Malindi Food Scene: Top 5 Eats & Drinks You Can’t Miss!
Alright, so you’re planning a trip to Malindi, maybe even daydreaming about its sunny beaches? That’s awesome! But you know what can make your trip truly unforgettable? Tasting the local eats! Malindi’s got a really interesting food scene, blending coastal flavors with Swahili tradition, and frankly, a few hidden gems that any foodie would find amazing! That’s why I have a list, in a way a top five that you really, absolutely, can’t miss. Forget just typical tourist traps; this is about finding the soul of Malindi, one delicious bite at a time. I wanted to really share my love for this beautiful little pocket of Kenyan culture!
1. Baby Marrow: Italian with a Coastal Twist
Right, let’s start with something that might seem a little unexpected; how about Italian food when you are in Kenya? Baby Marrow could be that thing! That’s very well the name of this spot. This place is famous amongst tourists and locals alike, yet it dishes out, seemingly anyway, an authentic Italian eating experience but that has an amazing local twist that works perfectly in every bite! As a matter of fact, they’re super serious about their ingredients, sourcing everything super fresh from local farms and, yes, right out of the ocean. Like your pasta? Well, they have fresh seafood pasta options like Spaghetti alle Vongole (with clams) which is just fantastic, I am so serious! Or what about their homemade ravioli? You’d think, honestly, you were sitting in a quaint Italian trattoria but there’s a tropical breeze in the air and a killer ocean view! Pretty awesome, huh? Seriously! Baby Marrow definitely earns its spot, alright. It seems to bring you culinary bliss in a really pretty casual and really laid-back setting.
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Read our full review: Baby Marrow Malindi Full Review and Details
2. Baracuda Restaurant: Seafood Lover’s Paradise
Next up, Baracuda Restaurant, or maybe as I like to call it, a seafood lover’s dream, just a little! Now, you didn’t actually think you could come to a coastal town such as Malindi and not dive headfirst into some unbelievable fresh seafood, right? Baracuda actually takes this to a completely different level. They sit, like literally, right on the edge of the ocean, with waves actually crashing nearby! The setting actually sets the stage for just an unbelievable dinner that is something you only find here! Seriously! So what to order? Just try the grilled fish platter; I would recommend you do that first. You may get bombarded with various locally caught fish, calamari that melts in your mouth, and grilled prawns with a savory tang to die for! That has a beautiful hint of lemon-butter, might I add. They actually offer lobster if that is more what you were hoping for. A little expensive, you get what you pay for, that is so very true with the lobsters! So don’t leave without trying the Swahili fish curry! This actually bursts with aroma that leaves a party in your mouth! You might actually cry a little! You are in fact, missing out, should you not check it out.
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Read our full review: Baracuda Restaurant Malindi Full Review and Details
3. Osteria Italiana: Casual and Tasty
Okay, maybe you want something more relaxed, right? Very! It’s still delicious but won’t actually break your budget? Osteria Italiana could easily be that spot for you. This is that thing! It’s actually a really casual place, yet it’s super popular. What you should go for are those great, uncomplicated dishes! The pasta is all actually made by them, daily. It provides such authenticity in everything they prepare, right. The pizza? So good and crisp on the crust. They’re actually experts! Locals and expats love actually hanging out here because of just how welcoming it really, truly, is, too! Order that seafood risotto if you have that hankering; it is creamy and yummy! Every ingredient, in some respects, sings its individual beautiful song. This place proves just because it doesn’t look extremely pretentious, the meal won’t be that amazing. The food proves, typically, that theory isn’t necessarily accurate. It’s actually, genuinely, a little hidden gem worth discovering!
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Read our full review: Osteria Italiana Malindi Full Review and Details
4. Malindi Coffee House: More Than Just Coffee!
Alright, so it’s time to wake up or that means needing a seriously sweet treat. You need something done and good, just really, really fast! Then you may need to go to the Malindi Coffee House, pretty seriously! Don’t think of them as merely your simple coffee place. In fact, they offer this surprisingly great and diverse menu, by the way. But I guess, you know, the coffee gets special mention because of the great quality; beans grown local provide, in other words, all these amazing blends that they have, honestly, perfected! Want to actually chill a little bit more? By all means, taste test some pastries! Seriously, if you see any, by all means grab their cakes! I was saying, “It’s literally heaven sent,” right as it touches the taste buds, literally! Don’t disregard their savory choices! These might catch you way off guard! Light lunches are made as well, that said. You can go wrong getting light food here! A simple salad with a view makes a soul sing! When are you going, in general?
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Read our full review: Malindi Coffee House Full Review and Details
5. The Food Stalls at Malindi Market: Taste of the Streets
Lastly, you should probably hit Malindi Market; this will give you just such a look, honestly, inside their heart! You’d have this absolutely unforgettable experience by just roaming the busy stalls around there, in a way sampling from the native cooks. These small stands, maybe they don’t actually seem super luxurious, however, they serve that authentic flavor that defines the eating scene in Malindi! Just so many varieties of local foods from, usually, grilled corn (that is always an amazing favorite)! They usually are brushed with a yummy spice; to Vitumbua, those rice cakes. You are almost surely in for just some treat! You can’t skip ordering via roadside eateries as the cost, as it goes without saying, are typically fair and reflect a seriously sincere piece that the natives take deep pride in sharing with all who like to sample new eats. Bring yourself, by all means; allow your spirit explore one eating bite in Malindi Market, anyway.
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Read our full review: Malindi Market Food Full Review and Details
