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Food is half the reason to come to Tigoni. The area has dairy farms, vegetable fields and tea estates, and a handful of places that turn that into long, slow lunches. This guide covers the best-known places to eat around Tigoni and Limuru, and how to plan around them. None of them is run by us; we just eat there.
Brown's cheese farm lunch
Brown's makes cheese in Tigoni and hosts farm visits that combine a look at how the cheese is made, a tasting of their range and a long lunch.
Lunches are popular, especially for groups and at weekends, so book a couple of weeks ahead through their website. If you are on one of our morning activities, it makes a natural afternoon.
Lunch at Kiambethu Tea Farm
Kiambethu, the family tea farm founded in 1910, includes lunch with its pre-booked tours. Visits usually combine a talk on the history of tea in Kenya, a walk through the tea and the farm's patch of indigenous forest, and lunch in the garden of the farmhouse. Book in advance; it is not a drop-in restaurant.
Muna Tree Café at Brackenhurst
Brackenhurst is a retreat and conference centre on the edge of Tigoni that has been replanting indigenous forest since 2001. Its Muna Tree Café has garden seating, coffee, pizza and salads, and you can walk the forest trails before or after you eat. It works well for families and for a lighter lunch.
The Fig & Olive
A family-run café, farm shop and deli in Tigoni, good for coffee, a relaxed lunch and picking up bread, dairy and preserves to take home. Check their social media for current opening hours before you go.
The Kentmere Club
One of the older names in the area, the Kentmere Club has a garden terrace looking towards the tea and a bar with a log fire for cold afternoons. Reviews of the food are mixed, but the setting is classic Tigoni.
Farm stalls and Limuru town
The Limuru highlands grow much of Nairobi's vegetables. Along the roads through Tigoni and around Limuru town, stalls sell potatoes, carrots, cabbages, leafy greens and fruit straight from the fields, often far cheaper than in the city. Limuru town also has local restaurants serving Kenyan staples.
Tips for eating in Tigoni
- Book weekend lunches in advance, especially for groups of six or more.
- Plan one activity in the morning and lunch from about 13:00; most places are busiest from 12:30.
- Bring a warm layer for outdoor tables; afternoons cool quickly.
- Carry cash or M-Pesa for stalls and smaller cafés.
- Opening days change, so confirm with each place before you travel.
