Aerial view of the poolside bar at Sankara. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
A spot check by the BDLife shows that most hotels and buildings are incorporating a restaurant at the rooftop or on the upper floors to capture the spectacular skyline, especially by night.
Nairobi’s skyline is rapidly changing with architecturally classy high-rise buildings and hotels being put up every year by individuals and developers.
As the number of high-rise buildings in the capital grows, so does the number of rooftop restaurants, which developers have praised for being more classy than ground floor restaurants due to their spectacular views from the top.
A spot check by the BDLife shows that most hotels and buildings are incorporating a restaurant at the rooftop or on the upper floors to capture the spectacular skyline, especially by night.
Most of these rooftop restaurants are on the terraces or balconies giving clients the option of having a drink or meal in a cool ambiance with spectacular views of the city itself and the surrounding vistas some as far away as the Ngong Hills, Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya on a clear day.
Sankara hotels’ rooftop is one that has attracted many who love to party and dine in high-rise buildings. David Ali, the East Africa manager at Sankara says the tropical climate in Nairobi is great for high-rise restaurants.
“Our Champagne bar and the Sarabi restaurant at the roof top with numerous lounges, attract a mix of business people as well as young clients out for a good time.
Other than the restaurant, the top floor also hosts the fitness centre with a swimming pool, an area for zumba classes as well as the Angsana spa.
The restaurant is among the two others in the hotel and offers personal service on meals and drinks. The space can also be rented out for special functions.
The black-tie Mumm Champagne festival was one of the functions held at the rooftop, which attracted more than 200 guests.
The Kenyatta International Convention Centre’s revolving restaurant is one of the oldest and most interesting rooftop restaurant due to its ability to rotate while guests are having their meal. Located on the 28th floor of the KICC, diners get to enjoy a 360-degree view of the city in the second tallest building in the CBD.
Although the revolving restaurant hasn’t been fully operational since the 1990s, the room is normally booked for private functions by both corporate companies and individuals.
“Whether it’s cocktails, birthday parties, corporate events such as product launches and company results, the restaurant has the capacity to serve any of these functions,” says Ms Michelle….of the public relations office at the KICC.
The top deck, which hosts the revolving restaurant can hold a banquet of 250 people as the restaurant revolves. In exactly 75 minutes, the restaurant makes a 360-degree rotation, making it bearable for anyone, even those with a fear of heights.
The rooftop, which is an open space with splendid views of the city from all angles, is also one of their revenue streams and is open to the public.
Unlike the revolving restaurant, which is available for functions 24 hours a day, the rooftop is only open from 6am to midnight.
The cost of renting this place is Sh150,000 per day with catering being offered by the canteen management at the KICC. Arrangements can be made for tents to be erected at the rooftop and PA systems, screens and lighting can also be set up at both of these venues at an extra cost.
Le Mac, which is an upcoming real estate development in the Westlands suburbs with offices on six of the lower floors and apartments on 12 of the upper floors of the building, also plans to have a rooftop restaurant. This is a break from the norm in that this is partly a residential outfit with offices.
“The double-storey Le’ Mac sky club and restaurant will be Nairobi’s highest restaurant offering a fine dining experience and a vantage point to appreciate Nairobi’s skyline by day and its glimmering city lights by night” says Mark properties limited, the building developer.
The sky club will house a gym, spa, steam and sauna rooms ideal for unwinding. The restaurant has a juice bar, resident’s sky lounges and a gourmet restaurant.
The Best Western hotel in Hurlingham area also offers great views and a cool breeze sweeping over the restaurant at the rooftop.
PAYE Tax Calculator
Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
