The River Café

Cafe · Nairobi

The River Café

Cafe · Nairobi

3

Karura Forest, Nairobi, Kenya

Photos

The River Café by null
The River Café by Photo courtesy of The River Cafe
The River Café by Photo courtesy of The River Cafe
The River Café by Photo courtesy of The River Cafe
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null
The River Café by null

Highlights

Forest cafe with French onion soup, salads, and steak  

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Karura Forest, Nairobi, Kenya Get directions

therivercafekenya.com
@rivercafenairobi

$$

Information

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Karura Forest, Nairobi, Kenya Get directions

+254 725 969891
therivercafekenya.com
@rivercafenairobi

$$

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Last updated

Oct 25, 2025

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@afar

"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."

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@afar

"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."

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@afar

"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."

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Alexander

Google
The River Cafe has a great location, tucked just inside the park, it’s a lovely spot to sit and relax. However, the food didn’t quite live up to the setting. The chicken burger was disappointing; the chicken was dry and tough. On the bright side, the fries were great. The eggplant parmigiana was better and had a generous portion. Service was a bit slow, but the staff were friendly. Overall, it’s a nice place for the atmosphere, but the food could use some improvement. Also need to pay park entrance fee to be able to go

Tandzile Thandwa Simelane

Google
After a good hike through Karura forest, I had the chance to grab brunch at the River Café for the pancakes 🥞 😋. The pancakes are soft and delectable. I loved their freshly brewed coffee and would highly recommend you try this place for yourself.

Tendai Mhlanga

Google
Atmosphere is incredible, great location for a relaxed brunch (any meal for that matter). The food is good, tasty and filling. The services is ok. I went on a Saturday morning for brunch and the place was busy, so had a long wait first between getting seated and order being taken then between placing order and getting the food. Apart from the long wait, the service was good.

Antoine Gamberini

Google
Amazing restaurant and cafe at the heart of the forest. Great service and very large menu with very enjoyable meals and brunch in great atmosphere

Hamza Ahmed

Google
The waiter was quite unfriendly and seemed uninterested in serving us. When we tried to explain our order, he refused to listen and responded with a dismissive expression. His negative attitude and unfriendly gestures made the experience uncomfortable and unwelcoming.

Nomsa Mlambo

Google
The waitress was unfriendly. We arrived and they said they could not serve a single hot drink except for filter coffee: incidentally I don’t drink coffee. We asked if they could just boil water on a pot so we could have tea because it was cold - the waitress refused saying that boiling water takes too long. Suffice to say the only charm of the restaurant is its location.

Akash Patel

Google
Wanted to go here for lunch but was told there was a 750 shillings/per person entrance fee to access the restaurant. We had 10 people and the upfront cost didn’t make sense. Putting out this review as a heads up for everyone.

Hanna Lindgren

Google
Delicious food and a truly beautiful atmosphere — calm, green, and perfect for a relaxing meal. Service is generally good, though the staff can sometimes seem a bit rushed. During my last visit, I was accidentally given another guest’s bill, but it was quickly sorted out with a smile. Still, a lovely spot that is worth a visit if you're anyways in Karura Forrest.