A List of 175 Popular Restaurants in Nairobi

Discover 175 top restaurants in Nairobi—from coffee shops and bistros to fine dining and fast food spots for your next eat out

Nairobi drains my soul on a daily basis — I got pickpocketed once, and I still haven’t forgiven this city. But…

If there’s one thing Nairobi does get right, it’s restaurants. This city is crawling with them. Does anyone even cook anymore?

I swear there must be over 300 proper sit-down spots — not your local kibandasky, but actual “we-have-a-menu” establishments. And somehow, there’s a new one opening every week trying to one-up each other.

Apparently, once Nairobians make it to the middle class, they outgrow the food at home.

Don’t get me wrong, I love restaurants too — but I also love the little ritual of making my own gourmet instant cup noodles, pairing them with cheap beer.

Also Read: Review: The 12 Best Instant Noodles & Ramen in Kenya (Mostly Korean)

Costs less, tastes like pride (and a bit of shame), and happens in the comforting sanctuary of my apartment.

Anyway, here’s a list of restaurants and cafes I’ve rounded up. Feel free to steal it, drop it in your notes app, and start ticking off the ones you’ve tried — and the ones you’re saving for a payday.

PT 1: Coffee Shops

Coffee shops are basically restaurants specializing in coffee, with everything else thrown in as an afterthought.

They pride themselves on having the finest coffee and the most extensive list of coffee drinks, because that’s the whole point.

Also Read: 10 Popular Coffee Drinks in Kenyan Cafes

Sure, all restaurants serve coffee, but only dedicated coffee shops really have good coffee. Here are a few iconic coffee shops in Nairobi.

Guys buy MacBooks as powerful as PS4s, but costing as much as a Toyota, ….and suddenly start working from here

1. Spring Valley Coffee
2. Kesh Kesh
3. Barista & Co.
4. Connect Coffee
5. Pete’s Cafe, CBD

Read The Ranked Post: 5 Best Coffee Shops in Nairobi (Better than Java or Artcaffe)

PT 2: Cafes & Bistros

What’s the difference between a coffee shop and a café? Honestly, they sound interchangeable — like Shrek and The Hulk, they’re all green but swear they’re different people. (I still don’t buy it)

Okay, here’s it: a coffee shop exists to worship coffee; everything else is just filler.

A café, meanwhile, tries to be a bit more well-rounded — yes, there’s coffee, but also actual food, maybe brunch.

Alright, so then you ask — what’s the difference between a café and a bistro? Same energy, honestly.

They’re basically the same thing, but bistros like to think they’re the upgraded version. You know, “yes, we’re still a café, but with better food and maybe a wine list.”

Cafés have a reputation for serving subpar food and non-premium items like wraps, burgers, and sandwiches.

So bistros show up like, “We do real meals here.” Think pastas, steaks, a glass of wine — that’s the bistro flex, it’s a cafe that is also a proper restaurant.

The following are the popular cafes and bistros in Nairobi

1. Amazonia Bistro – Lavington, Corner Mall
2. Artcaffe
3. Artcaffe Gastro Bar – Westlands, Westlands Square
4. Bistro Box
5. Daily Cafe & Bistro – Westlands, Sarit
6. Brew Bistro & Lounge
7. Brioche
8. Biscotti Cafe
9. Canopy Cafe
10. Cafe Bistro Nairobi
11. Caffè Concerto (Italian)
12. Cafe Deli
13. Cafe Kaya
14. Cafe NBO
15. Coffee & Bagels
16. Enchanté Bistro
17. Geco Cafe
18. Izzi Brunch & Cake
19. Java House
20. Karak & Go
21. Kilimani Bistro
22. Le Grenier à Pain (French) – Westlands, 9 Riverside
23. Meatbronze Cafe – Langata Rd
24. Mode Café
25. Nabo Bistro
26. Newscafe –Westlands, Sarit
27. Papparotti – Westlands, Broadwalk Mall
28. Pallet Cafe – Lavington, Opp Lavington Mall
29. Saab Bakery Cafe – Karen, Waterfront Mall
30. Shokudo (Japanese)
31. Shokupan (Japanese Vegetarian) -Westlands, Sarit
32. Sirwo Coffee Café and Bistro – Lavington, Lavington Mall
33. SugarBowl– Spring Valley, Lower Kabete Rd
34. The River Cafe – Karura Forest
35. The Summer Lounge – Westlands, Sarit
36. Wasp & Sprout
37. Yunion Brunch Café & Bar

PT 3: Traditional Sit Down Restaurants

Sit-down restaurants are basically the grown-up version of eating out.

