Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant

Restaurant · Kwale

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant

Restaurant · Kwale

3

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant Ground N/A Beach Road, Mombasa, Kenya

Photos

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by travel_girl73/used with permission
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by Ursula (Atlas Obscura User)
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by joshuacarlon (Atlas Obscura User)
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by joshuacarlon (Atlas Obscura User)
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by joshuacarlon (Atlas Obscura User)
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by Ursula (Atlas Obscura User)
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by Mark Anthony Bellen/Used with permission
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by African Beads Safari/used with permission
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by travel_girl73/used with permission
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by Mark Anthony Bellen/Used with permission
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by Mark Anthony Bellen/Used with permission
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by African Beads Safari/used with permission
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant by null

Highlights

Dine under the stars in a 120,000-year-old coral cave at Ali Barbour’s, where fresh seafood meets flickering candlelight and natural rock ambiance.  

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Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant Ground N/A Beach Road, Mombasa, Kenya Get directions

alibarbours.com
@alibarbours

KES 5,000+ · Menu

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Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant Ground N/A Beach Road, Mombasa, Kenya Get directions

+254 714 456131
alibarbours.com
@alibarbours

KES 5,000+ · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 31, 2025

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@atlasobscura

13 Places to Eat and Drink That Are Literally Underground

"Visitors flock to Kenya’s Diani Beach for the white sands and ritzy resorts, but the setting sun reveals the splendor of another local gem, Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant. Diners enter through an unassuming, whitewashed facade, then descend 33 feet underground to enjoy their meals in an ancient coral cave with a wide mouth overhead for excellent stargazing. Located in a cave thought to be between 120,000 and 180,000 years old, Ali Barbour’s takes dining al fresco to a whole other dimension. In the evenings, the restaurant glows in the muted light of candles, and diners’ eyes are naturally drawn to the twinkling stars above. (Sliding covers are drawn to create a makeshift roof in inclement weather.) Founded by George and Jackie Barbour in the 1980s and named as a play on “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” the restaurant is designed to keep the natural elements of the cave intact, with only the kitchen and bathrooms modified for modern uses. Though the menu is international, seafood is the specialty. You can dine on a meal caught in the Indian Ocean, mere feet from your table, and possibly at the same sea level." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/underground-restaurants-bars
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@afar

"This romantic and quirky restaurant, set in a cave on the beach in Diani, is definitely splurge-worthy.The menuis a little pricey but includesa tasty range of dishes, from crepes and pasta to seafood.Booka table at the mouth of the cave so you can see the stars overhead and the candles flickering insideamong the cave's spiny stalagmites. Diani, a popular resort on the Kenyan coast, has an expansive white sandy beach, boutique hotels, and cozy vacation cottages. After dinner, wander next door for a nightcap atForty Thieves, a beach bar with pool tables and seating out on the sand."

The Best Restaurants in Nairobi
View Postcard for Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant
@atlasobscura

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant – Diani Beach, Kenya - Gastro Obscura

"Visitors flock to Kenya’s Diani Beach for the white sands and ritzy resorts, but the setting sun reveals the splendor of another local gem, Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant. Diners enter through an unassuming, whitewashed facade, then descend 33 feet underground to enjoy their meals in an ancient coral cave with a wide mouth overhead for excellent stargazing. Located in a cave thought to be between 120,000 and 180,000 years old, Ali Barbour’s takes dining al fresco to a whole other dimension. In the evenings, the restaurant glows in the muted light of candles, and diners’ eyes are naturally drawn to the twinkling stars above. (Sliding covers are drawn to create a makeshift roof in inclement weather.) Founded by George and Jackie Barbour in the 1980s and named as a play on “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” the restaurant is designed to keep the natural elements of the cave intact, with only the kitchen and bathrooms modified for modern uses. Though the menu is international, seafood is the specialty. You can dine on a meal caught in the Indian Ocean, mere feet from your table, and possibly at the same sea level. Know Before You Go The restaurant opens daily at 6:30 p.m. and has a "smart/casual" dress code (i.e., no beachwear). Reservations are recommended." - Ursula, joshuacarlon

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ali-barbours-cave-restaurant
View Postcard for Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant

Nelly kalekye

Google
A magical dining experience like no other! Ali Barbour’s Cave is not just a restaurant — it’s an experience. From the moment you descend into the candle-lit coral cave, you feel like you’ve stepped into a different world. The natural architecture is breathtaking, especially with the open ceiling where you dine under the stars. I went for dinner and was blown away by the ambience — romantic, serene, and incredibly unique. The service was top-notch: warm, attentive, and well-paced. The seafood was fresh and flavorful — I highly recommend the lobster thermidor or the prawn curry if it’s on the menu. Perfect for date nights, special occasions, or if you’re just looking to treat yourself while in Diani. Prices are a bit on the higher side, but totally worth it for the atmosphere and experience. 📍Tip: Make a reservation in advance, wear smart casual (no beachwear), and bring a light sweater — it can get cool underground. Keep time and adhere to your booking time😀. It’s quite dark so if you want to take clear pictures carry a portable light.

Olga Sulgacika

Google
Stunningly beautiful place with a good service. But even though the restaurant was fully reserved it was mostly empty. So the atmosphere was really lacking. I had 2 drinks and left, during the time I was there I could easily have a meal, so cannot rate this place very highly, feels like the restaurant is not interested in being profitable and making it enjoyable.

neus esteba

Google
The place is sooo beautiful and the atmosphere is amazing! We were just a bit disappointed with the food, as some of the dishes we wanted were out of stock in only 30 min in the service, and only doing 1 service a day. However is a place worth visiting!

Martha Muhindo

Google
I went solo as a treat to myself and enjoyed my evening. The staff were very attentive, the food was delicious, the portions were... well let's just say I'm full. The cost was a bit more than I would normally pay but the atmosphere was something special. I'll recommend to my friends looking for a unique experience.

Mikael Engström

Google
I have been here before. Food is okay, but not wow (for the price) This time I had catch of the day. A bit over cooked. For the price KES 3000, It must be better then this. Nice place to visit. Good staff. No complaints there. Very good African standard

Viktorija Midzor

Google
The best restaurant in this place. Appointment is required. For the first time, I had the opportunity to have dinner in a cave. The choice of dishes is very good. There are many unique specialties. Everything we tried was very tasty. Service and staff are at a high level. We are delighted.

Hadeel Al-Far

Google
Every time I visit Diani, I make sure to come to this place. The location is truly beautiful ; the ancient coral reef and soft music create a peaceful and special atmosphere. The food, however, did not fully meet expectations. We had the lobster, which was covered in too much cheese, making it hard to taste the lobster itself. The crab was good, while the shrimp was not very impressive. All three dishes came with the same sides — rice, spinach, and fried onions — which felt a bit repetitive and lacked creativity. The staff were kind and friendly, adding a nice touch to the experience.

Niina

Google
Dinner at Cave restaurant. My starter was delicious so the expectation for main and dessert was high. However, they didn’t reach the level of the starter. White wine was too warm, we got a cooler for it after complaining. There is no air conditioning, so it is really hot inside 🥵 I don’t think I got value for the money I spent there. There was unmelted gelatin pieces in my dessert.. Prices are in the European level. However the place itself is beautiful.