Top 6 Cocktail Bars in Kenya

Top 6 Cocktail Bars in Kenya

Kenya has long been known for the wildlife that gathers around its water holes. But in recent years the East African nation has also gained a well-earned reputation for the quality of its watering holes -- places where people can sip cold ones, cocktails and imported wines. From suburban Nairobi and the slopes of Mount Kenya to the sands of Mombasa and Lamu Island, Kenya offers a wide variety of drinking establishments, some ensconced in hotels and restaurants and others thoroughly independent. Their vibe ranges from the urban hip and beachfront cool to dive bars and ritzy joints that channel the golden age of safari travel.

The Champagne Bar (Nairobi)

It's all about the bubbly at this posh place on the seventh floor of the Sankara design hotel in Westlands, an intimate space with sofa seating around low tables and a few stools along a gorgeous palm wood bar hand-carved by local artist and furniture maestro Marc van Rampelberg.

Order a bottle of Krug or Taittinger and drink your bubbly straight up.

Or ask the resident mixologists for one of his latest takes on the champagne cocktail.

The bar hosts a Champagne Ritual every night at six.

Those who want to continue quaffing after the 1 p.m. closing time can step up to the rooftop Sarabi Pool Bar, which stays open another hour.

The Turkish Bar and Restaurant (Chef Grill)

This is one of the mushrooming cocktail bars in the heart of Westlands. Located near the famous Black Diamond and just next to the chief’s camp, the Turkish Bar and Restaurant offers some of the best classic and signature cocktails. This is as you down them with the best Turkish cuisine and chilling to cool African music. The lounge offers a wide range of beverages and at the best price in the market. The resident mixologists, 254 Tipsy Bartenders will intrigue you with their high quality cocktails, mocktails as you learn more about the cocktail culture. While the design vibe might be hipster northern California, the beer itself is utterly Turkish, German and Irish -- made with just hops, malt, yeast, and water according to the centuries-old Reinheitsgebot tradition of Teutonic brewing. The establishment also serves lunch and dinner, the dishes complemented by their own beers as well as a surprisingly good selection of cocktails, mocktails, vodka, tequila, rum, whiskey and European aperitifs. When looking for the best place to chill and hang out with friends and at a reasonable price, the Turkish Chef Grill is the ideal choice.

Forty Thieves (Diani)

A coastal institution since the 1970s, this dive bar along the Diani Beach strip is a long-time hangout for both locals and out-of-towners.

A cold Tusker on the terrace is the standard activity by daylight. After dark, the action shifts to a dance floor, where celebrity DJs and live bands keep the groove going until well after midnight.

While ice-cold suds is the main attraction, the bar also serves "tiki" cocktails and straight up or on-the-rocks well drinks.

Forty Thieves hosts a number of special events during the year including a waterfront music festival and beach touch rugby tournament.

The Alchemist (Nairobi)

This Westlands hotspot blends drinks, music, fashion, food, and art in an eclectic outdoor space that feels more like an open-air fair that a traditional nightclub.

Launched in January 2016 by a young expat Californian, the venue shares its large outdoor "yard" with other cutting-edge multicultural entities like a music recording studio, Mama Rocks "African style" food truck, and a double-decker London bus converted into an art space.

Special events run a broad gamut from art shows and farmers' markets to DJ parties and "Game of Thrones" viewing sessions.

Ask the bartender for a Campari Negroni and slide onto one of the blue sofas for the capital's best people-watching.

Choice's Pub (Nairobi)

Cool tunes, pool tables, pub grub and cold beer highlight this Kenyan version of a sports bar near the National Stadium in Nairobi.

Live acts from around Kenya take the stage every Thursday, while Mondays are devoted to relaxation and conversation, Wednesdays to soul music, and the weekends to DJ parties.

On the sporting side, the bar shows live broadcasts of English Premier League football games and Formula One motor races.

Long Bar and Star Lounge (Watamu)

Located in the Medina Palms resort, the indoor bar and its open-air rooftop companion bring a little bit of Dubai to the Kenya Coast.

The cocktail menu is long and scrumptious, a blend of global favorites and homegrown concoctions like the Dawa (vodka, honey, and lime), the turquoise Aqua Medina vodka martini, Watamu Rum Punch and East Coast Cooler (Wild Turkey, maple syrup and fresh lime).

The dreamy Star Lounge is also equipped with hookahs and a wide selection of North African shisha flavors.

And for those who don't imbibe, the Long Bar also offers virgin cocktails.