Nairobi Restaurant Recommendations, please
 

Hello folks
Can anyone recommend a good restaurant in Nairobi?
We'll be there two nights, though we'll probably eat in our hotel (Serena) the first night as we won't be arriving till quite late.
On the other night, we'll be touring with Kennedy during the day and would then like to visit a nice restaurant that evening.
Thanks!
Kavey

Try the Haandi if you want an Indian meal... is mediterraneo for italian. both are in westlands

my all time favourite is the MEDITERRANEO in either westlands or n'gong.
it's italian with very good fish dishes, excellent pizza, risotti, pasta, very good winelist and wonderful atmosphere.
reservation (via hotel or TA) recommended.

some folks like the carnivore. but that's too "touristy" for our taste.

div

Not really interested in Indian (I'm Indian myself and although I don't cook it much I go to my mum's regularly for her Indian home-cooking, plus we have many good Indian restaurants here in London - and lots of bad ones too).

The Italian sounds good. Is it reasonably local to the Nairobi Serena hotel? If not, would the best bet be to take a taxi there and back?

Mediterrano Westlands is 15 minutes or less by cab. Mediterrano at the Junction Shopping Centre is 20 minutes. I prefer the Junction as they have a nice upstairs dining area outside.

Hello all. I am also looking for some recommendations for possible restaurants. We will be staying at the Jacaranda Hotel, in Nairobi, at the beginning of our Safari. Any suggestions for anything near that hotel. Any impressions of the restaurants right at the Hotel? Asante sana.

Greg

P.S. I just realized that the 'Haandi' is supposedly across the street, which we'll consider.. still interested in other near by options.

I don't know what Kennedy might have planned for you for lunch. One suggestion: there is a women's help group called Amani ya Juu in Nairobi that has wonderful sewn goods for sale at their shop. They also serve lunch there in a nice garden setting. They call it Mexi-Kenyan fare: Tsavo Tacos, etc. and it's delicious. We clued Kennedy in to this place and he took us there, so he probably remembers where it is. Even if you don't go there for lunch, the shop is worth a visit.

I just returned from Kenya and Zambia. I took Kennedy and his friends to dinner at the Tamarind downtown Nairobi and it was fantastic. It's not cheap, but really good and great service. Enjoy,

Hi Kavey,
Someone told me about this restaurant:
"If Italian is what you want, Trattoria Restaurant on the corner of Wabera and Kaunda Sts is the best in town. There is a diverse menu of meat, chicken, pasta and desserts ranging from KSh 400 to 800 per person."
We are going to try it when we go next year.
Have an awesome time, would I fit in your handluggage?
Dot

Very good Lebanese food at The Phoenician
Karuna road, Westlands

And i agree with Tratorria for Italian, very nice!

Oooh, so many recommendations, just one night free... which to choose?!!
Shaytay, Kennedy has already suggested a lunch venue, another craft centre I think.

Hi Kavey

Very close to The Jacaranda Hotel is Mediterrano Restaurant in Westlands. Across the road (diagonally) is Gypsies Bar, which really happens most nights and has a great burger/steak/sea food menu. It is even worth just goingthere for a few drinks prior to dinner.

If you feel like Japanese, then on Rhapta Road is Tokyo Rest. This is around 5 minutes from the hotel.

Best bet would be Mediterrano.

Hey Road Warrior!#
I'm not in the Jacaranda Hotel, that's another poster, Greg!

I'm in the Nairobi Serena!

Does that change your recos?

:)

Mediterraneo has a number of locations. I had brunch at the one at the Junction, and as poster above... love the upstairs dining area; downstairs is also lovely. It's also located in a very nice shopping mall.

Tratoria is another excellent choice.

With Nairobi, now a "foodie" city, you can find just about any kind of cuisine. Ask at the Serena's Concierge desk for a list of eateries if you're interested in other than those already mentioned.

Trattoria is the one closest to the Serena of the restaurants in this thread. It’s good, but a bit expensive. You’ll be asked if you want to sit inside or outside. Choose inside, as it’s better for people watching. Outside there’s a screen between you and the street and between you and “inside”. There’s an upstairs area, but I haven’t checked it out. Simmers would be better for people watching though, and there’s live music, but I don’t know about the food. Of the restaurants I’ve been to the newly opened Savannah on Loita Street is the one nearest to the Serena, but it’s a coffee lounge kind of place.

Safarimama, karibu nyumbani!

That lunch venue is probably at Utamaduni, where we had lunch one day. It's nice, but a bit spendy, as are the crafts. It's near the Kazuri Bead Factory and Giraffe Centre.

HI Kavey,
Are you by any chance touring with Kennedy Aug. 23?
ele13/13moons

Kavey

I had dinner last night at Mediterrano Junction (also there for lunch today). It was superb. What you could do is go to The Junction at around 4:30 pm, and visit the various shops (Kikoy.com, Kitengella Glass, Kazuri Beads, etc.) and then have an early dinner at 6pm.

I have not eaten at Tratorria for years, as traffic into town during the day is bad (with limited parking), and in the evenings, I am not too happy with security.

The concierge at Serena may send you to restaurants where they receive kick backs (it is common to give up to 10% of the bill to the taxi driver, tour operator, conierge, etc.).

Happy dining in Nairobi:)

Shaytay, yes that lunch venue is Utamaduni and Ele, yes I am touring with Kennedy!

What I ought to do is look at a map of Nairobi and see if I can get my bearings so I have a mental picture of where these recommendations are located in relation to my hotel!

Looks like Mediterrano is a definite winner, thanks everyone!

There is a Restaurant Guide with other tourist information/sights to visit, lots of other interesting info, available from the Concierge desk. Not necessary to ask the concierge for reference, because he/she probably does get a kick-back, as mentioned above and as they often do worldwide.

The guide is a good reference to have and look thru at your leisure.