Author: Ron S

I love Biryani, and the hotter it is the better. It’s hard to get amazing Biryani in Nairobi, so when my friend told me she had found the best Biriyani in the city, I had to try it out. After a long day zip-lining at The Forest, we were tired and famished. So, in our “infinite wisdom”, we decided this would be the best day to drive for an hour hungry from Kimende to Parklands to try out this world-class Biryani. By the time we got there, I was almost collapsing from hypoglycemia. This is one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve been to. The red bricks lining its walls exude an occident spirit. And from the time we arrived the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, this was during the COVID lockdown and restaurants were only open for delivery, and dining in restaurants was strictly prohibited all over the country. Despite that, they pulled seats for us, so that we could wait comfortably for our orders. I ordered the Chicken Biryani with Chili😋, but I was so hungry I can’t even remember what my friend ordered. The price was KSh 1150, so my expectations were heightened even more. We walked around the restaurant chatting and admiring the décor as we waited for our orders. I give it a 5-star when it comes to ambience. We wished we could dine here. In about 45 minutes the manager brought our order, he told us this was their first day open since the covid lookdown began, and thanked us for patronizing them. We appreciated the gesture. Since we had only 15 minutes to the curfew, we quickly got into the car and drove home where we ate. To be honest, that was the best Biryani I had had in a long time, the serving was huge and it was red hot just like I like. So, it was value for money. Now that they are fully open, I can’t wait to make a reservation with them.

During the COVID period, I had heard a lot about Amapiano Sundays at the Winning Post. And I had felt really bad about not getting a chance to attend it. So, once the government ban on events was lifted, the first thing my friends and I did was get tickets to this mind-blowing event. We had seen so many Instagram Stories of people having fun while dancing to Amapiano, and we weren’t gonna waste this opportunity. I arrived at Winning Post by 4 PM, I’m usually the fashionably late friend for social events. I never see the point of rushing to an event, when the first hours of an event are always boring. By the time I was getting to the entrance, I could hear the party was just about to get started. And when I finally got in, everyone was dancing and having a good time. The event was sponsored by Ballantines, so they had really good offers on their whiskey. I looked around and found my friends at their table, they had already ordered whiskey for us and were just about to start partying. The venue for the event was incredible and clean, with well-manicured grass covering the entire venue. There was also an indoor sitting area inside their restaurant. There were a few vendors selling art and doing body paint. What I liked most about the event, is that it was designed for a small crowd. Which made it a lot safer, as there were no pickpockets. The music, lighting and atmosphere were also incredible. The event was so fun, that I invited two of my friends to join us. After which we went to pet the horses. It was completely worth it. This was one of my favourite events of 2020. And I highly recommend The Winning Post’s Amapiano Sunday, for anyone who wants to go out on a Sunday. The Winning Post is always hosting international Amapiano DJs such as Uncle Waffles, Dj Maphorisa, Kabza De Small and a lot more. So make sure you don’t miss these events.

Velar Lounge is the newest club in the Kahawa area. Located inside an ultramodern building with a beautiful glass façade, this club has been attracting a lot of Kahawa residents on the weekends. I recently partied here with my friends, and I was impressed. The interior is beautiful with an outdoor and indoor seating area. Each has its VIP section. The music system here is also incredible, but unfortunately, the DJ who was playing the night I attended was really bad. However, Dj Grauchi performed here a few weeks later, so it seems I just chose a bad weekend to patronize the joint. The drinks here are also affordable, and their roasted meat is some of the best I have had. If this club keeps up with the service, it might soon become the most popular club on Thika Road.

Burudani Square is one of the newest clubs along Thika Road, it is located right before Juja Town. Having heard a lot about it, a friend and I decided to check it out one Saturday evening. We had heard a lot of great things about its burgers and roast beef, so we planned to have our dinner there too. When we got there, we were impressed. The club is a huge two-story complex with ample parking and art on the building’s exterior. The lighting is also impressive when viewed from the outside, and it entices you to enter. It has an open design, so I took my jacket since I didn’t want to freeze inside. Within the building, they have multiple vendor stores selling food and clothes. It’s a really interesting take on the entertainment business, and the next time I’m there I’ll check out the stores. I ordered a burger and fries when I got there, and we went to the top level to sit. From here we could see the dance floor and the surrounding wilderness outside. The interior is really beautiful and the music system is loud. Our orders took a long time to come, and unfortunately, the burgers weren’t anything to write home about. Considering the quality of the food, the burgers were overpriced. We also ordered a drink which we carried with us since the club was empty. The club looks like it has great potential and the ability to become popular once more people find out about it. Since it’s a relatively new club I’ll give it another chance.

1759 Spiral Lounge is located opposite Ruiru Golf Club on Thika Road. It is one of those clubs I always saw but I had never paid attention to. So, when my friend invited me to a party over there, I decided to check it out. I got there at about 9 pm and the club was already full. This is always a good sign for the night to come. Boring clubs rarely feel up, especially that early in the night. All the tables were already taken, but the waiters helped and put up one for us. The service here is very quick and by the time we sat, our orders had already been brought. Considering the club was full, the speed was impressive. The atmosphere here was good, and the Dj was on his A-game. By the time we knew it, it was already morning and we had to leave. Time flew fast when we were inside, and it's hard to put into words how much fun we had. The prices were also friendly which is a big plus. I’ll check it out again and I recommend it.

This is one of the oldest urban clubs in Kahawa Sukari, and is very popular with residents and students from Kenyatta University. This ensures the club is full most weekends, which is a big plus. Since no one likes an empty club. If you don’t want to go to Westlands to party, Kuzima Comrades is a good alternative and it will satisfy you. The music in this club is always amazing, and it’s hard to find anyone seated. In my opinion, this is what makes the club really popular, since some of my friends from Ngong Road frequent this place, simply because of the DJs. They also host the most popular DJs often, such as Dj Joe Mfalme. If you love music, dancing and a hyped crowd, then Kuzima Comrades is the club for you.

Ever so often it’s healthy to go into the outdoors and enjoy some quality time with family and friends. And a friend of mine recently decided to do that for her birthday party. I had heard a lot of good things about Evergreen Park. So, when I heard her party was to be held there, I was excited. I was happy to find out that the venue has an artificial lake, however since I arrived at the party at 9.00 pm, I didn’t get to enjoy it. At the park, we paid an entrance fee of KSh 500 per adult. Considering the amenities offered and the fact that they allow you to carry your food and drinks, I found the price fair. The park is filled with lush greenery and well-manicured lawns where you can sit and enjoy a picnic. However, we preferred to sit inside a gazebo. We had a lot of fun there and the fresh air was welcome. The prices here are really good and I highly recommend this location to anyone who wishes to hold a garden party, wedding or wedding reception. This Evergreen, was not an accident.

I rarely party in Ruiru, for obvious reasons, such as the distance. But whenever my friends invite me to a party at Laviva I always show up. And I mostly have a good time. Klub Laviva & Lounge is located in Spur Mall, along Thika Road, Ruiru. It’s a small club with beautiful décor and a separate cocktail bar inside. It is one of the most popular clubs in Ruiru, so it often fills up on Fridays and Saturdays making it hard to find a table on these days. The cramped design of the club also means there is no space to dance. However, it has never managed to pull in the Sunday crowd, which is an art only clubs in Nairobi have perfected. The last time I was there I bought two bottles of gin and a cocktail. The prices here are similar to clubs in Nairobi. They go for a similar cool vibe as those clubs so it is justified. However, their cocktails are relatively cheap and this reflects in their quality. These are the weakest cocktails I have drunk in a club. And sometimes the cocktails are served in a plastic cup, which is frankly embarrassing. If you are going to pride yourself on having a separate cocktail bar, high-quality cocktails should be your priority. And they have to be served correctly. They have really good security, but some of their bouncers are rude. This is a negative since most of their competition in Nairobi has improved in regards to bouncer-customer interactions inside the club. However, their wait staff and bartenders offer really good and fast service. Although this isn’t my first choice when partying on Thika Road, I often enjoy myself here. If they streamline their customer service and improve their cocktail quality and presentation. Laviva has the potential to become one of the most popular clubs on Thika Road.

Partying along Kiambu Road has recently become a risky affair. This is due to an increase in cases of men getting drugged using the infamous “MCHELE”, and robbed in clubs on this road. However, since my friend was hosting her birthday celebrations at Whiskey River, I had no choice but to risk partying there. Which is something I have only done once before. I arrived at Whiskey River at around 11.30 pm. Which is usually the best time to arrive at any club in Nairobi. If by 11.30 pm a club isn’t popping, I suggest you either find another party or go home. Thankfully, the crowd was big, the music was thumping and everyone was having a good time. Whiskey River is a really big club so we were able to find seating space. We ordered beers, whiskey and gin for the night. Bottle prices were expensive as is the norm for all the popular clubs in Nairobi. And beers were going for 250/= to 350/= per bottle depending on the brand. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that they had shisha, which we also ordered. The music here was really good and we danced the night away. Whiskey River is spacious, so dancing and moving around was never a hustle. A lot of clubs in Nairobi are crammed making it hard to dance or even walk. So this is a big point for Whiskey River. By 5 am we were tired and ready to head home. We were satisfied with the experience and I would head back there once they sort out their drugging problem.

