1. Asmara, Ngong Road, +254 724 124 555
This restaurant sits on a large and picturesque location offering the ultimate dining experience with a combination of delicious, quality food and excellent service in a beautiful serene environment. Asmara offers authentic Eritrean/Ethiopian dishes as well as continental options, and are presently open from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Menu favourites include zilzil tibsi (Pan-fried strips of beef with green peppers, tomatoes and chillies served on the traditional Eritrean clay pot), and for vegetarians, Shiro tegamino (chickpeas and split peas powder made in a delicious sauce mixed with berbere and a combination of spices). Their desserts include continental options like chocolate mousse, tiramisu and brownies, and they also have an array of Italian-style pizzas if you’re looking for a takeaway.
2. Que Pasa Bar & Bistro, Karen Shopping Center, 0728 272902
This popular neighbourhood bar and restaurant is a friendly and laid back place to eat, drink, play games with friends, lounge and relax. It aims to create a simple but stylishly outfitted space with sliding doors that open onto the street. Vast wooden chandeliers hang from high ceilings, bare stone walls, tiled floors, and an upstairs lounge area overlooks a dining area. Their takeaway menu offers almost 20 different types of pizza including a seafood pizza and a classico calzone, with a 2 for 1 offer on Mondays. A variety of other dishes are also available off their continental menu.
3. Joe’s Atlanta Wings, Ngong’ Road, 0791409644
They are renowned for serving tasty fried chicken pieces and a wide range of other menu items including hand-cut chips made fresh daily, chicken burgers, slow roasted rotisserie chicken, beef burgers, spicy Wings and more. The owner Joseph Taylor was out searching for some spicy wings in Djibouti City in 2016, and after checking out a few locations, he noticed that wings were not popular there. He decided to introduce American flavours there, succeeding after numerous obstacles, and is now offering his dishes in Nairobi.
4. News Cafe, Hardy Post, 0729065084
Established in 1995, they have expanded to various countries and currently have four outlets in Nairobi (Adlife Plaza, Sarit Center, Hardy Post and Rosslyn Riviera). The fact that their menu looks like a newspaper is proof of how particular they are with details. For breakfast (they have a wide selection), get the eggs benedict or avo on rye. I love their super bowl with berry compote served with fresh strawberries, muesli and greek yogurt
5. Picazzo Restaurant, The Hub, 0714653355
Named after Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, the ambiance is ‘contemporary industrial’. They worked with wrought iron and straight lines to give the space a fresh modern touch. A splash of colour was added to emulate a contemporary tapas experience; a piece of Madrid in Nairobi. They offer modern cuisine and usually have an elaborate wine list, and their breakfast menu is also one for the books. Favourites off their menu include paella, corte de ternera del dia (21-day prime age beef), chacuteria y quesos (selection of cold cuts) as well as cheese Cochinillo (whole suckling pig).