nairobi and not try Nyama Choma. This traditional meat dish originates from the Massai people and is barbecued goat meat, beef, or lamb.
While Nyama Choma can be found in many bars, restaurants and local joints throughout Nairobi, not all Choma is created equal. Like any BBQ food worldwide, it needs to be done right.
Ashaki Grill was recommended to us by a local taxi driver, and I wish we had kept in touch to thank him. Definitely not your typical tourist destination and it was a bit outside of town, but it was well worth the journey.
You can order anything from 1/2kg of goat ribs to the entire goat! Add a few sides of vegetables or ugali (a kind of cornmeal porridge), and you won’t need to eat for days. We opted for a leg, and while it came served on the bone, it fell straight off when we picked it up. The meat was soft, succulent and oozing with flavour. It's definitely a spot to try more than once if you have the time.
Location: 1 Kindaruma Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 799 214545
Website: Visit Ashaki Grill Website
Fine Dining: INTI - A Nikkei Experience
A special occasion, an apology meal, or simply because you deserve it? INTI is one of the best fine dining experiences you can get not only in Nairobi but in the whole of Africa. Their marriage of Japanese and Peruvian flavours is a masterclass in fusion cuisine and has won multiple global awards.
We weren’t sure what to expect from a fine dining restaurant in Africa, but INTI exceeded our expectations. The food was exquisite, the wine choices were fantastic, and the service was impeccable. Wrap all this up on the 20th floor of One Africa Place, where the eloquently lit dark setting feels like the night sky is spilling into the room around you, and you have a memorable evening you won’t forget any time soon.
Location: 20th Floor One Africa Place, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 735 065945
Website: Visit INTI - A Nikkei Experience Website
Fancy Drinks: Botanica Kitchen and Gin Bar
By day, Botanica offers a cozy dining experience full of flavour, charm, and sophistication. Sitting high above the city, Botanica provides an extraordinary dining experience with panoramic views of Nairobi. From the first light of day to the return of night, enjoy Botanica's curated menu of farm-to-table dishes all day.
But as starlight appears on the horizon, elevate your experience as the gin bar comes to life. Botanica is a destination for connoisseurs and trendsetters with a well-thought-out cocktail list that offers an array of innovative blends and classic concoctions.
Location: 7th floor One Africa Place, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 735 065865
Website: Visit Botanica - Kitchen and Gin Bar Website
Dancing: The Alchemist
The Alchemist is a vibrant event space rather than a dedicated bar, but they always have something going on. From fashion shows to open mic nights, live music to DJ sets, whatever the event, they always put on a great night. The space is filled with plenty of room to shake your booty, sofas to chillax, bars serving great cocktails and even a couple of food trucks. The Alchemist is one of those venues that you can go to four nights in a single week and still not get bored of it.
Location: Parklands Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 720 256048
Website: Visit The Alchemist Website
Local Night Out: Brew Bistro Fortis
Nairobi is a city that has a pulse, unlike any other capital city I have ever visited. It feels like the African drums that drive the nation are steemed from the underground music scene that comes alive at night. It’s a feeling that can’t really be explained and needs to be experienced for yourself. Brew Bistro Fortis was our introduction to this.
Although technically a Bar and grill, when the sun goes down, and the plates start to clear, this unexpected venue can become one of the city's pumping clubs.
We found Brew Bistro Fortis by complete accident one night after seeing several groups of people going into what looked like an empty office building. We were curious about where they were going and followed them in, jumped in the elevator and went up a few floors. The doors opened, and what followed was one of our best nights in Nairobi.
After a quick bite to eat and a couple of cocktails, we were up on there feet, shaking our asses to local live music and making friends all over the dance floor.
Location: Woodvale Groove, Westlands Fortis Tower, Kenya
Telephone: +254 705 466836
Website: Visit Brew Bistro Fortis Website
Coffee: Connect Coffee Roasters
Nothing can make or break my day like a cup of coffee. Depending on how good my first brew of the day is, will depend on how much time April wants to spend with me, so finding a decent cup of coffee is a pretty big deal.
I hunted high and low and found one of the best joints in town. Connect Coffee Roasters not only nails their coffee every time, but they also serve up an incredible breakfast and have a selection of Korean-style desserts that will have you pushing your calorie count way before noon rolls around.
Location: Ground floor Riverfront building, Off 14th Riverside Drive, Nairobi
Telephone: +254708790480
Website: Visit Connect Coffee Roasters Website
To help find these places without internet access, download your maps offline with Google Maps. Learn more about this in our 12 Apps You Must Download When Visiting Kenya article.
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What To Read Next
We have covered Kenya a lot on this blog, so why not check out our Kenya Travel Guide, our article that covers the best times to visit Kenya for a safari tour, or the 12 must have apps when visiting Kenya. Everything and more can be found on the Kenya travel page.