The 10 best restaurants in Nairobi, according to Google reviews

4.9 stars from 2,538 Google reviews. GTC Mall, 2nd floor, Westlands. Pili tops this list with the highest rating of any restaurant we track, and it holds that rating across thousands of reviews. The word reviewers reach for first is generous. One calls the portions "just heavenly", and regulars single out the soups, the creamy mushroom in particular, as some of the best in the city. The room does a lot of the work too, with booths that suit a date as easily as a business lunch and staff guests describe as professional and warm. It is a favourite for birthdays, and one guest who celebrated there wrote simply, "I'd come again and again." The honest caveat is price. Reviewers call it premium, but most say the portions and quality justify it.

4.8 stars from 2,282 Google reviews. Ring Road, Kilimani. Crave might be the most photographed dining room in Nairobi, and reviewers are not shy about it, with the mirror stations and "gorgeous aesthetics" coming up again and again. The food keeps pace with the room. Steaks are described as tender, juicy and well seasoned across repeat visits, and the Lotus Biscoff cheesecake has its own fan club, with one guest calling it "a must-try for anyone with a sweet tooth". Several reviewers were surprised by the prices and describe them as affordable for what arrives. The catch is its popularity. It gets crowded, you may wait for a seat at peak times, and a few guests found the service disorganised when it is full. Go early for brunch or book ahead.

4.8 stars from 1,006 Google reviews. Almas Towers, Kilimani. Mode is where Kilimani goes for a breakfast that does not come from a chain, and it has quietly built one of the highest ratings in the city. Service is the thread through almost every review. One newcomer to Nairobi describes a server hunting down a power outlet so they could work, and others call the staff friendly and hands-on. The menu runs from a filling breakfast to chicken waffles and chicken bao buns in the evening, both described as "absolutely delicious". It works for laptops by day and dates by night, there is free guarded parking, and there are prayer rooms on site. The one small complaint is that the Wi-Fi is not the fastest.

4.8 stars from 746 Google reviews. Binaa Complex, 3rd floor, Karen. Cafe Cassia is a rooftop brunch spot with Scandinavian-style interiors, and reviewers describe it as calm, bright and a good hideout for getting some work done. The food is why people come back. One guest calls the French toast "the best I ever had", others work their way through the small plates, prawn and mango tacos and chicken dumplings among them, and the menu is described as both inventive and budget friendly. There is shaded outdoor seating as well as indoor tables, which matters on a hot Karen afternoon. Reviewers note that service can be slow to start at peak times, but say it recovers and the food stays consistent.

4.7 stars from 2,551 Google reviews. Pofu Road, Karen. Cultiva is the most original entry on this list, a working farm with a restaurant on it and a menu that changes with what is growing. Reviewers call it one of Nairobi's hidden gems, enjoy the playful dish names and praise the braised short rib and homemade pasta by name. Many guests walk the farm before or after eating, and the cocktails get their own compliments. Parking is easy and it handles groups well, with one party of ten leaving mostly happy. Not every plate is a showstopper, and one reviewer found their pulled pork "ok but not out of this world", but the setting and the farm-to-table cooking make it a meal you cannot have anywhere else in Nairobi.

4.7 stars from 992 Google reviews. Mkungu Close, Westlands. The View is Nairobi's only rotating restaurant, turning a full circle over the city, and it is the place reviewers send visitors. Their advice is almost unanimous: arrive before sunset. The food holds its own, with guests calling it phenomenal, rating the arancini "10/10" and praising the wine list and the live band in the evening. Staff are known for setting up birthdays and anniversaries, which makes it a natural special-occasion booking. It is fine dining with fine-dining prices, but reviewers say the setting and the ingredients justify the bill.

4.7 stars from 822 Google reviews. Vision Plaza, Mombasa Road. Artisan Blend proves that the best meals in Nairobi are not all in Westlands. Reviewers keep coming back to how the place looks, calm and picture-worthy across several seating areas, and to waiters who explain each dish in detail. Drinks are made with fresh fruit, the blueberry mojito gets a specific recommendation, and the chicken curry is described as a balance of sweet and tangy. The milk cake has its fans too. Book ahead if you are a large group, and expect service to slow down when it is busy. One reviewer's food arrived warm rather than hot, though they said it still tasted great.

4.7 stars from 504 Google reviews. Galana Plaza, 2nd floor, Kilimani. Five Senses is the fine-dining pick on this list, and the reason it ranks is service. Reviewers name their waiters, one describes being taken patiently through every course on a solo date, and others describe staff going out of their way to surprise someone on their birthday. The room is elegant and warm enough for both a romantic dinner and a business one. On the plate, the soup, the bone marrow and the baked camembert are the dishes guests single out. Expect fine-dining prices, and expect to want to come back, which is exactly what several reviewers promise to do.

4.6 stars from 11,573 Google reviews. Koinange Street, CBD. No restaurant we track has more Google reviews than CJ's on Koinange Street, and holding a 4.6 across more than eleven thousand of them is a quiet achievement. It is the dependable all-rounder of the CBD: spacious, halal-friendly and good value. Breakfast has converts, with one reviewer calling it their "number one breakfast spot", and the juices, shakes and fish curry all get praise. Portions are big, and one guest suggests two dishes will feed three people. It is busy and it is not a quiet room, but for a reliable meal in town it is the safest bet in Nairobi.

4.6 stars from 5,989 Google reviews. Viking House, Westlands. Fogo Gaucho is a Brazilian rodizio, where waiters keep carving grilled meat at your table until you tell them to stop, including rarer cuts like crocodile. Reviewers call it one of the best places in Nairobi for meat lovers, and one ranks it among the best Brazilian steakhouses they have visited anywhere. Service is described as attentive from start to finish, and the staff sing for celebrations, which makes it a popular choice for graduations and birthdays. It gets packed and the parking is small, so book ahead and consider a cab.