Nairobi’s Best Cocktail Bars | A City Guide by Karen Plains Hotel

The Kenyan capital may be famed for its wildlife and wide-open skies, but Nairobi’s nightlife scene is just as wild — a fast-evolving mix of rooftop lounges, craft cocktail dens, and art-filled hotel bars. From Karen’s leafy courtyards to Kilimani’s high-energy rooftops, the city’s mixologists are rewriting the cocktail story with African botanicals, bold design, and an unmistakable Nairobi rhythm.

Whether you’re here for safari chic or city sleek, these are the bars worth raising a glass to — curated by Karen Plains Hotel, Nairobi’s art-gallery hotel tucked between Ngong Road and the tranquil hills of Karen.

Talisman

Best for: Garden cocktails with a gourmet edge
Location: Ngong Road, Karen
Price: £££

A Nairobi institution where bohemian charm meets fine dining. Mixologist-forward signatures like the Passionfruit Daiquiri and Ginger Mojito pair perfectly with chef Marcus Mitchell’s fusion menu. Expect lush gardens, flickering lanterns, and a crowd that’s as international as the playlist.

Hemingways Bar

Best for: Colonial-style luxury and impeccable service
Location: Mbagathi Ridge, Karen
Price: ££££

Inside the grand Hemingways Nairobi, the marble-top bar channels classic glamour — think dark wood, soft jazz, and tailored martinis. Their Hemingway Martini (with Kenyan-grown lemon bitters) is legendary, best enjoyed as the sun melts behind the Ngong Hills.

Westlands & Riverside

Hero Bar at Trademark Hotel

Best for: Comic-book interiors and rooftop views
Location: Village Market, Gigiri
Price: £££

Part sci-fi hideout, part rooftop sanctuary, Hero is an ode to Nairobi’s modern spirit. The drinks are playful — beetroot-infused gin, coconut foam, matcha dust — while the sushi bar buzzes with energy. The view stretches across Gigiri’s green skyline, perfect for sunset selfies or late-night storytelling.

Inti – A Nikkei Experience

Best for: Rooftop sophistication
Location: One Africa Place, Westlands
Price: ££££

At the city’s highest perch, Inti fuses Peruvian-Japanese cuisine with cocktails that taste like fine art. Try the Camu Camu Sour or Andean Mule — a Peruvian twist on Kenyan staples. As the city glitters below, you’ll understand why Nairobi’s skyline is fast becoming one of Africa’s most cinematic.

The Alchemist

Best for: Creative chaos and craft drinks under the stars
Location: Parklands Road, Westlands
Price: £

A cult favourite where Nairobi’s creative heartbeat pulses loudest. Expect a rotation of pop-up bars, music collectives, and cocktail experiments — from smoky mezcal mixes to passion-ginger coolers. On weekends, DJs spin afrobeats and amapiano into the night.

The Final Sip

From rooftop martinis to garden gin fizzes, Nairobi’s bar scene is a reflection of its people — vibrant, curious, and endlessly inventive. Whether you’re staying at Karen Plains Hotel or hopping through the city’s eclectic corners, the capital’s mixologists are ready to shake, stir, and surprise you.