The Best Coffee Shops in Nairobi, Kenya
You don’t need to be a caffeine connoisseur to know that Kenya produces some of the best Arabica coffee in the world. The country itself may not make much of a fuss about beans and brews, but there are some terrific cafés in the capital if you want a roast with the most. Here are some of the best places to get yourself a perfect coffee when visiting Nairobi.
1. Artcaffé
Coffee Shop, Coffee
This café is well known for turning out some of the best coffee and pastries in the city. There are eight branches in Nairobi, and all share the same easy-living ambience. Head-turning art, outdoor balconies, a full cocktail bar, a tip-top bakery, appetising meals and groovy music all combine to make Artcaffé the business for corporate meetings, and leisurely get-togethers, too. The baristas here are rigorously trained to understand what makes a faultless cup. And we just adored their funkily designed holiday-season cups at the end of 2020, printed with winning designs from those sent in by customers for the competition #ARTOFTHECITY. Roll on December 2021!
2. Tin Roof Café
Cafe, African
3. Java House
Coffee Shop, Coffee
4. Gibsons Coffee House
Cafe, Fast Food, Coffee
Gibsons coffee has been a trustworthy brand in Kenya for 50 years, acquiring markets both locally and overseas; in fact, it’s got a mail-order following around the world. Their coffee shop in Nairobi’s central business district does very well indeed, among the caffe latte-drinking and cake-loving regulars here for a catch-up. Coffee is not the only brew – they’re also good at teas, and there are refreshing juices and shakes to go with the morning pastries.
5. Pete’s Café and Burrito Haven
Cafe, Restaurant, African
6. Jade Patisserie at Zen Garden
Coffee Shop, Coffee
In the heart of affluent Spring Valley, overlooking the lovely Zen Garden, Jade Patisserie is a high-end affair open every day for delicious breakfasts, light lunches and snacks. To wash it all down, order from the list of exotic teas and coffee. You can take a seat on the terrace or surrounded by the artistic interiors. Children like it here – no wonder, as there’s a great menu tailored to young tastes.
7. Dormans Coffee
Coffee Shop, Coffee
Strictly speaking, Dormans isn’t a café, it’s a coffee brand and roaster with its HQ on the outskirts of Nairobi. But it does have a couple of concession stands dotted around the city – in shopping centres and airports, mainly. If you didn’t know, they’d be all too easy to miss, but that would be a travesty as you’d be missing out on arguably Kenya’s best coffee. They roast several different blends from beans picked from farms in the volcanic foothills of Mount Kenya, but look out for the “special reserve” blends, which have that extra depth of flavour and richness.
Alex Allen contributed additional reporting to this article.
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