Eating Out In Dar-es-Salaam, Restaurants You Should Try
Bustling Dar es Salaam (‘place of peace’ in Arabic) is Tanzania’s commercial and cultural powerhouse. Travelers tend to pass through the city on their way to Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar, but they’re missing out on the sprawling markets, skyscrapers and colonial mansions that embody the vibrant diversity of modern Africa. Dar’s cuisine, long inspired by spices from Zanzibar and Indian migrants, provides a vivid snapshot of Tanzanian society.
305 Karafuu
The simply named 305 Karafuu has gained a reputation as one of the finest resaurants in the whole of Dar. Located on a quiet side street in Kinondoni, it has the feel of a family home. The owner’s friendly service is second to none, and the bar is possibly the best stocked in Tanzania. Inside you’ll find low, contemporary yet rustic furniture and an aromatic open kitchen. The walls are bedecked with paintings from local artists, all available for sale. The food is international, but with a definite Tanzanian flavour and lives up to this setting; highlights include king prawn curry and succulent salmon fillets.
305 Karafuu, Karafuu St, Plot 305 Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, +255 754 277 188
Mediterraneo
Facing the Indian Ocean from one of Dar’s northernmost suburbs, Mediterraneo is perhaps the most beautiful dining spot in the whole city. A glass wall, beneath a rickety wooden roof, looks directly onto the lapping seawater. Outside stand tall chairs fashioned from old canoes, surrounded by palm trees and fairy lights, spilling out onto a secluded stretch of the beach. Stay for a few hours and relax with a range of cocktails before sampling some of the finest Italian food in Africa. Lobster is a key ingredient, whether in an avocado salad or with clams and squid ink pasta, and the helpful proprietors are always on hand for friendly service.
Mediterraneo, Kawe Beach, Tuari Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, +255 754 812 567
1. Mamboz Corner BBQ
Restaurant, BBQ, Asian
2. Chef’s Pride
Restaurant, Tea Room, Indian, European, Asian
3. Karambezi Cafe
Cafe, Indian, Seafood, European, Mediterranean
Samaki Samaki
‘Samaki’ is Swahili for fish and an apt name for this local chain. It serves some of the best seafood in town, including fried calamari, grilled octopus, tuna steaks and prawn chilis, along with other meaty favorites. Go to the branch in the modern day Mlimani City Mall, the largest in Tanzania, to eat alongside an excitable crowd of students from the nearby Ardhi and Dar es Salaam universities. It is a curious combination of old and new: with drawers re-purposed as tables and kitsch memorabilia of Tanzanian leaders; meeting in-house DJs and an innovative ordering system using electronic tablets.
4. Sawasdee
Restaurant, Thai
5. Addis In Dar
Restaurant, African, Ethiopian
6. Chappan Bhog
Chappan Bhog
Tanzania has long been influenced by Indian culture, both as an outpost for spice trading routes and as a part of British East Africa after the First World War. Thus, Dar is something of a haven for traditional Indian cuisine, and Chappan Bhog, situated in the colonial area of Kisutu, is one of Dar’s most authentic South Indian eateries. The menu, which is entirely vegetarian, boasts such favourites as thali (vegetables, rice and naan with a range of sauces) and pav bhaji (vegetable curry with buns). It’s also a fine place to enjoy a mid-morning snack, whether idli (lentil cakes), dosa (lentil pancakes) or delectable panipuri (filled, fried breadballs).
Chappan Bhog, Kisutu St., Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, +255 754 777 977
7. George & Dragon
Pub, Restaurant, British, European
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