Tamarind Dhow and Restaurant Mombasa

Nothing beats the evening cruise on the Tamarind Dhow for romance. There are actually two ocean-going jahazis in the Tamarind Dhow fleet, jahazis being the traditional Arab sailing boats use to ply the trade between Kenya and the Arab states.

Tamarind Dhow Mombasa

Both the Nawakilkher and the Babulkher have been retrofitted to serve as floating restaurants while preserving the original features of a dhow. Opt for a 2- hour lunch cruise to a remote cove, feast on Tamarind seafood dishes and traditional Kenyan dishes and finish with fruit salad, halwa and Kenyan coffee.

The dinner cruise on the Tamarind Dhow starts with a welcome “Dawa”, a special concoction of vodka, lime, honey and sugar poured over crushed ice. The resident band on the Dhow strikes up live music as the dhow gently pulls away from the jetty and dancing begins before dinner is served.

During the 4 1/2 hour cruise, diners sit down to a four-course meal of grilled lobster and steak prepared on charcoal grills. As the evening draws to an end, wind down a memorable experience with a cup of coffee served from the Kahawa pot, a classic Arab brass pot.

The Tamarind Dhows are available for private charters and are frequently used for weddings.

Guests staying at the Tamarind Village, get preferred seating and a 15% discount.