I finally got to try the famous Uncle Nene’s burgers and I went all the way to their Garden Estate branch to get the full experience! For those who haven’t been and don’t live near that area, just be prepared for quite a drive. The restaurant is quite quaint, not too much pizazz, nice and simple. Perfect for a casual lunch or dinner plan. I came here for lunch with a friend a while back.

Today we’re in the heart of Karen at La Terrasse, another Vietnamese restaurant in Nairobi. I love that there’s a good variety of these to choose from nowadays. La Terrasse is a beautiful space located on Marula Lane, the same place where the farmer’s market usually takes place. I love the outdoor setup especially on a nice sunny afternoon facing the lush forest backdrop. I came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon and it was quite empty, so I think it gets busier on weekends.

The Phoenician has really stood the test of time in Nairobi, having served an eclectic mix of Japanese and Lebanese for over 20 years now! Nestled in a leafy corner of Brookside in Westlands, the Phoenician is a very beautiful space, transporting you to a space of zen and tranquility from the moment you walk in. It’s quite a large space with both outdoor and cozy indoor seating. I love how they’ve incorporated Swahili style decor to their space with the day beds, the intricate carvings on the chairs and couches and the very lamu-esque archway at the entrance.

We’re in Nanyuki today! Talking about Frontiers coffee bar and restaurant located at One Stop, Nanyuki town. It’s a beautiful outdoor space and nice reprieve after a long drive coming into Nanyuki from Nairobi. I came here for lunch with some friends on a Sunday and we didn’t have trouble finding seating despite being a large group. They have plenty of outdoor seating space under the hot Nanyuki sun which was very welcome coming from freezing Nairobi.

Umami street is located in Lavington but is quite tricky to find since they didn’t have any signage leading to it. They need to fix that. When you do eventually find it, it’s located in such a pretty compound! So bright and green and it looks even more stunning when the sun is out and the cherry blossoms peep out of the perfect hedges! I came here for lunch with a few friends and since some of us had just come from Japan, it made sense to come try some Japanese street food so they can tell us how legit it is.

Kalamata (named after the Greek Kalamata olive) is one of Nairobi’s go-to spots for alfresco dining. It’s located in Lavington and is also another well outfitted establishment. They have both indoor and outdoor sitting with pockets of cozy corners for a casual setting and more intimate table settings indoors for a more formal vibe. Their menu is summarized into two sheets, one for food and the other for drinks (I hope other restaurants are taking notes, we don’t need to be reading entire booklets as a menu please).