Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant on Postcard

"Visitors flock to Kenya’s Diani Beach for the white sands and ritzy resorts, but the setting sun reveals the splendor of another local gem, Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant. Diners enter through an unassuming, whitewashed facade, then descend 33 feet underground to enjoy their meals in an ancient coral cave with a wide mouth overhead for excellent stargazing. Located in a cave thought to be between 120,000 and 180,000 years old, Ali Barbour’s takes dining al fresco to a whole other dimension. In the evenings, the restaurant glows in the muted light of candles, and diners’ eyes are naturally drawn to the twinkling stars above. (Sliding covers are drawn to create a makeshift roof in inclement weather.) Founded by George and Jackie Barbour in the 1980s and named as a play on “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” the restaurant is designed to keep the natural elements of the cave intact, with only the kitchen and bathrooms modified for modern uses. Though the menu is international, seafood is the specialty. You can dine on a meal caught in the Indian Ocean, mere feet from your table, and possibly at the same sea level." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

13 Places to Eat and Drink That Are Literally Underground

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@afar

"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."

The Best Restaurants in Nairobi

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@atlasobscura

"Visitors flock to Kenya’s Diani Beach for the white sands and ritzy resorts, but the setting sun reveals the splendor of another local gem, Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant. Diners enter through an unassuming, whitewashed facade, then descend 33 feet underground to enjoy their meals in an ancient coral cave with a wide mouth overhead for excellent stargazing. Located in a cave thought to be between 120,000 and 180,000 years old, Ali Barbour’s takes dining al fresco to a whole other dimension. In the evenings, the restaurant glows in the muted light of candles, and diners’ eyes are naturally drawn to the twinkling stars above. (Sliding covers are drawn to create a makeshift roof in inclement weather.) Founded by George and Jackie Barbour in the 1980s and named as a play on “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” the restaurant is designed to keep the natural elements of the cave intact, with only the kitchen and bathrooms modified for modern uses. Though the menu is international, seafood is the specialty. You can dine on a meal caught in the Indian Ocean, mere feet from your table, and possibly at the same sea level. Know Before You Go The restaurant opens daily at 6:30 p.m. and has a "smart/casual" dress code (i.e., no beachwear). Reservations are recommended." - Ursula, joshuacarlon

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant – Diani Beach, Kenya - Gastro Obscura

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Niina

Google

Dinner at Cave restaurant. My starter was delicious so the expectation for main and dessert was high. However, they didn’t reach the level of the starter. White wine was too warm, we got a cooler for it after complaining. There is no air conditioning, so it is really hot inside 🥵 I don’t think I got value for the money I spent there. There was unmelted gelatin pieces in my dessert.. Prices are in the European level. However the place itself is beautiful.

Viviana

Google

Coming here it was a hole experience. If you call in advance they will arrange transportation for free. The restaurant it’s beautiful as it is, the service it’s amazing, the vibe and the atmosphere it’s just perfect. Indeed it’s a bit pricey but only because you have to order at least 2 courses. However the food is delicious so it’s not a problem. If you are around trust me and go there, it’s worth it!

Martyna Mikołajczak

Google

The restaurant serves fancy meals. The way the food is presented is very elegant, as well as the mix of ingredients. We chose crab soup, chili crab, octopus with vegetables, and the catch of the day. The food was tasty, but we felt the atmosphere was too formal and stiff, missing the relaxed African vibe. There was also a lady asking four times during the evening if everything was okay, which felt a bit too much. Another thing to know is that the restaurant adds a 2% fee for charity to the bill, which we only noticed after looking carefully. Overall, the food is very good, and the atmosphere is unique, but it all feels a bit too formal

M

Google

Unique dining experience for sure. Inside a cave. Food was great and you can't beat the location. Getting there later at night can be an adventure if walking, as it's down a dark dark road. Place wasn't too crowded when we went. The prices might explain that. Considering where we were, prices are about as high as they get in the area. I thought maybe a bit too high, thus my 4, not 5 star rating. You should know, this is one of those places where you must order starter, main, and dessert, so be prepared to eat.

Mushirih

Google

The place has average/meh food for the high price. Drinks were okay. They force/impose you to have starter or dessert when you order the main meals. Prices are exclusive of 20% tax, so expect a higher bill. Weirdly, they add some optional 'charity' donation as an item on your bill, so if you don't ask about it; you are automatically billed. Wouldn't recommend it at all. The place looks good, though.

Corné Blom

Google

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Had an amazing family dinner at Ali Barbour's! This place is truly unique - you're dining in a gorgeous natural cave while stargazing through openings in the ceiling. The candlelit atmosphere is incredibly romantic, and the food is absolutely delicious. Service was excellent and attentive. Such a cool experience that you won't find anywhere else. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Diani Beach!

