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Latin fusion restaurant & bar Nairobi

Where she flew, flavour followed.

Citrus-cured crudos, charcoal and open flame, and a crimson bar worth staying for. Latin America by way of Nairobi, two floors above Red Hill Road.

The legend of ARA

A macaw of impossible colour, feathers like sunset flames.

Watercolour illustration of a scarlet macaw in flight

In the heart of the Amazon there lived a bird called Ara. To the tribes of the region she was more than a bird — a spirit, a bridge between the earth and the heavens. When the forest fell silent she returned with seeds, spices and secrets from far-off lands, and where they landed, the jungle came alive again.

Today, when the doors of Ara swing open, aromas rise like feathers on the wind: smoke, spice, citrus, sea. Every plate tells part of the legend.

Rainforest leaves and vines in morning mist

The kitchen

Smoke, spice, citrus, sea.

The menu moves the way the legend does, from raw and bright to charred and slow. Peruvian cures, Mexican heat, a Brazilian respect for the grill, and whatever else travelled well.

Pulpo a la Parrilla: chargrilled octopus with orange, roasted tomatoes and herbs on a stoneware plate, beside a glass of red wine

01 Bites

Pulpo a laParrilla

Grilled octopus, orange segments, spring onion, roasted cherry tomatoes, capers, fresh dill, parsley, orange vinaigrette.

KSh 1,600

The octopus dish, finished and waiting at the pass

02 Crudos

Tatakide Carne

Seared beef, soy, ginger, red chilli flakes, teriyaki mayo, basil oil.

KSh 1,950

Slices of seared beef tataki dressed with crisp shallots, micro herbs and edible flowers in a dark stoneware dish

03 Desserts

Dulce de LecheTiramisú

Dulce de leche mascarpone cream, coffee, savoiardi, cocoa powder.

KSh 1,450

Read the full menu

Charcoal grill

Over an open flame.

A grade beef, chargrilled to your preferred doneness, best paired with a choice of our house made sauces & sides.

  • Sirloin 280g3,700
  • Rib Eye 280g3,900
  • Picanha 280g4,000
  • Fillet 240g4,100
  • Tomahawk 1kg12,200
Chargrilled rib eye on the bone with grilled peppers and herbs
A hand spooning chimichurri over a sliced grilled steak
Charred prawns over diced mango A table set with shared plates beneath a monstera plant Prawns in a golden broth with micro herbs Two plates of tataki on dark blue stoneware Passion fruit mousse topped with fresh passion fruit Three cocktails raised in a toast Tiramisù and coffee beside the embossed ARA menu Two glasses meeting over the table at night Broad green leaves Croissants, coffee and tea on a wooden table

From the pass, the bar and the tables in between.

The bar

Another round.

Behind the green-tiled counter: a wall of crimson arches, and a team that shakes hard, strains clean and isn’t shy with a blowtorch. Signature cocktails, wine by the glass or the bottle, and proper coffee for the daylight hours.

i. Shaken, then strained
ii. Poured, topped, torched
iii. Over ice, finished with foam
The ARA bar: a crimson back wall of arched, backlit niches above a green-tiled counter

Good food. Exceptional company.
You know how the rest goes.

The room

Deep green, low amber, a table by the window.

The dining room at dusk, tables set beneath a row of fringed amber lamps
Dusk, before the first table

Second floor,
above the trees
of Red Hill Road.

A tweed lounge chair with a floral cushion; fringed lamps glow against the deep green wall behind
The lounge
The ARA wordmark embossed into a green leather menu cover
Leather-bound
Friday, about nine

Velvet-green chairs,
fringed lamps,
planting everywhere.

The dining room in daylight: green textured walls, green chairs and wide windows
Lunch light
A corner of the lounge with blush sofas against dark green walls
A quieter corner
Coffee, slowly
Green velvet chairs in the foreground, the crimson bar glowing across the room
Towards the bar

Reservations

Come hungry. Stay a while.

Reserve a table

Booking opens in a new tab with our reservations partner, Eat App.

  • Up to eight

    Book online for one to eight guests, any day we’re open.

  • Nine or more

    Call or WhatsApp us and we’ll arrange the table. A consumable deposit applies to larger groups.

  • Good to know

    We hold tables for 30 minutes. Last food orders are taken one hour before closing. Running late? Just call.

Find us

Astrol Square, Red Hill Road.

2nd Floor, Astrol Square
Red Hill Road, Nairobi, Kenya

Inside Astrol Square at the Astrol petrol station, right above Artcaffé. Parking on the ground floor and across three basement levels.

Opening hours

MondayClosed
Tuesday – Thursday12pm – 10pm
Friday & Saturday12pm – 11pm
Sunday12pm – 8pm

Last food orders one hour before closing.

We’ll keep the lamps on.

Reserve a table