Whereas pristine white sand seashores, coral gardens, and luxurious resorts are its most important sights, don’t miss the prospect to discover eating places in Watamu for a really memorable culinary expertise.
The small city on the northern coast of Kenya is residence to numerous communities, primarily locals and Italian expatriates and residents. It’s additionally a well-known place to go to in Kenya amongst vacationers, making its delicacies various and catering to everybody who stops by.
In consequence, you’ll uncover varied eating choices, from native eateries and seaside bars to seafood spots and quite a few pizzerias.
With its beautiful seashores excellent for leisure, a Marine Park for watersports, nice lodging choices, and welcoming locals, Watamu is one in every of my favourite vacation locations in Kenya. I not too long ago returned for per week and found extra issues to do and locations to eat on this coastal paradise.
So, if you happen to’re planning a go to and questioning what meals to strive or the place to eat in Watamu, you’re in the appropriate place. On this article, I’ll introduce you to a number of the best eating places in Watamu; detailing what they provide and their areas.
15 Greatest Eating places in Watamu
Listed below are a number of the greatest locations to eat in Watamu. You’ll discover a wide range of cuisines at these eating places, together with Swahili dishes, Italian meals, and recent seafood.
The checklist is predicated on my private experiences and critiques shared by different vacationers on platforms akin to Journey Advisor and Google Enterprise.
1. Crab Shack Dabaso (Greatest Restaurant in Watamu Total)
Crab Shack Dabaso is a novel seafood restaurant set amongst thick mangroves, providing a memorable eating expertise. This restaurant is community-run and was established by a neighborhood conservation group to supply delicious meals and promote eco-activities within the Mida Creek ecosystem.
It’s among the finest native eating places in Watamu, due to its pleasant workers and nice location overlooking the attractive creek. You may count on a menu that options an array of choices, together with fish, octopus, oysters, lobster, crabs, and prawns, together with an assortment of recent juices, bottled beers, cocktails, and wines.
I extremely advocate making an attempt the enormous Mida crab, the combined seafood grill, and the crab samosa. Moreover, Crab Shack is a perfect spot for birdwatching, taking strolls alongside a mangrove boardwalk, and catching breathtaking sunsets. You may as well hire a canoe or be a part of a tour to discover the creek and close by islands.
Crab Shack Dabaso Data
Tackle: MX3Q+VH Crab Shack, Dabaso, Watamu
Telephone: +254 725 315 562
Working Hours: Each day from 8 am to 9 pm
Should-Attempt Meals: Grilled seafood, Jumbo prawns, crab samosa – click on right here to see the complete menu
Common Value: $2-$5 per starter, $11-$44 per most important, $2-$4 for desserts
Web site: dabasocreek.wixsite.com
2. Amandina (Greatest for Advantageous Eating in Watamu)
Situated on the Median Palms Lodge alongside the alluring Turtle Bay Seaside, Amandina Restaurant presents reasonably priced eating matched with distinctive service and a beautiful ambiance. Their menu consists of African, European, and Mediterranean cuisines in addition to vegan choices.
For those who’re searching for a comfy spot excellent for romantic, positive eating in Watamu, I like to recommend Amandina. The restaurant supplies a relaxed environment with out of doors seating providing breathtaking ocean views. Right here, you’ll be able to take pleasure in varied meals and beverage choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
My favourite dishes at Amandina embrace the combined grilled seafood platter and rooster biryani. In addition they provide a scrumptious choice of most important programs together with pizzas, steaks, and pasta, and welcoming desserts akin to ice lotions and cheesecakes – ensure you go away room for these!
Their wine checklist options spectacular selections, together with Pecan Stream Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa and La Bollina Gavi from Italy.
Amandina Restaurant Data
Tackle: Medina Palms Lodge, off Turtle Bay Street, Watamu
Telephone: +254 114 128 477
Working Hours: Each day from 7 am to 9 pm
Should-Attempt Meals: Beef tenderloin, combined grill seafood platter, Swahili rooster biryani
Common Value: $3-$7 per starter, $11-$19 per most important, $3-$5 for desserts
Web site: medinapalms.com
3. Sundown Seaside (Greatest for Pizza and Cocktails in Watamu)
Sundown Seaside stands out as one of many best locations for pizzas and cocktails in Watamu. Located alongside Watamu Seaside, it boasts a barely elevated deck, offering the proper setting to take pleasure in occasional stay music, spectacular sunsets, and night seaside actions.
