Art & Food Restaurant · Malindi, Kenya
Where cuisine meets canvas — a permanent art gallery wrapped around one of Malindi's finest tables. Under a makuti roof, in a lush African garden, where flavour and beauty have always spoken the same language.
Not far from the famous Vasco da Gama Pillar, in a lush African garden with a makuti thatched roof, Baby Marrow has been feeding Malindi's most curious diners since the nineties.
Popular with tourists and residents alike, the restaurant was recently renovated around a powerful new identity — that of a permanent art gallery. Bold contemporary African art lines the walls, local artists exhibit and perform on special evenings, and the owner Maurizio — awarded Malindi's best restaurateur — ensures every plate is as considered as every painting.
The menu is unique, sophisticated, elegant but casual. It roams freely between Italian, international and local specialties — smoked sailfish with focaccia, ham-wrapped prawns on mango-pineapple salad, deep-fried softshell crab, and the best tiramisu on the Kenyan coast. Begin with an aperitif at the Baby Bar, then settle in.
"One of the best restaurants not only on the coast, but in the entire country. Leafy, intimate setting, makuti roof, bold contemporary art — and house specialities like smoked sailfish and vodka sorbet."Lonely Planet Kenya
Hover to expand each panel — a different world inside every frame. Baby Marrow rotates exhibitions of local and international artists throughout the year, making each visit a new visual experience.
Baby Marrow hosts a rolling programme of art exhibitions, live music evenings and cultural events — the restaurant as a living gallery, always something to discover.
Baby Marrow's walls are a permanent gallery showcasing bold contemporary African and international art. Local artists — painters, sculptors, textile artists — rotate throughout the year. Eat surrounded by work that challenges, inspires and occasionally stops you mid-bite.
Saturday evenings bring Baby Marrow's extended community to life — local painters, tinga tinga artists, sculptors and photographers present and perform. Past guests have included Spytrack (an eighty-year-old master stationed in Malindi), Tanzanian artist Feruzi, and a series of Italian-Kenyan musical collaborations.
For Christmas and New Year, Maurizio designs special tasting menus — one seafood, one meat — featuring remarkable creativity. Think beet ravioli with gorgonzola, mascarpone and walnut on cream of peas, or Buridda soup, a rare Ligurian specialty with squid and peas. A celebration worth planning your visit around.
The restaurant opens at 11:30 AM — begin the evening with an aperitif at the Baby Bar while the art does its work on you. Fresh watermelon juice, Aperol Spritz, wine by the glass. Maurizio has a habit of coming around and ensuring you've ordered the right thing.
Baby Marrow is not just a restaurant — it's a place where atmosphere and taste merge into an unforgettable evening. The moment you arrive, you feel that unique and magical vibe that only Africa can offer. The setting is beautiful and welcoming. The owner, Maurizio, has rightfully been awarded as Malindi's best restaurateur, and you can taste it in every dish. Authentic flavors, high-quality ingredients, presented with mastery. Her professionalism, attention to every detail, and captivating charm — a dinner with friends becomes a story to tell. Baby Marrow is a place I'd recommend with my eyes closed.
This standout restaurant is not only one of the best on the coast, but in the entire country. Think leafy, intimate setting, makuti roof, bold contemporary art — and house specialities such as smoked sailfish, pizza bianca, vodka sorbet and Sicilian ice cream.
The food here was AMAZING. Probably the best meal we had and will have on the coast. Ksh 10,000 for squid ink spaghetti, grilled seafood platter with lobster, calamari and prawns, coconut rice, wine, beers, fresh juices, homemade bread, tiramisu and passion fruit cheesecake. Would definitely come back.
Small and cosy Italian art restaurant with a cuisine that stands out. They have a couple of unique items on the menu, and I give them bonus points for culinary creativity. The ham-wrapped prawns on a mango-pineapple salad is something you won't find elsewhere — the deep-fried softshell crab is also a rarity in Malindi. Great service too.
My favourites were the smoked sailfish with the complementary focaccia. Make sure to ask for the Mchicha. The XL seafood platter was great for 3 of us. The Tiramisu and Passionfruit cheesecake were excellent!
The Pizza was a complete 10/10. I felt like I was dining in Italy! The seafood platter was well-portioned and quite delicious. This is a hidden gem in Malindi and I wish everyone would discover it. I will be sharing about them on my social media because they deserve to be on the map!
I have been visiting Baby Marrow for several years and am always impressed by the extensive menu and excellent quality. For every Malindi visitor, Baby Marrow is an absolute must. Many thanks to the whole team — and a compliment to the kitchen team.