Attending events is one of my favourite hobbies. So, when I heard WSTRN were going to be performing at the Waterfront Mall - Karen. I had to show up. I knew it was going to be a lit event since WSTRN are among the most energetic performers from the UK. The event was organized by 254MostWanted and TukutaneKE. I was unfamiliar with both these companies. So, I tapered my expectations so as to avoid any disappointments. Organizing big events is extremely hard, and plenty of things usually go wrong. Many events have failed because newbie organizers lack experience in dealing with these challenges. Because of these, I was a little sceptical of their ability to pull this concert off. But I’m glad I was wrong. My friends and I arrived at Waterfront at 8 pm. We wanted to arrive early so as to avoid the Uhuru Highway traffic, which gets really bad in the evening. When we got there, we were glad to see there was plenty of parking and security. It had been raining the whole week, but thankfully the weather was clear on the concert day. However, I made sure I wore the appropriate footwear just in case the venue was muddy. We roamed around the mall for about an hour and went to the ticketing gate at 9 pm. The ticketing process was smooth, and there was no line. In less than a minute we were done and walking towards the concert ground. The road to the ground was really muddy and I was glad I had worn the appropriate shoes. However, the concert ground itself was incredible. The lighting and design were awesome and the whole area was tented. The concert ground was also next to an artificial lake which created the perfect backdrop for the concert. We got there right before Miss Karun performed, her performance was incredible and got us in the mood for the wild night ahead. Her performance of Catch A Vibe really got the crowd going. She was followed by BeyT and Burukulyn Boyz. Burukulyn Boyz are among my favourite performers and the whole crowd enjoyed their set. They brought a lot of energy which got us all psyched for the WSTRN performance. The WSTRN performance was worth the wait. It was my first time attending their concert and to be honest, they are worth the hype. Their set was long enough and they managed to perform all of their popular songs. I can't wait for their next performance in Kenya. We left the event tired but satisfied. I highly recommend 254MostWanted and TukutaneKE events. Hopefully, their next event won’t be as muddy as this one was.

Attending events is one of my favourite hobbies. So, when I heard WSTRN were going to be performing at the Waterfront Mall - Karen. I had to show up. I knew it was going to be a lit event since WSTRN are among the most energetic performers from the UK. The event was organized by 254MostWanted and TukutaneKE. I was unfamiliar with both these companies. So, I tapered my expectations so as to avoid any disappointments. Organizing big events is extremely hard, and plenty of things usually go wrong. Many events have failed because newbie organizers lack experience in dealing with these challenges. Because of these, I was a little sceptical of their ability to pull this concert off. But I’m glad I was wrong. My friends and I arrived at Waterfront at 8 pm. We wanted to arrive early so as to avoid the Uhuru Highway traffic, which gets really bad in the evening. When we got there, we were glad to see there was plenty of parking and security. It had been raining the whole week, but thankfully the weather was clear on the concert day. However, I made sure I wore the appropriate footwear just in case the venue was muddy. We roamed around the mall for about an hour and went to the ticketing gate at 9 pm. The ticketing process was smooth, and there was no line. In less than a minute we were done and walking towards the concert ground. The road to the ground was really muddy and I was glad I had worn the appropriate shoes. However, the concert ground itself was incredible. The lighting and design were awesome and the whole area was tented. The concert ground was also next to an artificial lake which created the perfect backdrop for the concert. We got there right before Miss Karun performed, her performance was incredible and got us in the mood for the wild night ahead. Her performance of Catch A Vibe really got the crowd going. She was followed by BeyT and Burukulyn Boyz. Burukulyn Boyz are among my favourite performers and the whole crowd enjoyed their set. They brought a lot of energy which got us all psyched for the WSTRN performance. The WSTRN performance was worth the wait. It was my first time attending their concert and to be honest, they are worth the hype. Their set was long enough and they managed to perform all of their popular songs. I can't wait for their next performance in Kenya. We left the event tired but satisfied. I highly recommend 254MostWanted and TukutaneKE events. Hopefully, their next event won’t be as muddy as this one was.

FOMO EVENTS On the 9th of April 2022, all roads led to Ngong Racecourse for the Fireboy DML concert hosted by FOMO Events. This was one of my favourite events in the last two years. Not only because FireBoy was performing but also due to the high standards FOMO have set in the event organizing space. From the ticketing process to customer service and security at the venue. I arrived at Ngong Racecourse at 9.30 PM. I was hyped and ready to party, but also concerned for my security. Ngong Racecourse is infamous for its insecurity. Most events held here have pickpockets and muggers. My friends have been assaulted and robbed several times when attending a concert here. And I’ve been pickpocketed twice before. However, things were different this time. There were armed policemen, armed private security and undercover officers everywhere. And as a result, not a single person in my crew was robbed. The ticketing process was smooth and fast. And there were three security checkpoints. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout the process and I was finished in less than 5 minutes. Other than Fireboy, the lineup was impressive. It included Nviiri The Storyteller, Dj Grauchi, DJ Shinski and DJ Kym. These are the most popular performers in the city right now and they were incredible. In my opinion, Nviiri had the best performance of the night. Yes… I preferred his performance to Fireboy’s. The prices of drinks were expensive as is common in Kenyan events with the cheapest bottle of hard liquor costing about KSh 5000. However, the price of beer was quite affordable at KSh 200. This was most likely due to the event being sponsored by Guinness. Fireboy DML performed past midnight and it was worth the wait. The sound, lighting and pyrotechnics were impressive and made the event worthwhile. The ticket price of KSh 2000 made this concert a steal and I met so many of my friends there. Anyone who missed out must have felt FOMO. I can’t wait to attend their next event and highly recommend you try out FOMO Events on your next night out.

If a good ambience could be bought, this is where they’d sell it. CJ’s has one of the best atmospheres in town, thanks to its beautiful interior design and décor. The staff here are really friendly and the service is really fast. CJ’s menu has a wide variety of food, so eating here is never going to get boring. The prices of their main course meals range between KSh1000 to KSh2000. Which is a fair price in the Nairobi CBD. If you work in the CBD, its location in Koinange street makes CJ’s a convenient place to have a meal.

Located along Ngong Road, Casa Vera is the newest entrant in Nairobi’s clubbing scene. This is my favourite club along Ngong Road due to its amazing deejays and beautiful lighting setup. Ngong Road’s clubbing scene had been on a decline so I’m happy that Casa Vera has brought back some life to the area. The service at Casa Vera is really quick, which is impressive considering the club’s huge size and the fact that it was completely full when we arrived. Within 5 minutes of arriving at the club, our drinks had already been delivered to our table. However, the drinks here are pretty pricey as it has become the norm in all Nairobi clubs. Make sure to check out Casa Vera Lounge, I’m planning to party there again soon.

Life as a foodie has been hard over the last two years of the lockdown. The lockdown has affected both clients and restaurants, with many of my favourite restaurants permanently shutting down. One of these restaurants was Mediterraneo, which was arguably one of the best Italian restaurants in Westlands. So, when I heard a new Italian restaurant had taken up the space, I had to try it out. I needed to see if Bambino leaves up to Mediterraneo’s legacy. I arrived at Bambino on a Friday evening for a business dinner. We had made a reservation for 7 pm, and when I arrived at 6:50 pm the table was already set. The interior décor was elegant and the ambience was good. I started the night with a Rosemary Smoked Negroni (KSh 950) as I waited for the starters. The Negroni was strong and I enjoyed it enough to order another one. For starters, we had decided to try out everything on the menu. My favourites, in order of preference, were the ‘Charcoal Grilled Octopus’ (KSh1900), ‘Beetroot Carpaccio’ (KSh1200) and Beef Striploin Capaccio (KSh 1500). The ‘Poached Prawns Burrata’ (KSh 2000) was really good, however, it was my least favourite starter. They also had Burrata (KSh 1500), Crispy Mozzarella (KSh1350) and Eggplant Ceviche (KSh1050) for the vegetarians. These were good but not memorable. The side of Triple Cooked Fries (KSh 500) was also really good and I recommend it. For the main dish, we ordered Pizzas. My favourite pizza was the Lomo Saltado (KSh 1350), followed by the Diavola (Ksh 1350). They weren’t as good as my mum’s homemade pizza but they came pretty close. The vegetarian option was the Ricotta and Spinach (KSh 1350) which was okay, but I can't be too hard on them since I have never been a fan of vegetarian food. We finished with deserts with my favourites being Pineapple Carpaccio (KSh 950) and Tiramisu (KSh 1100). The restaurant service was really fast and the waiters and waitress were really friendly. Some of the best staffers I have met. Bambino more than surpassed my expectations. It lives up to the legacy of the restaurants that previously occupied that space and I highly recommend the restaurant to everyone including former Mediterraneo patrons.

