Kilimani is one of the best places in Nairobi to eat out, and one of the hardest to choose from. Argwings Kodhek Road, Lenana Road, Galana Road and the streets around Yaya Centre hold Ethiopian, Lebanese, French, Japanese, Swahili and steakhouse kitchens within a few minutes of each other. The best restaurants in Kilimani are not all in one style, so this guide sorts them by what you need on the night rather than by a single ranking.
Every restaurant below has a confirmed Kilimani address. Nairobi restaurants change menus, hours and sometimes owners, so check with the restaurant before you set off, especially for a special occasion.
For a meal to share with friends
Habesha, Argwings Kodhek Road. A long-established Ethiopian restaurant in a converted house, near the Elgeyo Marakwet Road junction. Food arrives on large platters of injera, the soft Ethiopian flatbread, with stews and grilled meats spooned on top, so it suits a table of four or more. Ask for the traditional coffee ceremony at the end of the meal, when the coffee is roasted, ground and brewed in front of you. It has vegetarian and vegan options, outdoor seating and parking, and it takes M-Pesa.
Yejoka Garden, Wood Avenue. Another Ethiopian and African favourite, just off Argwings Kodhek Road, with a garden, a bar and live music on some nights. It works as well for a long lunch as for an evening out.
Kilimani and the streets around it have one of the highest concentrations of Ethiopian restaurants in Nairobi, so if you enjoy these two, there are plenty more to try nearby.
For a family lunch
Cedars, Lenana Road. Lebanese cooking in a quiet garden setting, open every day from 8:00 in the morning. Order a spread of mezze, the small dishes that make up a Lebanese meal, and let everyone share. With mezze platters, barbecue and seafood on the menu, there is something for everyone at the table. Cedars also runs free delivery.
Ankole Grill, Galana Road. A grill and steakhouse on the ground floor of Senteu Plaza, which describes its style as a steakhouse meeting a West African cookshop. Expect grilled meats alongside dishes such as Swahili coconut curry, served on an open-air terrace. It opens early every day, and has vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
For a date or a celebration
Five Senses, Galana Plaza, off Galana Road. A “casual fine dining” restaurant on the second floor of Galana Plaza, cooking with French techniques and Kenyan ingredients. It is the kind of place to book for an anniversary or a birthday. It opens Monday to Saturday from 11:00 in the morning to 11:00 at night and has free, secure parking on the ground floor and in the basement.
Mezze on the Deck, Four Points by Sheraton, Argwings Kodhek Road. A rooftop restaurant at the Four Points Hurlingham hotel, serving Lebanese and Mediterranean food with sweeping views over the city. It is listed as open every day from 12:30 in the afternoon to 10:30 at night, so it works for lunch as well as dinner.
Crave, Zarafa Towers, Ring Road Kilimani. One of the most highly rated restaurants in Nairobi on Tripadvisor, with a broad menu running from steaks and seafood to pasta, pastries and specialty coffee. Its long listed opening hours, from early morning to late at night, mean it works for breakfast meetings as well as a late dinner.
For breakfast and coffee
Kilimani starts early. Crave is listed as opening at 6:00 in the morning, which makes it a handy spot for a breakfast meeting before the traffic builds. Cedars opens at 8:00 every day and its garden is a calm place for a slow weekend breakfast. For a quick coffee, Java House has several branches across Kilimani’s commercial strips, and the side streets off Lenana Road and Denis Pritt Road have smaller specialty coffee shops serving Kenyan and Ethiopian beans.
What to expect to pay
Most of the restaurants in this guide sit in the mid-range. Tripadvisor lists Habesha, Ankole Grill and Yejoka Garden as moderate to mid-priced, while Crave is listed as fine dining and Five Senses describes itself as casual fine dining. Prices change often, so look at the latest menu online or ask for one before you order for a large group.
For something different
- Karai, Rose Avenue. Indian and Swahili cooking side by side, from biryani and tandoori chicken to fish curry, with outdoor seating. It reflects the coastal and South Asian influences found across Kenyan food.
- Shokudo Japanese Café, Lenana Road. A small, casual kitchen serving Japanese home cooking, sushi, ramen and rice bowls. It is easy to miss, so look for it at the petrol station on Lenana Road, and note that it closes on Wednesdays.
