"Brunch in the forest at the River Café The River Café is situated right in the middle of the huge Karura Forest, a tranquil swath of wilderness in the middle of the city. The dining area,on a large expanse of wooden deckunderan open-sided canvas roof, gets extra atmospheric charm from the surrounding forest treetops and plants. The menu is varied, with a good vegetarian section as well as light bites and more indulgent meals. The French onion soup and the salads are recommended. This place gets busy on the weekends, when Nairobians stop in for brunch after church or a walk around the forest, so book in advance."

"Nyama Mama is a fun spot in Westlands serving homey Kenyan and African cuisine. The decor is hip and funky: bright yellow sofas adorned with colorful kanga cushions, chunky metal lights, and thekitchen set within a shipping container. One of the best items on the menu is the lentil dal served with chapati and a side of your choice, from fried plantains to kachumbari salad (chopped tomatoes and onions) or sautéed sukuma wiki (spinach). Nyama Mama also offers a limitedlate-night menu until 4 a.m., convenient for those lingeringatthe cocktail bar upstairs."

"Nairobi has anew mainly vegan restaurant. "Mainly vegan" may sound like an odd description, but it works here: Boho Eatery'sowners have swappedwhat would be a mostlymeat menu with amostly vegan one, leaving a couple of options for those carnivores unwillingto branch out. Label the cuisinewhat youwill, itisdefinitely delicious. Try, especially, the mushroom ceviche, the coconut cream panna cotta , and the scrambled tofu breakfast bowl.The elegant restaurant, located in a converted house, hasan outdoor bar and patio seating area as well asa large garden."

"Chowpaty, Nairobi’s best vegetarian restaurant, serves outrageously tasty dishes from across the Indian subcontinent.On arrival, customers are presented first with a small bowl of warm water to wash their hands in and then withthe epic menu. The best item on the menu isthe dahi puri:Crispy puffed puri shellsare filled with Bombay mix (a crunchy snack mix) and then drizzledwith a sweet and sour sauce. Many items on the menu can also be made vegan—just ask.Chowpaty has severallocations around town, but the most popular sitsin the courtyard at Diamond Plaza, a bustling shopping mall wherethe Indian community comes forfabrics, clothing, electrical goods, and supermarkets."

"Kenya 's first board-game café. like many great spots in Nairobi, is hidden away—in this case, on the 8th floor of an office building. If anything, Bao Box's location is actually a boon because the altitude offers fabulous city views, and its seemingly random location adds to the completely fun vibe of the place. Walls are stacked high with all the famous board games like Monopoly, Settlers of Catan… and some lesser-known gems including one bluntly named "Fact or Crap." Whatever your board-game poison, here lies something for you. The decidedly non-corporate decor is funky and outdoorsy with blankets and colorful cushions on pallets. A simple menu of burgers, chips, beers, wines, and soft drinks will satisfy peckish players."

"Fonda For many years, good Mexican food was sadly missing from Nairobi. A couple of restaurants served bits and bobs—guacamole, maybe a tortilla on the menu—but there wasn’t a great spot dedicated to the cuisine. Happily, all that changed when Fonda came along. Fonda, meaning a welcoming inn, is a fitting name for this laid-back bistro complete with bright yellow walls and rustic crockery. But don’t let the casual nature of the place fool you into thinking these guys don’t care about their food. They only use locally sourced, organic ingredients and the menu features inventive new taco fillings like sweet potato and pineapple marinated in an achiote paste, which can be paired with watermelon margaritas."

"This hip little café in the leafy suburb of Loreshofeels comfy and welcoming, with candles flickering on the tables throughout the day and a monthly schedule of open-mic sessions for Nairobi’s budding musicians. The menu includes salads, sandwiches, and snacks as well as cold brew coffee. All thefurniture here is handmade by the owners andavailable forpurchase.You can evencommission your own designs to be made here. After your meal, swing bythe farm shop next door forjams, cups, bags of coffee, and more."

"The owners of Mama Rocks, two sisters from London with Kenyan heritage, decided to introducethe food truck revolution to Nairobi. Their pale pink truck, located most days outsidethe Alchemist bar in Westlands, has sent Kenyans wild with joy and praise for the gourmet burgers. Mama Rocks recipes infuseWestern/American traditional foodswith an African twist, like the Nollywood Suya Saga burger (a beef burger dressed with caramelized onions, arugula, and a honey and nut mayo blend), served with fried plantains on the side. Despite identifying asa burger truck, Mama Rocksturns out delicious salads and drinks, too. The veggie burger (a falafel patty topped with haloumi cheese) is one of the most popular items on the menu."

"High-end dining in Nairobi at Talisman A high-end gastropub set in the greensuburb of Karen, Talisman servessome of the best food in Nairobi. The ginger teriyaki tofu, in particular, isdelicious, and the menu offers a wide variety to tempt all kinds of palates. Talisman isgreat for romantic dinners, especially those enjoyed inthe pretty gardenslit by coal fire pits, lanterns, and candles. Be sure to book ahead—and note that the restauranthas a calendar of live music and events, so call in advance to see what’s on.An Escape Room experience just opened next door, so a perfectevening could meana daring breakout followed by a candlelitmeal."

"This romantic and quirky restaurant, set in a cave on the beach in Diani, is definitely splurge-worthy.The menuis a little pricey but includesa tasty range of dishes, from crepes and pasta to seafood.Booka table at the mouth of the cave so you can see the stars overhead and the candles flickering insideamong the cave's spiny stalagmites. Diani, a popular resort on the Kenyan coast, has an expansive white sandy beach, boutique hotels, and cozy vacation cottages. After dinner, wander next door for a nightcap atForty Thieves, a beach bar with pool tables and seating out on the sand."