Restaurant
Akemi Revolving Restaurant
A revolving restaurant and bar high above Ohio Street in the city centre, known for its views, weekday lunch buffet, Sunday brunch and Friday live music.
Jahazi Restaurant at Serena
The Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel's signature seafood restaurant, named after the Swahili dhow, serving Indian Ocean catch in an Arabic-influenced dining room.
At a glance
- Type
- Seafood restaurant
- Area
- City Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Sunday) · 12:30–22:30
- Official site
- serenahotels.com
Good to know
- A la carte
- Hotel restaurant
- Table booking
Why we recommend it
Jahazi is the signature seafood restaurant of the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel on Ohio Street. Its name is the Swahili word for a traditional dhow, and the dining room picks up the coastal theme with Arabic-influenced decor, yellow pillars and hanging metal lanterns, set within the five-star Serena hotel in the city centre.
The menu is à la carte and built around fish and shellfish from the Indian Ocean. Grilled seafood skewers feature in the restaurant's own photographs, and over the years diners have singled out its crab dishes, including chilli crab and ginger crab, as well as its generous portions. The hotel describes the kitchen's focus simply as the bounty of the ocean, so ask what has come in that day rather than ordering by habit.
Jahazi opens for lunch and dinner from 12:30 to 22:30, Monday to Saturday, and is closed on Sundays. If you are staying at the Serena or nearby, it works as a reliable choice for a business dinner, a celebration or a first-night meal after a long flight. For something more casual within the same hotel, the Serengeti Restaurant serves all-day buffets and grills, and the Kibo Bar and Terrace offers drinks and lighter dishes. The Bakers Basket patisserie, open daily from 06:30 to 21:00, is handy for coffee and cake before or after a meal.
As with most hotel restaurants in Dar es Salaam, prices are well above those in local seafood places, but you are paying for a calm dining room, consistent service and a central location. Book through the hotel, especially later in the week, and mention any allergies when you reserve, as seafood dominates the menu. Smart casual dress fits the setting.
The Serena stands on Ohio Street in the city centre, with landscaped gardens and an adjacent golf course. The National Museum, the Botanical Gardens and the Kivukoni waterfront are close by, and Akemi's revolving bar is on the same street, so a pre-dinner drink with a view is easy to arrange. The hotel can arrange a taxi for the journey back to the Msasani Peninsula or other parts of the city.
Jahazi Restaurant at Serena FAQs
What kind of restaurant is Jahazi?
The signature seafood restaurant of the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, serving à la carte dishes from the Indian Ocean.
What are the opening hours?
From 12:30 to 22:30, Monday to Saturday. It is closed on Sundays.
What does the name mean?
Jahazi is the Swahili word for a traditional dhow.
What should I order?
Seafood is the focus; grilled skewers and crab dishes such as chilli crab and ginger crab have long been popular.
Do I need to book?
Booking through the hotel is advisable, especially later in the week.
Where is it?
Inside the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel on Ohio Street in the city centre.
Are there other restaurants in the hotel?
Yes. The Serengeti Restaurant serves all-day dining, and the Kibo Bar and Terrace offers drinks and lighter dishes.
What should I wear?
Smart casual dress suits the setting.