As top-of-the-line locations to go to in Kenya, Malindi has quite a bit to supply, together with museums, historic websites, pristine seashores, and well-known landmarks. Apart from these points of interest, many eating places in Malindi present loads of decisions for varied tastes and events.
So, in case you’re planning a visit to Malindi and are looking for eating suggestions, you’re in the appropriate place. On this article, I’ll information you thru a culinary journey on this small city nestled alongside the shores of the Indian Ocean.
Malindi is dwelling to various native and worldwide cultures and subsequently provides varied cuisines. You may anticipate finding modest joints serving genuine Swahili dishes and seashore bars promoting tasty grilled meats. Along with the native delicacies, you possibly can get pleasure from Italian meals, contemporary seafood, and a number of pure juices, wines, cocktails, and beers.
As a neighborhood who enjoys exploring completely different components of my dwelling nation, I’ve all the time been drawn to Malindi due to its historical past, vacationer sights, and scrumptious meals. I’ve shared a listing of the perfect issues to see and do in this previous blog post, and now I invite you to discover a number of the prime eating places in Malindi with me.
15 Greatest Eating places in Malindi
Whether or not you need to pattern completely different native dishes or feast on acquainted worldwide meals, under, are the perfect locations to eat in Malindi.
The checklist is predicated on buyer critiques on platforms like Google and private analysis of meals high quality, location, ambiance, and repair degree. I’ve dined at quite a few eateries within the coronary heart of Malindi city and alongside its seashores, and I’ve chosen the best 15 venues utilizing these standards:
1. Rosada (Greatest Restaurant in Malindi General)
Kicking off this checklist of the perfect eating places in Malindi is Rosada. This charming beachfront institution is a implausible spot for distinctive eating and a assured good time. It’s one among my prime picks among the many seashore eating places in Malindi and alongside the Kenyan coast.
Rosada’s menu boasts quite a lot of Italian dishes like pizza, spaghetti carbonara, and lasagna. You’ll additionally discover contemporary seafood together with prawns, fish fillet, and crabs, and attractive native decisions like grilled rooster and beef with chips. To accompany your meal, they’ve quite a lot of cocktails and wines.
Along with the scrumptious meals served, Rosada Seaside Bar and Restaurant provides comfy sunbeds the place you possibly can calm down whereas taking within the stunning views of the Indian Ocean. In addition they host full of life seashore events each Monday and Friday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. – an expertise I extremely advocate to everybody visiting Malindi.
Rosada Seaside Restaurant Data
Handle: Q46F+FX Casuarina Rd, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 700 501 813
Working Hours: Each day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Grilled rooster or fish, prawns, cocktails
Common Price: $8-$15 per most important, $4-$6 for desserts, $3-$8 for cocktails
Web site: @rosadabeachmalindi
2. Seafront (Greatest for Swahili Dishes)
Seafront is among the finest conventional eating places in Malindi. This native joint is legendary for its reasonably priced and delicious African breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes. It’s additionally conveniently situated close to vacationer points of interest in Malindi, such because the Portuguese Chapel and Vasco da Gama Pillar.
Their menu options Swahili dishes like samaki wa kupaka, pilau, biryani, and wali wa nazi. As well as, they serve varied different Kenyan dishes, together with ugali, karanga, liver curry, and grilled rooster, with a facet of native inexperienced greens. Seafood lovers can even get pleasure from their number of contemporary prawns and fried fish.
☞ SEE ALSO: 15 Must-Try Dishes in Kenya
Seafront Swahili Dishes Data
Handle: Q4GG+WP Silversand Road, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 793 717 333
Working Hours: Each day from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Biryani rooster, karanga (beef stew), beef fry with ugali
Common Price: $3-$10 per most important dish, $2-$3 for greens
Web site: @seafrontrestaurant
3. Bar Bar (Greatest for Pub Meals in Malindi)
Should you’re looking for a spot in Malindi to get pleasure from an important meal, have some drinks, watch sports activities, and take heed to fantastic music, Bar Bar is the place to be. Along with providing scrumptious meals and drinks, Bar Bar is well-known for its Tuesday night reside music classes by varied bands.
