Restaurants in Nairobi
Nairobi is cosmopolitan when it comes to eating out. The local staple of ugali (maize porridge) and stew is widely available, and many menus incorporate elements of spicy coastal Swahili cooking. Westlands has dozens of reasonable eateries, including the Indian Haandi Restaurant, as does Hurlingham, home to the Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant. In central Nairobi, Tamarind is a top seafood restaurant, while the produce of Kenya's ranchland can be sampled at The Carnivore in Langata.
The Carnivore
Barbecued meat buffet
One of East Africa's most famous eateries, The Carnivore in Langata is
renowned for its all-you-can-eat buffet featuring several barbecued meats
and chicken dishes, and a generous salad selection. A popular post-safari
venue, it no longer focuses on game meat, though ostrich and crocodile often
supplement the more conventional likes of beef, lamb and pork.
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Opening Hours
Daily 12pm-2.30pm & 7.30pm-10.30pm
Address
Langata Road, Nairobi
Telephone
+254 (0) 20 602786
Tamarind
Best seafood in town
The award-winning Tamarind restaurant in central Nairobi specialises in
shellfish, oysters and other fresh seafood, flown up daily from its sister
restaurant in Mombasa. Meat eaters are catered for with sizzling steaks and
venison dishes, but it also has a good vegetarian menu. The slick service is
complemented by the airy classical décor.
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Opening Hours
Daily 12pm-2.30pm & 7.30pm-10.30pm
Address
National Bank Building, off Harambee Avenue, Nairobi
Telephone
+254 (0) 20 2217990
Trattoria
Popular Italian eatery
A central Nairobi institution since the 1980s, the family-run Trattoria
Ristorante & Pizzeria has a varied menu of seafood, steaks, fresh
pasta and the inevitable pizzas. Long hours, sensible prices, a safe shuttle
service, superb homemade cakes, strong coffee, optional outdoor seating and
a varied wine and cocktail list are among its many strong points.
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Opening Hours
Daily 7am-11.30pm
Address
Corner Wabera & Kaunda Streets, Nairobi
Telephone
+254 (0) 20 340855
Haandi Restaurant
Renowned Indian cuisine
Nairobi is justifiably known for its plethora of quality Indian restaurants,
and the Haandi Restaurant in Westlands' The Mall is arguably the pick of
them. Vegetarians are well catered for, and there's a good selection of meat
curries, but the standout is a lengthy North Indian tandoor menu featuring
sumptuous marinated and oven-baked chicken and fish.
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Opening Hours
Daily 12.30pm-3pm & 7pm-10.30pm
Address
Mezzanine Floor, The Mall, Westlands, Nairobi
Telephone
+254 (0) 20 4448294
Transport
Taxi
Java Down Town
Coffee, cakes and snacks
The brightly decorated downtown branch of the popular Java chain is a
convenient place to break for a daytime meal or snack in central Nairobi.
Aromatic coffees and a variety of sweets and cakes are supplemented by an
extensive selection of healthy and not-so-healthy sandwiches, salads and
other snacks.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 7am-9pm; Sun 8am-6pm
Address
Mama Ngina Street, Nairobi
Telephone
+254 (0) 20 313564/5
Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
Adventurous African cuisine
For those who enjoy spicy food, the Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant in
Hurlingham is a great place to try Africa's fieriest cuisine, which consists
of various wat stews accompanied by pancake-like injera. The
colourful décor evokes the Ethiopian highlands, the drink of choice is
mead-like tej, and there's often traditional Amhara dancing.
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Opening Hours
Daily 7pm-10pm
Address
Argwings Kodhek Road, Hurlingham, Nairobi
Telephone
+254 (0) 20 2728709
Transport
Taxi