I love the ocean; I don’t know exactly why, but I think it’s one of the most intriguing and beautiful things in the world. English Point Marina offers one of the best views of the Indian Ocean in Mombasa, and that’s why this is my favourite place in the city. In the morning you get to witness the beautiful sunrise over the ocean, and at night you can have your dinner while listening to the sound of the waves crushing into the sea wall. It really is an incredible place. English Point Marina is in a really accessible location, you can get there either by uber or using a tuk-tuk. I highly suggest using a tuk-tuk. Taking tuk-tuk rides is honestly the most exciting way to travel around Mombasa. I highly recommend it. To get there we took a tuk-tuk at Nyali Mall, it dropped us right at the gate of English point. We got there right before sunset and ordered a burger. Lucky for us, it was burger week. For each burger we ordered we got one for free. As we waited for our order, we walked around the marina enjoying the scenery. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We went to the deck next to Sunset lounge, and from there you could see Mombasa City and Fort Jesus across the creek. After half an hour our order was ready and we went to eat on the restaurant chairs lining the deck, so that we could enjoy the breeze. English point has three restaurants: Karahi, Magherita and Sunset Lounge. The restaurants sell a wide variety of food including oven grilled pizza. I really wanted to try it out, but my friends convinced me to try the burgers first. By the time I finished the burger, I was so full I couldn’t even eat more fries. So, eating the pizza was out of the question. But I’ll have to do it next time am there. The price of food at the restaurants was quite affordable, which surprised me. So, I highly suggest you try it out, its rare to have a fine dining experience without breaking the bank. Am planning to be visiting English Point Marina whenever am at the coast, and maybe next time I’ll get a chance to stay in their hotel rooms.

Java House is arguably the most famous coffee house in Kenya, with branches all over the country, and in almost every mall. Their coffee houses are always a short drive away. And for lovers of this brand the convenience is one of their major allures. Recently when I was in Naivasha on holiday, I was happy to find one at a local mall, Buffalo Mall Naivasha. I was frankly surprised, since I hadn’t known they had expanded into smaller towns. So, I decided to try it out since I hadn’t had any of their smoothies in a while, and seeing the shop gave me a craving. I was happy that the quality of the smoothie was the same as in their shops around Nairobi. Consistency is important in any restaurant chain and am glad Java have it. The coffee shop was also clean and the décor was really good, which is consistent with all other Javas around Nairobi. Java haven’t dropped their quality just because they have expanded, and I commend them for that. Their prices were the same with other branches. I ordered two smoothies, Strawberry Splash and Tropical Mix, each at KSh380, and chips masala at KSh370. Their prices are usually high, but since they have good service, fast Wi-Fi and a really good atmosphere, their prices are justifiable. Their customer service is also always top notch. I highly recommend this brand.

Garden City Mall offers a lot of shopping options, including two major supermarkets. The fact that Shoprite is always full is a testament to its popularity among Garden City shoppers. I’ve shopped at this supermarket a few times, when I have been at the mall, and it has been a good experience. Game located at the same mall has always been my go-to, but I have begun to appreciate Shoprite too. The supermarket offers a wide variety of goods, including fresh goods, electronics, alcohol and essential house hold items. Anything you need you will find at this supermarket at a competitive price. It’s a reliable shop for your weekly or monthly grocery shopping. However, they lack a wide variety of electronics. This store has really friendly and helpful staff. The store is always clean whenever I shop there, and there are always staff members around to help. Another positive about this store, is it is rarely crowded. Therefore, it hardly ever has any cues. This makes it really convenient as you can finish up with your shopping pretty quickly. I am usually busy and I appreciate the lack of ques at this store. I like this store and will be shopping there a lot more often.

This hotel located in Upper Hill is among my favorite hotels in Nairobi. From its décor, to its restaurants and bars, it’s one of the few hotels where me and my friends get to have fun. Most hotels in Nairobi are fancy and serve really good food, but they are not fun places to spend your time. You just want to enter, admire the décor, eat your meal and leave the minute you are done. The hotel is located in a beautiful location and the views from its terraces are really amazing. From the front facing terrace you get to see the beautiful new buildings coming up in Upper Hill, while the back facing terrace overlooks a garden. The meals in this hotel are really good and they have my favourite buffet in town. The quality is top notch and the variety is wide. Almost all the deserts and meals available on their menu are available in the buffet. I am always spoilt for choice when I eat there. Everything I love is always available and the food always tastes amazing. I have never got a chance to stay in their hotel rooms. But the moment the opportunity comes up, I will take it. Am sure they are among the best hotel rooms in Nairobi judging by the quality of their restaurants and food. The hotel offers a 5-star experience and I highly recommend it.

I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors since I was young. And one of my favorite places to visit is Nakuru Town, due to the large number of outdoor activities available in this town. One of my favorite places is Nakuru National Park. It’s conveniently close to the town and also happens to have a large variety of animal species including the endangered southern white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, leopards and lions. Lake Nakuru is also within this park and you get a chance to view the beautiful flamingos from the beaches of the lake. Park entry fees are KSh800 for adult citizens and residents, and KSh200 for children. Make sure you carry your ID card or proof of residency since non-residents pay more. You are allowed to drive yourself around the park and that’s my favourite way to explore it. You get a chance to spend as much time viewing whatever animals you like, unlike when you use a tour bus. I have a lot of interesting memories of this park. Including being slapped and robbed by a monkey when I was a young boy. I guess the naughty fella wanted my eggs more than I did. To being chased down by a rhino while we were driving along the trail. That experience was frankly scary, but I’ve been addicted to the adrenaline rush ever since. If you want to build fond memories that will last you a life-time Lake Nakuru National Park will offer you plenty of that. I highly recommend it.

Accessibility to health services is one of the things I look for whenever I move into a new neighbourhood, since you never know when your life might depend on them. So, am really happy that in the past few years the major hospitals in Kenya have been opening up branches all over the country to provide outpatient services. One of these hospitals is Mater hospital which opened a branch at Thika Road Mall, about a 12-minute drive from the Nairobi CBD. This branch offers a wide variety of medical services. Including laboratory services and a pharmacy. So, I was really happy when I was able to have all my medical needs met under one roof, when I recently fell sick and I was in need of all these services. A lot of clinics around don’t offer laboratory services and you often have to seek these services elsewhere and then return to the clinic to finish up on your medical consultation. This can become cumbersome, especially when you are sick. This branch accepts insurance which is really good. As some drugs and laboratory tests are quite expensive. The consultation fee is also quite affordable when compared to other major hospitals. When I was there, the line was long. However, I didn’t wait too long to see the doctor since the doctor and nurses were quite efficient at their jobs and worked quickly. The pharmacy was also well stocked and I got the medication I needed. I highly recommend this clinic if you are in need of outpatient medical services.

Am a lover of animals, and I always make sure my pets are fed and well taken care off. That’s why I had to find a good dog handler and trainer, and luckily the one I found also dealt in high quality pet food and pet grooming. And they also do house calls. So, all the pet services I need are all conveniently offered under one roof. Doggman offices are located in Kahawa Sukari, Kwale Road, ACK Church Offices, a 40-minute drive from the Nairobi CBD. It’s in a convenient location but due to the door-to-door services offered I didn’t need to visit the offices to book an appointment for my dog. The trainer simply drove to my house for the training exercises and when I ordered dog food and dog accessories, he also delivered them. The trainer is extremely good and professional. And just from the first interaction he had with my dog, I knew he was really good at his job. My dog is really hyperactive and loves jumping on people, but the moment the dog saw him, the dog (a German Shepherd) immediately relaxed and acted disciplined. That was frankly shocking since I had never seen my dog do that before. By the end of his first meeting with my dog, which was about an hour, he had already taught him a few tricks. After spending an hour with my dog, he decided he was going to offer the training services. After just a few sessions with my dog, his behaviour had improved and he obeyed commands from both the trainer and me. A guard dog shouldn’t obey commands from everyone. Despite the dog being a guard dog, he had also trained him to be friendly around children, which is really important when I have guests around, since the kids can play with him and I don’t have to lock him up. Other than training he also sells pure breed dogs. The services I was offered and the results I got from the training was beyond my expectations. I highly recommend his services.

