Talisman

Talisman began in the 1990s in a small old house on Ngong Road in Karen that was once home to the wildlife filmmaker and author Alan Root and his family. Over the years it has grown into one of the suburb's best-known places to eat, calling itself an elegant gastrolounge, and it regularly appears in lists of Nairobi's leading restaurants.

The setting is a big part of the appeal. Inside, rooms mix oriental rugs, open fireplaces and changing artwork with contemporary East African design, while outside a tiered garden courtyard with parasols and potted plants fills up on sunny afternoons. In the evening, fairy lights in the trees make the garden a relaxed place for dinner. The restaurant describes itself as environmentally friendly, with an organic garden supplying some of its produce.

The cooking is global fusion with a strong South Asian thread and plenty of local ingredients. Dishes that have featured on the menu include feta and coriander samosas, spicy salmon tacos, twice-cooked sticky duck legs and braised pork belly, along with sushi and a lavender and honeycomb ice cream. The menu changes, so check the current version on the website before you go. The bar is popular in its own right, and its dawa, made with vodka, fresh lime, African honey and crushed ice, is a good place to start.

Talisman is closed on Mondays. It opens from 11:00 to 01:00 Tuesday to Friday and from 09:00 to 01:00 at weekends, when there is a breakfast menu. The kitchen takes last orders at 21:30 from Tuesday to Saturday and at 20:30 on Sundays and public holidays, so plan dinner accordingly. Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekend lunch, and reservations are confirmed by phone or email. The website also lists upcoming events and the art currently on show.

It suits couples, groups of friends and visitors staying in Karen or Lang'ata, and it makes a natural lunch stop after a morning at the Giraffe Centre, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery or the Karen Blixen Museum. From the city centre, allow time for traffic on Ngong Road, especially in the late afternoon, and use a taxi or ride-hailing app if you plan to try the cocktails.