Author - Miss Mulei

Mombasa Eateries : English Point Marina Restaurants

So I recently had the privilege to tryout the new restaurant’s that located in English Point Marina.

Everyone knows English point for the great view of Old Town, and has an awesome sunset. They also have two new restaurants at the boardwalk. The first one is Margherita which is a contemporary Italian restaurant that specialize in wood burned oven, a traditional way to cook a pizza. The second one is Karahi, an Indian Restaurant with Indian chef who specializes in Authentic Indian Cuisine.

  Margherita

            The interior of the restaurant has exposed wood on the ceiling with the industrial type lights hanging off them, it is one of my favourite thing about the place. They also have exposed red bricsk with the abstract art hanging on the walls. The restaurant has an old Italian restaurant vibe with the booths that aren’t completely booths. My other favourite part is the black accent wall, with writings of Wines and the other one as a pizza drawing.

You can see your pizza begin prepared, cause of where the oven is located. It is an open floor plan.

Now to the food, by now you know that I am foodie, and finding good pizza is Mombasa is limited to only a few places, but the kicker is the fact it is a thin crust pizza. Now I never had one so this is my first time trying a Thin Crust one, I got to try the Chicken Tikka Pizza and it was delicious.

After this pizza, I am an official convert off the thin curst. You would think the pizza crust wouldn’t hold the ingredients that go into a pizza, but it was perfectly in place making it delicious and fulfilling.

As I mentioned above the Oven is a traditional Italian wood burning, one that is used in most Italian restaurants. So the pizza is evenly cooked and the crust has a crunch to it. The pizza is served on Wooded Pizza Plate, which makes it taste better in my opinion, and look aesthetically pleasing.

The next restaurant is.

Karahi

Mombasa being a multi-cultured city, you will find all types of cuisines.  Indian cuisine being one of the popular cuisine in Mombasa, with different restaurants offering authentic Indian Cuisine. The variety of restaurants are located at different areas in Mombasa, and one of them being Karahi at English Point Marina.

Karahi serves authentic Indian food, with an Authentic Indian Cuisine Chef brought from India, as I mentioned above.

The decor is very different from Margherita, Karahi has a homey feeling to it with the neutral colour scheme of brown and orange with a little bit of black. It has a simple minimal theme to it. With one side with framed black and with photos of architecture and on the opposite wall is the minimal graphic that is common throughout the whole restaurant, in the table linen.

I am in love with the lights that have small holes in them, so when the bulb is lit, the holes will create shadows of the holes, I am planning to have dinner there with my parents there so I can take a photo of the lights. And also the wall that is lined with mirrors and candles that are electric, which creates a beautiful silhouette against the mirror. There is a glass window at the Kitchen that allows you to see your food being prepared.

I got to try the mutton curry, and naan bread. It can come with different sauces and a salad. I will admit the only India food, I tend to eat are Chicken Poussin and Chicken Tikka, I never venture into the curries, cause am always having lunch with my mum. So am grateful Kahari was the great introduction to the curries. The food was delicious and will possible start venturing into the curries, in the menu. The curry came in a bowl and was very tasty, the flavours where on point. The sauce was creamy and not to oily, the naan was non buttered although you can, order for a buttered naan. The mixture of spices will add flavor to your mouth making you appreciate the Indian Cuisine.

I enjoyed eating at both the restaurants, the ambiance and food quality was admirable. They are located in English Point, down by the boardwalk. You don’t need any reservations. The prices are affordable, and you can also enjoy the view of old town and then possible the sunset, because it beautiful and mesmerizing when you see it.


Top 5 Tourist things to do in Mombasa

If you have read pervious post about the Top 5 Adventure things to do in Mombasa.  Here is a write-up about the Top 5 Tourist things to do in Mombasa. The different attractions are significant to Mombasa historical background, the stories from the attractions has shaped Mombasa to what it is today!

Fort Jesus and The Butterfly House:

The Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596, to the designs of Giovanni Battista Cairati to protect the port of Mombasa . The fort is still intact and makes a beautiful place to have a photoshoot or take pictures.

