Joining us in Nairobi? Check out this selected list of restaurants, shopping centers, museums and wildlife sanctuaries that you can fit into your visit.
Events, Nightlife and Exhibitions during AfriCHI week
To easily find events and places to visit that are tailored to your interests, visit www.ticketsasa.com
or
http://www.kenyabuzz.com/nairobi, (the Kenya Buzz app is available on the Android App store).
or
http://whats-on-nairobi.com/
Restaurants & Lounges
Within close distance to Kempinsky Hotel
Kempinsky hotel is located in the Westlands suburb of Nairobi. Westlands is a bustling entertainment and business area with plenty of hotels, restaurants, cafes, night spots and shopping malls.
To search for restaurants and lounges in Westlands, visit the websites below:
www.eatout.co.ke
www.hellofood.co.ke
Specialty restaurants further afield.
| $$$$ | Talisman | Trendy, global eclectic cuisine. Ambient bar. Lovely garden. | 320 Ngong Road, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya
Tue-Sun 11:00am-11:00pm |
| $$$ | Carnivore | Africa’s favorite place to sample real game meat, such as crocodile, camel and ostrich, Carnivore has been voted one of the world’s 50 best restaurants by the UK magazine Restaurant. All night disco at the Simba Salon next door | Langata Road, Near Wilson Airport
8 Open Daily 12:00-3:00 & 6:30-11:00 |
| $$$ | Simba Salon & Nightclub | Kenya’s most popular nightclub and disco doubles up as a casual family style restaurant by day, with Brick oven pizza and salads. Features a Live band, creative entertainment, a well stocked bar and dancing. Where else can you find a family friendly playground and an all night disco? | Located next door to Carnivore.
Daily 12:00noon-4:00pm & 6:30pm-10: 30pm |
| $$$ | Tamambo Village Market | African inspired European/global cuisine with
Light menu for lunch. Lovely setting in upscale mall. |
Upper level, Village Market, Gigiri,
9 Open daily 11:am-11:00pm |
| $$ | Tamarind & Tamambo Karen Blixen | African inspired, global eclectic cuisine. Next door to the famous Karen Blixen Museum. | Karen Blixen Coffee Garden, Karen Road.
9 Open daily 7:30pm-10: 30pm |
Souvenir Shopping
| $ | Maasai open air market | Named for the Maasai women who started it, this vibrant, colorful, open-air mobile market has grown to include curios, fabrics, shoes and art from all over the country. In many cases the actual artists who created them sell the items. Visit with a friend. Bargain for best prices. Before going, read up on Maasai Market do’s and don’ts posted in Jua Kali Diaries by The Kenyan Poet here | Recommended days to visit:
Thursday – The Junction Mall, off Ngong road, near Dagoretti corner Friday – The Village market along Limuru road Sunday -Yaya Center along Valley Road in Hurlingham Open 9:00-6:00. |
| $ | City Market | Located downtown, The City Market is a colorful place to mix and mingle with locals shopping for anything from the freshest groceries on the planet, to fabrics and curios. Multiple stalls. Visit with a local friend or have your driver accompany you. | Muindi Mbingu St., Nairobi
Mon-Sat 8:00am-4:00pm |
| $ | Biashara Street | This is historically the fabric merchant district of Nairobi. Go with a friend and have your driver wait for you. You will fall in love with Kenyan traditional fabrics, and Biashara street will be your place to buy large quantities of Kikoi, Lesso and Maasai blankets to take back home to family and friends. A few shops carry inexpensive carvings and batik (beautiful hand painted wall-hangings). | Biashara Street, Down Town Business District.
Best visited Mon-Fri 10:00-4:00. |
| $$ | Spinners’ Web | A fine craft and gift shop featuring the famous Weaverbird fabrics. Some pottery and soft furnishings. | Getathuru Gardens off Peponi Road below Sarit Centre;
|
| $$ | Utamaduni Craft Center | Enjoy lunch and then do some real souvenir shopping in this relaxing Arcade that is set away from the hassle and bustle of the city. | Bogani Road East, Off Langata South Road.
Open daily 9:00am-6:00pm |
| $$$ | Kitengela Hot Glass | World-class quality glass artifacts made by 100% Kenyan glass makers. Watch blowing demos daily at this quaint glass factory. Reduced demo hours on weekends. Also features an outlet store at the upscale Village Market Mall in Gigiri. | Off Maasai Lodge/Magadi Rd, near Ongata Rongai, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel. Open daily 8:00am-5:00pm. |
| $$$ | Village Market | Home to several upscale craft markets as well as the famous open air Maasai Market on Fridays, Village Market is Kenya’s unique answer to the Mall experience. Restaurants, food court, pharmacy, and grocery store. | Limuru Road, Gigiri.
Open daily 8:30am-10:30pm |
| $$$ | Marula Studios, the Eco-Hub. | A must for the environmentally conscious. Bright gift shop with eco friendly art made out of recycled and found flip-flops. | Marula Lane, Karen area.
Mon-Sat 9:00am-5:00pm. |
Museums & Art Centers
| $ | National Museum | Open 365 days, the National museum offers a glimpse of Kenyan history in a tranquil setting. Lovely botanical gardens.
Gift shop. |
Museum Hill, Chiromo, Westlands.
Open daily 8:30am-5:30pm |
| $ | Karen Blixen museum | This picturesque museum was once the home of Karen Von Blixen, on whom the movie “Out of Africa” is based. A must for fans of Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Arrive early to avoid the disappointment. Gift shop. | Karen, Nairobi. 10 miles from city center.
Open daily 9:30am-6:00pm. (Can get crowded. Visitors encouraged to arrive early) |
| $ | Africa Heritage House | Treat your senses to the art, culture and heritage of Africa at this monumental house, built out of mud from all over Africa. With a view of Nairobi game park, it can be difficult to find. Call in advance for reservations and to tour the property. Tour comes with tea. Offers lunch and dinner. Visit to support a great cause: rumor has it that the historic house is up for demolition. | Mombasa Road.
Call to book a tour. |
| $ | Nairobi Gallery & Museum | Home of the famous Murumbi African Heritage Art Collection, a legacy of the late Vice President Murumbi, this museum of African history in art is conveniently located on the Kenyatta/Uhuru highway junction. Visit to support a great cause. | Corner Kenyatta Avenue & Uhuru Highway, Nairobi, Kenya,
Call for hours. |
| $$ | Matbronze Art Gallery & Foundry | Sculptures and bronze works by leading artists. Demos available. Items for sale. | 2 Kifaru Lane, Nairobi, Kenya
, Call for hours. |
| $$ | Shifteye Gallery | Contemporary African art. Trendy and new to the Nairobi art scene. Items for sale. | The Priory Place, Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi, Kenya
Call for hours. |
Wildlife Sanctuaries
| $$ | Nairobi Safari Park and Safari Walk | This is the safari park in the city. For best chances to see animals arrive before the park opens at 6:00 am. Animals tend to take shelter from the sun in the heat of the day, making sightings harder after 8:00am. | Bookings can be made through your hotel. Allow at least ½ day for this activity.
$50 per person non resident entrance fees Open daily from 6:00am till sunset. |
| $ | Elephant Orphanage | The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) Elephant Nursery in Nairobi National Park provides a safe haven to orphaned baby elephants rescued by the DSWT. Arrive early to beat the crowds. | Mbagathi Road, at the entrance of Nairobi Safari Park.
|
| $ | Giraffe Center | The center breeds the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes and works towards conservation literacy skills for Kenyan children and visitors. | Duma Road, Karen.
Open daily 9:00-5:00 Entrance fees |