Lunch & Dinner Tamarind Dhow Cruise - Mombasa City

In the early seventies there were no quality restaurants in Mombasa, and Kenyan born who was managing a coastal hotel at the time, was determined to correct this. One of his ambitions was to create the finest seafood restaurant in Africa. With little financial and moral support he designed and built the Mombasa Tamarind, a dream, which he fulfilled with passion.

Built in Arab style with high arches and a crenellated roof, the elegant, gleaming white building has the perfect setting – a starlit terrace perched on a cliff overlooking the picturesque Old Harbour of Mombasa.

The menu is a blend of the best of French, Asian and African cuisines. The Tamarind’s specialty is seafood and only the freshest ingredients are used. The Prawns Piri Piri, Chilli Crab and Lobster have earned the Tamarind restaurant worldwide fame and rave reviews from publications such as Gourmet, the London Times and the Herald Tribune.

Personal service, original presentation and attention to detail has developed Tamarind’s reputation as one of the finest restaurants in Africa, and achieved the ambition of the founder.

The restaurant’s seating capacity is 160 people and currently has a staff of 120.

OPEN FOR LUNCH AND DINNER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

The dhows

“Nawalilkher” and “Babulkher” are authentic ocean-worthy Jahazis(traditional Arab sailing boats), formerly used for cargo trading along the Kenyan coast and on to the Arab states. They have been refurbished as floating restaurants retaining all the traditional aspects of the original dhow. They are now moored at the Mombasa Tamarind jetty.

“Nawalilkher” is available for individual bookings and has can seat 70 clients for dinner, leaving plenty of room for dancing on the night cruises. The dhow can also hold cocktail parties for up to 100 people.

“Babulkher” has a capacity of 55 clients for dinner and 70 clients for cocktails and is also available for exclusive hire.

THE LUNCHTIME CRUISE

Nawalilkher sails every day except Sunday for both the day and evening cruises. Private charters can be organized for Sunday as required.

The lunchtime cruise departs from the tamarind jetty at 13:00, cruises gently up the Tudor creek to a secluded spot where the dhow moors. Lunch consists of a delicious tamarind seafood platter with a selection of Kenya’s wonderful seafood or a prime Kenyan fillet steak followed by fresh tropical fruit-salad, and rounded off with Kenyan coffee and halwa. The dhow returns to the jetty at 15.00.

THE DINNER CRUISE

The dinner cruise commencing at 18.30 pm, begins with a welcome “dawa” cocktail as the dhow sails towards fort Jesus. The twinkling lights of Mombasa and the starlit skies provide idyllic surroundings for a delicious seafood dinner meticulously prepared in Swahili style on the deck in front of the guests. The resident DJ on board offers a wide choice of dance music, from the latest hits to the golden oldies as the dhow gently glides back to the tamarind jetty by 22:30.