You’re not just getting a quick snack or something, this is the real deal—appetizers, mains, desserts, the whole full-course shebang, mostly.

Unlike cafes or bistros that serve quick bites, sit-down restaurants are about giving you a full-on dining experience, where courses come out at their own pace, and the waiter might even look offended if you try to eat faster than they think you should.

They’ve got a bigger menu, better service, and you’ll probably leave feeling like you’ve had a proper meal.

These restaurants tend to mostly specialize in one cuisine—whether it’s Italian, Thai, or whatever else they’re passionate about.

This laser focus means they usually do it better than cafes, which are like the jack-of-all-trades, master of none, slinging everything from salads to sandwiches without really nailing any of it.

These are the kinds of restaurants people dress up for, especially if it is a fancy one, and some only take reservations, you can’t just walk in because you have money😂

Below is a list of 100 popular restaurants in Nairobi

1. 15 Rooftop – Mombasa Rd, The Curve
2. 270 Degrees – Westlands, Escada Apts. 18th Floor
3. 360 Degrees – Waiyaki Way, ABC Place
4. Akira (Modern Asian)-Westlands, Westgate
5. Ankole Grill – Kitisuru + Kilimani
6. Ayeyo – Kilimani, Timau Plaza
7. Bambino – Westlands, Ananas Mall
8. Bang Bang (Thai)-Gigiri, Village Market
9. Bao Box – Westlands, General Mathenge Drive
10. Barbecue Nation–Westlands, Crossroads Hotel
11. Beit é Selam – ቤተ ሰላም – Westlands, 4 Maua Cl
12. Big Fish – Westlands, 26 Church Rd
13. Blackwood Restaurant – Langata Rd, One Stop Arcade
14. Botanica – Westlands, One Africa 7th Floor
15. Casa Mozza (Italian) – Westlands, Riverside Square
16. Cave à Manger – Karen, Plains Rd
17. Caviar – Westlands, Mirage Towers
18. Chekafe (Japanese) – Lavington, Block B, Kauria Cl
19. Chicago The Pizza Place – Westlands, Sarit
20. Chowpaty (Indian Vegetarian) – Westlands, Westpark Towers
21. CJs
22. Clay Oven – Westlands, Behind The Mall
23. Copper the Urban Grill – Lavington, The Social House
24. Cotton Tree – Karura Forest, 114 Thigiri Ln
25. Crave – Kilimani, Zafara Towers
26. Cultiva Farm – Karen, Pofu Rd
27. EZO (Neo Japanese) – Westlands, Stellato Mall
28. Fiesta Farm – Karen, Hardy
29. Fig & Olive – Tigoni
30. Five Senses – Kilimani, Galana Plaza
31. Fogo Gaucho (Brazilian Steakhouse) – Kilimani + Panari + Westlands
32. Fonda Taqueria (Mexican) – Westlands, Sarit Rooftop
33. For You Chinese – Valley Arcade, Gitanga Rd
34. GMC Choma Ranch & Pizzeria – Karen, The Waterfront Mall
35. Graze Steakhouse – Sankara, Woodvale Groove
36. Grill Shack – Westlands, Westgate
37. Harvest – Gigiri, Village Market, Trademark Hotel
38. Haru (Japanese) – Karen, Karen Professional Centre
39. Hero – Gigiri, Village Market, Trademark Hotel
40. Inca Restaurant – Lavington, The Social House
41. INTI – Westlands, One Africa Building, 20th Floor
42. Jiko – Gigiri, Village Market, Tribe Hotel
43. La Casa Dinico (Italian) – Gigiri, Village Market
44. La Cascina (Italian) – Karen, The Hub
45. La Cucina (Italian) – Ring Rd, Kileleshwa
46. La Dolce Vita (Italian) – Muthaiga Shopping Centre
47. La Salumeria (Italian) – Valley Arcade
48. La Terrazza (Italian) – Rhapta Promenade Mall
49. La Villa (Italian) – 1.3C Kitisuru Rd
50. LUCCA (Italian) – Chiromo Ln, Villa Rosa Kempinski
51. Malo Malo BBQ (Swahili) – Kilimani Rd
52. Măm Măm, (Vietnamese) – Westlands, Mwanzi Market
53. Mambo Italia (Italian)
54. Matteo’s, (Italian) – Karen, Ngong Rd
55. Mawimbi Seafood – CBD, Kijabe St
56. Meko Restaurant – Hilton Kwetu, Peponi Rd
57. MeSo (Modern Asian Izakaya) – Westlands, Westgate
58. Meat O’ Max – Parklands Rd, The Oval
59. Mediterraneo Ristorante, (Italian) –
60. Mercado, (Mexican) –
61. Mondo Grill – Kileleshwa, 38 Othaya Rd
62. Mr Wok (Chinese) – Parklands
63. Onza, (Mediterranean) – Westlands, Westgate
64. Open House, (Indian) –
65. Oyster Bay
66. Pablo Mexobar, (Mexican) –
67. Palace Istanbul, (Turkish) –
68. Pasta Republic
69. Peppertree
70. PILI-GTC
71. Pomodoro – Gigiri, Village Market
72. Pot of Jollof Kitchen (Nigerian) –
73. Red Ginger (Indian) –
74. Samaki Samaki
75. Seven Seafood & Grill – Waiyaki Way, ABC Place
76. Sierra
77. Silk Noodles (Chinese)
78. Slate
79. Solo Grano (Italian)
80. Sugo Sarit
81. Taste of China
82. Talisman
83. Tamarind
84. The Arbor
85. The Carnivore
86. The Chatroom – Kilimani
87. The Copper Ivy – Westlands
88. The G.O.A.T, (Somali) – Kileleshwa
89. The Hidden Gem
90. The Laughing Buddha
91. The Local Grill
92. The Location Rooftop
93. Trattoria Ristorante (Italian) – CBD, Kaunda-Wabera St.
94. Troy Mediterranean Mezze – Gigiri, Gem Forest MGallery
95. Under the Radar
96. Under the Swahili Tree
97. Unseen Nairobi
98. Upepo Restaurant – Hilton Kwetu, Peponi Rd
99. Urban Eatery
100. Wine & Bottle
101. Zen Gardens

