Let’s face it: if you’ve dined out in Nairobi, you’ve probably noticed that many restaurants seem to roll out the red carpet for foreigners and expats. They are the preferred clientele. If you don’t believe me, just take a stroll through Village Market, Westlands, or Gigiri, and you’ll see what I mean.
It’s like an unspoken rule: locals need not apply. Sure, we get it—expats have more cash to splash around and they tip. But is this preferential treatment coming straight from management, or is it just the waitstaff chasing those shiny coins? Either way, it raises a serious question: where’s the dignity of the locals? Who wants to dine at a place where you feel like an unwelcome guest?
I’ve been to Red Ginger Parklands once, and let me tell you, the preference for white and Indian patrons is as obvious as a neon sign. You have to seek service by yourself, they literally don’t care if you are there or if you left.
With thousands of dining options in Nairobi, why should anyone spend their hard-earned cash where they aren’t appreciated? The real issue seems to stem from how some restaurant managers instruct their staff. Discriminating against your people for the sake of a few extra shillings?
Tips should be baked into the food prices, and local patrons shouldn’t be treated like second-class citizens. Personally, I tip based on service—good service equals a good tip. Simple as that. But it’s clear that not everyone shares this view.
Take J’s Fresh Bar, for instance. They faced some backlash before closing their doors, and their excuse? “This exists all over Kenya not just J’s. It’s about tip culture, not racism. All restaurant owners know this and it’s important to state the truth,” Sure, but when you see African customers getting sidelined while the expats walk in and get served first, it’s hard not to feel the sting of discrimination.
And it’s not just J’s. There are horror stories from other establishments too. Like that one Chinese restaurant that wouldn’t let Africans in after 5 PM because, you know, security concerns. Or the Alchemist, which got slammed for having separate queues for different races. It’s like we’re living in some bizarre dystopia where the color of your skin determines if you should spend your money at a specific restaurant.
I won’t name every restaurant, but let’s just say there are places “not suitable for black Kenyans” I’d advise you to steer clear of if you want to keep your self-esteem intact.
- Artcaffe Gastro Bar
- Red Ginger
- Brew Bistro Fortis
- Mugg & Bean at Sarit
- Havana Bar & Restaurant
- Fonda’s Taqueria, Sarit
—those are just a few on my personal blacklist. Java House was once on the blacklist, but being a chain cafe I had to collect myself to go there again just to complete a review.
Here’s a thought: locals keep getting mistreated, yet they keep going back. If you’re not willing to vote with your wallet, then maybe you deserve the treatment you get.
Reviews matter. If enough people share their negative experiences, restaurants will have to pay attention—so why not help your fellow diners out? Leave a Google review! Trust me, many of us check reviews before choosing where to eat.
This is where we as a society can all take action. If a place is treating you poorly, spread the word. Tell your friends and family to stay away.
That’s how a free market should function—let those establishments feel the consequences of their actions. In the end, low self-esteem isn’t just a personal issue; it’s a societal one.
If you’re disrespected, walk away. Life’s too short to eat at places that don’t appreciate you, you know places for the locals like ;
CJ’s,
these are some of the places with consistently good service, sure they are not as nice as these cool restaurants but I would rather eat here where food is actually decent, and where I feel welcome again.
If you want a nicer restaurant recommendation in Westlands; Caviar in Mirage Towers was a good experience for me, didn’t feel like a second-class citizen there
I have been to Daily Cafe in Sarit and Mambo Italia multiple times and never saw preferential treatment even with a big portion of patrons being expats, so what’s so special about the other restaurants?
That’s about it I really wanted to talk about this for the longest time, if you have anything to add or restaurants to mention so that we don’t bother going there, there’s a comment box at the end of this post!
