Kenya's bar scene will surprise you!
Kenya is booming, with its bar and dining scene thriving like never before
Kenya has long been famous for its natural wildlife and breathtaking safaris! But in recent years, the East African nation has also earned a well-deserved reputation for the quality of its other 'water holes' - places where you can enjoy cold cocktails and imported wines.
From Nairobi's suburbs and Mount Kenya's slopes to Mombasa's beaches and Lamu Island, Kenya offers a range of options, from hotels and restaurants to independent gems. The scene spans from urban chic and beachfront vibes, to simple local choices or upscale spots evoking the golden age of safari travel.
01
Zebar (Nanyuki)
Founded in 1959 by Hollywood heartthrob William Holden, this chic salon at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club is located on the outskirts of Nanyuki and has hosted more than its fair share of celebrities over the years.
You can enjoy a cocktail with a view of snow-capped Mount Kenya from the terrace. As the name suggests, the design is all about stripes, zebra-print fabrics and African artwork inspired by horses. The bartender makes a great safari cocktail, a frozen margarita-like concoction of vodka, pineapple and mint.
02
Tamarind Clifftop Terrace (Mombasa)
Another oldie but goodie, the Tamarind Bar offers amazing views of the old town on the other side of Mombasa Creek, great view! Scottish single malt whisky is the house specialty, a shelf that includes the 10-year-old Talisker, the 12-year-old Cragganmore and the 12-year-old Glenkinchie. The menu also includes some specialties, such as the whisky-roasted Kenyan quail and the Amarula crème brûlée.
The local cocktails are also exquisite, especially the Mamba Venom, a “deadly” mix of tequila, tabasco and sambuca.Tamarind also offers daily lunch and sundowner cruises on a traditional wooden dhow sailboat.
03
The Champagne Bar (Nairobi)
Cool. At the Sankara Design Hotel in Westlands, an intimate space with sofa seating around low tables and a few stools alongside a beautiful palm wood bar, hand-carved by local artist and furniture maestro Marc van Rampelberg.
Order a bottle of Krug or Taittinger and drink your bubbly neat, or ask the mixologist for one of his latest champagne cocktail creations; the bar holds a champagne ritual every evening at six o'clock.
04
Forty Thieves - Forty Thieves (Diani)
Since the 1970s, this dive bar on Diani Beach has been a long-standing meeting place for locals and out-of-towners alike, and a cold Tusker on the terrace is the standard activity during daylight hours. After dark, the action shifts to a dance floor where celebrity DJs and live bands keep the groove going until well after midnight.
The bar also serves “tiki” cocktails. Forty Thieves hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including a waterfront music festival and a beach-touch rugby tournament.
05
Peponi Bar (Lamu)
A throwback to another time, the cozy little bar at the Peponi Hotel on Lamu Island has been serving up great drinks - and even better stories - for half a century.
A long-standing rendezvous of deep-sea fishermen, safari fans and Africans. The bar is also an ideal place to spend an afternoon reading a book and watching the dhows sail past from your deck chair on the terrace by the water.
Grab an Old Pal (the house cocktail of whisky, vermouth and Campari) and wander barefoot down the talcum-powder-fine Shela Beach.
06
The Alchemist (Nairobi)
This Westlands hotspot combines drinks, music, fashion, food and art in an electrifying outdoor space that feels more like an open-air fair than a traditional nightclub.
Launched in January 2016 by a young Californian, the venue shares its large outdoor courtyard with other cutting-edge multicultural facilities such as a music studio, Mama Rock's 'African Style' food truck and a double-decker London bus converted into an art space.
Special events range from art shows and farmers' markets to DJ parties and "Game of Thrones" evenings.
Ask the barman for a Campari Negroni and slide onto one of the blue sofas, while observing the comings and goings of the Kenyan city-dwellers
07
Hemingways (Nairobi)
The elegant lounge bar at Hemingways Hotel offers a friendly atmosphere similar to the Muthaiga Country Club, and other colonial remnants.
Only here you don't have to be a member. One of Nairobi's best wine cellars has a large selection of South African, South American, European and Californian wines.
Cognacs and single malts are other specialties. And as a tribute to the bar's namesake, the mojitos are the best you will drink on this continent.
With black leather armchairs, a marble fireplace and black and white photos of the famous author.
08
Long Bar and Star Lounge (Watamu)
Located in the Medina Palms Resort, the indoor bar and its open-air rooftop bar bring a little bit of Dubai to the Kenyan coast.
The cocktail menu is long and delicious, a mix of global favorites and local concoctions like the Dawa (vodka, honey and lime), the turquoise Aqua Medina Vodka Martini, the Watamu Rum Punch and the East Coast Cooler (wild turkey, maple syrup and fresh lime).
The dreamy Star Lounge is also equipped with water pipes and a large selection of North African shisha flavors.
For those who don't like alcoholic drinks, the Long Bar has a comprehensive selection of mocktails
09
Champagne & Fishbowls (Nairobi)
At this round bar next to the Seven Seafood & Grill restaurant, you can ignore the upscale champagnes and martinis, and go straight for the delicious ice cocktails at this small bar on the west side.
Made with locally produced vanilla ice cream, the selection includes the famous Amaretto-infused Strawberry Shortcake, the must have cocktail made with Baileys and mint liqueur, among many others.
As the name suggests, the menu is also filled with unusual maritime drinks such as the bright red Piranha and a tequila beer mix called Seven's Tsunami.
10
Choice's Pub (Nairobi)
Cool tunes, pool tables, pub grub and cold beer highlight this Kenyan version of a sports bar near the national stadium in Nairobi.
Live acts from all over Kenya take to the stage every Thursday, while Mondays are dedicated to relaxation and conversation, Wednesdays to soul music and weekends to DJ parties.
On the sporting side, the bar shows live broadcasts of English Premier League soccer matches and Formula 1 races.