Café
Thorn Tree Café
The Sarova Stanley's pavement café, built around an acacia tree where generations of travellers pinned messages for one another in the days before email.
The River Café
An open-air café inside Karura Forest serving all-day breakfast, continental lunches and coffee with views over the trees, ideal after a forest walk or ride.
At a glance
- Type
- Forest café and all-day restaurant
- Area
- Karura Forest, Nairobi, Kenya
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- therivercafekenya.com
Good to know
- Open-air seating
- Forest views
- All-day breakfast
- Playground
- Dog policy
- Event catering
Why we recommend it
The River Café sits inside Karura Forest, the large protected forest on Nairobi's northern edge that was saved from development thanks to the campaigning of Wangari Maathai. Reached from the main entrance on Limuru Road, opposite the Belgian Embassy, it gives walkers, runners and cyclists a place to refuel without leaving the trees, and it is a destination in its own right for a relaxed breakfast or lunch.
The setting is the star. The café is open-air, with wide spaces, high ceilings and panoramic views over the forest, and the style is simple and welcoming rather than formal. The menu uses Kenyan produce and covers an all-day breakfast, continental à la carte dishes at lunchtime and a full range of drinks including tea and coffee. It works as well for a coffee after a dawn run as for a long weekend lunch with family or friends.
The forest around it adds plenty to do before or after a meal. You can go birdwatching, join a guided colobus monkey walk, or walk and cycle on the forest's extensive trail network, which includes a waterfall and caves once used by Mau Mau fighters. The café publishes a dog policy and playground safety information, which is helpful for families and dog owners planning a visit.
It suits families, couples, nature lovers and anyone wanting a break from traffic and concrete, and it is a pleasant place for a first morning in Nairobi to shake off jet lag. The café also caters for events, with capacity for seated groups of 25 to 150 guests, standing cocktail events for up to 450 and à la carte events for up to 80, so it can host anything from a birthday lunch to a large party.
A few practical points. You need to pay the Karura Forest entry fee, which is taken by M-Pesa through eCitizen, and the forest's last entry is at 17:30. If you are leaving by ride-hailing app, the café advises requesting your car before 17:45. Bring a light layer for cool mornings and sturdy shoes if you plan to walk the trails. The UN offices at Gigiri and the Village Market are nearby, and Westlands is a short drive away.
The River Café FAQs
Where is The River Café?
Inside Karura Forest, reached from the entrance on Limuru Road opposite the Belgian Embassy.
Do I have to pay to enter the forest?
Yes. The Karura Forest entry fee applies and is paid by M-Pesa through eCitizen.
What is on the menu?
All-day breakfast, continental à la carte lunch dishes, and tea, coffee and other drinks, using Kenyan produce.
Is it indoors or outdoors?
It is an open-air café with forest views, wide spaces and high ceilings.
Are dogs allowed?
The café publishes a dog policy on its website, so check it before bringing a dog.
Is it good for children?
Yes. There is a playground, and the café publishes playground safety information.
Can it host events?
Yes. It caters for seated groups of 25 to 150, standing events for up to 450 and à la carte events for up to 80.
When should I order a taxi?
The café advises requesting ride-hailing cars before 17:45.