Eating Out

The Blue Room Restaurant, on the Haile Selassie is a very popular fast-food, self-service place. There’s a huge variety of Indian and American food. You can get better food, however, for the same price one of the many smaller restaurants. Try the Splendid View Restaurant on Maungano Rd across from the Hotel Splendid.

By far my favorite place to eat is the Special Bokoboko on the corner of Kibokoni Rd and Nyeri St in Old Town. It is newly built by two Muslim brothers named Fuad and Fakur, two of the nicest gentlemen in all of Mombasa. After about 6 pm, the brothers offer a huge variety of Swahili and Indian food for cheap prices. There’s an air-conditioned room, many sauces on the each table, and excellent fruit juices. The famous Recoda Restaurant is just down Nyeri St, which also has good Swahili food. However, the prices are anything but fixed, and are at the discretion of the ever-rude man behind the counter who charges differently depending on your skin color. Stick with the Special Bokoboko, where you’re served with a smile and a laugh and the food is unbeatable.

For a good hamburger, try the Hamburger House on Moi Ave near the tusks. Also near the tusks is the Chinese Overseas Restaurant.

Casablanca Restaurant & Bar on Mnazi Moja Rd directly off of Moi Ave is a nice place to get a meal, then stay for a few beers. It’s an open-air double story building with a restaurant downstairs serving a wide range of continental food. Upstairs is a popular bar/disco with a dance floor, loud music, and cold beers.

If you are willing to spend the money, the Tamarind Restaurant (#471747), across the harbor is the best Mombasa has to offer. The food is excellent, of course, but expect to pay over KSh 1,200 per person.