Recently my friend Hazel, who is from Mombasa, made us maharagwe ya nazi for dinner and I must say a curry dish has never been more delicious. I am never not pleased by how she whips up coconut-flavoured curries while donning a dera which is a free-flowing dress that is quite popular along the Coast. My culinary experience with Coastal dishes has been quite delightful; I especially love the generous portions in Swahili restaraunts and how they sit communal-style while dining and have several shared plattters.
Mombasa is a coastal city located along the shores of the Indian Ocean. It is also one of the capital cities of Kenya and a popular tourist destination owed to its sandy beaches and summer weather throughout the year. It is personally one of my favourite coastal towns because of its rich history and beautiful views. The architectural designs of the buildings in Mombasa are heavily influenced by Arabs who initially occupied the town when they arrived to trade and the native Swahili people. One may appreciate this in the intricate details in their doors and furniture in their restaurants. The buildings are mostly painted white and blue, which is characteristic of the coastal town.
The food in Mombasa is mainly Swahili food cooked by Swahili people. Their culture is very evident in their food preparation such that if one tries to replicate the recipes, you simply cannot achieve the same results. The recipes are passed on from generation to generation via verbal communication and community interaction. It is encouraged to eat with your hands and some older Coastal dining areas serve food on low-placed dining tables or on the floor on a designated carpeted area which is very similar to the Chinese culture.
Most of the restaurants in Mombasa have ocean views and a beachfront which elevates your dining experience. Their delicacies include Swahili dishes such as biryani, pilau, shawarma and mahamri just to name a few. Restaurants in Mombasa also serve delicious seafood platters making the town a perfect destination for the ultimate culinary experience.
1.Forodhani Seafront Restaurant
Forodhani Restaurant is located at the heart of Old Town Mombasa and is named after the old port of Mombasa. Forodhanit sits on the very shores of the Indian Ocean overlooking the vast waters thus offering a marvellous view of both Old Town Mombasa and the Indian Ocean. Besides benefitting from an exceptional setting, Forodhani Restaurant offers a wide range of cuisines mostly specializing in authentic Indian cuisines, traditional Swahili dishes, and fresh seafood. Forodhani Restaurant opens at 0900hrs and their food prices are quite affordable therefore a meal at the restaurant’s terrace is definitely a worthwhile experience in Mombasa. Their menu is quite extensive and offers great options at affordable prices for meals from as low as $4.
2.BARKA RESTAURANT
The Barka restaurant is a spacious but enclosed well-known Swahili restaurant located on Makadara Rd, Mvita in Old Town Mombasa. The dine-in restaurant is often a go-to option for people around the Mombasa CBD and became more popular after President Uhuru randomly stopped by to have some of their tasty Swahili cuisines for lunch. The food prices on their menu range from $4.5 to $6 with their portions quite satisfying therefore a great lunch or dinner option during your stay at the coast. Barka Restaurant is most famous for their shawarmas which is Swahili for grilled meat on skewers. Barka Restaurant opens as early as 0730hrs and is, therefore, a great place to grab some breakfast as well.
3.CHAR-CHOMA RESTAURANT
Char-Choma Restaurant is a beautiful and secluded bar and grill located off the Mombasa-Malindi highway. Charchoma is a seafront restaurant with its spacious dining area offering a breathtaking view of the ocean therefore attracting so many customers. Char-Choma Restaurant has a huge pool therefore quite convenient since a dip in the ever-existent Mombasa heat is almost always a welcome option. Charchoma specializes in African cuisine, barbecues and Swahili dishes with their separate bar being a plus. A decent meal at Char-Choma Restaurant ranges from $5 to $50 thus quite pocket friendly. The restaurant opens at 0700 hours but their lunches and dinners are most preferred. The place also offers a great view of the sunset therefore it is definitely a place to consider as a beautiful date or anniversary option.
4.Tamarind Dhow Restaurant
Tamarind Dhow restaurant is one of the finest seafood restaurants in Mombasa. The beautiful Arabic-themed restaurant is a dine-in restaurant whose menu features a blend of French, Indian and African cuisines. The two signature dishes of the Tamarind are their grilled lobster and their chilli crab. The elegant white building has a terrace perched on a cliff overlooking the waters and offers a breathtaking view of the Old Mombasa Harbour. The Tamarind restaurant can host a huge capacity of people of well over 100 thus offers a great venue for large dinners and it’s beautiful lawn a great place to host office and cocktail parties.
5.THE FORT SEAFOOD RESTAURANT AND PIZZERIA
This beautiful restaurant is located on Nkuruma Rd directly opposite the entrance to Fort Jesus, Mombasa hence its name. With Mombasa being the “home” of seafood, the Fort Seafood restaurant is definitely the place to try the best fresh, traditional, coastal seafood cuisines in town. The restaurant is famous for its signature Chef King Prawns usually served with tangy garlic butter sauce. Their Seafood platter which serves two that entails grilled lobster, Calamari, Red snapper fillet, King prawns and fresh cuts is a crowd favourite and one of their most popular dish. Moreover, their Highland beef fillet is also a crowd pleaser and definitely something to try out.