Whereas they provide different dishes like roast rooster and chips, their specialty is the traditional wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza. My favourite amongst their choices is the Diavola pizza, comprising mozzarella, tomato sauce, spicy salami, aromatic basil, and oil.
Sundown Seaside Restaurant Data
Tackle: J2VC+C3 Watamu
Telephone: +254 793 858 165
Working Hours: Wed-Mon (12:30 pm to 11 pm), Tue (closed)
Should-Attempt Meals: Pizzas – click on right here to see the complete menu
Common Value: $11-$14 per pizza, $5-$9 for cocktails
Web site: sunsetbeachwatamu.com
4. Pilipan (Greatest for Seafood and Beautiful Sunsets)
Pilipan ranks among the many prime eating places in Watamu offering delicious delicacies, a pleasing environment, distinctive service, and a tempting choice of cocktails.
The menu options a wide range of dishes together with prawns, fish, and rooster in coconut curry, barbecue snapper, seafood skewers, chili paneer, and prawn cocktails.
Plan your go to round their Saturday pleased hour from 5 pm to 7 pm. It’s the proper alternative to take pleasure in one in every of their cocktails whereas taking within the scenic view of the mangrove bushes and the enchanting sundown over Turtle Bay Creek.
Pilipan Restaurant Data
Tackle: JXHV+WW, Turtle Bay Street, Watamu
Telephone: +254 713 993 776
Working Hours: Each day from 11 am to 10 pm
Should-Attempt Meals: Rooster curry, barbecued snapper, tuna carpaccio
Common Value: $2-$5 per starter, $8-$11 per most important, $3-$5 for cocktails
Web site: @pilipanwatamu
5. Lichthaus by Temple Level (Greatest for Pub Meals in Watamu)
Lichthaus by Temple Level Resort is without doubt one of the greatest bars and eating places in Watamu with a view. It encompasses a raised terrace and cozy hammocks the place you’ll be able to unwind with a chilly beer or cocktail, all whereas having fun with stunning views of Mida Creek.
The bar boasts welcoming workers, a comfy ambiance, and serves scrumptious meals. Their most important course dishes embrace choices like pineapple octopus, garlic-grilled beef, succulent pork leg skewers, and a wide range of recent fish plates. Moreover, they provide refreshing salads ready with tomatoes, cucumbers, guacamole, and recent greens.
Lichthaus by Temple Level Data
Tackle: JX7C+X7, Mida Creek, Watamu
Telephone: +254 740 768 412
Working Hours: Each day from 12 pm to 10 pm
Should-Attempt Meals: Grilled garlic beef, pineapple octopus, home salad
Common Value: $3-$5 per starter, $11-$18 per most important
Web site: templepointresort.com
6. Gede Espresso Gardens (Greatest for Lunch and Dinner in Watamu)
Gede Espresso Gardens at Hemingways Lodge is the final word out of doors eating expertise in Watamu. I’ve had dinner there many occasions and it’s a magical spot with ocean views, a cool breeze, and starry skies. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, ready utilizing recent produce from close by markets and seafood sourced from native fishermen.
Their various menu options a wide range of choices together with Italian pizzas, grilled seafood, Karoo lamb, beef steaks, sandwiches, wraps, and attractive pastries and gelatos. To cap off your night, the Hemingways Bar awaits, providing a beneficiant choice of wines, spirits, and tropical cocktails for a calming post-dinner expertise.
Gede Espresso Gardens Data
Tackle: J2P3+G2Q Watamu
Telephone: +254 709 188 000
Working Hours: Each day from 10 am to 9 pm
Should-Attempt Meals: Jumbo prawns, beef fillet, pizza – click on right here to see the complete menu
Common Value: $3-$8 per starter, $11-$59 per most important, $4-$6 for desserts
Web site: hemingways-collection.com
7. Kokomo Seaside Bar (Greatest for Lebanese Meals in Watamu)
Kokomo Seaside Bar and Restaurant, situated on the fringe of Mapango Bay (Watamu Seaside), is my go-to alternative for a memorable night. Right here, you’ll be able to relish breathtaking ocean views because the solar units whereas having fun with a refreshing tropical cocktail or a chilly native beer.
Their various menu consists of lamb kebabs, Lebanese mezze, connoisseur and vegetarian burgers, grilled rooster, beef fillet, and fish. You may as well bask in pleasant desserts like tarts and cheesecakes and discover a wide range of salads, akin to tabouleh and fattoush, together with appetizers together with seared tuna and shrimp provençal.
