Best Places to Eat and Drink in Diani Beach: Top Restaurants, Cafes & Bars
Boasted as one of the most beautiful beaches in Africa, Diani Beach is a stunning paradise located just 30km from Mombasa in Kenya.
With 17km of stunning coastline, white sand beaches, and calm warm waters, Diani Beach is an ideal location for any beach lover… but is also a foodies dream with endless beach bars and restaurants. From cozy cafes with a cause to fun dive bars, fine dining, quirky lunch spots, and funky bars, Diani Beach has something for every food and drink lover.
I spent a little over a week eating and drinking my way up and down the coastline, and these were some of the top spots in Diani Beach.
Tribearth (Vegan Cafe)
🗺️Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach
🕰️Tues-Sun 9a-10p
💵$$
🥬Vegan/Vegetarian Friendly
We love, love, loved this Diani Beach Vegan restaurant. The restaurant is aesthetically beautiful and cozy, the service was top notch and the food was so fresh and delicious (with very generous portions).
The Ethiopian coffee service is beautifully presented and the perfect way to start the day or enjoy slow sipping in the afternoon.
We had an incredible later breakfast here, but the lunch and dinner menu also looked incredible. The cafe also hosts themed music and event nights.
Pallet Cafe - The Beach
#I’m deaf
Our café was born out of the vision to provide great food and amazing service while promoting the training and employment of deaf people in the hospitality industry. Karibu Sana to learn a few hand signs, relax, enjoy some delicious food and have fun with us.
🗺️Diani Beach Road, Galu, Diani, Kenya
🕰️Tues-Sun 8a-7p
💵$$
🥬Vegan & Vegetarian Friendly
🌐palletcafe.co.ke
If anyone asked me for a recommendation in Diani Beach, Pallet Cafe would be my first answer.
My friend was told about this adorable cafe with a cause by her seatmate on the flight to Diani and we both wished we had gotten his contact information to thank him for the recommendation.
Not only is the setting of the Diani Beach cafe so peaceful and inviting, it is also a place with a cause that provides employment and gives back to local deaf communities.
Tis tranquil cafe not only offers the perfect place to spend the day soaking int he sunshine and easy access to the beach but also has a vast and delicious featuring everything from sweet and savory classics to healthy bowls and juices and unique local options.
If you come to Diani Beach, this cafe is a must.
Soul Breeze
🗺️Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach, Kenya
🕰️Daily 7a-10p
💵$-$$
🥬Vegetarian Friendly
Soul Breeze Beach Bar is the perfect place for lowkey, fun vibes with great drinks and stunning ocean views. This Diani beach bar is packed with an eclectic crowd, from families to seniors and everything in between making it the perfect place for any to spend a fun and relaxing day.
The cocktail menu has some interesting choices, and we decided to be brave and try some of the more unique offerings - and were very pleasantly surprised!
The simple food options were ordered were good, and hit the spot after a few cocktails, but I wouldn’t say the food is the draw to this funky Diani beach bar.
Local entertainers come by and perform beachfront, adding some fun entertainment and the bar hosts bands and other daily entertainment.
For more active folks, there is a gym and kitesurfing school attached to the property as well.
The Salty Squid
🗺️
🕰️Daily 7:30a-10p
💵$$-$$$
🥬Vegan & Vegetarian Friendly
Salty Squid came very highly recommended from my Nairobi cooking class instructor, and she did not steer us wrong! This was the best dinner we had in Diani Beach and where I would recommend anyone visiting the area have dinner at least once.
My friend and I took our chances with a walk-in (highly recommend reservations) and the only space was at the bar, which was not problem for us. The bartenders were amazing, fun and engaging and we really had the best seats in the house watching them mix up cocktails and chatting with them.
We splashed out on appetizers, dinner, desert and cocktails and not one of them missed.
Funky Monkey
🗺️Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach, Kenya
🕰️Sun-Tues & Thurs 7:30a-11p, Wed, Fri-Sat 7:30a-12a
💵$$
🥬Vegetarian Friendly
Part of the Salty Squid Fmily, Funky Monkey was our favorite cocktail spot in Diani Beach (and one of my favorites in Kenya), which makes sense since it is rated in the “50 Best”.
The cocktails were incredible, service was top notch, atmosphere was fun and funky, and food was fresh and delicious. This top Diani Beach restaurants offers nightly events like a DJ, salsa dancing, making it a great place to join in some fun, meet people, or sit back and observe.
Mvureni Beach Bar and Restaurant
🗺️Diani, Galu Beach - Ukunda, Kwale
🕰️Daily 8a-9p
💵$$
This was our first stop when we arrived in Diani and was a bit of an accident. We tried to go to another beach bar, but it was full so we kept walking down the beach and stumbled upon Mvureni Beach Bar and Restaurant.
Much less “curated” than many of the other bars and restaurants in Diania beach, this beach bar and restaurant serves up some amazing local African cuisine (the wet friend fish was amazing) and cheap tasty drinks. We had so much fun here during the day, we came back for dinner the next night and stayed until closing.
The wait staff is super fun, but also attentive and accommodating and the menu offers up a great array of options from bar bites to whole fish and drool worthy seafood platters.
Nomad
🗺️80401 Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach
🕰️8:00a-10:30p
💵$$-$$$
🥬Vegetarian Friendly
We came across Nomad when we decided to take a long walk and found ourselves famished and in need of some shade.
The property is beautiful and restaurant is lovely with gorgeous beach views. While this wasn’t our favorite meal in Diani, my fish sandwich was delicous and perfect midday meal and we were quite impressed by the quality and presentation of the sushi.
Nomad isn’t the most budget friendly restaurant in Diani beach, but the setting and views are beautiful, and the food is tasty and fresh.
Whether you are in Diani Beach for a weekend or a month, you will be spoiled with choice for amazing bars and restaurants. This little coastal Kenyan beach town truly offers something for everyone from budget street food bites to fine dining and everything in between.
Diania Beach boasts everything from healthy vegan fare to indulgent dinners and tasty beachfront cocktails, so there is truly something for every type of traveler to enjoy. With this guide, you will find the best bars and restaurants in Diani to fit your taste and style.
