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.

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.