serenaded at SARABI rooftop RESTAURANT

This weekend we had lunch at Sarabi Bar & Restaurant located on the rooftop of Sankara Hotel in Westlands, Nairobi.
It's an open-air restaurant that surrounds the hotel’s rooftop pool and is known for its signature cocktails and tapas-style shared plates. However, we were there to sample something a bit different.

We arrived there just before 1.00 pm and were greeted by a large gingerbread Christmas cake display placed at the entrance of the hotel. After taking a few minutes to admire the display, we made our way upstairs and found staff members setting up a stage at the restaurant for a live band performance. I was unaware that live bands played at the restaurant, but was looking forward to hearing them, nonetheless.

Shortly after we were seated, a waiter brought us menus. The food menu is divided into three sections: Cheetah (for quick and light snacks), Lion (meals to fill the tummy), and Leopard (something a little heavier). I ordered a tandoori chicken burger (with mint yoghurt, rucola, tomato, and cucumber filling) with a side of fries from the ‘Lion’ section, while my sister ordered signature beef skewers (drizzled with a combination of cumin & chilli) with a side of homemade fries from the ‘Leopard’ section.
​

​To drink, my sister had a Sankara mocktail (ginger juice, lime juice, cinnamon, cardamom, honey, hibiscus tea, and hot water) and I had a citronade (chilled lemonade with lemongrass). Each of our meals - drinks included - cost roughly Ksh. 2,000.

Our meals arrived just as the live band started playing, and we savoured them as we listened to the music. Both the burger and the beef skewers were rather spicy, so if you’re stomach is a bit sensitive, you might want to order something else when you dine here. Nevertheless, everything was tasty, and as filling as the menu had suggested it would be.  As we finished our drinks, we took in the view and tried to see how much we could recognise from way up top.

More and more guests arrived at Sarabi as the afternoon went on, and we realized that it’s the kind of place that draws a bigger crowd in the evening rather than in the afternoon. However, as we had other plans that afternoon, we left shortly after we finished eating, both feeling satisfied. 

If you’re planning to dine at Sarabi, make sure to call ahead and make a reservation ahead of time - especially during holiday season. It’s also worth carrying a jacket or a sweater if you plan on staying there late, as it gets chilly as the evening approaches. And in case you can’t dine in, you'll be happy to know that the restaurant has a takeaway option. 

Opening hours:
Everyday – 8.00 am – 8.00 pm
Contact: 020 4208000
​
- ✗O✗O.