Karambezi Café

Karambezi Café is the open-air café and restaurant of the Sea Cliff Hotel, which stands on the northern tip of the Msasani Peninsula. Its terrace sits right at the edge of the rocks above the Indian Ocean, so you eat with waves breaking just below, and it is one of the best-known places in the city for a coffee or a long lunch with a sea view.

The design draws on the coast. The kitchen is open to the dining area, and the counters were built from the timber of recycled dhows, the wooden sailing boats of the Swahili coast. The menu runs from breakfast through to late evening and mixes light, modern dishes with seafood and grilled chicken; guides have long recommended the seafood platter. The pastry section is a strength, so it works just as well for a mid-morning coffee and cake as for a full meal.

Karambezi suits couples, friends meeting for brunch and anyone who wants to slow down after sightseeing in the city centre. Prices are higher than in town and in line with a hotel restaurant, so treat it as a place for a leisurely treat rather than a quick snack. The tables closest to the water go first, so arrive early or ask the hotel about reservations. Bring a light layer in the evening, as it can be breezy on the rocks, and insect repellent after dark.

Note that the café faces east, out to the open ocean. That means beautiful light in the morning and over breakfast, but you will not see the sun set over the water here; for sunsets, head to the Slipway on the western side of the peninsula, a short taxi ride away.

The Sea Cliff Hotel is part of Sea Cliff Village, an upmarket complex on Toure Drive with boutiques, cafés, a children's play area and a spa, so it is easy to combine a meal here with some shopping. Within the hotel, the Alcove restaurant serves Indian and Chinese dishes if you want something different for dinner. From the city centre, allow plenty of time by taxi or ride-hailing car, particularly at rush hour, and confirm opening hours with the hotel before travelling out specially.