Must-see nightlife in Kenya

  • Connect Coffee

    Nairobi

    One of Nairobi's best and coolest cafes, Connect brings coffee sourced directly from farmers in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda to your table, and the barista…

  • Alchemist Bar

    Nairobi

    One of Westlands' best nights out, Alchemist is an all-encompassing take on the Nairobi night, with the city's best DJs, terrific food (including a food…

  • Havana Bar

    Nairobi

    In the heart of the Westlands nightlife district, the small Havana Bar packs them in tightly over two floors and is an enduring Nairobi favourite, drawing…

  • Brew Bistro & Lounge

    Nairobi

    Craft beers have been slow to take off in Nairobi, but Brew is a lesson in how to do things. The rooftop bar is a beacon of the Nairobi night for its…

  • J's Fresh Bar & Kitchen

    Nairobi

    Building on the winning formula of its sister property in Karen, J's takes its DJs seriously enough to give them a permanent booth, and the food is so…

  • Lord Delamere Terrace & Bar

    Nairobi

    Once one of Africa's classic bars, the Lord Delamere Terrace was the starting point of many epic colonial safaris, and the scene of tall tales told by the…

  • Jahazi Coffee House

    Mombasa

    With lashings of sexy Mombasa style, this lounge cafe is the perfect spot to chill out in cushion-strewn, arty surrounds. Did we mention that it has great…

  • Karel T-Lounge

    Nairobi

    This trendy place, with smooth lounge music, is great for a glass of wine or signature cocktail in the evening. Found within Village Market, it's also an…

  • K1 Klub House

    Nairobi

    At the western end of Westlands, Klub House is a long-time local favourite. The spacious bar has plenty of pool tables and excellent DJs spinning reggae,…

  • Mercury Lounge

    Nairobi

    This sophisticated cocktail bar is smooth as silk, with vaguely retro curves in the decor and a fine list of cocktails to keep the well-to-do crowd happy…

  • Gipsy’s Bar

    Nairobi

    This is one of the more popular bars in Westlands, pulling in a large, mixed crowd of Kenyans, expats and prostitutes, although the buzz has shifted…

  • Simba Saloon

    Nairobi

    Next door to Carnivore on the road to Karen, this large, open-air bar-club pulls in a huge crowd. There are video screens, several bars, a bonfire, and a…

  • Moca Loca

    Southern Rift Valley

    Nakuru loves its coffee and Moca Loca is the new caffeinated kid in town. Located on the 2nd floor of a corner building, it's a stylish spot for people…

  • Choices Pub

    Nairobi

    Kenyans have something of a love affair with sports bars and, if you must, this is one of the better such places in town. There are the usual big screens,…

  • Felix Unique Collections

    Kilifi

    Felix Unique Collection might not be what we would name our juice bar if we had one – especially if we wanted to make it into an acronym – but the blender…

  • Connect Coffee Gigiri

    Nairobi

    This is the second branch of one of Nairobi's coolest cafes to open, with just a few tables on the pavement outside the Gigiri complex. The cafe brings…

  • Java House

    Nairobi

    This fantastic coffeehouse is rapidly turning itself into a major brand with cafes all over town, and you may see its logo on T-shirts as far afield as…

  • Champagne & Fishbowls

    Nairobi

    This slick champagne bar in the Seven Seafood & Grill restaurant has fish tanks in abundance and has been endorsed by none other than Veuve Clicquot…

  • Dancing Spoon

    Nairobi

    The Dancing Spoon is a good place to start the night before making for Westlands. With an impressive cellar of international wines and an equally good…

  • Kahama Sports Bar

    South Coast

    This sleek sports bar, part of the same complex as the Kahama Hotel, has more big screens than you can count, plus disco-ball lighting, burgers and beers…

  • Black Diamond

    Nairobi

    If you want to explore real Nairobi nightlife, Black Diamond is an obvious place to start. The crowd is as lively as the music, which is mainly Kenyan and…

  • Roasted Truth

    Nairobi

    This trendy outdoor cafe is set in the scenic garden of Ikigai, a popular co-working office space. Roasted Truth serves specialty coffee and home-made…

  • Peponi’s Bar

    Lamu Island

    Naturally, the bar at a Swiss-owned Kenyan hotel with an Italian name has to resemble an English pub. Pretty much everyone on Shela finds their way to the…

  • Njoro Country Club

    Southern Rift Valley

    It's worth stopping by to see who's propping up the bar at this old-fashioned country club. There's an ancient pool table, a piano, television, outdoor…

  • Sierra Premium

    Nairobi

    At Sierra Premium, which claims to be Kenya's first boutique brewery, beer is brewed according to the 1516 German Purity Law, using just hops, malt, yeast…

  • Florida Club

    Mombasa

    We know why this place was named after the Disney state. Like a theme park for grown-ups, there's all sorts to get into here: an outdoor pool, a 'crazy'…

  • Casuarina

    South Coast

    The first bar to get going in Mtwapa, Casuarina always makes for a fun night out, with some good dancing and decent grilled food to chase the booze down…

  • New Florida

    Nairobi

    The ‘Madhouse’ (or 'Maddi' to its friends) is arguably the most famous of all Nairobi's nightclubs, although a few changes of venue over recent years have…

  • Tree House

    Nairobi

    About halfway between the city centre and Westlands, close to the National Museum, this stalwart draws massive crowds for its top-notch DJs, excellent…

  • Naivasha Coffee House

    Southern Rift Valley

    This sleek hole-in-the-wall coffee stop serves herbal teas, hot chocolate, frappuccinos and caramel concoctions, as well as – obviously – decent coffee…

  • Casablanca

    Nairobi

    Lounge-style chill-out venues are all the rage in Nairobi, but this Moroccan-style place was doing it long before the trend took hold. It continues to be…

  • Casablanca

    Mombasa

    Of all the gin joints, in all the towns…walking into this one isn't the worst thing you could do. Classy but still cheeky, Casablanca is wildly popular…

  • Dormans Café

    Nairobi

    Established in the 1950s, this venerable firm has only recently branched out into the cafe business, but it's certainly made an aggressive, Starbucks…

  • Tapas Cielo

    South Coast

    This place can't seem to make up its mind as to what it is. Is it a cocktail bar? A sports bar? A Lebanese restaurant? The lighting is too dim and the…

  • Java House

    Southern Rift Valley

    This place is Kenya's version of Starbucks and locals love it. It's all there, from creative coffees, milkshakes and pastries to free wi-fi, and all…

  • Petley’s Inn

    Lamu Island

    Right in front of the main jetty, Petley's is the local watering hole for just about everyone. In fact, it's the only non-hotel bar in Lamu to serve…

  • Zanze Bar

    Nairobi

    A lively and friendly top-floor bar with pool tables, a dance floor, cheap beer and reasonable food. During the week things are relatively quiet, but from…

  • De Coffee Pub

    Kilifi

    You can disco dance on caffeine (and alcoholic things) at this popular nightspot. Nyama choma (barbecued meat) is on the grill, wi-fi is on the house and…

  • Pirates

    South Coast

    A huge complex of water slides and bars transforms into the strip’s rowdiest nightclub in high season, blazing into the small hours. During the day it's a…

  • Shakatak

    Diani Beach

    The only nightclub in Diani not attached to a hotel is Shakatak. It’s quite hilariously seedy, but can be fun once you know what to expect. Like most big…

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