Their menu has quite a lot of decisions, together with most important dishes, sandwiches, salads, scorching drinks, pastries, and desserts. In addition to their tasty meals, you possibly can discover their wine checklist and bar menu that includes cocktails and beers. Make sure you strive the Bar Bar blended grilled seafood, a tasty mixture of squid, fish fillet, prawns, and lobster.
Bar Bar Restaurant Data
Handle: Q4V8+8J Sabaki Centre, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 743 898 575
Working Hours: Each day from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Grilled beef fillet, blended grilled seafood, pork ribs
Common Price: $4-$7 per starter, $9-$22 per most important, $4 for desserts
Web site: barbarmalindi.com
4. Savana (Greatest for High quality Eating in Malindi)
Savana by Sandies Tropical Village is the epitome of advantageous eating in Malindi. The restaurant provides a wealthy buffet that includes Kenyan dishes, Italian meals, and different worldwide delicacies. It’s additionally my most popular out of doors restaurant in Malindi, due to its pretty ambiance, inexperienced backyard, swaying palm timber, and luxurious ocean views.
Other than the inviting Savana, the beachfront resort options three bars that completely complement the restaurant’s scrumptious meals. After a satisfying meal of pizza, seafood, or grilled beef steak, you possibly can proceed to benefit from the expertise with a number of refreshing cocktails, freshly squeezed juices, and native beers at a bar of your selection.
Savana Restaurant by Sandies Tropical Village
Handle: Q46G+V5 Casuarina Road, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 720 607 075
Working Hours: Breakfast (7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.), Lunch (1 p.m. to three p.m.), Dinner (8 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
Should-Attempt Meals: Grilled prawns, beef steak
Common Price: $2-$4 per starter, $9-$20 per most important, $3-$7 for desserts
Web site: sandies-resorts.com
5. Child Marrow (Greatest for Italian Meals in Malindi)
Though you gained’t discover Michelin-star eating places in Malindi, the city has a number of eating places that rank extremely for meals high quality, concord of flavors, worth for cash, and nice service. One such restaurant is Child Marrow – an Italian pizzeria and restaurant situated alongside Silversands Highway.
That is the most well-liked place for Italian meals favorites in Malindi corresponding to pizza, pasta, and risotto. In addition they serve native dishes like barbecued meat with ugali and mouthwatering samosas. Seafood lovers will discover contemporary choices corresponding to smoked sailfish, crab salad, tuna carpaccio, and grilled prawns.
Child Marrow Restaurant Malindi Data
Handle: Q4GG+GH Silversand Road, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 700 766 704
Working Hours: Each day from midday to midnight
Should-Attempt Meals: Risotto with prawns, pizza, panzerotti, samosa
Common Price: $7-$12 per most important, $3-$6 for desserts
Web site: babymarrowrestaurant.com
6. T&T (One of many Greatest Native Eating places in Malindi)
Conveniently situated alongside the Mombasa-Lamu Highway, T&T Restaurant is thought for having the perfect lunch in Malindi. This eatery has a spacious seating space and pleasant workers are all the time out there to serve you.
Should you occur to be exploring the tourist attractions in Malindi, cease by for a number of the most scrumptious meals on the town. They serve Swahili dishes like pilau, biryani, and different native delicacies corresponding to beef stew with chapati and greens. Their espresso and contemporary juices are additionally price making an attempt.
T&T Malindi Restaurant Data
Handle: Q4G6+QM Malindi
Cellphone: +254 20 266 3322
Working Hours: Each day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Biryani rooster, pilau beef, chips masala
Common Price: $3-$9 per most important, $3-$5 for espresso and juices
7. Billionaire Grill & Bar (Greatest for Brunch)
Should you’re searching for a restaurant in Malindi with an attractive sea view, I extremely recommend testing the Billionaire Grill & Bar. Moreover its spectacular beachfront location, it provides a relaxed ambiance, quick service, and wonderful meals.
