8 of the best rooftop bars in Nairobi

Is there a more perfect way to end the day than with a cocktail and a view? Discover the best rooftop bars in Nairobi.  Nairobi bars that offer you the chance to have a drink with views across the city or Nairobi National Park. Or simply to make like Karen Blixen and watch the sun go down behind the Ngong Hills.

Want to make a night of it? Read The Best hotels in Nairobi

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Hemingway’s Cocktail Terrace

Mbagathi Ridge, Karen

This 5* hotel in Karen offers cool clean lines, sparkling marble, framed antiques and palatial grounds overlooking the Ngong Hills. As you glide through the foyer with its twin staircases and piano tinkling the background, you are instantly transported away from the dusty streets of Nairobi.   Avoid the restaurant on the ground floor and head up to the club bar for a cocktail on the terrace. Exotic fountains front green lawns backed by majestic views of our beloved hills. Cocktails here are top-notch and you won’t pay any more for them despite the luxurious surroundings.  The hotel has an impressive range of fine wines and some rare whiskies and cognacs.

Hemingways Nairobi is a place to leave the kids behind, put on your glad rags and relax in peace and serenity.

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Emari Skylounge at the Ole Sereni

Southern Bypass

Ole Sereni has built a startling new ands swanky building right next door to its old location at the end of the southern bypass. The new hotel is taller, sleeker and swankier than ever. The Emara Skylounge at Ole Sereni is arooftop bar in Nairobi with unparalleled and uninterrupted views of Nairobi National Park and all its clawed residents. The hotel sits at the fence line of the park, opposite a water hole and is the best way to spot wildlife in absolute comfort. Come at dusk and watch as the animals gather by the waterhole while the sun dips behind the Ngong Hills.   It’s a sleek affair with an infinity pool stretching to the park and sophisticated decor setting off the views The bar offers the usual cocktails, decent wine and beer and a wide range of snacks and biting’s. Be warned, to book a table they require a 10KSH deposit that is taken off your bar billed. Packed on weekend nights, this is the most happening rooftop bar in Nairobi at the moment.

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Brew Bistro Rooftop bar Nairobi

Mpaka Road

Away from the parks and hills and into the city, Brew Bistro Rooftop bar in Nairobi sits in the centre of Westlands and offers a fantastic view of the Nairobi skyline. This hugely popular bar has a buzzing nightlife, fabulous food and super cocktails. The outside terrace looks over the city and as the sun goes down and lights start to sparkle the bar comes into its own.  Brew Bistro takes its cocktail menu seriously, its list is created by international mixologists and cocktails range from every day favourites to the unusual. However, this is primarily a brewery so if you’re more in mood for beer than Bellini’s then this is definitely the place to head.

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Tambourin

Villa Rosa Kempinski – Chiromo Road

The Kempinski hotel is the last name in luxury in Nairobi and so it stands to reason that their rooftop bar will follow suit. Little cabanas line the Nairobi bar with an Arabian theme. Think belly dancers and fatly replete punters smoking shisha The restaurant and rooftop bar are made for intimate moments, the food is Levantine a cuisine that comes from Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. The vibe is romantic and relaxed, mezze platters, fine wines and vast views.

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Karen Country Club

Karen Road

Karen Country Club is a members only club but guests are welcomed, so find someone that’s a member and make a trip out to the leafy suburbs of Karen.  You can choose from drinks on the terrace or the adjacent cocktail bar but I’d recommend you visit the Sundowner bar. Recently updated this sophisticated bar overlooks one of the top golf courses in Africa. The quiet surrounds and emerald green of the golf course puts you a million miles from the city. The sports style bar has a relaxed yet elegant feel and is the perfect place to sip luscious cocktails or cool glasses of wine as the hot African sun sinks behind the Ngong hills.

As this is a private club drinks are excellent and very reasonably priced and you can visit the restaurant afterwards supper.

Read about the best bars in Karen here.

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Kiza Restaurant

Galana Plaza, Kilimani

This award winning African restaurant takes its drinks as seriously as its food. It has a sumptuous range of cocktails and some seriously good whiskies. Perched on top of the Galana Plaza, the view is incredible and so is the potential for sozzled sundowners. It’s a fine dining restaurant, but as the night draws on music gets louder and the atmosphere becomes clubbier. Whether you are there for food or for dancing you can’t deny that the view over the city is a winner.

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PepperTree Rooftop bar and restaurant

Westlands

Peppertree is a complete work of art, from its enchanting interior design to its picture perfect plates of food, its cocktail menus is is the cherry on such and ever so pretty cake. This rooftop bar in Westlands offers eyecatching views over the city but you are likely to be so enthralled by Peppertree itself that you forget about the views. A huge wine, spirits and cocktail list with such sweet trees as basil and lime daiquiri, mango mojitos and gin coctails. Try the Gardener’s Sip – Gin, tarragon, basil, lime and coriander or the Blueridge Manhatten – Bulleit Bourbon, coffee infused Antica and Maple Syrup. The food is some of the best in the city.

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Blog Post: The best restaurants in Nairobi

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Mercado Mexican Restaurant

Westlands

Another rooftop bar that is part restaurant. Mercado is part of the excellent Food Library group that brought INTI and Honey and Dough to our fair city and their Mexican interpretation is authentic. Find out more about my experience at Mercado here. Mexican food aside you are able to pop onto this Nairobi rooftop bar for some Mexican beer or cocktails. As is tradition I sampled more than a few of the margarita cocktails and they were salty, sharp and satisfying. The rooftop terrace at Mercado is small but has great views across Nairobi

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