Joseph Rodriguez

Google

What an amazing dining experience! Booking was very easy via WhatsApp and they were fast to respond to my queries. We were seated immediately and did not have to wait very long before our food arrived. We opted for a main and dessert and both were great. Very nicely presented and equally tasty dishes. The staff were extremely courteous and attentive but never over bearing or hovering over you. The experience of dining in a natural cave with an open roof was incredible. If you can, book the later sitting when it is dark for a truly magical time. Cannot recommend this place enough. Thank you for making our stay in Diani a much more memorable one.

Carlo Franco

Google

Like many other reviews, the ambiance is great with such a stunning backdrop. The food is just okay, and the focus is more on the experience of dining in a beautiful cave. I ordered the crab rosti, chili crab, and passion mousse. The crab meat was well seasoned and had a nice flavour, but there were quite a few small pieces of shell I kept biting into. Rosti potatoe was cold and not as crispy and the vegetables needed some seasoning. Portions were quite good! The service from the entire staff was great. Pro tip: make sure to inquire about the complimentary shuttle service to and from your accomodations to the restaurant. I didn't know about it until after I had booked my Uber to get to the restaurant.

Niina

Google

Dinner at Cave restaurant. My starter was delicious so the expectation for main and dessert was high. However, they didn’t reach the level of the starter. White wine was too warm, we got a cooler for it after complaining. There is no air conditioning, so it is really hot inside 🥵 I don’t think I got value for the money I spent there. There was unmelted gelatin pieces in my dessert.. Prices are in the European level. However the place itself is beautiful.

Viviana

Google

Coming here it was a hole experience. If you call in advance they will arrange transportation for free. The restaurant it’s beautiful as it is, the service it’s amazing, the vibe and the atmosphere it’s just perfect. Indeed it’s a bit pricey but only because you have to order at least 2 courses. However the food is delicious so it’s not a problem. If you are around trust me and go there, it’s worth it!

Martyna Mikołajczak

Google

The restaurant serves fancy meals. The way the food is presented is very elegant, as well as the mix of ingredients. We chose crab soup, chili crab, octopus with vegetables, and the catch of the day. The food was tasty, but we felt the atmosphere was too formal and stiff, missing the relaxed African vibe. There was also a lady asking four times during the evening if everything was okay, which felt a bit too much. Another thing to know is that the restaurant adds a 2% fee for charity to the bill, which we only noticed after looking carefully. Overall, the food is very good, and the atmosphere is unique, but it all feels a bit too formal

M

Google

Unique dining experience for sure. Inside a cave. Food was great and you can't beat the location. Getting there later at night can be an adventure if walking, as it's down a dark dark road. Place wasn't too crowded when we went. The prices might explain that. Considering where we were, prices are about as high as they get in the area. I thought maybe a bit too high, thus my 4, not 5 star rating. You should know, this is one of those places where you must order starter, main, and dessert, so be prepared to eat.

Mushirih

Google

The place has average/meh food for the high price. Drinks were okay. They force/impose you to have starter or dessert when you order the main meals. Prices are exclusive of 20% tax, so expect a higher bill. Weirdly, they add some optional 'charity' donation as an item on your bill, so if you don't ask about it; you are automatically billed. Wouldn't recommend it at all. The place looks good, though.

Corné Blom

Google

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Had an amazing family dinner at Ali Barbour's! This place is truly unique - you're dining in a gorgeous natural cave while stargazing through openings in the ceiling. The candlelit atmosphere is incredibly romantic, and the food is absolutely delicious. Service was excellent and attentive. Such a cool experience that you won't find anywhere else. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Diani Beach!

Joseph Rodriguez

Google

What an amazing dining experience! Booking was very easy via WhatsApp and they were fast to respond to my queries. We were seated immediately and did not have to wait very long before our food arrived. We opted for a main and dessert and both were great. Very nicely presented and equally tasty dishes. The staff were extremely courteous and attentive but never over bearing or hovering over you. The experience of dining in a natural cave with an open roof was incredible. If you can, book the later sitting when it is dark for a truly magical time. Cannot recommend this place enough. Thank you for making our stay in Diani a much more memorable one.

Carlo Franco

Google

Like many other reviews, the ambiance is great with such a stunning backdrop. The food is just okay, and the focus is more on the experience of dining in a beautiful cave. I ordered the crab rosti, chili crab, and passion mousse. The crab meat was well seasoned and had a nice flavour, but there were quite a few small pieces of shell I kept biting into. Rosti potatoe was cold and not as crispy and the vegetables needed some seasoning. Portions were quite good! The service from the entire staff was great. Pro tip: make sure to inquire about the complimentary shuttle service to and from your accomodations to the restaurant. I didn't know about it until after I had booked my Uber to get to the restaurant.

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant

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