This is a list of the best Italian restaurants in Nairobi. It focuses on well-known romantic restaurants that highlight the Italian food culture, which is renowned around the world for its delectable cuisine. The wonderful flavours and textures found in every dish show that Italians take great pride in their food.
Italian cuisine has something for everyone, from hearty pasta dishes to delicate desserts. Below is a list of the best Italian restaurants.
Best Italian Restaurants In Nairobi
1. Matteo’s Restaurant
Matteo’s Italian Restaurant is a restaurant with a traditional focus on Italian cuisine. The restaurant has an inviting atmosphere and is perfect for family dining or weekend get-togethers. Matteo’s is best visited at night. Something about the lights strung on the trees makes it magical. If you prefer, you can sit inside. The food is cooked in an authentic wood-fired oven and features ingredients that are commonly used in Italy. The pizza and pasta are fantastic. We recommend Matteo’s for romantic dates and family dinners.
Location: Karen, Nairobi
Phone: +254 110 089 333
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (10 am-10 pm)
2. La Cascina
One of the well-known restaurants in Karen is La Cascina. La Cascina is a traditional Italian country house made of bricks or stone that has a warm and inviting atmosphere. From the background music to the menu, which is rich in characteristic courses and original recipes, you can feel the true Italian atmosphere. Their dishes are prepared with great attention to detail and passion while using organic and fresh ingredients. Also, their extended and carefully curated wine list compliments your ultimate Italian experience.
Location: The Hub Karen
Phone: 0705 469 427
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (9.30 am-10.30 pm)
3. Mambo Italia
This beautiful Italian restaurant specialises in tasty, no-fuss dining by making its gelato on-site. Hidden within the Lavington Curve Mall, you’ll find long wooden tables, colourful chairs, and an open-plan kitchen. The menu reinvents Italian classics with dishes inspired by Swahili cuisine. Try the Swahili beach pizza, which is topped with a coconut curry sauce, coriander, and red onion. If you still have room for dessert, the chocolate and fresh mint gelato are delicious.
Location: Lavington, Garden City Mall, Westlands
Phone: +254 709 670000
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (11:30 am-9:30 pm)
4. La Terrazza Restaurant
La Terrazza Italian Restaurant is a popular place to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in an elegant setting. The restaurant offers stunning rooftop views of Kilimani, from the rooftop patio of Greenhouse Mall on Ngong Road, which makes it a perfect spot for a meal or drinks with friends.
Gian Paolo Tomasi’s famous African portraits can be found on the inside. The owners and chefs are both native Italians, and the menu includes gourmet pasta, risotto, pizza, steak, and seafood. Choose lobster fettuccine or squid ink and prawn ravioli, then wash it down with Italian wine. The only downside is that it can get quite busy, so be sure to make reservations if you want to eat there.
Location: 4th Floor, Greenhouse Mall, Along Ngong Road
Phone: 0748 101 503
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (12.30 pm-10.30 pm)
5. La Dolce Vita
Located in the 3rd Muthaiga shopping centre, La Dolce Vita offers an exquisite Italian meal with a touch of Mediterranean flavour. The restaurant has indoor seating and an outdoor terrace. The interior is bright and airy, surrounded by artworks showing the best views of Florence.
The perfect balance of elegance, comfort and delicacy made La Dolce Vita popular throughout Nairobi. They serve authentic Italian cuisines, like homemade pasta, seafood, meat dishes and many other delicious specialities. Pizzas baked in a brick wood-burning oven, an impressive collection of over 100 carefully selected Italian wines, exquisite desserts, and their attentive and professional service will make every moment there unique. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and has free parking. The restaurant also has wheelchair access and seating for up to 70 people.
Location: 3rd Muthaiga Shopping Centre, Limuru Rd, Nairobi
Phone: 0722 624 100, 0734 291 670Â
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (12 pm-10.30 pm)
6. La Salumeria
La Salumeria offers traditional homemade Italian cuisine and European cuisine in a modern setting in the heart of Nairobi. This prestigious yet budget-friendly restaurant is located at the secure and serene Dhajay Apartments (Valley Arcade), just 3 miles from Nairobi National Park, and is ideal for lunch, dinner, and late-night meals.
If you’re in the mood for some truly delicious Italian cuisine, then you need to head on over to La Salumeria Restaurant. They’ve got a wide variety of pasta, plus some exotic wines that you’ll love.
Location: Dhanjay Apartments, Valley Arcade
Phone: 0796 088 520
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (12 pm-10 pm)
7. Mediterraneo Restaurant, WestlandsÂ
The unique Italian restaurant Mediterraneo in Westlands offers a refined dining experience with traditional dishes and exclusive imported wines. From the painstakingly tiled mosaic pizza oven to the Fornacetti wallpaper, the custom-made Italian furniture, and the handmade tiles, every detail has been carefully selected to create a modern backdrop to the very best Italian fine dining experience.
The menu features a variety of Italian delicacies, including pizza, pasta and meats. For the early risers and relaxers, Mediterraneo Westland has added a coffee area where a breakfast and snack menu is served, including homemade brioches and Panini, genuine Italian ice cream, as well as freshly made smoothies. Also, a bar pod has been introduced, allowing clientele to savour a large selection of premium wines by the glass, from a new, carefully tasted wine list. The restaurant stays open late into the night, making it ideal for casual meals or business meetings.
Location: 9 West building, Ring Road Parklands
Phone: (+254) 0725 547 800
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat (12 pm-9 pm) and Sun (closed)
8. La Cantina
Located in the heart of Nairobi’s city centre, La Cantina is a quaint Italian restaurant that serves up delicious pizza and pasta dishes. It’s perfect for a casual night out with friends, and the wine list is extensive. Plus, the warm atmosphere and friendly staff make it an ideal place to relax after a long day.
Location: Shalom House, along Daniel Comboni Road, Nairobi
Phone: 0717 572 261
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (12 pm-11 pm)
9. Trattoria Restaurant
The Trattoria Restaurant is a charming Italian restaurant in Nairobi’s CBD with an atmosphere that is romantic and inviting. This Italian restaurant, swathed in trees and plants, offers excellent pizzas, homemade pasta, and a wide variety of dishes. The staff are courteous and helpful, making it a great place to eat with friends or family. The restaurant has amazing alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, which make it perfect for friendly hangouts.
Location: Kaunda Street, Off Wabera Street
Phone: 0799 739 679, 020 224 0205
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (7 am-12 am)
10. Lucca Restaurant
Savour homemade Italian cuisine at Lucca restaurant, prepared using fresh ingredients and served in a relaxed trattoria-style setting. Known for delivering delicious Italian cuisine, Lucca offers a diverse selection of dishes, including freshly made pasta, lasagna, risotto, frutti di mare, and exquisite desserts such as tiramisu. Enquire about the Chef’s Special for some culinary indulgence.
Location: Villa Rosa Kempinski, Chiromo Lane, Nairobi
Phone: 0703 049 000
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (12.30 pm-11 pm)