- Maboneng, Kilimani Road. African and international food with bold flavours, in a room decorated with modern African art. Good for a lively evening with friends.
- Ayira’s Neuro-Soul Café, Shiko Road. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and plant-based dishes, with garden seating. Useful when someone at the table eats differently. It closes on Mondays.
For the first night in a new flat
The first evening after a move is rarely the night to cook. The kitchen boxes are still taped shut, the gas may not be connected, and nobody knows where the plates are. This is where Kilimani’s restaurants earn their keep.
Several of the places above deliver, either directly or through the main delivery apps. Habesha and Crave both appear on Uber Eats, and Cedars offers free delivery. Save two or three numbers in your phone before moving day, and order in once the beds are up.
If you are still planning the move, pack an essentials box with plates, cutlery, a kettle and cups, and keep it with you rather than on the lorry. It turns a takeaway on the floor into a proper first meal.
Practical tips for eating out in Kilimani
- Book at weekends. Popular places fill up on Friday and Saturday nights and for Sunday lunch.
- Ask about parking. Parking is scarce in parts of Kilimani. Five Senses and Habesha both have parking, but call ahead for a large group.
- Allow for traffic. Argwings Kodhek Road and Ngong Road jam in the evening rush, roughly from 5:00 to 7:00. A 7:30 booking is usually easier to reach than a 6:00 one.
- Check how to pay. M-Pesa and cards are widely accepted, but confirm before you order if you plan to pay a large bill by mobile money.
Choose a Kilimani restaurant by the occasion
Before comparing menus, decide what the booking needs to achieve. A family lunch, a quick breakfast meeting and an anniversary dinner need different seating, timing and service arrangements. Send those requirements when reserving instead of asking only whether a table is available.
Where should you start for a family meal?
Check the current menus and seating options at garden-style restaurants such as Cedars, or compare the Kilimani menu at Ankole Grill. Ask about children’s portions, high chairs, steps and space for a pushchair if those matter to your group. A family-friendly description does not tell you whether the table offered on a particular day suits your household.
What makes a restaurant suitable for a date?
Think about conversation, seating and the kind of meal you want. Five Senses and the hotel rooftop setting at Four Points Hurlingham provide different starting points. Confirm the dining area, current menu and reservation terms. Ask whether a private event or music programme will affect your intended evening.
How should you handle dietary requirements?
Speak to the restaurant directly about ingredients and preparation, especially where an allergy is involved. A vegetarian or gluten-free menu label does not establish how cross-contact is managed. For a large party, circulate the current menu in advance and tell the restaurant which requirements need individual discussion. Do not leave a medically important question to assumptions made from an old review.
Can you use an old menu to budget?
Use it to understand the style of food, then confirm current prices. Ask whether a group booking requires a deposit or set menu and whether the quotation includes the items you expect. Separate the meal budget from transport, drinks and any event admission. If several people are sharing the bill, agree that arrangement before ordering.
Which restaurant is convenient on moving night?
The nearest suitable option may beat the most elaborate meal. Check delivery to your exact building, provide the correct entrance and keep your phone available while the crew is unloading. Carry water, a few utensils and a simple snack separately, particularly if children are moving with you. Our first-night moving checklist helps avoid searching through kitchen boxes when everybody is hungry.
If local dining is influencing your house hunt, compare the actual walk from each candidate building during the hours you would go out. The Kilimani and Kileleshwa comparison can help with that wider residential decision. For a daytime alternative to a restaurant visit, see our Nairobi activities guide.
Living close to the restaurant strip
Being able to walk to dinner is one of the pleasures of living in Kilimani. The trade-off is noise, which can be an issue for residents close to the bars and restaurants along Argwings Kodhek Road. If you are choosing a flat, visit in the evening and at the weekend as well as during the day.
For more on life in the estate, see our guide to the best entertainment spots in Kilimani, and our comparison of Kilimani and Kileleshwa if you are still deciding where to live. When you are ready to move in, our movers in Kilimani can handle the heavy lifting, so you can spend the evening at dinner instead of among the boxes.