Kokomo Seaside Bar & Restaurant Data
Tackle: J2VC+37 Mapango Seaside, Watamu
Telephone: +254 759 954 462
Working Hours: Each day from midday to midnight
Should-Attempt Meals: Lebanese mezze, vegetarian burgers, grilled beef fillet
Common Value: $13-$25 per most important, $7-$14 for cocktails, $6-$11 for desserts
Web site: @kokomobeachbarandrestaurant
8. Hosteria Romana (Greatest for Italian Meals in Watamu)
Hosteria Romana is a modest and charming restaurant in Watamu village, only a stone’s throw from the seaside. The restaurant is legendary for its genuine Italian dishes, which embrace pizza, pasta, spaghetti, and gnocchi.
Whereas their specialty is Italian delicacies, their menu additionally caters to different tastes together with seafood and vegetarian-friendly worldwide choices, that includes recent fish catches, crabs, lobsters, and prawns.
In case you are visiting or staying close to Watamu Seaside, don’t miss the chance to dine at this restaurant. Check out their recent salmon carpaccio or carbonara (spaghetti, eggs, bacon, pecorino cheese, olive oil), and savor it with a glass of home wine.
Hosteria Romana Data
Tackle: J2VC+G9, Watamu Seaside Street
Telephone: +254 711 867 275
Working Hours: Each day from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm
Should-Attempt Meals: Pizza Margherita, pasta, spaghetti with tuna
Common Value: $2-$4 per starter, $7-$13 per most important, $2-$5 for desserts
Web site: @hosteriaromanawatamu
9. Tamu (One of many Most Romantic Eating places in Watamu)
Tamu Seaside Bar and Restaurant, conveniently situated close to Papa Remo Seaside, presents wonderful service, pleasant workers, and scrumptious meals. Whether or not you’re searching for a comfy indoor eating expertise surrounded by rustic white interiors, ultimate for a romantic dinner, or a beachfront setting for household outings, Tamu has you coated.
Their most important menu options a wide range of delectable choices akin to carpaccios, salads, queen prawns, vegetable fajitas, lobster medallion, and sushi sashimi. In the meantime, the youngsters’ menu consists of favorites like tomato spaghetti, fried fish fingers, and fried rooster with spiral chips. Save area to bask in pleasant desserts, wines, fruit juices, and smoothies.
Tamu Seaside Bar & Restaurant Data
Tackle: M22G+48 Watamu Seaside Street
Telephone: +254 703 707 038
Working Hours: Tue-Solar (10 am to 10 pm), Mon (closed)
Should-Attempt Meals: Octopus carpaccio, prawns salad – click on right here to see the complete menu
Common Value: $3-$5 per starter, $9-$16 per most important, $2-$4 for desserts
Web site: tamurestaurant.com
10. Willy Seaside (Greatest for Seafood and Low-cost Eats in Watamu)
For those who’re searching for an reasonably priced beachfront spot to dine and chill out in Watamu, head to Willy Seaside Restaurant. Situated on the southern finish of Papa Remo Seaside (Love Bay), this eatery serves grilled seafood akin to lobsters, shrimp, crab, and octopus. It additionally presents native dishes akin to pilau, rooster, and beef stew with ugali and kachumbari.
Along with the meals, Willy Seaside Restaurant has a choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. These embrace juices, tea, espresso, beers, wines, pictures, and cocktails. Check out the prickly pineapple or the vodka lemon cocktails.
Willy Seaside Watamu Data
Tackle: J2XF+8P Watamu
Telephone: +254 705 959 994
Working Hours: Each day from 8:30 am to 10 pm
Should-Attempt Meals: Seafood platter, linguini with combined greens, calamari salad
Common Value: $4-$7 per starter, $10-$15 per most important, $2-$3 for desserts
Web site: @willybeachwatamu
11. Papa Remo (Greatest for Lunch and Partying in Watamu)
Papa Remo is one in every of my favourite seaside eating places in Watamu for leisure, nice meals, and a vigorous environment. It supplies indoor and out of doors eating choices with a multi-cuisine menu together with Italian pizzas, grilled beef and rooster, seafood, and varied refreshing drinks.
The restaurant is located alongside Love Bay, a shocking seaside in Watamu with solar loungers providing incredible views of the Indian Ocean and close by islets (seven islands). Each Saturday from 11 pm, they host a seaside celebration that includes incredible music by native DJs – an expertise I cherish and eagerly await on my subsequent Watamu go to.