The restaurant gives an out of doors eating expertise with a diverse menu that includes the best Italian and native dishes. Don’t miss their scrumptious pepper beef steak, which could be loved with both ugali or chips.
I steadily go to Billionaire Resort, (the place the restaurant is predicated), in Malindi due to its proximity to Marine Park Seaside. From there, you possibly can calm down on the pristine white sands, go swimming and snorkeling, or discover the coral gardens beneath the floor by scuba diving.
Billionaire Grill & Bar Data
Handle: P4VJ+FJ Marine Road, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 705 437 307
Working Hours: Each day from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Pepper steak beef fillet, grilled jumbo prawns, Caprese salad
Common Price: $6-$9 per starter, $16-$42 per most important, $7-$11 for desserts
Web site: billionaireresort.com
8. Pizza O (Greatest Restaurant in Malindi with a View)
Beforehand named ‘Osteria’, Pizza O stays one of many prime eating places for advantageous Italian meals in Malindi. Its stunning view of the ocean, coupled with scrumptious Italian delicacies and some native dishes, has made it standard for a very long time.
The menu consists of pizza, spaghetti, grilled prawns, calamari, and vegetarian choices. With lights hanging from timber, wonderful pool views, and a well-lit beachfront house, Pizza O is the right restaurant for a romantic night or big day.
Pizza O Restaurant Data
Handle: Q43G+WJ Malindi
Cellphone: +254 711 480 046
Working Hours: Each day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Hawaiian pizza, seafood platter, calamari in pili sauce
Common Price: $3-$5 per starter, $11-$29 per most important, $3-$7 for desserts
9. Che Shale (Greatest for Lobster and Crab)
Che Shale, a small boutique resort within the northern a part of Malindi, is dwelling to the perfect eating spot within the space. The restaurant provides al fresco eating with a direct view of the seashore and the Indian Ocean. For a singular and memorable eating expertise, you possibly can request a desk to be arrange on the magnificent golden-sand seashore.
This pretty setting means that you can calm down with a cocktail or native beer earlier than sampling a number of the finest seafood in Malindi. Their signature dishes embody lobster and soft-shell crab, ready to your style and enriched with contemporary spices corresponding to turmeric, ginger, and coriander.
Che Shale Restaurant Data
Handle: W5PF+93 Lamu Road, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 722 230 931
Working Hours: Each day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Lobster, soft-shell crab, Che Shale breakfast wrap
Common Price: $8-$17 per most important, $4-$6 for desserts
Web site: cheshale.com
10. Simba Dishes (Greatest for Road Meals in Malindi)
Should you’re in Malindi and craving genuine coastal dishes, ensure you head over to Simba Dishes. This restaurant is standard, particularly with locals and adventurous guests, due to its cleanliness, immediate providers, and beneficiant servings of native delicacies at nice costs.
Simba Dishes is one among my favourite eating places for Swahili delicacies, like biryani rooster and pilau. In addition they provide a few of Malindi’s finest avenue meals, together with mshikaki (beef skewers), barbecued rooster, and native pastries like mahamri and mandazi. Whereas right here, strive the refreshing tamarind juice (ukwaju).
Simba Dishes Restaurant Data
Handle: Q4M9+4F Malindi
Cellphone: +254 703 454 123
Working Hours: Mon-Fri (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.), Sat-Solar (7 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
Should-Attempt Meals: Pilau, biryani, barbecued rooster, mshikaki
Common Price: $3-$7 per most important
11. Mayungu (Greatest for Contemporary Seafood)
Situated alongside a picturesque white sand beach close to a neighborhood fishing village, Mayungu is among the finest locations to eat in Malindi. The restaurant provides seafood grilled to perfection, contemporary fruit salads, fried rooster, kachumbari, and different delectable dishes.
Furthermore, it boasts an important beachfront location for having fun with sunny afternoons with a chilly beer or cocktail. Head right here for sundown and watch because the sky places on a present.
