Nairobians are increasingly eating out, boosting growth of eateries
Nairobians are increasingly eating out, boosting growth of eateries such as Java House (61 outlets), Artcaffe (35) and Biq Square (11) as smaller ones also expand.
Despite the slow economy, Nairobi city’s food industry is bustling with activity, with the restaurant scene experiencing an exponential growth in recent years.
According to The Global Cities 2018 report, spend on eating out in Kenya is set to increase by 77 per cent from US $848 million (Sh84.8 billion) to US$1.5 billion (Sh150 billion) over the next decade.
This is reflected in the vast number of restaurants opening up in the capital.
As shops and nightclubs in the CBD close, new eateries have opened up. Increasingly, more residents prefer dining out especially because of what foodies call, ‘food that is worth your money” and “especially because of the large servings”.
Take Java House group, for example. They have 61 outlets in Kenya, 48 of them in Nairobi.
Java brands comprise of Java House Coffee House, 360 Degrees Pizza Restaurant and Planet Yogurt.
Last October, Java launched a subsidiary brand known as Kukito on Kimathi Street that was described as ‘the outlet for the young, witty and bold Kenyans’.
Kukito‘s menu is pocket-friendly to lure the kawaida mwanachi’, ranging from as low as Sh250 to as high as high as Sh500.
Speaking at the launch, Priscilla Gathungu, Java Group Head of HR said: “This brand is as Kenyan as it gets, upholding love for chicken and the need for human connections over good food.”
Artcafee Group comes in second with 36 outlets in Nairobi and one in Kitengela town. In November, Artcaffé opened its second outlet in the CBD at Westminster House on Kenyatta Avenue. 
Photo/PD/JOHN OCHIENG
The 250-seater is the largest outlet for a single Artcaffé location and came soon after the opening of Artcaffé Kimathi Street in early September 2019.
Artcafee Group brands include Urban Gourmet, Ohcha Noodle bar, Tapas Ceviche and Dormans Coffee Shop.
As a result, Artcaffé Group’s family of 1,385 staff has grown by 400 more people over the last four months across the new outlets.
Sagi Vaknin, CEO of Artcaffé Coffee & Bakery Group says the two outlets in the CBD aim to become a social hub and a co-working space for the bustling city workers.
Food chain Big Square is yet another brand that is coming up fast. Branded as a casual dining restaurant with quick-to-order meals, BS now has 11 outlets in Nairobi and one at the Nyali Cinemax, Mombasa. The chain is also set to open new outlets this year.
The Good Earth franchise opened two new outlets last year. The branches have an innovative beverage concept called Blue Door, offering a cocktail lounge, beer garden, nightclub and African Tapas eatery.
Running off the back of their Asian concept, Good Earth has introduced Mr Yao franchise, a Chinese fine dining experience inspired by the cosmopolitan streets of Shanghai and the authentic flavours of China at Kenrail Towers in Westlands.
The other branches include the Pan Asian Yao Restaurant in Gigiri targeting the United Nations crowd, and four other outlets of the Nyama Mama brand.
The not-so-new kid on the block, the Food Library franchise, has recently plunged into the food market, opening different outlets under different brand names in a span of two years.
Their brands are Honey & Dough and Inti both located at the One Africa Place Along Waiyaki way.
They also have Mercado and the Mirror which opened in 2017 and 2019 respectively both at Kenrail Towers, Westlands.
Charlie Bistro Group is also slowly coming up the major franchise ladder, with three branches so far. One branch is on Wabera Street in the CBD and the other at the Kasuku Centre, Lavington.
Mid last year, the group also opened up a bar known as Tycoon Lounge on the former Nakumatt Mega along Uhuru Highway. Plans are underway to open two new branches along Waiyaki Way, Westlands.
A Ugandan based food chain, which was famously known, as Café Javas (CJ’s) is a group to watch.
This eatery seems to be slowly broadening its boundaries in the Kenyan market with a total of three outlets— on Koinange street, Village market and Waterfront Karen so far in Nairobi.
With eight branches in Kampala, CJ’s is looking to open more branches in Nairobi this year.
Meanwhile, in the city centre, Somali restaurants such as Kilimanjaro Restaurant dominate the food industry.
Some of these restaurants encroaching on the CBD are targeting the Muslim community in Nairobi, who are big spenders on food.
