Nightlife · Nairobi · Kenya
Nairobi nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Nairobi, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Stephenwanjau, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Nairobi nightlife is concentrated in Westlands and Kilimani, with rooftop bars, lounges and clubs playing Afrobeats, amapiano and Kenyan gengetone. Weekends start late and run past midnight. The main areas are Westlands, Kilimani and Karen.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Stay near the action
- Westlands
- Local drink
- Kenyan chai
Where to go out
Westlands
The main bar and club district, with lounges and clubs around Woodvale Grove and rooftop bars on nearby hotels and malls.
Kilimani
Lounges, restaurants with DJs and live-music bars along Argwings Kodhek Road and around the Yaya Centre.
Karen
Garden pubs and restaurants with relaxed evening drinks rather than clubbing.
Nightlife tips
- Use ride-hailing apps door to door at night rather than walking, even short distances.
- Order Tusker or White Cap to try Kenyan lagers, and watch your drink in crowded clubs.
- Carry ID; some clubs check it at the door.
What to drink
- Kenyan chai — Black tea leaves boiled together with milk, sugar and sometimes ginger or cardamom. Kenya is one of the world's largest tea exporters, and chai is drunk at every hour.
- Kenyan coffee — Grown on the volcanic slopes of central Kenya, Kenyan arabica is known for bright acidity and blackcurrant notes. Most of the crop is exported, but local café chains now serve it well.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. February has the warmest evenings, with lows around 12°C (54°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 18:47 | 12°C (54°F) | 5 |
| April | About 18:35 | 14°C (57°F) | 14 |
| July | About 18:40 | 10°C (50°F) | 4 |
| October | About 18:22 | 13°C (55°F) | 7 |
Getting home late
- Ride-hailing — Check the plate number before getting in, and keep phones out of sight at open windows in slow traffic.
- Taxi — Hotel and airport taxis are reliable but pricier than apps; agree the fare before you set off, as meters are rarely used.
- Bus — Ride matatus by day with small change, and keep bags on your lap.
- Walking — Walking works within the CBD, Westlands or a mall complex by day, but pavements are uneven and distances between sights are long; avoid walking after dark.
Late-night bites
- Mutura — Evening street grills near markets and bus stages, and some nyama choma joints.
- Smokie pasua — Hand carts on CBD streets, near universities and at matatu stages.
Staying safe at night
Phone snatching, pickpocketing and bag theft are well-documented problems in the CBD, at matatu stages and in slow traffic. Use ride-hailing at night, avoid walking alone after dark and follow ranger instructions inside the national parks.
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Westlands
Westlands is where many mid-range and business hotels cluster, around the Sarit Centre, Westgate and the Nairobi Expressway's western end at James Gichuru Road. It has the densest choice of restaurants, rooftop bars and clubs in the city, and the Expressway makes the run to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport faster than from most other areas outside peak hours.
- Good
- Widest choice of restaurants and bars; Quick Expressway link to JKIA; Good-value business hotels
- Watch out
- Heavy traffic at rush hour; A long drive to Karen and Langata sights
- Nearby
- Sarit Centre, Karura Forest, Nairobi Expressway
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Nairobi?
Westlands, Kilimani and Karen. The main bar and club district, with lounges and clubs around Woodvale Grove and rooftop bars on nearby hotels and malls.
+Which area of Nairobi is best for nightlife?
Westlands: Restaurants, malls and the city's main bar district north-west of the CBD.