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…
Must-see restaurants in East Africa
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…
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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…
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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…
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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)…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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Jinja
This industrial-chic deli and cafe is just the trick for homesick travellers. Tasty espresso drinks, brownies, lovely oversized salads, nachos and…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Arusha
Delicious Indian food – including southern Indian specialities, plus some Punjabi and other dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian – is on offer here…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
