Give yourself a break and take yourself out for Christmas lunch in Nairobi this year. Why slave over a hot stove when there are so many wonderful places to eat and good deals to be had on the big day?
Some places for Christmas lunch in Nairobi 2024 may be on the posher end but don’t disregard them. We took the kids to Hemingway’s last year, which was fine. And if you consider the cost of cooking for your entire family, then not that much more expensive than eating at home.
NB: AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING, IT’S SIX WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS, SO SOME HOTELS ARE STILL FINALISING THEIR CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES. I WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE.
Table of Contents
Christmas at The Social House Nairobi
The Social House aims to be a melting pot for getting people together, which is true of Christmas. They haven’t launched their Christmas offering, but in 2023, they celebrated with live music, great food and lots of drinking and dancing. This is where all the cool people will hang out on Christmas day (well, cooler than me, at least)
- Where: James Gichuru Road
- Cost: À la carte options are also available for both kids & adults from KSH 3,500
- Book on 0709 216000
STAY AT THE SOCAL HOUSE NAIROBI
Christmas at Villa Rosa Kempinski
The Kempinski may take the prize for most festive Christmas offering. In recent years, they have done gingerbread workshops, a New Year’s Eve ball and a fabulous Christmas Day lunch at two of their in-house restaurants. This year, they offer a “Tour de Brunch” buffet at Café Villa Rosa, with an extensive selection of international and festive dishes on December 25th.
Their Italian restaurant, Lucca, also hosts a traditional “Santo Stefano’s Lunch” on both December 25 and 26 for a unique Italian-style celebration.
- Where: Chiromo Road
- Cost: 2023 PRICES WERE: Ksh 6,000 per person, including a welcome drink. Ksh 2,500 per person for selected alcoholic drinks.
- Book on 0703 049000
Christmas at Emara Ole Sereni
The Emara Ole Sereni has a jam-packed festive schedule with Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve events. Special mention to the New Year’s Eve package includes a buffet, a bottle of wine and a room for the night at 30K for two people.
The Emara Ole Sereni is two hotels next door to each other and accordingly, the events are split.
Ole Sereni – Ole Christmas Day buffet.
Emara – Christmas Brunch with Santa. Following this, you can enjoy champagne at their Oasis restaurant and an evening party at the scenic Sky Lounge.
- Where: Mombasa Road
- Cost: KSH 7,500 (Emara) / KSH 6,500 (Ole Sereni)
- Book on 732 191 000
Christmas at Karen Blixen
Karen Blixen is doing a Special Christmas Brunch. In 2023, this was a four-course set menu with a complimentary welcome cocktail. They have Christmas carols and activities for the kids from face painting to pottery.
- Cost: 2023 PRICES WERE KSH 9,500
- Where: Karen Road
- Book on 0711579001
Christmas at Sarova Hotel Nairobi
Sarova always puts on a good spread with a huge buffet, live music, lots of kids’ entertainment and lavish decorations. Sarova prides itself on excellent quality food, sustainably sourced by world-class chefs to deliver a world-class banqueting experience. Yet to launch its 2024 Christmas lunch offering in 2023, the buffet included bottomless bubbly for a very reasonable price.
- Where: Kenyatta Avenue
- Cost: 2023 PRICES WERE KSH 7,900 Adults / 3,900 Kids (6 – 12 only)
- Book on 709 111 000
STAY AT SAROVA STANLEY HOTEL NAIROBI
Christmas at Fairmont Norfolk Hotel
Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel is offering a Festive Brunch in their Lord Delamare and Tatu Restaurants. This hotel is a Kenyan classic. The award-winning Tatu Restaurant has inside and outside seating with a contemporary African theme, whilst the historic Lord Delamare is less formal. They say brunch, but it runs from 12 to 4 and features a traditional Christmas carvery, a seafood station, a charcoal grill station, and soups, salads and desserts. Choose from an alcoholic or non-alcoholic package.
- Where: Fairmont at The Norfolk Hotel, Kijabe Street
- Book on 0795 737 786
- Cost: 2023 PRICES WERE: Ksh 6,500 per person with soft beverages
- Ksh 7,500 per person welcome bubbly 2 glasses of wine or 2 beers
- Ksh 3,250 for children 6 to 12 years Children under 6 years dine for free
Christmas at Hemingway’s Karen
Hemingway’s Karen always does a gloriously decadent buffet with everything you want to eat on the menu. We went last year, and it was fantastic: a seafood bar piled high with lobster, prawns and oysters, a BBQ station with ribs, lamb, pork and beef, soups and salads, Indian and Japanese. The food was tremendous.
Hemingway’s is a beautiful setting: a white marble terrace with views over the Ngong Hills. A fountain splashing in the foreground and emerald green lawns in the distance. Lunch here is peaceful and elegant rather than riotous. Hemingway’s also does a great Christmas Eve and Boxing Day menu.
- Where: Mbagathi Ridge, Karen.
- Book on 0711 032000
- Cost: KSH 12,000 adults / KSH 6,500 kids
STAY AT HEMINGWAYS HOTEL KAREN
Christmas at The Talisman Karen
The stalwart of the Nairobi food scene. The Talisman never disappoints. The service is second to none; the food is always excellent, and when the lights go down, and the music cranks up, there is no better place to be. Talisman is beloved all over Nairobi for its decadent ambience; carved pillars, Afghan rugs and Kitengela glass make way for a sun-filled terrace and moonlit garden. For people with kids, The Talisman has a large garden and playground.