In this digital era we are living in, a smart phone and a laptop are a necessity. Especially now that there is a pandemic and classes and meetings are being held online. So, it’s essential to know a good electronics shop that sells a wide variety of smartphones, laptops and phone accessories at a good price. Symian Electronics is among the electronics stores that meets all these needs for me. Symian Electronics is located in the Nairobi CBD on the 4th floor of Nanak House along Kimathi Street opposite Nation Center. The store is located in a serene and safe location and that is one of the reasons I love shopping there. There is nothing as bad as being robbed off a phone you bought a few minutes before, as sometimes happens when you buy a phone along Luthuli Avenue. The store attendants are some of the friendliest I have ever met and they go out of their way to help you choose a phone that is perfect for you. They never try to upsell you or trick you into buying something you don’t need. The store also has some of the best prices in town, and they have phones on offer daily, which they post on their website and Instagram pages. So, if you are looking for a good deal always check their site. This store has one the widest varieties of phones, laptops and accessories available. Including all the Apple products, such as the latest AirPods, MacBooks and Apple Watches in all the available colours and storage capacities. This is quite rare in Nairobi as most shops don’t sell Apple accessories, and large capacity MacBooks are almost impossible to find in any other shop other than this. This shop also offers trade ins for phones and phone repair services. Deliveries are also available for all their products. I love this shop and I always recommend it to my friends.

Whenever am at home, every once in a while, I need to do some small-time shopping. Shopping that is too much for a local shop but too little to go to a supermarket in a mall. Since, I don’t want the inconvenience of the long ques. 7 Eleven is the perfect location for small time shocking, and lucky for me, they opened a new branch in Kahawa Sukari. The supermarket offers a wide variety of items including alcohol, and all the basic items for use are available. They only stock items for home use and things like electronics are not usually sold. The prices are also really friendly. The prices for all items are the usual ones you’ll find at the bigger supermarkets. What I love most about 7 Eleven is the convenience of shopping there, since it is a small supermarket parking space is always available for me. There is rarely a queue at the cash register and if there is one it is usually less than 5 people long. Due to its small size finding what you want to buy is also really easy. So, I rarely spend more than fifteen minutes at this supermarket. This supermarket is perfect for small time and quick shopping.

I love listening to good music, not only while relaxing at home, but also while am driving around town running errands. For this reason, I decided to save up some money and upgrade the music system in my car. After doing a lot of research and asking my friends for suggestions. I settled on getting my music system from Amani Vehicle Sounds. Amani Vehicle Sounds is located in Munyu Business Center, along Munyu Road in the Nairobi CBD. I first went to the shop to do some window shopping before I decided on what to buy. I needed some advice for the best components for my car audio system and the shop attendant was really helpful. Car Audio Systems are really expensive and I advise anyone who wants to upgrade their music system to get professional advice before buying anything. After my conversation with the attendant, I decided on what I wanted and started saving up. My favourite thing about this store is their website. It lists all the available products and the specifications for each. Price is also included. So, when I was ready to make my purchases I simply went to the site, calculated the total price and called the shop. The shop offers delivery services and they delivered everything to me. I found the house delivery more convenient since the subwoofer was big and heavy. Its pay on delivery and that made me feel safer about the transaction. I got the car stereo installed in my car and am really satisfied, it cost me around KSh45,000 but it was completely worth it. I highly recommend this store.

Elite Digital is the one stop shop for everything Apple. Being authorised Apple resellers, every Apple electronic and accessory they sell is an original. There are a lot of knockoff Apple accessories being sold around, and some of them can damage your phone such as fake chargers and USB cables. However, whenever I buy accessories at Elite Digital, I have peace of mind. Since my phone has never been damaged by their accessories. Elite Digital sells most of the Apple products available in the global market. The only product I haven’t seen in their store is the latest Mac Pro, but they’ll probably start selling that in the near future. My favourite thing about this store is that they start selling the latest iPhones, iPads and MacBooks immediately after they have been released. So, if you want to be the first person to sport the latest iPhone, Elite Digital is the shop for you. The only downside to this shop is their prices are exorbitant. The prices of some products go as high as double the price you will get in an Apple Store abroad. So, only go to this store if you are willing to spend. I mostly only buy phone accessories from them, for this reason. If you want to buy any Apple product, I recommend paying this store a visit.

I was recently in need of high-quality leather boots. I had a specific boot design in mind, that in my opinion would have gone well with most of my clothes. Finding genuine leather boots in Nairobi can be really hard, there are a lot of conmen out there who will sell you fake leather at the price of real leather. Knowing that there are really good leather imitations out there, I didn’t want to risk it. So, I decided to visit The African Boot Company Limited, one of the oldest and most trusted shoe stores in Kenya, to try my luck. This shoe store is located in the Nairobi CBD in Uganda House along Kenyatta avenue. The store is really hard to miss due to the huge red sign hanging outside. The moment I entered the store I was impressed by the huge variety of shoes available. They had a wide variety of modern designs at different price ranges and I almost forgot what I wanted to buy. If I was a one percenter, I would have bought everything in that store. The staff in this store were really helpful and friendly. They were inciteful and I found their advice really helpful as I was trying out the different designs of the available shoes. The manager also came in to entertain us with funny, yet educative stories about running a business in Nairobi. I not only got boots but also a free lecture on the intricacies of running a business in uptown Nairobi. Lol. I eventually settled on a boot design I liked. It was really expensive at KSh12000. But the value of good leather boots that can last you a lifetime can never be underestimated.

If you are a PC gamer you have probably heard of this store. It’s the most popular computer parts shop among PC build enthusiasts in Kenya. And the fame is deserved. X- Gamer Technologies is located in the Nairobi CBD on the 5th floor of Veterans House along Moi Avenue. Until recently they also had a shop in Imenti house but they closed it down. It was their most popular shop, so if you used to shop there be aware of their new location. When I was building my first PC and was still a novice, this was the first shop I was referred too. Finding high quality computer parts in Kenya for a good price is quite hard, but I was assured that this shop stocks everything; from high end graphics cards to both AMD and Intel CPUs. I was not disappointed when I got there. They hard everything I needed plus much more. This store also has a website which they always keep updated with their latest stock. This makes shopping there really convenient, as it enables you to prepare an accurate budget before going to the store. At the store, I was able to get a power supply, motherboard, CPU, RAM sticks and a graphics card. The pricing was quite fair except for the graphics card which was frankly overpriced. The store also sells brand-new custom-made gaming PCs. These are really expensive. They range from KSh80,000 to KSh400,000. So, I strongly advice people to only buy the parts they need and build their own PCs. You will spend much less than buying a similar specced custom-made gaming PC. If you are a PC build enthusiast, I suggest checking this place out before starting your next build.

A few years back I was in need of a console. I had been watching a lot of reviews and had decided on getting the 1TB Xbox Series X, due to its raw power. Knowing gaming consoles are really popular in Nairobi, I decided to go looking for one in the Nairobi CBD. Shops in the CBD usually offer really competitive prices so I expected to find a console pretty quickly at a good price. But I was in for a rude awakening, all the gaming shops were selling PlayStation 4 Pros but none was selling Xbox’s. After about 2 hours of walking around the CBD I finally gave up and decided to try out Game Changer. Game Changer is located on the ground floor of Thika Road Mall right next to the entrance. Its not an easy shop to miss due to its uniquely designed exterior and big sign. Game Changer was my last option because I was aware of its exorbitant prices when it comes to consoles, games and game accessories. The variety of products in this shop is quite impressive, they not only sell consoles and games, but also all the gaming accessories you could possibly want from all the major brands. So, when I entered, I was pretty confident they would have an Xbox Series X available in their stock. I was not disappointed, they had it in stock at the capacity I wanted. However, as I expected the price was really high, almost double the MSRP. Other than Xbox’s and PlayStations the shop was also selling Nintendo Switches which are also really hard to find in Nairobi. Nintendo isn’t really popular in Nairobi, so most shops never stock their consoles. Despite the high prices, this shop is frankly among the best gaming shops in Nairobi, they stock all the consoles, games and gaming accessories you can imagine. And they only deal in original goods. I highly recommend this shop, if you can stomach the high prices.

Whenever am in Garden City and I need some shopping done, I always go to Game. They have some of the best prices and offers around. This is one of the most unique supermarket chains in Kenya based on the products they sell. You can find a lot of unique products in this supermarket; from gym weights to curtain tracks; things that are rarely found in supermarkets. So, whenever I need to buy something unique, I always end up looking for it at Game first. The prices are also really good, and since they also sell some items in bulk you end up saving a lot of money when shopping at this supermarket. So, whenever am shopping for a party, or am having a lot of guests, this is usually the supermarket I go to. The staff in this supermarket are very friendly and work quickly so there are rarely any queues at the counter. This is the best supermarket if you are planning to do bulk shopping.

