Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant at the Kenya Coast is not your average restaurant in every sense. First they never serve lunch – only dinner, which, by the way, starts at 7 PM.

Secondly, and the most striking of them all, the restaurant is located inside an ancient open-air coral cave believed to be more than 120,000 years old.

Situated about 30 KM south of Mombasa, the cave comprises a series of interlinking chambers, some at depths of up to 10 M below ground level. In other words, dinner at Ali Barbour’s is a deeply intimate relationship with your food.

Except for the chamber that houses the kitchen, the lavatories and the stone floor in the restaurant area, everything else is as it was in nature. The furniture and fittings as well as the lighting and sound effects are other additions, of course.

A triangular makuti (palm leaves) umbrella provides ample canopy over the cocktail bar and reception area. This is supported by a single 20 M blue gum pole.

At Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant, one is treated to a variety of international cuisine while sitting under the gaze of the stars. The main speciality here though is seafood. Starters include fresh oysters and Beef Carpaccio followed by the main course which can be either seafood or meat from the highlands. There is also a vegetarian menu to spoil you for choice.

The seafood platter comes with fresh Calamari, Crab of the mangrove and oysters among others. The dessert, which features the Coupe Barbour as a favourite is flambéed at your table. This is one place you are most likely not going to forget very quickly.

Have you been at Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant? Share your experience by leaving a comment below.