Talisman are doing Christmas and it’ll be rocking. They state a special 5-course menu but no specifics on what food yet.
- Where: Ngong Road, Karen
- Book on 0705 999997
- Cost: 2023 PRICES WERE: KSH 8,500 adults / KSH 4,500 kids
Seven Seafood and Grill
NB: Seven not released their menu for 2024 yet.
Seven Seafood and Grill is a high-end seafood restaurant that is doing Gastrono Me – an unlimited Seafood Tasting Menu, not just for Christmas Day but every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the whole of December. Unlimited Seafood Tasting Menu, now that’s an inviting offer if ever there were one.
Fine dining, little gorgeous plates of tasty morsels from celebrity chef Kiran Jethwa. Locally sourced Indian Ocean fish and prime cuts of Kenyan beef are turned into mini masterpieces in a warm and inviting setting. Kiran is very hands on – this is the kind of treat you deserve on Christmas Day
- Where: ABC Place, Waiyaki Way.
- Cost: KSH 4,000 unlimited seafood
- Book on 0737 776677
Zen Garden – Kabete Road
Jade Coffee & Tea House at Zen Garden is going all out for Christmas this year. Admittedly, the menu remains roughly the same with pizzas, dim sum, noodles and wok fried food, but this must be one of the best places to go in Nairobi with kids. The little-uns can indulge in cake making, face painting, a bouncy castle and a treasure hunt, leaving the adults to make the most of the diverse cocktails menus dive into the gelato bar. As the name suggests, Zen garden is a serene, sublime space centered around a large sunny garden. It’s the perfect place to spend the day snoozing in a meaty, puddingy, cocktail haze.
Where: Kabete Road.
Cost: 2022 PRICES WERE KSH 4500 adults / Kids half-price
Book +254 714 744 231
Christmas at About Thyme
About Thyme hasn’t launched their Christmas in Nairobi menu for 2024. Below is their 2023 offer.
Christmas Thyme at About Thyme is all about traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings and sides in a garden adored with fairy lights and squashy sofas.
- Where: Peponi Road
- Cost: KSH 3,500
- Book +254 721 850026
Christmas at INTI Nairobi
INTI haven’t released their 2024 Christmas offering yet.
INTI foods is a fusion between Japanese and Peruvian food. There’s a whole history there that I didn’t know about. Back in the 1880s, Japanese farm workers in Peru used local ingredients to create food that mimicked the food back home. The result is Nikkei, and it’s outstanding. INTI delivers beautifully crafted ceviche, sushi wok fried food and Yakatori (marinated skewers cooked on a grill) as well as a series of meat, fish and vegetarian mains. Each plate is a masterpiece. As is the location. INTI is on the 21st floor of One Delta Place, Nairobi’s answer to the Gherkin, and the views across the city are phenomenal
- Where: INTI, One Delta Place
- Cost: TBC
- Book on 0735 065945
Christmas in the Park – Nairobi National Park
An off-the-wall suggestion, but perhaps the best choice of the lot – a picnic in Nairobi National Park. Forget formalities and traditional trappings, and pack all your favourite foods and drinks, and head off to the park. Picture it: blue sky, blazing sun, and a picnic blanket in the shade of an Acacia tree. Crack open a bottle of fizz, unpack your meat and cheese, and chill with nature. I love this idea so much that this is what we are doing on Boxing Day.
Nairobi National Park has many picnic sites from the more popular Kingfisher site where the abundance of people will keep the lions from sharing your lunch to the quieter Ivory Burning site, which is safe for cautious picnickers.
Where: Langata Road.
Further Reading on Things To Do in Kenya
39 Unmissable Tourist Attractions in Kenya – 2024
21 Incredible Family Friendly Resorts in Kenya 2024
35 Best Restaurants in Nairobi – UPDATED 2024
Nairobi Nightlife: A Vibrant Experience for Expatriates
Book Your Kenya Trip – Insider Tips
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Hi. The Christmas Lunch at Tamambo is not included on your list, any reason why?
Any idea if it is any good?
No real reason other than i have never been particularly enamoured of Tamambo… the only time Ive been to the restaurant i had food poisoning and my few trips to the cafe were horrible. Bad service, substandard food and overwhelmed by tourists. I believe its aimed at the tourist route..I dont know any locals that visit there. I havent been for a while though, so let me know if I should give it another go x
Any idea where they are doing traditional Mbuzi for lunch?
Simply Lovely ! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you for this.
I am trying to avoid the rush on 25th and would like to do a lunch/brunch on 24th instead. Any good ideas?
Sorry i went away, hope you found a solution
Lovely. Looking forward to the updated list.
Any idea if this list is still relevant in 2022? Also does it include pool access by any chance at any of the hotels suggested here?
I imagine it’s largely still relevant. im going to update it shortly but i find most hotels don’t post their menus until very close to Christmas. I’m unsure about pool access – Im pretty sure Hemingways is residents only, and the Emari Ole Sereni Im fairly sure lets you in but you could phone the hotels to find out