Top Restaurants in Lamu Island
Top Things to do in Lamu Island
Where to Eat in Lamu Island: The Best Restaurants and Bars
The main town on the island of the same name just off Kenya's northeastern coast, tranquil Lamu was founded in the 14th century, making it the country's oldest living town and the best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. Lamu Museum (with its prized siwa horns) and the two-centuries-old Lamu Fort are two of the main attractions. The restored Swahili House Museum is small but quite interesting. About a 30-minute walk north of town, white sandy Shela Beach is one of the island's best.
Things to do in Lamu Island
1. Olympic Resturant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By franco5 - Largo, Florida
The food was about average here and the owner was very nice. There was only one other group in the restaurant, but it delayed our meal about 1.5 hours! No blender for their juices either
2. Mangrove Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By pauloseshetu - Cape Town Central, South Africa
If you are looking for a budget-friendly eatery that is buzzing with activity then look no further.
Mangrove does not look like much from outside, however once inside or upstairs you feel an amazing atmosphere.
I returned there again and again for one think, the best barbecued fish in the whole of Lamu. (also try the swahili pizza)
3. Whispers Coffeeshop
Overall Ratings
4 based on 78 reviews
Reviewed By THFA1984 - Reading, United Kingdom
Lamu Town is a fantastic town and Whispers provides a perfect tranquil stop off whilst exploring.
The garden is shaded and peaceful.
The coffee is very good. The cakes are excellent- line and coconut was a favourite. The Lassi was exceptional and the juices hit the stop.
We would thoroughly recommend a visit when in town.
4. Bush Gardens Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By theinspectorishere - Nairobi, Kenya
I've been coming to Lamu for many years and usually make Bush Gardens the centre of my culinary safari on the island. The owner, Bush, is a great guy and he used to hang out and the place had a lively feel to it. Nowadays, since the downturn in tourists due to security advisories, the restaurant seems to have fallen on hard days with Bush no place to be seen. I had lunch there and it was disappointing. It's really just a reheating of food and poorly presented and verging on bland. A real disappointment when it's seafood. I hope that once tourism gets back on its feet, again, that Bush Garden will reclaim its rightful place as the social and dining center of the Lamu waterfront.
5. Peponi Hotel Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 216 reviews
Reviewed By Maggie M - Seattle, Washington
We came here with our kids once and friends another time and each experience was lovely! Yummy food, great drinks, fantastic location.
6. Moonrise Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By theinspectorishere - Nairobi, Kenya
We wanted to get away from the down market seafood fare that you find on the Lamu seafront. This was just the place. It's tucked away at the end of the sea front and has a pleasant ambiance beneath some trees in a courtyard overlooking the dhows. Service is good, the food was fine, but a little pricey for the island. However, you can be assured that it is cooked fresh in the kitchen and is not some microwaved or reheated leftovers that some of the more disreputable restaurants dish out. Thumbs up!
7. Msafini Hotel Roof Top Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
it is just 2 mints far from the sea shore of shella village which is in Lamu Kenya.
Reviewed By JamesBelgrave - Rome, Italy
Spent 4 nights here having spent nights in other hotels in shela and lamu, and it is BY FAR the best place you can stay. Wondeful room on top floor with big Terrace, swinging bed, lounge chairs, great room, beautiful bed, great bathroom with hot water.
Restaurant equally great and very attentive cook.
Guys who work here are so so so so so friendly and nice they literally made our stay.
A little overpriced, but negotiable prices if you get friendly :)
8. Lamu House Beach Club
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 57 reviews
Reviewed By lisagBarcelona - Barcelona
The Lamu House Beach Club is a typical Open restaurant with bar, big hand-made sunbeds and sun-shades on the beautiful beach with view over the sea to Shela beach, opposite Manda. The food is very fresh, especially the fish, grilled on barbecue. it's all original and in Swahili style. You can book the trip from Lamu town at Lamu House Hotel reception with their own big Dhow boat to the Clubhouse on manda island. Great value !
9. Karkadeh Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
We cook only on request as it is important to design our three course dinner from nearby sources of organic ally locally grown vegetables and fresh sea food. Our back ground food philosophy is in the Slow Food Movement.We have our own shamba (small farm) 3 km on the island where we do trials growing vegetables in the enriched sandy Lamu soil. All the organic wastes from Subira House is brought there by our two donkeys to fertilize the sand.Our cook Michael has a long experience cooking at Peponi´s Hotel for 20 years.So very welcome to book with us at small Karkadeh Restaurant max 12 guests. Please book at the latest the same morning. Christina Aarts
Reviewed By Carolyn F - Milton, Delaware
This lovely little restaurant is part of the Subira House Bed and Breakfast. This is our second stay at Subira House and we usually eat at Karkadeh at least twice a week. It is open to the public but necessary to make a reservation in the morning for that evening's meal at 7. A different selection is served every night and it is always a wonderful surprise. My husband and I shared an exquisite meal the other night in the open courtyard under the stars and a full moon. We started with beautiful jumbo prawns, mango and avocado accompanied by crunchy breadsticks and a tasty dipping sauce. Food here is prepared with the Slow Food technique using local products and combining flavors and textures. Our entree was a pan-seared tuna which melted in your mouth but the sides are what fully complements the meal. We had sides of squash boats stuffed with rice, pumpkin in coconut sauce, beautifully spiced greens, shredded carrots and a lovely green salad with dressing all accompanied by 3 lovely condiment sauces of varying intensity. To eat a meal here, one must take their time and savor all the flavors and textures. A delightful glass of white wine was the perfect accent. If that were not enough, dessert was a home-made fruit ice cream! Michael, the chef, is truly an artist who has been mentored by Christina and Paul in Slow Food. Kennedy is becoming an excellent and delightful server. If you only eat in one place on Lamu, be sure it is Karkadeh.
10. Stopover
Overall Ratings
4 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By miichel - brugge
Good value for money swahili food with a personal touch. Come in the morning and ask for the catch (fresh fish) of the day. Come back in the evening and have it prepared the way you like it. This restaurant is part of a guest house of which we visited every clean room. Did not stay but seems also value for money. Had several times lunch or dinner and enjoyed especially the very friendly staff giving a lot of info on things to do and not to do in the area. Just next door to the mosque, hence no alcohol, but great juices to compensate. Also just next to the sea and seabreeze and halfway between Kiijani house hotel and Peponi hotel. Meeting place for the better of backpacker, the local kids and fishermen. Management is very concerned about the safety and wellbeing of his guests. Would come back or inform freinds to come here as well.
Michel and Valerie Ackaert - Dethoor, Bruges, Belgium
