1. Bomas Of Kenya
Bomas of Kenya breathes culture. There is a restaurant that serves all the national specialties and you will find a group of dancers who are happy to introduce you to the Kenyan dance and music traditions. Check their website to see when there are performances and how to reserve a ticket.
2. Sofar
If you happen to be in Nairobi when there is also a Sofar sound planned, you should not miss it! These are self-organized concerts in people’s homes. You pay an entrance fee and can then enjoy music and culture in a different place.
3. Karura forest
Go to the Karura Forest.
to leave the hustle and bustle of Nairobi behind you. Put on some music and lose yourself in the beautiful nature that lies in the middle of the city. You can follow different paths here and the green trees tower high above you. During your walk you will occasionally come across small waterfalls and meandering monkeys and otherwise it is nice and quiet.
1. Naivasha
For all the families: Lake Naivasha. Easily reached from Nairobi by car, or adventurous by matatu. Take a boat trip while watching large hippos lunch on the shore and spot the beautiful birds flying by. Don’t forget to make a stop at Hell’s Gate National Park, where you can cycle through. Move across the plains on your mountain bike while the zebras walk along with you for a while and the giraffes leisurely eat the leaves from the trees.
2. Taita Hills
The Taita Hills! Maybe a bit far for a weekend, but absolutely worth it! Put on your hiking boots, go into the mountains, enjoy the greenery and go for an active weekend away. When you finally reach that breathtaking top, you can abseil down and reward yourself with an ice-cold Tuskertje! Moped through the region and be sure to check out this article for more tips.
3. Lake Oloiden
Sunsets at Lake Oloiden! This is the smaller brother of Lake Naivasha, but just as beautiful! Zebras and monkeys hide between all the trees and as night falls, the sound of crickets swells and the sun provides a red glow. Need I say more?
4. Magadi
Jump (on the back) of the motorbike and let the otherworldly Magadi guide you. Tear through the desert and wrestle with the soft sand under your tires. Along the way, eating sand takes on a whole new meaning! Once you arrive at Lake Natron, great! Make a campfire, roast sausages, have a beer and stare at those stars. Trust me, you won’t want to leave after one night.
1. Nairobi city tour
Our own Nairobi city tour! Together with a group of people who grew up in the city center of Nairobi, you will discover the city on foot and hear the most special stories.
2. Toi Market
10 minutes from the CBD you have Toi Market: a kilometers long second-hand market where you can find all kinds of nice things for next to nothing. Lots of clothes, but also suitcases, souvenirs, tasty snacks for on the road or other nice accessories. Please note: if you wear white shoes, they may look more orange after all the shopping, because of the dusty streets. After your visit to Toi Market, you can go a little further to Unseen in Kilimani. This is a trendy rooftop bar where you can eat delicious food, have a drink, or go to one of the indie films in their own cinema.
3. Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is skipped by many and that is a shame! Especially if you have little time to go on safari, this is the place to go. With the skyline of Nairobi in the background (which sometimes leads to bizarre photos) you will find roaring lions, herds of zebras and several rhino families.
A bit creepy perhaps, but also very interesting: the old cemetery with a war cemetery, a Jewish place and a former colonial cemetery. Special to stop and think about…
Nairobi is a hyper modern city in many ways! You don’t have to worry that the extensive selection of food that we are used to in the Netherlands is not available here. From sushi to steak and from nyama choma to pizza. This upcoming metropolis has a lot to offer in the culinary field. But we at Charlie’s Travels do believe that you have to have eaten Kenyan food at least once before you can indulge in the luxury of this eclectic mix of restaurants. Because let’s be honest, you can’t come home and tell your family and friends that you only ate Spaghetti Bolognese.
