The Island town, Mombasa, has an incredible mix of culture that never stops impressing its visitors. The white sand and the blue water, of course, is the main attraction here. Every year, visitors from the corner of the world drop in to find some serene in Mombasa’s beaches to enjoy its vibrant nightlife and not forget its delicious cuisines. Mombasa’s coastal food is a phenomenon that is a result of years of cultural mix and tradition. With time it has perfected into mouth-watering dishes.

Exotic Restaurants and Bars in Mombasa with the best of foods and drinks

In recent years, Mombasa city has evolved into an eclectic food scene. Mombasa hosts both Kenyan and international cuisines, offering various tastes and flavours featured by its beautiful restaurants. There is no better way to feel the city than having a bite from its favourite picks. Below are a few of the best places to eat in Mombasa:

Tamarind Restaurant & Dhow

Chris Seex established tamarind Restaurant. & Dhow to create the finest seafood restaurant in Africa. The restaurant is built-in Arab style with arches and a crenelated roof. The restaurant’s menu is a blend of the finest French, Asian and African cuisines. Tamarind uses the freshest ingredients and specializes in seafood. The Prawn Piri Piri, Chilli Crab and Lobster is Tamarind’s speciality that has gained worldwide popularity.

The elegant white building has the perfect setting and the best places to eat in Mombasa and enjoy your meal and the picturesque view of the old Harbour.

Yul’s Squadron

Situated just by Bamburi Beach, Yul’s Squadron is an excellent place to spend a day and of the best restaurants in Mombasa. Apart from serving a delicious meal, Yul has a variety of water sports to try.

The International cuisine combines tasty starters & salads for the smaller appetite and our famous highland Angus-Steaks. The Seafood Platter for two on, The well-seasoned grilled Lobsters and Prawns are excellent. Yul also specialized in Italian Pizzas, which are prepared in an original Italian firewood oven. Yul’s is also specialized in Coffees that are imported from Italy and Austria. Enjoy with your coffee a piece of homemade cake fresh from its bakery.

Travellers Beach Hotel & Club

Travellers Beach Hotel & Club is a perfect place to stay at Mombasa. Apart from
offering the best accommodation facility, the hotel offers a varied option of restaurant and bars in Mombasa that is arranged with an impressive interior.

It has an Indian restaurant- Sher-e-Punjab that serves a la carte menu all day. Suli
Suli is a family restaurant that offers exotic seafood. LA Pergola is an Italian
restaurant with some delicious cuisines.

Besides Pwani Kofi and the Kisima Bar, there are some bar options where the guests can relish their drink while enjoying some live music.

Jahazi Coffee House

A few minutes’ walks from Fort Jesus, in the heart of the Old Town, is this delightful coffee house. The Jahazi Coffee House is one of the best restaurants in Mombasa and is the brainchild of three teachers at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. It is a meeting place where young and old, rich and poor, residents and visitors alike, enjoy tea, coffee, snacks or a meal and engage in a rigorous exchange of ideas and opinions.

They serve the best fresh juices, smoothies, milkshakes and traditional Swahili or spicy tea and coffee. You also must try their samosas and bhajias and can even sit in a particular room on the floor and enjoy the slow pace of life in coastal Mombasa.

Bob’s Bar

Bob’s Bar is a great place to enjoy some good food with music and dance. Bob’s Sandwich Bar & Grill has a fully stocked bar, two disco areas and delicious dishes with a variety to choose between African, Continental and seafood. The Bar has a grill that serves Mouth-watering barbeque as well.

Shehnai Restaurant

The Shehnai restaurant serves an incredible variety of sumptuous, mouth-watering food prepared from the best of spices and ingredients. The restaurant picks the fresh vegetables and seafood to prepare its food with utmost care and attention to prepare its delicious dishes.

Shehnai restaurant is one of the best Indian restaurants in Mombasa town that is celebrating its 36 years. Its spicy and savoury menu with North Indian Cuisine, Mughlai and Tandoor delicacies tantalize your taste buds. You can also try their specials -Murgh Tikka Shahjahani or the Jheenga Tandoori.

All your eastern cooking expectations are satisfied, making you anticipate your return visit to “Shehnai”, where indeed the past comes alive in the beautiful Indian cuisine.

Cafesserie Mombasa

This French-styled combined coffee shop and a restaurant give the perfect option for
all occasions’ leisure time; espresso and a croissant, romantic dinner or a drink at the Bar.

Cafesserie serves the best and finest coffee beans in town and freshly prepared bread and pastry. Its menu is influenced by both the French and Italian culture and the dishes have a delectable taste.

Cafesserie is an excellent place for cocktail specials, live entertainment, candlelight dinner or some coffee and cake.

The Jahazi Grill

The Jahazi Grill is set by the Serena beach, serving exquisite and delicious seafood. A seafood restaurant serves A la carte seafood menu with a scenic beach view. The menu ranges from prawns and lobsters to vegetarian options to cater for everyone’s tastes. The whole Jahazi Grill looks like a dhow giving the feel of that of a dhow. The harmony and quietness around it make it an ideal spot to eat on a Saturday evening.

Imani Dhow restaurant

Imani Dhow is located on the grounds of the Severin Sea Lodge is the Imani dhow restaurant. The traditional Zanzibari Dhow has creaky wooden floors and a ceiling and sets perfect lighting for an evening mood. The must-try here is their flambee crab, Swahili-style prawns or the signature lobster dish. Also, the alcohol-infused coffees are good too.

The Moorings

Gliding on top of the delightful Mtwapa brook, with a beautiful waterfront setting and an interesting perspective, is the Moorings Floating Restaurant. The Moorings has been doing business since 1994, making it one of the best seafood restaurants in Mombasa. In addition to the fact that they serve tasty fish, yet their menu additionally includes steak, chicken, pasta and vegan choices. The expertly arranged fish dishes arrive in a wide assortment, regardless of whether it’s fish, lobster, crab or prawn. Request a lobster diablo with a pot of new Kenyan espresso or tea to supplement your dinner.

Forodhani Restaurant

An exceptionally welcome expansion to the Old Town feasting scene, Forodhani has an appealing terrace. Its menu is a group satisfying, a broad rundown of Swahili and Indian dishes, such as hamburger mishikaki (marinated, flame-broiled meat kebabs) and prawn curry lobster thermidor and chicken wings cooking more to the worldwide sense of taste.

Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant

An extraordinary eating experience anticipates any individual who reserves a spot at Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant. Feast under the stars in a colourful cavern encompassed by candles and the cavern’s characteristic dividers. The cavern’s roof’s openings are distinctive and are ensured during an awful climate with sliding covers.

Appreciate delicious worldwide cooking and fish luxuries arranged from the best and freshest fixings by master culinary experts. Request a mean mixed drink or a full-bodied wine to supplement your supper.

Forty Thieves Beach Bar

Loose up yourself in a comfortable lounge chair, feeling the delicate white-sand between your toes, lounging in the warm daylight as the cool ocean breeze whips your hair, while you taste on some refreshing mixed drinks, Forty Thieves Beach Bar gives that, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Promoted as the lone shoeless Bar on the coast, appreciate unrecorded music, watch water sports and play bar games at this exceptional seashore bar.

Though Swahili dishes are the leading food in Mombasa, yet the city offers a wide variety of delicious dishes to its visitors. Walking down the streets of Mombasa, you will discover many restaurants influenced by its ancient foreign settlers like the Indians, Arabs and Europeans like the use of spices, vegetables or the presentation.
Above, we have mentioned a few of the best restaurants and bars in Mombasa you must try.