Eating my Way Through Watamu

One of the things I looked forward to doing during my last trip to the Kenyan Coast was a food exploration at the best restaurants in Watamu. Maybe being locked in at home and only eating home-cooked meals for months had something to do with it but I was ready to dine out almost exclusively during this trip.

I was also particularly looking forward to eating Italian food. It was all I could think about ever since I read that the town, along with Malindi, was nicknamed Kenya’s Little Italy. And let me tell you, Watamu did not disappoint! We spent 2 weeks there, had a mix of home-cooked meals but ate out for the most part. These were my favourite places and I dare say, some of the best restaurants in Watamu.

  1. Medina Palms

We visited Medina Palms twice during our stay and both times we had excellent food. Well, except that one burger Mark had for lunch while waiting for my spa session to be over. Ordinarily, eating at the Medina Palms Restaurant would have been a little pricier than what we paid in other places, however, during our visit, they ran a 30% discount promo on lunches and dinners.

This turned out to be great value for money as we had 3-course meals and drinks for the same price as a single meal in other restaurants. It is definitely worth checking out if you visit.

  1. Papa Remo Beach Restaurant

Of all the restaurants we visited, none had views that beat those at the Papa Remo Beach Restaurant. The restaurant – like the name implies, is located right on the white sand beach along the bay. This means low tide virtually all day and swims in the ocean or walks on the beach while you wait for your food.

The restaurant shares the same owner as of the Crystal Bay Resort (where we stayed at) and gives a discount if you’re a guest there. The food is tasty and the service is great. I highly recommend it.

  1. Crab Shack

When you google ‘Where to eat in Watamu’, chances are that Crab Shack will appear on every search result and this community-run restaurant is very deserving of its spot on each list. We ate out at Crab Shack twice during our stay. Our first visit was a hit! We tried the crab samosas, the grilled fish and chicken. Each item was absolutely delicious!

Our meals were so good that we went back for a second visit. Sadly, that didn’t live up to the first but I would still recommend this place if you visit Watamu and I would revisit it if I have the chance to.

  1. Hosteria Romana

The moment I walked into Hosteria Romana, I was transported to Italy. I don’t know what I enjoyed more, the atmosphere within the restaurant (especially during our first visit) or the food itself. The pizza at Hosteria Romana was the best we had in Watamu and the restaurant gave me my first introduction to Focaccia – an oven-baked Italian bread. Oh Focaccia, where have you been all my life?!

  1. Amici Mei (Visiwa)

Amici Mei is a restaurant located in Visiwa Lodge and my favourite thing about it is the pool that runs through the restaurant. The food was also good but just don’t order the jumbo prawns if you’re really hungry. Don’t get me wrong though, they were very tasty. However, they were expensive and really should not be a standalone dinner.

  1. Mbuyu Lodge

I liked the service and food at Mbuyu Lodge restaurant. I also liked the restaurant setting and the rustic feel but I can’t say that it is a place I’d return to as nothing really stood out for me. Nonetheless, I think it is deserving of a spot on this list and is worth checking out if you visit Watamu.

  1. Prawn Lake

We visited Prawn Lake on the first evening of our arrival in Watamu. Most places were already closed or closing due to the curfew, however the chef was able to whip up something for us. Personally, I wouldn’t go back to Prawn Lake restaurant for the food but I’d go for drinks and a beautiful sunset by the lake. That’s what most people were there for anyway.

PS: If you do plan to eat out at Prawn Lake, you would need to call in advance to have them prepare your meal.

Best Restaurants in Watamu for Desserts

There are two main places for desserts in Watamu – Non Solo Gelato and Bahati Gelateria Italiana (Andrea’s).

  1. Non Solo Gelato: When we visited Watamu, the main Non Solo Gelato store was closed but we were still able to get our hands on the famous frozen dessert at few restaurants (including Hosteria Romana and Papa Remo Beach).
  2. Bahati Gelateria Italiana (Andrea’s): Located right next to Hosteria Romana, the gelato here was delightful!

Some Restaurants I Wanted to Visit but Couldn’t Get to or Were not Opened:

  • Pilipan
  • Naturalmente Pane (Bakery)
  • Ocean Sports Restaurant
  • Hemmings way
  • Lichthaus: We finally visited in 2024 and enjoyed our meals here. This place is great for sundowners but everyone knows this, so it is often crowded. It also has a boho vibe – it’s self-service and you sit on cushions on the ground. I would visit again.
Mida Creek Picnic

Many hotels in Watamu provide in house dining but I’d say skip the full board option and try to eat out sometimes. You don’t want to miss out on one of the main components of a perfect beach holiday, do you? 🙂

4 comments

  1. Wow thanks girl for the blog I enjoyed watamu and visited lots of places that you mentioned. I tried to squeeze them in my 4 day trip . I managed Papa remo restaurant loved the views , Amemi cimei , crystal bay , Medina palms , Hemmingways watamu , 7 Island , pilipan, prawns Lake ,lichtaus which was my favourite place to catch the sunset . And Ocean sports

    1. Now, that’s how you enjoy a beach holiday! Lichtaus looks amazing! I’ll be sure to visit on my next trip to Watamu.

  2. Wowwwww I love of all the post in the Watamu series but this is my favourite thus far. Really looking forward to visiting all the places mentioned. Thank you for sharing
    P.s: do you miss Lagos? I feel like I miss you though I have only seen you once at the women in tourism luncheon hosted by Ajalanene. Look forward to connecting more with you when I am able to visit Nairobi.

    1. I realized we didn’t interact much at the luncheon but I hope we get to do so soon (in Nairobi or anywhere else). Thanks for following the posts about Watamu (and Kenya in general). And yes, I kinda miss Lagos. My family, friends and the joys of discovering and writing about new places in the city. I plan to visit as often as I can. 🙂

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Guess where! 👀
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Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
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What a beautiful city! 😍

#kamoriver #kyoto #japan
What a beautiful city! 😍 #kamoriver #kyoto #japan
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Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰
_____________________

If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢

📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here
📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン)
📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats.

For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. 

Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day!

#lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰 _____________________ If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢 📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here 📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン) 📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats. For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day! #lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
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To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it!

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Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages.

The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture.

#travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍 To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it! -------‐‐‐--‐ Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages. The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture. #travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
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Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
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Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂

Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel!

Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑

I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are!

+1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel!
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Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below!

#travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂 Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel! Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑 I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are! +1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel! _____________________________ Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below! #travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
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An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍

#japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍 #japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
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Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June.

If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can:

🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌

You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays.

Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 

Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr
Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter

Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June. If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can: 🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌 You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays. Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
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