Sails Beach Bar & Restaurant

Sails Beach Bar & Restaurant is the kind of place that earns its reputation through setting and substance in equal measure. Located directly on the sand at Almanara Luxury Boutique Hotel & Villas, the restaurant sits beneath a soaring canopy of steel and canvas that echoes the form of a traditional dhow sail. It is architecturally unlike anything else on the Kenyan coast, and the effect is immediate: open to the ocean breeze, with the Indian Ocean stretching out beyond the tables, the space feels both refined and genuinely relaxed.

Ocean-to-Table Seafood

The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Anthony Huth, a Kenyan-born chef who trained at the Prue Leith Chef Academy in South Africa and honed his craft as a sous chef at Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Italian in the UK. His menu revolves around what the coast provides each day. Local fishermen deliver the catch each morning — lobster, prawns, snapper, tuna — and Huth builds his weekly specials around what arrives. The signature starters tell the story well: Tuna Carpaccio sliced from that morning's catch, Crispy Calamari, and Fresh Kilifi Oysters. For mains, the Zanzibar Snapper and Ginger Crab are the dishes most often mentioned in reviews, alongside a generous Seafood Platter for those who want to try everything. Italian and Thai influences run through the broader menu, with options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets available on request.

The Almanara Shamba

What sets Sails apart from many beachfront restaurants is the sourcing. Almanara maintains a 100% organic vegetable shamba on the property — a working kitchen garden that supplies the restaurant with fresh herbs, salad leaves, tropical fruits, and vegetables daily. Chef Huth designs each season's dishes around what the shamba and local markets provide. It is not a marketing label; it is how the kitchen actually operates. The proximity from garden to plate is measured in metres, not miles.

The Setting and Experience

With only around 30 covers, Sails operates at an intimate scale. This is a deliberate choice — the restaurant is part of a boutique resort, not a high-volume operation. The sweeping sail canopy and curving beams frame uninterrupted views of the ocean, and at sunset the setting is genuinely memorable. Service is generally attentive and unhurried. The wine list is curated rather than encyclopaedic, with staff who can recommend pairings. Expect to spend one and a half to three hours here; this is not a place to rush.

What to Know Before You Go

Sails is open Wednesday to Monday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and is closed every Tuesday. Reservations are required — the restaurant does not accept walk-ins, and the limited seating fills quickly during peak season. Pricing sits at the premium end for Diani, reflecting both the setting and the quality of ingredients. Credit cards are accepted. The restaurant is located at Almanara Luxury Villas on Diani Beach Road and is open to non-resort guests who book ahead. A note on consistency: the vast majority of reviews are enthusiastic, but a small number of visitors have reported uneven experiences with food preparation or service. As with any restaurant of this calibre, the best evenings are exceptional; the occasional off night is not unheard of.