Must-see restaurants in East Africa

  • Carnivore

    Nairobi

    Love it or hate it, Carnivore serves up Kenya's most famous nyama choma (barbecued meat) – it's been an icon for tourists, expats and wealthier locals for…

  • Talisman

    Nairobi

    This classy cafe-bar-restaurant remains fashionable with the Karen in-crowd and it rivals any of Kenya’s top eateries for imaginative international food…

  • Zanzibar Coffee House

    Zanzibar Town

    The top spot in Zanzibar for a serious cup of genuine East African Rift Valley coffee is undoubtedly this charming cafe. Alongside espressos and…

  • Trout Tree Restaurant

    Kenya

    Inhabiting a marvellous fig tree overlooking the Burguret River, alongside colobus monkeys and tree hyraxes, this is one of the most original places to…

  • Roadhouse Grill

    Nairobi

    Out beyond Milimani in the west, Roadhouse Grill is widely touted by locals as the best place for nyama choma (barbecued meat). The meat (choose the goat)…

  • The Rock

    Zanzibar Island

    Zanzibar's most photogenic restaurant is perched on a coral outcrop in a stunning location surrounded by sea. At low tide you can walk to it; at other…

  • Karen Blixen Coffee Garden

    Nairobi

    The Coffee Garden offers diners five areas in which to enjoy its varied menu, including the plush L’Amour dining room, the historic 1901 Swedo House and…

  • Brachetto

    Kigali

    Run by an Italian chef, this upmarket venue wouldn’t be out of place in Milano, and gets top marks for its flawlessly prepared Italian specialties,…

  • Mr Kahawa

    Zanzibar Island

    After a hard morning's kitesurfing, or maybe after a hard night's partying, this is the place for a top-notch espresso or cappuccino, accompanied by a…

  • Club House

    Lake Naivasha

    Farm-to-table sustainable cuisine is more exciting when there are giraffes and hippos to spy on in the distance. The signature eatery at Sanctuary Farm is…

  • Blue Heron

    Arusha

    The pick of the garden restaurants that are a recurring theme in Arusha's east, the Blue Heron gets the tricky combination of lounge bar and family…

  • Orion Tabora Hotel

    Western Tanzania

    Tabora’s top dining spot has a mix of local and continental food, with pizza and Indian available during dinner. There’s dining indoors and in the outside…

  • Heaven Restaurant

    Kigali

    A highlight of the Kigali restaurant scene, Heaven has a relaxed, open-air deck bistro with a wide-ranging menu drawing from a variety of international…

  • Emerson Spice Rooftop Teahouse

    Zanzibar Town

    Perched on top of the Emerson Spice hotel, the 'teahouse' (open-sided room) offers 360-degree views and some of the finest food in Stone Town. Many guests…

  • Mama Oliech

    Nairobi

    Fish dominates the menu here: the whole fried tilapia from Lake Nakuru is the signature dish, especially when ordered with ugali (a maize or cassava-flour…

  • Addis in Dar

    Dar es Salaam

    Addis in Dar is decorated with embroidered umbrella lampshades, hand-carved seats and woven tables where food is served communally. Try a combination meal…

  • Tamarind Restaurant

    South Coast

    Without doubt the finest restaurant around Mombasa, Tamarind looks out over the harbour. Laced with high white arches, this refined restaurant has a…

  • Al-Yusra

    Nairobi

    Roast camel, fried goat and plenty of pilau rice dishes just like Somalis and like-minded Kenyans love them make this busy 1st-floor place a hit,…

  • Oriental

    Dar es Salaam

    From the high sheen of the marble-tiled floors to the elegant Asian-inspired furnishings, gloved waiters and immaculate sushi bar, the Hyatt's gourmet…

  • Deli

    Jinja

    This industrial-chic deli and cafe is just the trick for homesick travellers. Tasty espresso drinks, brownies, lovely oversized salads, nachos and…

  • Ranch House Bistro

    Lake Naivasha

    Opened in 2014, Ranch House Bistro is easily the best of the lakeside eating options. The food is expertly prepared and ranges across pizzas from the clay…

  • Mediterraneo

    Kampala

    This upmarket open-air Italian restaurant occupies a sprawling wood deck in a tropical garden, lit at night with kerosene lamps. The Italian chef creates…

  • Sails

    Diani Beach

    By far the most stylish place to eat in Diani, Sails is gorgeous: a canopy of billowing white canvas separates the restaurant from the stars, while…

  • Hot Plate

    Arusha

    Delicious Indian food – including southern Indian specialities, plus some Punjabi and other dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian – is on offer here…

  • Khan's Barbecue

    Arusha

    This Arusha institution is an auto-spares shop by day (look for the Zubeda Auto Spares sign) and the best known of many earthy roadside barbecues around…

  • Peponi

    Lamu Island

    We're still waxing lyrical about our last meal at this amazing restaurant. Choose between global offerings, such as tuna ceviche, Philly cheese steak…

  • Khana Khazana

    Kampala

    Regarded by many as the best Indian in town and even far beyond, classy Khazana is a great place to treat yourself. It features atmospheric Rajasthani…

  • Island Camp Restaurant

    Southern Rift Valley

    A popular weekend activity, if you can call it that, is to charter a boat and hop across to Island Camp's sleek restaurant for lunch. The buffet includes…

  • Elephante

    Uganda

    Gulu's hipsters flood this cute garden cafe serving wood-fired pizzas, burgers and Mexican fare. It's owned by a Portland native, which ensures quality…

  • Chapan Bhog

    Dar es Salaam

    Chapan Bhog’s Gujurati dhoklas (savoury steamed chickpea cakes), South Indian dosas (fermented crêpes) and thalis are a vegetarian nirvana in a sea of…

  • Nurali's Café

    Eastern Uganda

    This popular Indian restaurant delivers delicious flavours from the tandoor. The chicken tikka masala is melt-in-your-mouth good, plus there's excellent…

  • Nomad

    Diani Beach

    One of the best restaurants in Diani, Nomad benefits from stellar sea views from its terrace and a talented chef who cooks up such culinary magic as…

  • Lukmaan Restaurant

    Zanzibar Town

    Probably the best local restaurant for quality Zanzibari food. There's no menu: just make your way inside to the 1950s counter and see what's on offer…

  • New Cactus

    Kigali

    This attractive hacienda is set on a ridge where you can soak up the sparkling lights of Kigali by night or get a bird’s-eye appreciation of the city…

  • EcoBurrito

    Southwestern Uganda

    This brilliant and highly unexpected roadside find is likely to elicit squeals of glee from even the most seasoned Africa hands. An American doctoral…

  • Lazybones

    Lake Naivasha

    Camp Carnelley's hip restaurant is popular with NGO workers and other Nairobians at weekends. Grab one of the gorgeous low-slung sofas, or pull up a chair…

  • Pili-Pili

    Kigali

    Sassy Pili-Pili ticks all the right boxes: a vast open-air terrace with superb views, a nifty pool, an enticing ethnic chic two-storey interior and a…

  • Baby Marrow

    Malindi

    This standout restaurant is not only one of the best on the coast, but in the entire country. Think leafy, intimate setting, makuti roof (thatched roof of…

  • Crab Shack

    Kenya

    Crab samosas, grilled calamari and steamed fish await at the end of a mangrove boardwalk, overlooking Mida Creek. This lovely Giriama-run spot is a…

  • Calafia

    Rwanda

    Four words: not to be missed. On the lakefront road near the DRC border, this wonderful conversion of an impressive mansion now hosts a superb cafe that…