Tamarind Dhow – Seafood Restaurant in Mombasa

Tamarind Dhow is Mombasa's floating restaurant. It is set aboard a restored traditional dhow moored on Tudor Creek at the Tamarind jetty in Mkomani, and is run by the Tamarind Group, which has created some of Kenya's best-known restaurants since 1972.

The menu leans on Swahili coast seafood. Typical dishes include grilled lobster, mangrove oysters, tandoori crab cakes, chilli crab, prawns piri-piri and lobster thermidor, backed by a long wine and cocktail list. The dhow seats around 70 guests for dinner and can also be booked for private cocktail functions and celebrations.

Evenings are the highlight. As the sun goes down over the creek, lantern light, live entertainment and the sea breeze take over, and the setting nods to Mombasa's long dhow-trading history.

The restaurant is open daily from 11am to 11pm, and booking ahead is recommended, especially for sunset seating and in the peak season. Call 020 513 9327 or email reservations.mombasa@tamarind.co.ke. Menus are on the Tamarind Dhow page.