Lounge bar with a difference

If you are completely fed up of the bar scene in Nairobi or even Mombasa for that matter because it is the same old music, hype, show-off and loud clientele, and not much to do besides sitting and drinking, then you should consider the Nest.

It is a small, quiet, classy and intimately cosy rooftop bar at the Tribe Hotel.
Before I venture further, I’d like to compliment the Tribe Hotel once more on their style and panache.

I probably did so last year while reviewing their restaurant, but after having been to three newer hotels, one on Mombasa road, one in Upper Hill and the latest one in Westlands, I have to say no one has come even close to the architectural style, flair and decor of the Tribe Hotel.

It is truly a world class boutique hotel of the 21st Century. The Nest bar is an open rooftop bar with some seating on large flat, backless sofas, some cane sofas and along the walls clients can sit on the on large cushions and rest against the walls.

It can take 30 people at the most and even then, the place would feel quite crowded.
The decor has a Moroccan theme to it as far as the lights, carpets and shishas go.

In fact, the whole purpose of our last visit to check it out was because someone told me there was a ‘new Moroccan bar’ at the tribe. Unfortunately, when we called in advance, no one told us they had a private function.

The Village Market isn’t exactly in the middle of town and to go all the way then have to look for an alternative place to have a quiet drink is a bit futile.

That said, I hope they restrict the numbers to the limits of the bar. It is meant to be a lounge bar that sets itself apart from all the other purported lounge bars in the city.

There is laughter here but it is a merry laughter within the group and not the can-they-hear-me-laugh-in-the-next-village laughter that is so false elsewhere.

The music is not the elevator kind of music but soothing lounge beats and not the sort that gets rowdy patrons bellowing along on top of their voices. Drinks are to be enjoyed here and not to a state of complete inebriation that results in fights.

Not that many people can afford to get inebriated at their prices. The shishas alone cost Sh1000 a pop! They have several flavours and it is the most apt thing to settle into one of the cushions and suck tobacco out of a water pipe.

The shisha, its name originating from the Persian/Arabic/Urdu name for ‘glass’ and probably refers to the glass burette, is a water pipe that is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based) instrument for smoking tobacco in which the smoke is cooled and filtered by passing through water.

Originally from India, it has gained popularity, especially in the Middle East and is gaining popularity in the rest of the world and can be seen in many Kenyan bars nowadays.

I have read several articles recently that claim that new research into smoking tobacco via a shisha is not that harmless as was previously considered. We will not delve into this topic here but rest assured it will rear its ugly head in the future.

At the Nest, they have an amazingly well-stocked bar but the wine choice is a little wanting. What they do specialise in are martinis, starting from Sh500.

The Martini is a globally famous cocktail made with gin and vermouth and garnished with an olive, and it is much classier than the Cosmopolitan and therefore so befitting the image of the Nest.

Of course, there are many variations to the Classic Martini, the most famous being the favourite drink of the eternal spy James Bond who prefers a Vodka Martini, “shaken but not stirred”.

At the Nest, they have also tried to create different Martinis with flavours like Lemon Grass, Hot Chilli Passion and Watermelon! While Lemon Grass is refreshing in the hot weather, the Hot Chilli one will be sure get you warmed up in the current cold weather.

The reason why I found the Nest so civilised on the last visit was that there were just four small groups there because it was quite a cold night. Once wrapped up, I think it is perfect to sit out there, after all, Nairobi doesn’t experience severe cold spells anymore.

Please do note that the management does not allow hot beverages at the Nest so if you want any of those, you are better off at the bar or coffee shop downstairs.

I don’t understand patrons who get upset when they are not served coffee in a bar; it is very simple: a bar is a bar is a bar, if you want coffee then go to a cafe!

gastrodenome@hotmail.com
Ask online at www.eatout.co.ke/gastro