1. Njuguna’s
According to Nairobians, the best place for nyama Choma (Barbeque meat). Start with some samosas and order some skumawiki and kachumbari in addition to this tasty meat. Yes, now you are a real Kenyan! Then some ugali or chapatis to slide all this deliciousness down your throat and you’re done. If you really want to end this experience well, order a cold Tusker. Yes, a COLD one. Kenyans are not too fond of cold drinks, so they will ask you with every drink you order whether you want it cold or warm.
2. Trattoria
This is quite a crazy experience, in the middle of the Central Business District of Nairobi you will find this old, slightly yellowed Italian. From the terrace you will be amazed! The always busy streets of CBD are full of Boda bodas and honking cars that are slaloming on their way to their next destination. Never “A dull moment” here! You would not expect it but the Italian cuisine here is sublime! If you close your eyes you will imagine yourself in sunny Tuscany.
3. Talisman
Talisman is known as one of the best restaurants in Nairobi. And this is not without reason. Talisman is located in Karen, one of the more chic neighborhoods of Nairobi. A bit more expensive but you really get what you pay for. Fantastic service that will serve you at your beck and call and a great mix of European, Asian and African food. Have a nice meal in the garden and try the samosas while enjoying a cocktail. Romantic holiday for two? Take your sweetheart here!
4. Le Grenier À Pain
The French bakery and therefore the freshest croissants you can imagine, apple pie and excellent coffee.
5. Wasp & Sprout
The very, very hippest place in Nairobi. Beautiful sofas made of kitenge fabric, coloured walls and even a racing bike on the wall. For those who miss the Netherlands, the place to watch handsome bearded men while sipping your soya latte. Upstairs there is a super nice shop with gadgets, a bit pricey but definitely worth it.
6. Nook
Nook is a mini lunchroom in Kilimani. The Australian chef serves something different every day and absolutely everything you eat here is home made! In addition, it is a nice bonus that the chef is married to a Dutchman. So if you are lucky, sometimes there are even cheese soufflés or bitterballen on the menu!
7. Haandi
Haandi is a North Indian restaurant and therefore serves a lot of Biryanis, ‘VEG’ and with meat, palak and curries. They also have a tandoori, the famous Indian oven, to lick your fingers, this chicken or fish!!
8. Chowpaty
Only Vegetarian Hindu! Start your day here with a Tahli or taste Kerala in the Dosas that they serve here.
9. Abyssinia
In the posh Spring Valley you will find Abyssinnia. Ethiopia has without a doubt the best cuisine in East Africa and so a visit to Nairobi is not complete without a dinner at this hidden gem in the Kenyan capital. And a lot cheaper than most on this list.
10. Silk noodles
Yes yes yes, the hype has even flown over to Nairobi. Here you can eat delicious homemade noodles in a bath of fresh home-made broth. What more could you want?
11. About Thyme
Cosy, romantic, intimate. Take your loved one with you and eat in the garden next to a crackling wood fire. This top restaurant in Westland is not cheap, but has an original menu, with mainly good meat. The desserts are sublime; I’m going to eat 5-course desserts here next time…
12. River Cafe Karura
The place where you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee or a bite to eat after your walk through the forest. River Café Karura also organizes fun things for children on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. You can then put your kids to work on a piece of paper and enjoy a low-fat salad or fajita yourself. The wine is good here.
No streets or squares with terraces here, but the malls in Nairobi are surrounded by fences. The mall is the place for the Kenyan middle class to relax for a day. After you get out of the Uber, you put your phone and bag in the security bin. Then you can walk through one of the security gates, while a smiling security guard welcomes you warmly. That’s how it goes; shopping in Kenya.
Nairobi has several malls, the best known are Westgate, The Hub and Village Market. Nairobi is a bustling metropolis, but streets or squares with terraces are almost non-existent here. If you still feel like sipping your cappuccino after an intense motorcycle safari through the Masai Mara, then you’ve come to the right place. In every mall you will find a Java House, the Kenyan version of the Coffee Company. In addition, you can always go here for your slightly overpriced last-minute souvenirs.