Also Read: Nairobi’s 3 Best Restaurants for 2025

Fast Food Restaurants

Fast food restaurants are the opposite of a sit-down meal—quick, easy, and usually eaten with one hand while you scroll through your phone.

They’re all about speed and convenience, where the food is designed to be served in minutes, not hours.

It’s about satisfying that sudden craving for something salty and greasy. They are not the healthiest places to eat from, but something’s gotta kill a man, right?

The following are 30+ fast food and bar restaurants in Nairobi

1. 254 Beer District
2. Bakers Inn ★★★★☆(4)    
3. Between Two Buns ★★★☆☆(3)
4. Big Knife ★★★☆☆(3)
5. Big Square ★★★☆☆(3)
6. Bwibo ★★★★☆(4)
7. Burger King ★★★★☆(4)
8. Chicken Inn ★★★☆☆(3)
9. Coldstone ★★★★★(5)
10. Cottage Chicken
11. Creamy Inn
12. Debonairs
13. Domino’s ★★★★★(5)
14. Drip Burgers
15. FNKY BRGR
16. Galitos ★★★★☆(4)    
17. Joe Wings Atlanta
18. Jajemelo Pizza
19. KFC ★★★★☆(4)    
20. Kukito
21. Koreana ★☆☆☆☆(1)
22. Mama Rocks [Permanently Closed]
23. Mc Frys
24. Nairobi Street Kitchen (NSK)
25. Nick’s Donuts ★★★★★(5)
26. Papa Johns ★★★★★(5)
27. Pizza Hut ★★★★☆(4)   
28. Pizza Inn ★★☆☆☆(2)
29. Pizza Mojo ★★★☆☆(3)
30. Planet Yogurt ★★★☆☆(3)
31. RocoMamas Kenya
32. Sonford Fish & Chips 😂💀 ★☆☆☆☆(1)
33. Steers
34. SNO Ice Cream
35. Subz (Formerly Subway) ★★★☆☆(3)
36. Uncle Nenes ★★★★★(5)
37. Urban Burger
38. Wings & Ribs, Kilimani

Also Read: The 20 Popular Fast Food Chains in Kenya Ranked.

Let me know if I forgot anything off the list

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