The Carnivore has been feeding visitors to Nairobi since 1980, and it is still the dining experience people talk about after they get home. It stands in Lang’ata, on the south-western side of the city close to the national park, and the idea is simple: a giant open charcoal pit at the entrance is lined with long skewers of meat, and waiters carve it straight onto your plate at the table. It began as a place to try game meat, with zebra, wildebeest and even giraffe on the menu, and it earned a spot among the world’s best-known restaurants. A later ban on game meat changed the menu, and today the meats are mostly beef, pork, lamb and chicken, with specialities such as crocodile and ostrich meatballs also turning up. You begin with soup, then a tray of salads and sauces arrives, and the carving starts. The rule is that the meat keeps coming until you lay down the little white flag on your stand to say that you have had enough. The signature drink is the dawa, a cocktail of vodka, honey, lime and crushed ice whose name means medicine in Swahili. It is relaxed, loud, family-friendly and good value for a long evening out, and it is as much a show as a meal.
How it works
The tour we link, Carnivore Restaurant Dinner Experience in Nairobi, is a meal at the restaurant arranged through a tour operator. Check the tour details for whether hotel transfers are included, which is a real convenience, since you will not want to drive after a few dawas and ride-hail cars are not always easy to find late at night. If you prefer to go independently, you can book a table directly with the restaurant, and it is wise to reserve at weekends and on holidays.
What to expect
Guests usually choose between the all-you-can-eat buffet, which is the full experience, and a smaller à la carte menu. The buffet comes with desserts and a coffee or tea, and the carvers will return as often as you ask. Vegetarians are catered for, but the restaurant is built around meat, so ask about alternatives when you book. Drinks, including the dawa, are normally charged separately. The garden and dining hall are casual, and a dress code is not enforced, although most people dress up a little in the evening.
Timing
Both lunch and dinner are served, and the evening is the more atmospheric time, with the pit glowing and live music often playing. Give the evening about two hours. The restaurant is a few minutes from Bomas of Kenya, the Giraffe Centre and the national park, so many visitors build a full day around it: a morning game drive, an afternoon cultural show and a long dinner to end the day. Check the current opening hours with the restaurant before you go.
Making the most of it
Arrive hungry and pace yourself, because the early rounds of beef and sausages fill you up before the more unusual cuts arrive. Ask the carvers to describe each meat, try a little of everything and save room for the dessert trolley. It is a good choice for groups, birthdays and travellers who want a social, memorable last night in Nairobi before flying home.
What to expect
The experience
A long sit-down meal where waiters carve charcoal-roasted meats at your table until you lay down your flag.
Best time
Dinner, when the charcoal pit is glowing, with a reservation at weekends and on holidays.
How long
About two hours for the full buffet.
Tips
Pace yourself on the early rounds, try the dawa cocktail, and arrange a transfer so you do not need to drive afterwards.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Groups, birthdays and anyone who wants a classic, lively Nairobi evening.
- Families
- The casual garden setting and the novelty of the flag and the carving keep children entertained.
- Couples
- A fun, social night out rather than a quiet candlelit dinner.
- Pair with
- Bomas of Kenya in the afternoon or a morning at the national park.
- Time needed
- An evening of about two to three hours.
Good questions
What is the Carnivore Restaurant?+
It is a famous all-you-can-eat restaurant in Lang’ata, Nairobi, open since 1980, where waiters carve meats roasted over a charcoal pit directly at your table.
Do they still serve game meat?+
Game meat was part of the original menu, but after a ban on game meat the restaurant moved to mostly beef, pork, lamb and chicken, with a few specialities such as crocodile and ostrich meatballs.
What is a dawa cocktail?+
Dawa means medicine in Swahili, and the cocktail is a mix of vodka, honey, lime and crushed ice that is the restaurant’s signature drink.
Is the Carnivore suitable for vegetarians?+
Vegetarian dishes are available, but the restaurant is built around meat, so ask about options when you book.
Do I need to book the Carnivore in advance?+
It is wise to reserve, especially at weekends and on holidays. Booking through a tour that includes transfers also saves you finding a ride home late at night.