Their menu is all-inclusive having even Vegetarian options available. Their pizzeria section offers deals on Tuesdays and Thursdays whereby one gets two pizzas for the price of one so a visit there on a Tuesday or Saturday during your trip will have you in luck. Their food prices range from as low as $2 to $45 and their opening time from 10 a.m to 10 p.m.
6.OCEANIC SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
This is a new Mombasa-based restaurant located at Tudor estate that has gained popularity among the locals. The proximity of this restaurant to the Mombasa CBD makes its location quite convenient. Oceanic Seafood Restaurant specializes in seafood, Swahili and oriental cuisines. Their seafood platter is especially popular entailing a mix of a variety of sea fish included in the meal. These include lobsters, oysters, octopus, calamari, crabs, fish fillet and prawns. The dining area although enclosed is quite spacious with a beautiful interior. The restaurant opens from 0700hrs to 2300hrs thus the perfect place for that late-night dinner.
7.SHEHNAI RESTAURANT
Shehnai restaurant is located at Fatemi House on Mfangano Street and is one of the oldest restaurants in Mombasa marking over 36 years since it was first opened. Shehnai is an Indian restaurant and therefore specializes in Northern Indian cuisine hence their tasty, piquant and savoury dishes will shock your tastebuds. The restaurant also offers BBQ, vegetarian-friendly and glutten free food options in their Moreover, besides Indian Cuisine the restaurant also offers seafood options in their menu. Their food prices are quite affordable with their food ranging from as low as $8 to $30-$40. The restaurant, however, does not open on Mondays and has a strict opening and closing times during the week. Shehnai restaurant opens at 11:30 a.m every day and closes at 3:30 a.m then opens later in the day at 6:30 p.m to close later at 9:30 p.m. Its location in the Mombasa CBD makes it a convenient option for anyone around this area.
8.SEA HAVEN RESTAURANT
Sea Haven restaurant is a seafood restaurant located along the Shanzu Mombasa Malindi Road. It is a beautiful dine-in restaurant that can be considered a hidden gem since it is a 21 minute drive from Mombasa Town. The dining area offers a picturesque view of the ocean below offering a fine breeze in the Mombasa heat. This restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood and their ginger crab is quite popular. Besides seafood, Sea Haven also offers a wide array of other specialities e.g oriental curries, fish, steaks and also desserts like icecream. This elegant restaurant overlooking the Indian Ocean also has a fully stocked bar to compliment their mouthwatering cuisines. Opening time for this restaurant from 11 a.m to 7:30 pm.
9.THE MOORINGS RESTAURANT
The Moorings restaurant is one of the most unique restaurants in Eastern African because it is one of the few floating restaurants on the East African shorelines. Being one of the oldest restaurants in Mombasa, this place is set on the Mtwapa Creek in the Northern Coast giving a magnificent view of the emerald green waters of the Indian Ocean, mangroves that endow the waters and the quaint cottages of the Mtwapa residents. The Moorings has an extensive menu that offers the best local seafood dishes including prawns, lobsters and crab. The traditional dhow setting of the restaurant with its beautiful waterfront view makes this place perfect for a chill evening with a few friends or the perfect romantic dinner.
10.YUL’S RESTAURANT.
Yul’s Restaurant is a simple but elegant restaurant situated on the beachfront of the famous Bamburi Beach. Its location on the white sandy beaches of Bamburi gives it a marvellous view of the beach and amazing ambience. Yul’s offers freshly grilled seafood, pizzas, pasta and a wide range of mouthwatering cuisines with some ice cream to cool off in the Mombasa heat. What sets Yul’s Restaurant apart from the other restaurants is that since it is located on the beachfront, you can indulge in a variety of beach activities of your choice as you wait for your meal or afterwards. Activities here include jet-skiing and windsurfing. Opening hours at Yul’s Aquadrom are from 12 p.m to 8 p.m.
10 BEST SAFARI TOURS IN KENYA.
TOP 10 HISTORICAL SITES AND MONUMENTS IN NAIROBI, KENYA.
TOP 10 NATIONAL PARKS WITHIN AND NEAR NAIROBI.
TOP 10 SAFARI LODGES IN KENYA.
TOP 10 THINGS KENYA IS FAMOUS FOR.
TOP TEN GLAMPING SITES IN KENYA.
I am a bubbly extroverted 25 year old currently living and studying in Nairobi. I enjoy travelling and trying out new places to eat. My favourite place to be is anywhere by the beach, with a beer. You will most likely find me with my nose in a book or dining alone, like most extroverts do, of course.
I am a bubbly extroverted 25 year old currently living and studying in Nairobi. I enjoy travelling and trying out new places to eat. My favourite place to be is anywhere by the beach, with a beer. You will most likely find me with my nose in a book or dining alone, like most extroverts do, of course.
){kind=link}