Where to Eat in Nairobi If You're Vegetarian

"Brunch in the forest at the River Café The River Café is situated right in the middle of the huge Karura Forest, a tranquil swath of wilderness in the middle of the city. The dining area,on a large expanse of wooden deckunderan open-sided canvas roof, gets extra atmospheric charm from the surrounding forest treetops and plants. The menu is varied, with a good vegetarian section as well as light bites and more indulgent meals. The French onion soup and the salads are recommended. This place gets busy on the weekends, when Nairobians stop in for brunch after church or a walk around the forest, so book in advance."

"Chowpaty, Nairobi’s best vegetarian restaurant, serves outrageously tasty dishes from across the Indian subcontinent.On arrival, customers are presented first with a small bowl of warm water to wash their hands in and then withthe epic menu. The best item on the menu isthe dahi puri:Crispy puffed puri shellsare filled with Bombay mix (a crunchy snack mix) and then drizzledwith a sweet and sour sauce. Many items on the menu can also be made vegan—just ask.Chowpaty has severallocations around town, but the most popular sitsin the courtyard at Diamond Plaza, a bustling shopping mall wherethe Indian community comes forfabrics, clothing, electrical goods, and supermarkets."

"Open kitchens and a great atmosphere at Urban Eatery Modern and trendy Urban Eatery is a popular restaurant that only opened about a year ago in Nairobi. There’s always a good atmosphere here, as the kitchens open out onto the restaurant area filling the room with the sizzles and delicious smells of food to come. The menu is quite literally overwhelming, with Thai, Mexican, Indian, Italian, Sushi and everything in between available, but it’s a fun evening picking and choosing from the different options."

"Great pizzas from a rooftop perch at Mambo Italia Rooftop pizza restaurant Mambo Italia is a great place to go with friends or to listen to the live music regularly playing here. There’s a covered indoor area with colourful chairs and mismatched tables in case the weather turns, but on a sunny evening grab an al-fresco table and watch the traffic streaming by below. Best items on the menu are, of course, the pizzas. There’s a creative range of options the team here have dreamt up, or you can simply create your own."

"Freshly baked doughnuts and brunch at Marula Mercantile A leafy garden café set in the suburb of Karen, Marula Mercantile is great for a boozy, long brunch over the weekend. Relatively newly-opened, it’s a cool and elegant place with wooden decking, brassy chairs and a well stocked bar. Must-tries on the menu include the sweet potato fritters with a tamarind dip, feta with dill and toasted sesame seeds, grilled halloumi salad and crispy french fries. They also make home-made doughnuts here, which you won’t want to miss."