Restaurant
Talisman
A long-running Karen restaurant in the former home of filmmaker Alan Root, known for global fusion cooking, a garden courtyard and an easy-going cocktail scene.
Carnivore
Nairobi's famous meat restaurant on Lang'ata Road, open since 1980, where waiters carve meats roasted on Maasai swords at your table until you lower your flag.
At a glance
- Type
- Nyama choma and grilled meat feast
- Area
- Lang'ata, Nairobi, Kenya
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- tamarind.co.ke
Good to know
- Fixed-price set menu
- Vegetarian menu
- Charcoal roasting pit
- Dawa cocktails
- Simba Saloon next door
Why we recommend it
Carnivore has been feeding Nairobi and its visitors since September 1980, and it has served more than two million guests over the years, from safari travellers on their first night in Kenya to visiting celebrities. Run by the Tamarind group, it sits on Lang'ata Road near Wilson Airport, a few kilometres south of the city centre, and it remains one of Nairobi's best-known restaurants.
The format is the attraction. As you walk in, a huge charcoal pit roasts skewers of meat on traditional Maasai swords. Once seated, carvers circulate with the swords and slice meat straight onto your plate, moving through a changing selection that can include ostrich, crocodile and camel alongside more familiar cuts. The fixed price also covers soup, side dishes, a spread of sauces, dessert and Kenyan coffee. When you have had enough, lower the white paper flag on the central tray and the carving stops.
Vegetarians are not left out, as there is a separate vegetarian menu, which makes it workable for mixed groups. Before or during the meal, look out for Dr Dawa, who wheels a portable tray around the room to make the house cocktail, the dawa, which is based on a Brazilian drink. Next door, the Simba Saloon is a more casual restaurant by day that turns into a nightclub on selected nights from Wednesday to Sunday.
Carnivore suits groups, families and anyone wanting a classic Nairobi night out, and it works well as a celebration meal at the start or end of a safari. Arrive hungry and pace yourself, since the meat keeps coming. Children are welcome, and the Simba Saloon next door has a playground for younger guests. The room is large and lively rather than intimate, and it can be busy at weekends, so book by phone if you are a big group or want a set time.
The restaurant is easy to reach by taxi or ride-hailing app from the city centre, Upper Hill and Kilimani. It shares its grounds with the Tamarind Tree Hotel, and Nairobi National Park, the Uhuru Gardens area and Wilson Airport are all close by, so it fits neatly after an afternoon game drive.
Carnivore FAQs
How does the meal work?
It is a fixed-price feast. Carvers bring meats roasted on Maasai swords to your table until you lower the white flag on your tray.
Is there a vegetarian option?
Yes. Carnivore has a separate vegetarian menu.
What is included in the price?
Soup, side dishes, sauces, dessert and Kenyan coffee are included with the meat feast.
What meats are served?
A changing selection that can include ostrich, crocodile and camel alongside more familiar meats.
What is a dawa?
The house cocktail, a Kenyan take on a Brazilian drink, mixed at your table by Dr Dawa.
When did Carnivore open?
In September 1980.
Is there nightlife on site?
Yes. The neighbouring Simba Saloon becomes a nightclub on selected nights from Wednesday to Sunday.
Where is it?
On Lang'ata Road near Wilson Airport, a short drive from the city centre and Nairobi National Park.