I am a big fan of eating fresh produce and vegetables. Since I turned twenty-two, I have been trying as hard as possible to avoid unhealthy eating habits. So, whenever I see a new grocery store in a mall, I get excited. As it makes vegetables more accessible to the young. A lot of young people avoid markets, so a grocery store in a mall is the closest they’ll ever get to fresh produce😂. Zucchini Green Grocers is located in Garden City Mall along Thika Road. Compared to other grocery stores, it is less accessible. Since most grocery stores in Kenya are located along the roads. So, buying groceries in a mall seems a bit inconvenient. However, what always takes me back to Zucchini is their fresh juices and smoothies. They sell a wide variety of juices at a really friendly price. So, whenever am in the mall, usually after watching a movie, instead of buying a soda, I go to Zucchini to get a juice/smoothie. One healthy choice a day makes a huge difference. There juices and smoothies’ prices range from KSh300 to KSh840 per Litre. My favorite being the Berry Smoothie which goes for KSh840. Other than fruits and vegetables, they also sell salads, dairy products, nuts, bread and pastries. So, its possible to do all your grocery shopping there. I highly recommend this store for your grocery needs.

I am short sighted and every two years I need to see an optician for an eye check-up. Optica, being one of the oldest eye clinics in the country, is the eye clinic I always choose for my appointments. The Optica I go to is their main branch located on Moi Avenue. I go to this branch due to the wide variety of spectacle frames available. They have both generic and designer frames at this branch. And they stock frames and sunglasses from all the major labels around the world. The frames they sell cover a wide price range, so it is the perfect shop to buy frames and sunglasses regardless of your budget. Contact lenses are also available and the price varies depending on the type. Optica also accepts insurance payments from all the major insurance providers in the country. This is a huge positive since some frames and lenses are really expensive. The staff at this clinic are very helpful and friendly. They are always patient with me when helping me choose eye frames, and their advice is always helpful. They have one of the best customer service experiences. This is my favourite eye clinic and I highly recommend it.

Being the only supermarket in Thika Road Mall, whenever am around Roysambu and need something, this is where I buy it. This is among my most favorite supermarkets in Nairobi, mostly due to its low prices and its convenient location right next to the Thika Road Superhighway. This supermarket offers a wide variety of goods. From fresh goods and produce to electronics and phones. It sells goods from all the major brands and manufactures operating within the country. So, it is the perfect place for shopping since you’ll get everything you need under one roof. This supermarket also has a lot of offers and whenever I shop there, I always get a worthwhile offer. And that is another reason why I always return there. The only downside to this supermarket is that it usually gets crowded and the queues at the counters get really long. Sometimes you can spend up to 30 minutes waiting in line. However, the supermarket has come up with an ingenious idea to deal with it. People who have bought less than ten items have their own counters and the queues on these counters move very fast. So, go to these counters if you have bought few items. This is probably the most affordable supermarket around and hence its popularity. I will continue shopping there for the foreseeable future.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Aga Khan University Hospital had opened a branch in Akai Plaza along Thika Road right next to Thika Road Mall. So, when I got sick, I decided to try it out since it is the closest good hospital to my place. I was impressed with this branch since it offered all the important medical services including a laboratory and a pharmacy. The branch was well staffed and I was happy to be the only person on the que since it meant I would be done with more quickly. Having been to the main branch of Aga Khan Hospital in parklands I had high expectations for this branch, and I am glad to say I wasn’t disappointed. The medical personnel were professional and really friendly, and they did their work efficiently as I was able to leave in just a few minutes. The branch accepts payments from all the major insurance companies which is a big plus. This branches pharmacy is the best stocked pharmacy in that area in my opinion, and you’ll never miss a drug when you go there. I highly recommend it for all your medical needs.

I was recently in need of a new pair of headphones, and I had been looking for a shop that sold original Sony headphones. Am an audiophile, so I value high quality sound. Most headphones sold around the Nairobi CBD do not provide that, since most are fakes. However, when you find a shop with original headphones, they are usually double the MSRP, and older models. Because of this, I decided to try out Anisuma on the ground floor of Thika Road Mall. It was my last option since I expected its prices to be exorbitant. I had also tried it when I was buying headphones a few years ago, and the model I wanted wasn’t available. So, my expectation of finding exactly what I wanted in this store was extremely low. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find exactly what I wanted and it was at MSRP. I had been looking for the Sony MDR-XB600 and I was really happy to see them there, and they were available in all the colourways. I quickly tried them out and they were originals. I honestly didn’t expect them to be fakes since Anisuma are the official distributors of Sony products in Kenya. Other than headphones this shop sells a wide variety of other electronics including laptops, consoles cameras, music systems and iPads among other things. All their products are original and come with a warranty which as far as I know they tend to honour. Especially if the warranty is covering a Sony product. The prices in this shop are quite high, but it’s understandable since they sell only original products. Even though the prices are high they are always close to MSRP, so they aren’t scamming their clients but it’s simply the prices they get from the manufactures. I highly recommend this shop for all your electronic needs.

Looking for Christmas gifts is one of the hardest things to do. Everyone’s gift needs to be not only useful, but also unique and memorable. So, finding a store that sells a wide range of unique items and gifts is something every adult needs to do. For me the perfect store for buying gifts is Miniso. In the last 2 years I have shopped there for gifts and I haven’t been disappointed once. Miniso is located on the ground floor of Thika Road Mall, which is located along Thika Super Highway. The shop sells a wide variety of goods, from electronics to bags and coffee mugs. And during the Christmas period they add even more products as Christmas gifts. Whenever I go shopping for gifts at Miniso I rarely know the exact item am going to buy. The reason I have the confidence to do that, is I know I will always find a good gift at a good price. A gift that I would probably have not considered buying before seeing it at the store. This store usually has a lot of promotions during the Christmas season too. I have never won one, but fingers crossed, I will win one next Christmas. So, always keep an eye out for the promotions. If you are looking for gifts, I highly recommend this store.

Whenever am in need of casual or official clothing LC Waikiki in Thika Road Mall is among the stores I usually visit. Convenience is one of the main reasons I love going to this store. Its location in Thika Road Mall along Thika Road makes it easily accessible, compared to other similar stores. When it comes to clothing, I never buy it in bulk. I prefer buying a few items at a time as I am more likely to choose better quality and more stylish cloths. And LC Waikiki is perfect for that kind of shopping. This is due to the arrangement of their clothes; all the clothes are well displayed and the store is well lit. This makes it easier to view all the available clothes on display. Therefore, am able to chose the best clothes available in the store based on my taste. The store is rarely crowded which creates the perfect atmosphere for shopping. Due to this, the changing rooms are mostly empty and there is usually no rush to use them. The prices of men’s clothing in this store are really good compared to other stores. The quality seems good but I can’t attest to their longevity since the clothes I bought are still new. However, they are still holding up well, and none of them have torn or faded after washing them. The TRM branch of LC Waikiki is really huge, and covers two floors of the mall. They sell a wide variety of clothes and its really hard to miss something you might like. However, I find their shoe collection to be limited and they don’t stock a wide variety of urban wear for men. I recommend this store for casual and official clothing.

Right before the corona virus outbreak, I got invited by a friend to Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nairobi. It had been years since I had been at the hotel so I jumped at the opportunity. Crown Plaza hotel is located in Upper Hill along Kenya Road. The hotel is a sight to behold. It’s really beautiful exterior gleamed gold as the windows reflected the sunset. Its among my favorite hotel designs in the city, and the interior was just as magnificent. I arrived earlier than my friend, so I had a chance to walk around the hotel. The hotel had around three restaurants and one bar called Babalu’s Bar and Lounge. This bar was really beautiful with a piano complementing the design. Being a lover of whisky and cocktails, I was tempted to enter for a drink. Luckily, I was saved by my phone ringing. We had our dinner at Baraka Restaurant. It is a really large restaurant with beautiful décor and lighting. The lighting created the perfect mood for dinner. The buffet had a wide selection of food, pastry and fruits. I usually try to keep my meals as simple as possible so I served myself salmon cake as my entrée, and chicken breast and pasta as my main dish. My dessert was a chocolate cake. The meal was top notch and I was fully satisfied by the time was I was done. It was among my best fine dining experiences and am looking forward to doing it again once corona is over.

A good, well stocked pharmacy close to your home is one of the most important facilities in any neighbourhood. I had for many years underestimated the importance of a good pharmacy near my home until I recently had an emergency and needed the services of one. But luckily for me, Goodlife had recently opened a pharmacy nearby. This pharmacy is located along Thika Road inside Shell Petrol Station – Kahawa Sukari. It’s a walk in, self service pharmacy and you pick your drugs on shelfs just like you do in a supermarket. However, since most people struggle to locate the drugs; the attendants and resident pharmacist are always available to aid. If you are buying a prescription drug, remember to carry your prescription with you. The pharmacists are strict about not selling drugs without a prescription. One of my favourite things about Goodlife pharmacies is that they accept insurance as payment for drugs, and this branch is not an exception. This is very helpful especially when buying expensive drugs. Remember to carry a stamped claim form from your doctor and a prescription if you are planning to pay for your drugs through insurance. This is honestly one of my favourite drugs stores due to its wide variety of drugs and its acceptance of insurance as payment. I highly recommend it for all your pharmacy needs.