On my latest go to right here, I took a seashore stroll and had the possibility to watch the supply of the contemporary seafood. I watched a number of fishermen coming back from the ocean of their canoes laden with the day’s catch. On the fish market, native consumers had been eagerly awaiting their arrival.
Mayungu Seaside Restaurant Data
Handle: P448+54 Malindi
Cellphone: +254 738 124 538
Working Hours: Each day from 8 a.m. to five:30 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Fried rooster with rice and veggies, fruit salad, grilled octopus
Common Price: $3-$7 per starter, $8-$19 per most important
Web site: flamingovillasresorts.com
12. Malaika Estro (Greatest for Lunch)
Set in opposition to the backdrop of the gorgeous Mayungu Beach, this restaurant provides a stunning ambiance and hospitable workers. Their menu consists of quite a lot of dishes based mostly on the season, complemented by a selection of contemporary juices, cocktails, and native beers.
This makes it a super vacation spot for lunch throughout your keep in Malindi. It additionally boasts a number of cabanas dealing with the huge ocean, the place you possibly can calm down all through the day. Whereas right here, I like to recommend making an attempt their pizza, tagliolini with crab, or blended grilled seafood.
Malaika Estro Seaside Restaurant Data
Handle: M4W3+JV Mayungu Road, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 796 035 766
Working Hours: Each day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Combine grilled seafood, octopus salad, tagliolini with crab
Common Price: $4-$7 per starter, $9-$17 per most important, $3-6 for desserts
Web site: malaikabeachvillas.com
13. Coco Seaside (Greatest for Seafood and Cocktails)
This restaurant on the northern fringe of Silversands Beach gives a implausible eating expertise. It options an elevated deck that gives breathtaking views of the ocean. Decide to unwind on sunbeds or below seashore shades whereas having fun with a chilly beer.
Like many different beachside eateries in Malindi, Coco Seaside’s menu consists of contemporary seafood, Italian specialties, and a variety of native dishes. Throughout my final journey to Malindi, I went to this restaurant within the night to relish the soothing ocean breeze and revel in their scrumptious crumbed calamari rings with a facet of chips.
Coco Seaside Restaurant Data
Handle: Q4FH+9GJ, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 727 159 615
Working Hours: Each day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Crumbed calamari rings, grilled seafood platter, pizza marinara
Common Price: $8-$15 per most important (pizzas, grilled meats, and seafood)
14. Olimpia Membership (Greatest for Households)
Should you’re in Malindi and are searching for reasonably priced eating choices, romantic venues, or family-friendly eating places, Olimpia Membership is the place to go. This seashore restaurant serves scrumptious meals in a serene setting with magical ocean views. Moreover, Olimpia Membership incorporates a youngsters’ playground and a swimming pool.
The restaurant provides a contemporary and attractive mixture of Italian delicacies, seafood, and different surprises. You’ll discover nice choices on the menu like pizza and pasta, fried fish with chips or ugali, prawns and lobsters, and grilled beef – all out there at budget-friendly costs.
Olimpia Membership Restaurant Data
Handle: Q42F+RP9, Malindi
Cellphone: +254 113 248 801
Working Hours: Each day from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Fried fish with chips, pizza, blended meat grill
Common Price: $6-$9 per starter, $8-$25 per most important, $3 for facet dishes
15. Kilili Baharini (Greatest for a Quiet Ambiance)
This restaurant on the Kilili Baharini Resort is one other fantastic place for scrumptious meals in Malindi. It’s set in an open-air, Swahili-style constructing that includes an expertly thatched roof, stunning artwork items and artifacts, cozy couches, and rustic chairs. It additionally overlooks a clear swimming pool and a well-maintained backyard.
The menu is various, boasting native flavors, Italian delicacies, and vegetarian-friendly choices. Check out the buffet, which incorporates salads, blended seafood, grilled greens, meatballs, and contemporary tropical fruits. After dinner, you possibly can proceed into the night, having fun with a number of beers and cocktails at their bar.