Papa Remo Seaside Restaurant Data
Tackle: M23J+9X Jacaranda Street, Watamu
Telephone: +254 707 010 527
Working Hours: Each day from 9 am to 10 pm
Should-Attempt Meals: Contemporary seafood, pizza, grilled rooster with chips
Common Value: $2-$5 per starter, $9-$16 per most important, $3-$9 for drinks
Web site: paparemobeach.com
12. Marafiki (One of many Greatest Seaside Eating places in Watamu)
Marafiki, which implies “mates” in Swahili, is an enthralling seaside bar and restaurant on Watamu’s northern facet alongside Jacaranda Bay Seaside. You may relish delectable meals and drinks right here whereas having fun with spectacular ocean views.
Their various menu boasts a wide range of choices together with seafood, Swahili, and Italian dishes akin to grilled calamari, pizzas, nyama choma (grilled or roast meat), samaki wa nazi (conventional fish curry with coconut cream), and gelatos.
Marafiki Seaside Bar & Restaurant Data
Tackle: M3MP+Q2V Jacaranda Street, Watamu
Telephone: +254 711 738 524
Working Hours: Each day from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm
Should-Attempt Meals: Beef fillet, squid fish, samosa – click on to see the complete menu
Common Value: $3-$5 per starter, $9-$14 per most important
Web site: marafikibeachrestaurant.com
13. Safina Seaside Bar (Restaurant in Watamu with a Sea View)
This seaside bar and restaurant is located alongside the magnificent Jacaranda Bay Seaside. Apart from providing scrumptious meals, it supplies a choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and supplies superb views of the Indian Ocean.
Like many seaside bars in Watamu, Safina’s menu options native dishes, pizzas, panini, grilled meats, seafood, beers, and cocktails. Following your meal, you’ll be able to unwind on solar loungers and swing beds underneath gazebos, take a seaside stroll, or go kitesurfing.
For these searching for aquatic adventures, the clear waters provide alternatives for swimming and snorkeling, the place you’ll be able to observe colourful fish and different marine species beneath the floor.
Safina Seaside Bar & Restaurant Data
Tackle: M3MP+V5, Spiaggia Jacaranda, Kanani Street, Watamu
Telephone: +254 719 214 521
Working Hours: Each day from 8 am to 9 am
Should-Attempt Meals: Grilled rooster with ugali – click on to see the complete menu
Common Value: $3-$5 per starter, $7-$13 per most important
Web site: safinabeachrestaurant.com
14. Mamiy’s Pizza (Greatest for Pizza and Piadina in Watamu)
Every time I go to Watamu, Mamiy’s is my best choice for pizza. This charming pizzeria, located on Watamu-Gede Street, presents a heat environment and fast service.
Their pizza choice is various, that includes varied kinds and toppings together with choices like Mamiy’s particular, Margherita, Napoli, Hawaii, Vegetariana, and my private favourite, Italia (topped with recent mozzarella, tomatoes, onion, olives, and oregano).
Apart from the pizzas, Mamiy’s additionally serves a number of the best piadinas (flatbread) in Watamu. You may indulge of their piadina romagnola, which might be stuffed with a wide range of scrumptious elements akin to mozzarella, ham, tomato, rooster cubes, and grilled zucchini. Alongside these choices, you’ll be able to order a spread of drinks, desserts, and snacks.
Mamiy’s Pizza Data
Tackle: J2X7+R8C, Gede Watamu Rd, Watamu
Telephone: +254 795 214 014
Working Hours: Wed-Sat (12 to 2 pm), Mon-Tue (closed), Solar (5 pm to 10:30 pm)
Should-Attempt Meals: Pizzas – click on right here to see the complete menu
Common Value: $6-$10 per pizza, $2-$5 for desserts
Web site: @mamiyspizza
15. Non Solo Gelato (Greatest for Gelatos and Desserts)
When you’ve got a candy tooth, your culinary journey in Watamu would solely be full by exploring its gelatos, ice cream parlors, and pastry outlets.
To examine off all the above, I extremely advocate a go to to Non Solo Gelato, an Italian restaurant fashionable for its number of candy treats, espresso, and sandwiches. Right here, you’ll be able to take pleasure in recent juices, croissants, gelatos, truffles, and varied dessert choices.
Non Solo Gelato is a superb alternative for breakfast, brunch, or lunch in Watamu. Other than their candy choices, additionally they serve genuine Italian delicacies, that includes dishes like lasagna, pasta, and panini. Personally, I can’t get sufficient of their cannoli stuffed with almonds and Nutella.
