Nairobi Food Scene: Nyama Choma, Rooftops & Fine Dining

Nairobi's restaurant scene has undergone a remarkable transformation — the city is now one of East Africa's most exciting food destinations, with a thriving mix of traditional Kenyan nyama choma joints, upscale farm-to-table restaurants, Westlands Indian cuisine and rooftop bars with Nairobi Hills views.

Must-Try Nairobi Foods

• Nyama Choma — charcoal-grilled goat or beef, the definitive Kenyan communal meal. Best at Carnivore Restaurant (also serves exotic game) or local roadside joints near Ngong Road.
• Ugali na Sukuma Wiki — maize meal with collard greens, the everyday Kenyan staple
• Mandazi — sweet coconut doughnuts, breakfast street food
• Mutura — Kenyan sausage, grilled on charcoal braziers on street corners

Best Restaurants by Area

• Westlands: Indian cuisine corridor (Karura Road), Brew Bistro (rooftop, craft beer + wood-fired pizza), The Alchemist Bar (food trucks + live music)
• Karen: Talisman Restaurant (fine dining, colonial bungalow setting), Karen Blixen Coffee Garden
• CBD: Artcaffe (all-day café), Java House (Nairobi's coffee chain institution)