Kilili Baharini Restaurant Data
Handle: Q45G+P3 Malindi
Cellphone: +254 702 999 566
Working Hours: Each day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Should-Attempt Meals: Grilled lobster, potato gnocchi, banana ice cream
Common Price: $10-$25 per most important, $5-$8 for desserts
Web site: kililibaharini.com
Should-Attempt Meals in Malindi
Listed below are a number of the dishes you could strive in Malindi, Kenya:
Grilled Seafood
Whereas strolling alongside Malindi’s stunning seashores, cease at one of many beachside eating places to get pleasure from grilled seafood. You’ll discover varied choices of contemporary fish, lobsters, crabs, and octopus, usually accompanied by a facet of chips.
Biryani and Pilau
Swahili rice dishes are a standard meal alongside the Kenyan coast. Amongst my favorites are biryani and pilau, that includes spiced rice cooked with rooster, beef, or mutton.
Native Snacks
For a extra genuine native culinary expertise, discover the standard Swahili breakfast. It options delectable pastries like samosa, mandazi, and mahamri, that are finest loved with tea or espresso.
Chapati and Beans
This pleasant dish consists of stewed beans served alongside chapati. Some eating places would possibly add inexperienced greens corresponding to sukuma wiki (collard greens sautéed with onions and tomatoes).
Italian Pizza
Malindi is typically referred to as “Little Italy” on account of its sizable Italian inhabitants, comprising each residents and vacationers. Consequently, you possibly can anticipate finding quite a few eating places serving Italian delicacies, together with my favourite – wood-fired pizza.
Samaki wa Nazi
This Swahili dish is standard in all coastal cities in East Africa. It usually options fried fish in a wealthy coconut curry, typically loved with a facet of rice or ugali.
Malindi Eating places: FAQs
Listed below are some solutions to standard questions on the perfect eating places in Malindi, Kenya:
A few of the finest locations to eat in Malindi are Seafront for Swahili dishes, Child Marrow for Italian delicacies, Mayungu Seaside for seafood, and Billionaire for grilled meats and drinks.
Dinner in Malindi is often served between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Lunch in Malindi is normally from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., particularly throughout weekdays. These hours are typically versatile throughout weekends and public holidays.
In Malindi and different components of Kenya, breakfast is served between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Sure. Tipping in Malindi is appreciated however optionally available. Nevertheless, it’s customary to tip 10%-15% of the invoice in eating places to understand good meals and repair.
One of the best eating places in Malindi are situated within the city heart and alongside Silversands Seaside. You’ll additionally discover nice choices at Marine Park Seaside and Mayungu Seaside.
For drinks and the perfect pub meals in Malindi, I like to recommend Bar Bar Restaurant and Billionaire Grill.
Seaside eating places like Rosada, Olimpia, Mayungu, and Malaika provide implausible ocean views.
Seafront Swahili Dishes, Child Marrow, Pizza O (previously Osteria), Malaika Estro Seaside, and Rosada are a number of the hottest eating places in Malindi.
The vast majority of individuals in Malindi converse Swahili. Nevertheless, a large quantity converse native dialects, English and Italian.
In Conclusion
I hope you’ve loved studying this text on the perfect eating places in Malindi and that it’s given you some concepts on the place to eat throughout your subsequent go to. The coastal vacation spot boasts a various meals scene influenced by Swahili, Italian, and different flavors.
Eating places alongside its shoreline are standard for seafood, particularly fish, prawns, crabs, and calamari. Within the city heart and at prime resorts and resorts, you possibly can get pleasure from native dishes like biryani, pilau, fried rooster, and grilled beef steak. Don’t overlook to discover the city’s Italian delicacies, that includes choices like pizza, pasta, lasagna, and gelatos.
Along with this checklist of eating places, keep in mind to take a look at my suggestions for the perfect seashores and top things to do in Malindi. You’ll uncover many points of interest and actions, which, when mixed with good meals, assure a memorable Malindi expertise.