Whenever my house supplies run out and I need to do some large-scale shopping, I try to find a supermarket that is in a convenient location with ample parking, and stocks a large variety of goods at affordable prices. For a long time, the closest supermarkets that met all these criteria were in malls, and there is nothing as hard as carrying shopping bags across a mall to the parking lot which is often located far away. So, when a Quick Mart supermarket was opened close to where I live, and it wasn’t in a shopping mall I was frankly relieved. Quick Mart – Eastern Bypass is located about a five-minute drive from Thika road along The Eastern bypass road. It’s located on the right side of the road and is really hard to miss because of the large sign outside the building. The supermarket offers ample parking space right in front of the building, so it’s a short walk from the supermarket to the parking lot. The shopping attendants also help you carry your shopping to the parking lot if it’s too heavy. The supermarket offers a wide variety of goods, from all the major brands available in the country. Fresh vegetables, baked goods and electronics are available at this outlet. Some of their stores also sell clothing, but I haven’t seen them sold at this branch. The prices are also really friendly, it is not the cheapest supermarket around but it offers most goods at competitive prices. They also offer a card which you can use to accumulate points that u can use to pay for your shopping. The only downside to shopping at this supermarket is there is usually a lot of traffic along Eastern Bypass road in the evenings, so if it’s possible I strongly advise you to shop there at noon or in the afternoon. If you are in need of some shopping, Quick Mart Eastern Bypass won’t disappoint you.

I’ve always enjoyed trying food from different cultures, unfortunately I had never gotten the chance to try Mexican food. And I honestly never thought I would get an opportunity, so when I heard there is a Mexican restaurant in Westlands, I jumped at the first opportunity to go. Mercado is located in Kenrail Towers, along Ring Road Parklands, in Westlands. The restaurant is large and spacious with beautiful interior décor. The restaurant is divided into two, with an indoor dining area and an “outdoor” dining area with a view of Westlands. We arrived at the restaurant at 5.30pm and sat on the table closest to the door, with a view of the bar. The tables were well spaced inline with COVID19 regulations and the waitress sanitized the table before we sat down. The Mexican décor was really beautiful and the lighting created a surreal atmosphere. I ordered the fire grilled chicken taco and a long island cocktail. It was my lucky day, since they had happy hour and the offer was really good: three cocktails for the price of one. The god of happy hour must have been smiling down at me that day since I didn’t expect the restaurant to have a happy hour. The price of the long island was KSh950 and the taco was KSh800, the taco portions were really small but the three cocktails made me more forgiving for this transgression?. I highly suggest using an uber if you are planning on buying any of their cocktails, especially during happy hour. I really enjoyed my time at this restaurant and am looking forward to going back.

If you love live music, good food and beautiful décor, visiting K1 Klub House should be on your weekly to do list. And as big fans of live music, their flea market and Sunday brunch; Nairobians always flock to the venue every Sunday. My friends and I are not an exception, and we often find ourselves there on weekends and weekdays alike. However, I had never attended their Speaker Box event. So, when we got an invite to watch our friend play, I had to jump at the opportunity. K1 Klub house is located in Parklands, along Ojijo Road, next to Parklands Sports Club. It’s quite close to the Nairobi CBD and it takes around ten to fifteen minutes to arrive by Uber. The staff are always friendly and the service is usually fast. Prices are fair for the quality of food you get; however, the portions are quite small and I never seem to get satisfied. We arrived at around 6 pm, right in time for their happy hour, which was between 4pm and 7pm. They have some of the best happy hour offers in Nairobi. You can get 2 cocktails for the price of 1; 3 glasses of draft beer for the price of 2; and 3 glasses of wine for the price of 2. We ordered long islands and sat on the sofas to listen to the live performances. Cocktails cost between KSh700 and KSh990. Live music at K1 never disappoints and this was not an exception. It’s always a good time at K1 Klub House, and I highly recommend it.

Chinese cuisine is among the foods I had always wanted to try but never got a chance. So, when my friends invited me to Silk Noodles, I had to join them. Silk Noodles is a Chinese restaurant located next to Hurlingham Estate along Argwings Kodhek Road in Remax Shopping Village. It’s a quarter an hour drive from the Nairobi Central Business District. We arrived at the restaurant just on time for lunch at exactly 12 noon. This was perfect timing, since the restaurant filled up quickly right after we arrived. Many people missed a table. The sight of that many customers waiting for a table, was the first indicator that the meals served at this restaurant have to be good. The waiter arrived immediately to ask for our order. My more experienced friend suggested that I order beef noodles and dumplings. The waiter noting my inexperience also suggested the same. Having no experience with Chinese food, I obliged. The service at this restaurant was really fast and the food arrived in less than fifteen minutes. I have no experience with Chinese food, but in my opinion, the food was really good especially the dumplings. The soy sauce was also good and plenty of it was provided. The restaurant provides a large serving of food and none of us were able to finish our meal. When I left the restaurant, I could barely walk and just wanted to sleep after such a heavy meal. The beef noodles cost me around KSh700 and for such a large serving of food it was completely worth it. Am hoping to return to the restaurant soon.

Weekdays can get really hectic sometimes. When this happens, Artcaffé at the Garden City Mall is the perfect spot to chill while enjoying a meal and drinks with my friends. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of Garden City Mall, along Thika Road, about a 20-minute drive from the Nairobi CBD. The restaurant is really spacious and clean, with modern art lining the walls. For extra seating, it has a terrace where you can have your meal while enjoying the fresh air. We arrived at the restaurant at around 6.30pm, right before their happy hour ended. The moment you enter the restaurant you are assaulted by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The waitresses were gracious and showed us a table for four. I ordered a Texas Burger which goes for KSh1100 and a Long Island, also KSh1100. I never miss the chance to take advantage of happy hour?. Their happy hour offer is really good, you get two cocktails of your choosing for the price of one. The long islands arrived within 5 minutes and the burgers arrived around 15 minutes later. The burger was really tasty and I was satisfied by the end of my meal. In my opinion the Texas burger is the best burger in their menu. It’s made up of beef, bacon, cheese, fried egg and BBQ sauce. I didn’t get a chance to try my friend’s meals, but they said they were satisfied with their meals too. Artcaffé – Garden City Mall offers the perfect atmosphere for meeting up with your friends.

After a long day at school, I sometimes treat myself to food and drinks at the CBD. Having gone to most restaurants in the city centre I decided it was time to try something new. So, I picked up the gf, and she convinced me to try out Big Square – Moi Avenue. Am not gonna lie, I expected Big Square to be a normal run-of-the-mill fast-food joint, with the average fast food joints menu and décor. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out they actually sell alcohol and DIY Pizza. I have a creative spirit so anything DIY immediately wins me over. And that’s how Big Square won me over even before I had my first meal. For my DIY Pizza, I decided to go just a little bit crazy, not too crazy. For the toppings I went with Mozzarella cheese, BBQ chicken, Jalapeno and Pineapple ?. Yes!!! Pineapples do belong on pizza, shoot me! Lol. Their cocktails were also really good and really strong, so strong that am considering putting them at the top of my list of the strongest cocktails. The cocktail glass is also really big. We unfortunately missed out on their happy hour, which is 3 cocktails for KSh800. But if am being honest, that was probably for the best since one cocktail was enough to get me really drunk. 3 cocktails would have had me crawling on the floor. In total I spent around KSh3000, the price of the DIY pizza was around KSh1300, but I honestly cant remember, either because of the cocktails or the fact that they were charging per topping. Since then I’ve returned to Big Square a few more times, so I highly recommend it.

I love dancing, drinking and listening to good music. So, when I heard there was a new lounge in town I had to go and check it out. Quiver Lounge & Grill is located along Thika Road opposite Garden City Mall. Its in a convenient location and its easy to get there by Uber. There is ample parking space on the premises, and you rarely have to wait more than five minutes to find a spot. Being the newest club in the city, and due to people having a lot of free time because of the pandemic, the club is always full. Thankfully it’s a huge club, two stories high and with multiple bars in it, so it never gets crowded. The club is well staffed, so placing an order is never a hustle and drinks and food are delivered swiftly to the table, despite the large number of patrons. The club is really beautiful and spacious with huge windows and club lights all over. There is also a huge beautiful balcony overlooking their grills and that is where we decided to seat. We ordered beers and shots to get us hyped for the night ahead. The prices for hard liquor were quite high, but that is expected for a club in Nairobi. Beer prices ranged between KSh200 to KSh300 depending on the brand. The music at the club is loud and really good. And the DJs play everything from Kenyan music to trap. Every once in a while, they also bring a guest artist to perform. We had a really good time at Quiver, but due to the curfew we had to leave at 8pm. I look forward to going there after the pandemic is over.