These are some of Nairobi’s larger malls
The Hub, Karen: A huge complex with a courtyard where dozens of kids in their best clothes drive around in electric cars on Sundays.
The Village Market: Every Friday morning there is a real Masai market where you can buy the most beautiful souvenirs.
Sarit Centre: In the early sixties, after Kenya became independent, two Indians opened a school book shop. Eventually this grew into a large mall where you can now find everything.
Westgate: Well-known from the news. In September 2013 a major attack took place here. Militias of the Somali Al-Shabaab entered the shopping centre shooting. This resulted in 68 deaths and more than 175 injuries. Now open again.
Diamond Plaza: Imagine yourself in India for a moment! Here you can eat delicious Indian food at Chowpati or book a relaxing yoga lesson at the Africa Yoga Project.
Masai Market
The Masai market differs per day. Below is a list of where you can find it on which day.
Tuesday: Kijabe Street
Wednesday: Capital Centre
Thursday: Junction Mall
Friday: Village Market
Saturday: City Hallway
Sunday: Yaya Centre
Shopping outside the malls
Don’t feel like going to heavily secured malls, but want the real Nairobi shopping experience? Then visit Toi Market. We mentioned this market a bit earlier: this is a Walhalla for vintage gems.
Africa is booming. This isn’t the first time we’ve tried to get this message across, and it certainly won’t be the last. To show hipsters around the world how it’s done, we present to you: Nairobi, the East African urban paradise. These are the places to go if you’re young and creative and happen to live in the Kenyan capital. This week: the first of five urban hotspots.
1. The Goethe Institute Kenya
The Goethe Institut is a global German institute, primarily focused on teaching German language and culture to other parts of the world. The Kenyan institution is also known for its cultural activities. In collaboration with young artists and independent cultural enterprises, they organize a wide range of activities focusing on the latest generation of African music, film and art. Keep an eye on their Facebook to see what events are coming up!
2. Nairobi Garage
Start-ups! Co-working! If you’re a millennial, it’s hard not to get excited when these terms are thrown around. Nairobi Garage is Nairobi’s co-working space. For a small monthly fee, Kenya’s future has a place to develop their concepts while creating and/or expanding their network in the capital. With open co-working spaces, closed conference rooms, fast WiFi, and most importantly: free coffee, it’s no wonder that the majority of Nairobi’s young and creative scene is based here.
3. East African Soul Train (E.A.S.T.)
Kenya’s railway system, stretching from Mombasa to Kisumu, was strategically built in the late 19th century. Originally intended to help the British maintain control over ‘their’ lands, it now plays host to E.A.S.T: an annual creative event where talented East African artists travel the historic route.
4. Wasp & Sprout
Wasp & Sprout has recreated the classic ‘hipster coffee shop style’ and given it an African twist: we can cross ‘bicycle hanging on the wall’, ‘use of industrial materials’ and ‘retro furniture’ off our list. But while one visit is enough to keep your hipster level up for a while, there’s more to this dynamic café than meets the eye. In Nairobi, where most coffee shops are part of a larger group, W&S is a unique gem where you could easily (and happily) order half the menu. In addition to cappuccinos, they create their own interior design collection and offer a platform for local artists to showcase their art. In short: this is where you go for your coffee with a portion of cake and cultural stimuli.
5. Blankets & Wine
The idea is simple: bring a bottle of wine, a picnic basket and a blanket. Combine these three attributes with a music program consisting entirely of young African talent, and a formula is born. Repeat this every first Sunday of the month until you become an East African legend. Muthoni Ndonga came up with the idea, called it Blankets & Wine, and the rest is history. Blankets & Wine soon moved from Nairobi to Uganda, and this year makes its debut in Rwanda. Wherever B&W goes (or will go), the program remains true to the environment it inhabits. What started as a platform for the promotion of Kenyan music has grown into an Africa-wide event focusing on regional arts, literature, music, fashion and theatre.
