Windhoek Restaurants

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This is a classy establishment for refined dining. As with all of Namibia, this doesn't mean you have to dress up to go, but it is certainly a cut above the average.

Favorite Dish: The warthog, which happend to be the special of the day, served in a cranberry sauce.

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A very popular establishment, so if you don't have a reservatiion, show up early. There is plenty of on-site parking, but it does fill up as the evening goes on. There are smoking and non-smoking areas.

If you want to see what some of those animals you saw on the game drives look like, this is the place to do it!

Favorite Dish: Namib Bush Fire:

Ostrich, Springbok, Oryx fillets with Red Wine sauce, Ratatouille, straw Potatoes & a dash of Witblits.

A good way to try three different types of game.

My personal favourites are the Oryx and Kudu.

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In terms of eating and drinking, Joe's Beerhouse on Nelson Mandela Avenue is a Windhoek institution: yes, it's a tourist trap, but it's executed to separate you from your money in such an endearingly 'tongue in cheek' manner that you won't mind one bit.

The beer is icy, the portions are gargantuan and the decor is endearingly over the top! The overall impression is of stumbling into a traditional village decorated by a magpie with German colonial taste and a lavatorial sense of humour, and my personal favourite is the table where the seats are toilets (not plumbed in - which may or may not be a blessing!).

The menu is unashamedly carnivorous, and in addition to the usual beef, pork and lamb, there is a good selection of game - usually ostrich, springbok, kudu and gemsbok (oryx). In truth, it's not the ideal place to be a vegetarian (in red-blooded places like this, chicken is probably classed as a 'vegetable'!), but there are some salads as well as some fish dishes. Watch the other plates going by before ordering to get an idea of the portion size: the individual pieces of meat on the sosaties (kebabs) would probably count as ladies portions of steak in other parts of the world!

Understandably this is on the itinerary for virtually every tour group passing through Windhoek, so either go early or be sure to make a booking.

There is also an arts and crafts gallery offering high quality (if somewhat pricey) merchandise.

I have been travelling to Namibia for business and pleasure for the past 20 years, and I never pass up the opportunity to eat at Gathemann's!

It serves wonderful German food with an African twist, and prides itself on using the best of local ingredients - their game, pork and seafood dishes are particularly good.

The setting is also beautiful, as the restaurant occupies the upper floor of a building in a historic parade of German colonial houses. If you sit out on the terrace, you can sip an icy drink and watch the world go by on bustling Independence Avenue (Windhoek's man street) as you wait for your delicious food to arrive - absolute bliss!

Favorite Dish: Everything is wonderful - in all these years, I have never had even an average meal there!

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Nandos is an international chain of restaurants that offer a great menu of freshly grilled chicken right in front of you. They use open flames to create a great taste. Nandos celebrates the distinctive tradition of Peri-Peri barbeque that was born 400 years ago when Portuguese explorers discovered Africa food and spices. The first Nandos came into being in Johannesburg in 1987 and here in Windhoek 1995. The salads are fresh and you get to choose your own sauce that the chicken is marinated in. You also select how hot or (or not!) you want this to be.

Favorite Dish: The Quarter Chicken Meal with medium Peri Peri with salad and rice

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This place is always busy and the staff are slow. It’s a shame because the food is excellent. Just give the people smoking at the next table a nasty look and they usually pack it in. This restaurant does superb food; you cannot take that away from them. You can get a peek at your fish (pictured) before they do their magic on it. Ingredients are fresh and tasty and even the economical wines are good quality. If you are in Windhoek for 2-3 days, stop in for a great meal. The menu is massive and varied. Plenty of vegetarian options as well.

Favorite Dish: I had the Salad Niçoise for a starter (pictured) followed by an Angolan Fish Dish (also pictured) washed down with some red wine and a cold draft beer.

During the week it's a great place to pop by quickly ater work, just to unwind and watch the sun set. During the weekend it's a great place to hang out and have lovely conversations with friends with soothing jazz sounds in the background.

Did I say that it's perfect for watching the sun set? Well, it's perfect for watching the sun set...given the fact that Namibian sun sets are the most beautiful :)

Favorite Dish: They don't really serve food but have all kinds of stuff that compliment wine drinking, like cheese platters with crackers or sea food platters etc. They also have the most delicious chocolate cake, which is of course my favourite :)

Oh, by the way. You can also book out an entire section for a private dinner or whatever.

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Eat at Joe’s? The name really does not even begin to hint at the delights of this fantastic restaurant. This is a WOW! I rate this as one of the best restaurants in Africa. The compound is full of Lapas (small thatch covered buildings with no walls) and several themes areas. There is a pond and several bar areas as well. The staff are fantastic and nothing is a problem. The menu screams MEAT EATERS WELCOME! Choose from Game dishes or traditional meat dishes. And there’s the beer! Served cold and with a smile every time. This is a lively yet peaceful atmosphere for families and couples. They stay open late for drinkers. If you only spend one night in Windhoek – eat here!

* There are vegetarian dishes on the menu.

Favorite Dish:
* Starter:
Chicken Salad with Prawns. Georgeous! Tender chicken with a fresh tasty salad.
* Main meal:
Bushman Sosatie – the King of meals in Windhoek!
Ostrich, Crocodile, Zebra, Kudu, Chicken with Salad & Fritters. It’s surprising how good Zebra tastes. No wonder lions eat them! This is served with several side sauces on a wooden cutting board so you can mix and match tastes. Delicious!