Non Solo Gelato Restaurant Data
Tackle: J2V6+F9 Watamu
Telephone: +254 794 600 128
Working Hours: Mon-Sat (7 am to eight pm), Solar (closed)
Should-Attempt Meals: Roche ice cream, black cherry, piadina sandwich
Common Value: $3-$9 for ice lotions/gelatos, $3-$6 for desserts
Web site: @nonsologelatobyanna
Should-Attempt Meals in Watamu
If you’re in Watamu, you’ll be able to’t miss the prospect to bask in its culinary delights. To provide you some concepts, listed here are my favourite must-try meals in Watamu, together with recent grilled seafood, tasty Italian dishes, and scrumptious Swahili meals:
Swahili Rice Dishes
Rice dishes are frequent in Watamu and different cities alongside the Swahili coast. These dishes sometimes embrace fragrant rice cooked with spices, greens, and meat (beef, rooster, or mutton). My favorites are biryani rooster and beef pilau.
Native Breakfast
Earlier than you begin your day’s adventures in Watamu, ensure you benefit from the Swahili breakfast. It normally contains Kenyan chai or espresso, together with samosas, boiled or fried eggs, and pastries like mahamri (a dough flavored with coconut milk and deep-fried right into a triangular, golden-brown pastry).
Wooden-Fired Pizza
Watamu’s Italian affect shines by in its wood-fired pizzas. There are a number of seaside eating places and pizzerias to take pleasure in a crispy, thin-crust pizza topped with recent elements and native flavors. I like to recommend making an attempt Mamiy’s Marinara, Margherita, or Napoli pizzas.
Contemporary Seafood Platter
Being a coastal city, Watamu is without doubt one of the greatest locations for recent seafood. Whereas right here, strive a seafood platter with grilled prawns, lobster, crabs, and octopus, all expertly ready and seasoned. Fried fish with ugali can also be a must-try.
Samaki wa Nazi
Fish in Swahili is samaki, whereas nazi means coconut. Samaki wa nazi interprets to “fish in a coconut curry,” a well-liked Swahili dish alongside the East African coast. This flavorful dish is normally created with recent fish cooked in a creamy coconut sauce, seasoned with spices like garlic, turmeric, ginger, and chili, and is incessantly served with ugali or rice (wali).
☞ SEE ALSO: Meals in Kenya – 15 Should-Attempt Dishes in Kenya
Watamu Eating places: FAQs
Listed below are some solutions to incessantly requested questions on one of the best locations to eat in Watamu:
Watamu eating places are distinctive, and every presents one thing for various tastes and preferences. My favorites embrace Mamiy’s for pizza, Crab Shack for seafood and sunsets, Amandina for an ocean view, Tamu for native dishes, Kokomo for a seaside expertise, and Non Solo Gelato for ice lotions.
Dinner hours in Watamu are sometimes noticed between 7 pm and 9 pm. Nonetheless, some locations could have prolonged lunch hours, so it is best to verify with the restaurant of your alternative earlier than visiting.
Lunchtime in Watamu normally begins round midday and lasts till 2 pm or later. Once more, checking with particular person eating places for his or her particular lunch hours is suggested.
As in most of Kenya, breakfast in Watamu is usually served from 7 am to 10 am, though this may fluctuate relying on every eatery, lodge, or resort.
Tipping in Watamu will not be a should, however is actually appreciated. Tipping round 10-15% of the invoice is usually beneficial if you happen to’re happy with the restaurant’s service, meals high quality, and total ambiance.
Though Watamu isn’t well-known for conventional pub meals, you could find informal pub-style dishes at many beachfront bars and eating places. These could embrace choices like nyama choma, burgers, beef fry, and seafood. To expertise such dishes, contemplate visiting eating places akin to Tamu, Papa Remo, Kokomo, Sundown, Safina, and Marafiki.
Eating places with one of the best views in Watamu embrace Lichthaus by Temple Level, Kokomo Seaside Restaurant, Crab Shack Dabaso, and the Amandina Restaurant.
In Conclusion
There are various eating places in Watamu, however the above are only a handful that can assist you determine the place to eat. This coastal haven’s various eating selections and choices cater to the tastes of locals and guests alike.
So, whether or not you crave the wealthy aroma of Swahili biryani, some mouthwatering seafood choices like grilled octopus, or the familiarity of Italian pizzas and world delicacies, Watamu has the proper eating spot to please your preferences.
As you discover this coastal paradise, I like to recommend searching for further locations to eat. You’ll be pleasantly stunned by the abundance of stylish cafes, tempting gelaterias, charming eating places, and breezy seaside bars that grace Watamu – my favourite journey vacation spot alongside Kenya’s beautiful shoreline.
