Forodhani Restaurant

My time at Forodhani Seafront Restaurant was one of the best highlights to my short stay Mombasa in the latter part of last year. The restaurant is located in Old Town Mombasa along Sir Mbarak Rd. My friends and I had gone on aini vacay to Mombasa and vowed to not leave for Nairobi before trying out the great food at the famous Forodhani restaurant. They have a cute little entrance at the side of their yellow coloured building which led into a narrow corridor. I was glad that they were keen on following covid guidelines since at the end of the corridor was a hand washing point and social distance markers on the floor to ensure even as one waits for the other to wash up, social distance is maintained. Upon entry, the first thing one sees is a marvellous view of the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean. The sitting arrangement is in two sections and one chooses if one wants a table near the water or on their upper floor a bit further away. We chose a table down the tiny wooden staircase near the water. The nice breeze since it is an open area felt really good because the heat in Mombasa can make body temperatures a bit unbearable. It has a simple cosy dining area and since it is a seafront restaurant the beautiful view of the waters completes the look perfectly. My favorite part about dining here was their delicious finger-licking swahili cuisines and seafood at affordable prices. We had their fish tikka, their food platter which is the best assorted seafood I’ve ever had, sides of rice and fries plus mishikaki . Their biriyani is also really good would 10/10 recommend. For a delicious satisfying meal for four, our bill added up to about Ksh 4600 including their mojitos. On your next trip to the coast don’t miss a chance to eat some nice swahili made dishes at the greatest seafront restaurant in Mombasa.

Located in Old Mombasa, just a few minutes from Fort Jesus at Sir Mbarak Hinawy Road. The perfect location to try the local cuisine. The entryway to the restaurant was majestic. The ocean view and the dining area was out of this world. Having late lunch by the ocean was the best thing about our trip. The customer service here is very good. This restaurant offers a variety of Swahili food. We decided to try the chicken biryani which goes for KES450 and tamarind juice which was KES250. Although it took some time for the food, it was so tasty and their portions were great. Their tamarind juice is the best I’ve had. We loved everything about this restaurant. We waited till sunset to leave. Something to note however is that they don’t open till 2 pm on a Friday so keep that in mind. There are a few parking spaces for the restaurant. I suggest getting an uber.

Forodhani is a seafront restaurant located just near the Old Port in Mombasa. The restaurant is open from 9am to 10pm so you can definitely have any meals from breakfast to dinner as you enjoy the beautiful and serene view of the ocean and The Marina in a distance plus ships slowly sailing on the ocean. However, the lack of proper sunshading strategies can cause the experience to be less enjoyable especially at high noon or thereabout. The restaurant specializes in Swahili cuisine while dabbling in a little bit of Indian cuisine. The menu is elaborate with quite friendly prices. My friend and I decided to have the chicken biryani and liked it. Each plate was about 500shs and the food was so satisfying as well. The service however was very slow! We waited for like 20 minutes before the order was taken and many more before we got the food! Another point to note is that the restaurant only serves halal food, and therefore would not be suitable to anyone who enjoys pork-based dishes and alcoholic drinks. But hey, it’s always fun to try new things. Plus you will enjoy their tamarind juice! Overall, the restaurant is just, okay. The most memorable thing here is the views!!!! Its worth the visit while in old town Mombasa.

It is located in old town, Mombasa, 200m from Fort Jesus. The walk to the restaurant is a treat in itself, with ancient buildings and stores containing amazing artifacts. The parking space is limited since the road leading to the restaurant is narrow so I would recommend taking an auto-rickshaw from town to the restaurant that costs 50 KES. The unique door of the restaurant is a handcrafted work of art and there is an alleyway leading to the lovely modern restaurant. I loved the spectacular view of the sea from the various sitting spots and the breeze on a hot afternoon is awesome. The menu offers a great selection of local cuisines including seafood and authentic Swahili juices for reasonable prices, and also a treat for the vegetarians. I had beef shawarma in pitta bread which costed 350 KES and the popular tamarind juice which costed 250 KES. I loved the taste of the meal and needless to say, I would go back to try out more dishes. It is usually so packed in the afternoon so the service is a bit slow, and the waiters were a bit disorderly. On Fridays, the restaurant is operational from 2pm so if you are considering having lunch there on Fridays be keen on the timing. I would recommend the place for a lunch date with colleagues, friends and family.

We had been planning to visit Forodhani restaurant during our vacation in Mombasa but we actually discovered it on accident during our exploration of Old Town, Mombasa. The path leading up to the restaurant is full of history and Swahili architecture and gorgeous Swahili doors. When you reach Forodhani there is a tunnel-like entry way into the restaurant. We had walked up to it however, if you are driving the parking space is on the side of the street. The view is quite breathtaking and we took it all in before we chose a place to sit. I would recommend this place from the view alone. I mean, how often do you get to dine while having a view of the Indian Ocean and beyond, Nyali town. I could not get enough pictures of the view. The staff were quite adequate and friendly and they helped us find a table in a quite packed restaurant since it was around lunch hour and the place is quite popular. My girlfriends and I were quite famished and I ordered the masala fries and they both had the biryani and tamarind juice. Tamarind juice is quite a staple is coast and you will find almost all restaurants have it on their menu. Despite being almost a full house, our food arrived quite promptly. The masala fries were quite spicy, which is just how I like all my food. The serving was adequate and I was stuffed after. My companions said their food was satisfactory as well, though not the best biryani they’d ever had. We had our juice while watching boats slowly move across the ocean and it was the most calming feeling. This restaurant is a place that you’d certainly want to visit everytime you’re on vacation because it never gets old and the experience is always exhilarating. I would rate it a 8/10.