Everybody needs a local joint. A place where you can meet up with your friends and have a few drinks without breaking the bank. For me, Mwenda’s Pub along Utalii Street, in the Nairobi CBD serves that purpose. You can always count on making wrong decisions when you drink at Mwenda’s. The cocktails are strong and never run dry. From the really imaginative names for their cocktails, you already know you are in for a wild night when you order them. So, make sure you use an Uber if you r planning on drinking there. With just a thousand shillings, you are guaranteed to have a good time. And that’s the charm of the place. Mwenda’s also has really good music and the DJs never disappoint; throughout the week they are on their A game. Due to the affordable drinks, good music and convenient location in the Nairobi CBD, Mwenda’s usually fills up really quickly and sometimes its almost impossible to get a seat. Mwenda’s is The People’s Local, and if you are planning on having some fun without breaking the bank, or planning to pregame before going to the more expensive clubs, then Mwenda’s is the joint for you.

I never miss a chance to have some fun, and recently after attending Sunday Brunch at K1, a friend suggested we head over to Déjà vu lounge before going home. Most clubs are usually empty on Sundays, since no one in their right mind ever spends their Sunday night in a club. But I got a rude awakening, Déjà vu isn’t any ordinary club, and the club was so full they were turning people back at the entrance. But to be fair K1 was also full on that day, so maybe everyone in Nairobi was in a festive mood on this particular day. The moment I walked in, I forgot it was Sunday and immediately got my grove on. The club is really beautiful, and the music and beautiful lighting created the perfect atmosphere for partying. I was shocked at the number of friends I met at this club, but I couldn’t judge them, I was partying on a Sunday too. The drinks in this club were quite expensive, but the prices were average for a Kenyan club of that stature. I decide to only take beers, which were KSh250 per bottle since I had already drunk earlier in the day. It was a random night of fun, and I really enjoyed myself. I highly recommend this club.

I love partying, dancing and listening to loud music. And 1824, arguably the most famous club in Kenya, is the perfect place to do that. Located along Langata road, this club is always full from Monday to Sunday. At 1824 everyday is a Friday, and no matter which day you go, you are guaranteed to enjoy yourself. Hard liquor in this club is however quite expensive, so make sure your bank account is in order before you party here. The interior design of the club is really unique and beautiful, and the lighting within it creates the perfect atmosphere for partying. Its among the most beautiful clubs when viewed from the outside at night, but only at night?. The music is loud and really good, and the deejays never disappoint throughout the week. Being a very popular club, it is common for celebrities to show up at this venue. Celebrity deejays and artists also commonly perform here. When going to this club remember to dress well and don’t forget to carry your ID. It is common for people to be frozen at the entrance. Whenever am bored and want to party, 1824 is always guaranteed to offer me the entertainment I crave.

Whenever I buy tickets to a Ngong Racecourse event, it’s a guarantee am gonna have fun. However, it’s also a guarantee am gonna get robbed?. Going to Ngong Racecourse events is like being in an abusive relationship. It’s a place we love to hate, but we always find ourselves attending their events every year. At their events; you either get pickpocketed if you are lucky, or get mugged and beat up if you are unlucky. Sometimes it can happen to you multiple times on the same day, if you are really unlucky. I attended 3 events on this ground last year and in 2 of them I was robbed off my phone. Despite its insecurity, it’s among the best event venues in the city. It’s really easy to get there by both private and public means and the venue is really huge, making it perfect for events that pull in large crowds. The venue also has ample parking, I have never missed parking at the venue even once. The event grounds are always well maintained with manicured grass throughout the venue, it rarely gets muddy, even during rainy days. Due to its huge size, some events on this ground often have multiple stages and activity areas around the ground. If you are planning on attending any event in Ngong Racecourse, make sure you don’t carry any valuables and leave your phone at home. Hope to see you there next year?.

Recently while we were on holiday in Nyeri, one of my relatives got sick and needed to be admitted into a hospital. Being visitors to the town, we didn’t know the location of the hospitals. After making a few calls and searching online, we were able to locate The Outspan Hospital situated on the outskirts of Nyeri Town. Luckily the hospital was barely 5 minutes from the town, and we got her there pretty quickly. At the entrance, the guards directed us to the reception where she gave her insurance details and was assigned to a doctor. Due to the relatively short line, she managed to go through the triage room and see the doctor within 30 minutes. That was pretty impressive since in many hospitals it usually takes me almost an hour before I get to see a doctor. The doctor decided it was best to admit her. As my relatives were helping her through the process, I got a chance to walk around the hospital. The hospital is quite big, clean and well maintained. It has a lot of security around the premises. Laboratory and pharmacy services are offered within the hospital as I saw both of these departments within the facility. Because she wanted privacy my relative decided to be admitted into the Deluxe Suite. The suites are really big, and each has its own bathroom and shower with hot water. Each Deluxe Suite also has a TV, Wi-Fi and a wardrobe. The views from the rooms are also really good. There is a garden on the ground floor too, where the patients can walk and get some air. The doctors and nurses were really friendly and professional. Some of the friendliest staff I have ever met. They kept us informed on everything that was going on. My relative’s biggest complaint was the food, which she found difficult to eat. However, everything else impressed her, including the staff and the hospital environment. If I am ever sick while in Nyeri, that’s the hospital I’ll be going to.

I recently needed a new sofa set for our living room. Having checked another furniture store and not found what I was looking for, I decided to make a visit to Tiles and Carpet Centre to see what they had in stock. The Tiles and Carpet Centre I chose is located on the ground floor of Garden City Mall along Thika Road. The mall is located opposite Quiver Lounge about a 20-minute drive from the Nairobi CBD. On this excursion I had a pretty good idea of the sofa set I wanted. I was looking for a seven-seater, white, reclining, leather sofa set. To be honest, my hopes of finding the sofa set in this store were quite low, after missing the design in another store. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw what I wanted prominently displayed right on entering the store. It wasn’t in the colour I wanted and it was fabric instead of leather, but the fact that the design was present gave me some hope. After checking the price and testing out the sofa, I approached an attendant. He told me they didn’t have exactly what I was looking for, but offered to show me other available sofa sets. The sofas he showed me were good, but I had my mind set on buying that specific design. The attendant was very friendly and I found his incite on furniture quite helpful. The prices of furniture in this store were quite friendly, and I found myself wanting to buy things I didn’t need. They have a wide variety of unique designs in a wide range of colours. The next time I need a piece of furniture this is the first store I’ll check out.

My mom was in need of a new sofa set recently so I decided to visit furniture stores to see what they had in stock. Having not settled on the sofa we wanted, I decided to start with Furniture Palace, since it’s among the oldest and most trusted furniture stores in the country. The Furniture Palace I chose for this mission was the Thika Road Mall branch. Thika Road Mall is located along Thika Super Highway about a thirty-minute drive from the Nairobi CBD. Furniture palace has two separate stores within the mall, one on the ground floor and the other one on the first floor. Each of the stores displays different items, so its advisable to visit both. I checked out the ground floor store first. The selection of sofa sets available was quite impressive. They had a variety of modern designs of both genuine leather and fabric sofa sets. However, none of the sofas matched the aesthetic of our living room, therefore I tried my luck on the first-floor store. There I found sofa sets that complimented our living room design. The prices of most sofa sets were quite fair. However, some sets were exorbitantly priced with prices going as high as KSh899,995. The store sells all types of furniture from beds, dining sets, home décor, flooring and office furniture. The stock at the store is updated often, so you will always find new designs available. However, the prices do tend to be exorbitant on some items. I ended up buying an outdoor chair but decided to expand my search for a sofa to Tiles and Carpet Centre. Despite the high prices on some items, I recommend Furniture Palace for its wide and modern selection of furniture and décor.

Exploring nature is one of my favourite activities. Whenever am in a new town, I find local parks and sceneries to visit. So, the last time I was in Nakuru that’s exactly what I did. I had never been to Menengai crater so I called up my relatives and asked them to join me on this excursion. Menengai crater is located in Nakuru county around 170kms from Nairobi. Its on the northern side of the town. A drive from Nairobi to Nakuru usually takes around 4 hours. From Nakuru town, it took us around 30 minutes to get to the park entrance. The entrance fee at the gate was KSh200. We arrived at the crater at around 2pm. Due to poor signage along the route we got lost a few times. I suggest checking your map and confirming the route before starting your journey to the crater. We arrived at the Kenya Forest Service barrier, paid the entrance fee and were allowed in. Since we were driving to the viewpoint, we did not see the need for paying a guide. However, if you want a work out, walking is allowed. The views at the top of the crater are quite beautiful, to the back you can see Lake Nakuru and the expansive town. The view into the crater was even more impressive and we could see the power plants from that vantage point. We also got a chance to buy some souvenirs from the curio shops at the view point. For the hiking fans, there is a hiking trail from the viewpoint into the crater. If you plan to do this, I suggest you dress in boots and sporting wear. The trail looked quite difficult to traverse. I’ve added hiking this crater to my bucket list. The views down into the crater looked incredible and I will be a fool if I don’t try hiking down there. The viewpoint is perfect for picnics and I highly recommend Menengai crater to hikers and tourists who just want to enjoy the view.