The Butterfly house is located, on the side of the Fort and it is home to beautiful butterflies as well it is a paradise that helps in educating the importance of biodiversity and how the local communities play a part in eco-tourism. Plus it is a beautiful place to have a picnic.

Charges: 200/-

How to get there: Fort Jesus is located in Mombasa Island along Nkurumah road. You can take a tuktuk and tell the driver to take you to Fort Jesus it will cost 50/- to 100/- depending on where you are.

Old Town:

It is part of where Fort Jesus, is located. It was inhabited by a mix of local Arab, Portuguese, Asian, and British settlers. Old town is where most government buildings were located and the narrow streets with beautiful carved Swahili Doors/ Arab Doors. Old Town is one the places that has kept the Swahili Culture and it is a photographers dream.

The Tusks:

This are landmark and what Mombasa is know for, they were built to commemorate Queen Elizabeths visit to Mombasa in 1952. You can not say you came to Mombasa and not take a photo in-front of them.

How to get there: They are located at the city centre in Moi Avenue.

Haller Park:

This was originally an empty quarry, but was converted into a sanctuary for various animals and trees, it is truly a jungle, with a beautiful canopy and it is sort of scary, but you can take some amazing photos. You can feed the giraffes sadly, I missed the time and that is 11 am and 4 pm.The good news is that if you buy the ticket and go through the park and and none of the feeding times are not anytime close, you can go and come back the same day by 5pm or during any of the feeding time.

Charges are 500/-

How to get there: North Coast: Mombasa- Malindi rd, take a left at the Bamburi Junction and go to till the roundabout, take another left, you will see the signage

Mamba Village:

I remember coming here as a kid, on school trips and I have a photo on the crocodile that is on the entrance, although it is not the same one. So mamba village, exports crocodile skin and also bred crocodile for the meat. It is very educational, I learnt stuff about crocodiles I didn’t already know. I got to hold a baby crocodile. Feeding time is 4pm, unlike Haller Park you can get a guide if you are alone. Ps don’t forget to tip them.

Charges: 300/-

How to get there: On Nyali Links Road.


Top 5 Adventure Things to do in Mombasa

1.Go Kart: This is place is located in the north coast it is called Mombasa Go Kart, you can also get a group and go Paint-balling, Archery Tag. They also have bike tours and furthermore they have restaurant that serves fresh fish that comes from they own fish ponds.

How get there

You find them on them North-Coast, along Mombasa-Malindi Road, 1.5 km after hotel Whitesands, just next to the Petrocity station. There is a big signboard with two flags on the main road.



2. Ride a Camel on the beach: This is a time Honoree tradition that, I also have had to ride when I was a kid, because I can’t be caught dead doing it now. It is an adrenaline rush when the camel is going up and when it is going down. They can be found at any public beach on the North Coast.

3. Snorkeling/ Scuba-diving: You can visit the reefs that are located on the north coast, and most hotels also have Padi certification and you can learn to scuba dive, they are boats that take you to for Snorkel and feed the fish on the reef and at low tides, and small island does appear and they can take you. If you’re staying at a hotel, sometimes have some boats that offer some of these activities. If you’re not staying at a hotel they are boats along the coast that can take you for a fee. Call Thompson 0741030445

4. Water-sports: They is only on place to go in Mombasa and it is called Yul’s it is a place where you can Jet-ski, but if you want to Kite Surf, Paddle board most hotels have a them plus also Jet-skis

How to get to Yul’s:

It is located on Mombasa- Malindi Road after Whitesands Hotel, you will find a sign board leading to Yul’s.


5.A Dhow Cruise: After all the adrenaline rush, you take a relaxing Dhow Cruise and have dinner at the Tamarind Hotel Dhow Cruise, and watch the sunset while sailing under the Nyali Bridge. You have to book in advance for the Dhow Cruise.

How to get there: Cement Silo Rd, Nyali at Tamarind Hotel.