With Christmas right around the corner I decided to attend the Zen Xmas Fair at Zen Garden. Christmas fairs are the perfect place to get unique gifts for family and friends. And with Zen garden being a restaurant, I also got the chance to try out their food and drinks. Zen Garden is a venue located along Lower Kabete road just after St. Mary’s International School. It’s a half hour drive from the Nairobi CBD. It houses two restaurants, Bamboo Oriental Restaurant and Jade Coffee and Tea House. We arrived at Zen Garden at around 2pm, but because of the Christmas fair, both restaurants were full. So, we decided to check out the trade fair as we waited for a table to free up. There were a lot of stalls at the fair mostly showcasing food, pastries, clothes and jewellery. A few stalls were also showcasing furniture and wines. Samples were being offered at most stalls but unfortunately some weren’t selling food. After waiting for an hour, we finally got a chance to order some drinks. I ordered the Spiced Turmeric Latte with almond milk. The service was good and my order arrived quite quickly. The latte was as good as it smelled and it was worth the KSh500 price tag. Later on, we got hungry and ordered a Mozzarella and Tomato pizza at KSh1100. This order took longer to arrive, but it was worth the wait. We ate this while walking around the trade fair. The staff at this establishment were some of the friendliest I have ever met, and the manager even went out of his way to offer me a place to charge my phone. In my opinion, friendly staff are just as important as good food in a restaurant. And this is why am looking forward to eating at Zen Garden again.

If you are a lover of nature and the great outdoors, The Oloolua Nature Trail is a must have on your bucket list. I had been planning on visiting this incredible trail for years, so when the chance to do so finally came, I immediately jumped on it. The Oloolua Nature Trail is located in Oloolua Forest on Karen Road. It’s a 40-minute drive from the Nairobi Central Business District, but due to traffic the 20Km drive could take up to an hour. The trail is open from 9am to 6pm. For citizens the entry charges are KSh200 for adults and KSh100 for children; for residents, entry charges are KSh400 for adults and KSh200 for children; and for non-residents the charges are KSh600 for adults and KSh300 for children. The camping charges are KSh2000 for adults and KSh1000 for children per night. If you are a citizen or resident, remember to carry your identification card or passport as proof. We arrived at the trail at 1pm, paid the entrances fees at the gate and immediately started exploring the forest since we had only 5 hours to do so. Along the trail we got to see monkeys and a lot of different bird species including an eagle. However, the most exciting part of our walk was exploring the caves and the water fall. We went quite deep into the cave system, and we immediately regrated not going in with a flash light. If you are a coward its best if you don’t enter the caves?. Barely two minutes into exploring the cave half my friends were screaming and trying to run out as bats flew around their heads. Our final stop along the trail was the waterfall, we only had half an hour to enjoy it as it was getting dark and the trail was about to close. So, I strongly advise you to arrive as early as possible so as to be able to enjoy all the sites along the trail. It was a great experience to have with my friends and a good break from the hustle of city life.

Being the only natural forest within the city, Karura Forest is one of the few places where you can get fresh air in Nairobi. So, I decided to go there with a few friends to jog and explore the forest. The main Karura Forest entrance is located along Limuru Road next to the Belgian Embassy. It’s a 5Km drive from the Nairobi CBD. There is another entrance along Kiambu Road (Shark Gate) 6Km from the CBD. The entry fee for citizens is KSh100 for adults and KSh50 for children, for residents its KSh200 for adults and Ksh100 for children and for non-residents its KSh600 for adults and KSh300 for children. If you are a citizen make sure you carry an Identity card and for residents, proof of residency is required. We entered the forest through the Kiambu road entrance. The forest guards were very friendly and helpful and told us about each trail so we could choose the right one for us. We chose the longest trail since we wanted a challenge, and to maximize on our visit. The forest is huge and beautiful, with a lot of scenic locations along the trail. The air is fresh making the forest perfect for jogging. However, when taking the longest trail during the rainy season, I suggest wearing boots, since the trail got really muddy. My favourite site along the trail was the Mau Mau caves. While there, we got a history lesson from a tour guide about the significance of the caves during the struggle for independence. This made our exploration of the cave and the surrounding areas even more interesting. Farther down the trail we got to the waterfalls which were really beautiful, and the perfect place to rest up before we continued down the trail. By the time we were done we were so tired and we could barely walk. We did more walking than jogging but it’s the thought that counts?. I highly recommend Karura Forest and I’ll be heading back soon.

Sitting in your house watching Netflix can get boring, especially during a pandemic. To break the monotony, my crew decided to try out something new, and the Village Bowl at the Village market was where we ended up. Adrenaline junkies always mischaracterize bowling as a boring sport for wimps. But I was pleasantly surprised by the competitiveness of the two matches we played. Village Bowl is a large bowling alley with 11 lanes, pool tables and foosball tables. The price for bowling is KSh500 per person and pool is KSh200 per round. The facility provided clean bowling shoes in all our sizes. Remember to carry socks when you visit though. You won’t be given shoes if you don’t have socks. And without bowling shoes you aren’t allowed to play. Waiting times were quite long, but we entertained ourselves by playing pool. I suck at pool, so I lost all rounds. But when it came to bowling, I was pretty good. Finishing 3rd in both rounds isn’t that bad for a novice. I also managed to get a few strikes, and there is no better feeling in bowling than getting a strike, it’s exhilarating. Am pretty confident with practice I might become the next world bowling champion?. The top two players were getting strikes throughout, they are honestly wasting their potential if they don’t go PRO soon. Food and alcohol are usually sold in the bowling alley. However, when we were there alcohol wasn’t being served, as it was against COVID-19 Guidelines. Fast Wi-Fi is also available for you social media junkies out there. The staff were friendly and really helpful. Pool tables and bowling balls were sterilized after every round to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. By the time I was done my fingers were numb. My advice for bowling novices out there is, “go for the lightest ball”. The heavy balls messed up my fingers for a week?. It was a fun experience and I look forward to bowling there again, hopefully alcohol will be available next time.

Paintballing is the perfect team sport for adrenaline junkies and stuntman wannabes like my friends and me. And Paintball Fury, located at The Waterfront – Karen, was the battleground we chose for this adventure. The Arena situated right next to an artificial lake filled with ducks and other peaceful creatures are quite serene. But all the semblance of peace and serenity disappears when the paintballs start flying and grown men and women start screaming in pain and agony. The staff was quite friendly and helpful to beginners in our group. To first-timers, the sport often feels intimidating and the staff was really good at calming their nerves. We were provided with protective clothing and helmets in all our sizes. The clothes were cleaned and sterilized to ensure they were safe for use in line with COVID-19 health guidelines. However, shoes aren’t provided, so make sure you bring comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. The more friends you bring, the better, as you are divided into two teams. Team green and team black. The match lasts 1 hour 30 minutes at a cost of KSh1500 per person. Each person gets 150 paintballs and refills are KSh500 for 50 paintballs. The Arena is big and lined with obstacles which made it perfect for our long gunfights in Team Deathmatch. Which we lost, but deserved to win?. However, we got our revenge in capture the flag where our careful style of play and meticulous nature proved helpful due to the numerous obstacles that were good for cover. By the one hour mark, we were exhausted and could hardly run between cover. After finishing up our final match, we bandaged our wounds (Yes…. the paintballs can cause bruising) and ate some food in the mall overlooking the lake. The price is fair for the activity and I plan to return to Paintball Fury soon. I highly recommend Paint Ball Fury for the adrenaline junkies out there.

For film nerds, watching a movie on the big screen is the only right way to do it. And IMAX theatres are world renowned for their sound and picture quality. So, when “Spiderman: Far From Home” was released, we knew we had to experience it at Century IMAX – Garden City. Being the penny-pinching students we are?, we went on Thursday for the “Student Thursday” offer. The ticket prices were KSh500, and came with salted popcorn as an accompaniment. If you don’t have IMAX 3D glasses, you’ll be charged an extra KSh200. So, if you have IMAX 3D glasses at home remember to carry them. Our movie started at around 7pm, and as usual we arrived 5 minutes late. But luckily, we had bought our tickets online and went straight into the theatre. I strongly advice buying the tickets online, as the lines at the ticketing booth tend to get quite long, especially when a popular movie is playing. Movie tickets often sell out before the lines clear too. The atmosphere in the theatre was good with minimum disturbances and the theatre was clean. IMAX screens are usually big and Century IMAX didn’t disappoint. The staff often boast that it’s the biggest IMAX screen in Kenya. But in my opinion, the sound quality was the more impressive aspect of their theatre. Their speakers are the loudest and clearest theatre speakers I have ever heard. When the movie was finished, we were all impressed not only, by the movie, but also by the sound and picture quality of the theatre. I highly recommend Century IMAX to film nerds and audiophiles out there.