Kampala’s restaurant scene offers a range of dining experiences, from Brazilian-style grilled meat and Japanese cuisine to Italian dishes, rooftop dining and continental food.
The city’s restaurants cater to different occasions, including family meals, business lunches, social gatherings and evening dining. Some focus on particular cuisines, while others combine several food traditions with lounge and entertainment facilities.
For visitors and residents looking to explore Kampala’s dining options, the following eight restaurants provide a starting point. The selection is based on the Google review ratings supplied for the establishments, alongside their advertised cuisine, location and dining facilities. It is not a comprehensive ranking of restaurants in Uganda.
Fine dining and distinctive settings
1. La Cabana Restaurant
Wampewo Avenue, Kololo | Supplied Google rating: 4.5/5 (866 reviews)
La Cabana Restaurant, located at Speke Apartments on Wampewo Avenue, is known for its Brazilian-style churrasco grill, which forms part of a wider international menu.
The restaurant serves Brazilian, Continental, Chinese and Indian dishes. Its churrasco experience features grilled meat brought to diners’ tables and served by staff known as gauchos.
The restaurant also offers a selection of salads and side dishes, making it an option for diners interested in grilled meat and international cuisine.
2. Izumi Restaurant & Lounge
Upper Kololo Terrace, Kololo | Supplied Google rating: 4.3/5 (1,400 reviews)
Izumi Restaurant & Lounge specialises in Pan-Asian cuisine, with Japanese and Thai dishes among its offerings.
Its menu includes sushi, teppanyaki, dim sum and other Asian-inspired meals. The restaurant combines indoor dining with an outdoor terrace and lounge setting.
Its location on Upper Kololo Terrace makes it one of the dining options in Kampala’s Kololo neighbourhood for customers interested in Asian cuisine.
3. Golden Hill Restaurant & Lounge
Tank Hill Road, Muyenga | Supplied Google rating: 4.3/5 (481 reviews)
Golden Hill Restaurant & Lounge is located on Tank Hill Road in Muyenga, where its rooftop setting provides views across Kampala.
The establishment combines restaurant dining with a lounge and café. Its menu includes grilled meats, burgers, pasta, salads and other international dishes, as well as Ethiopian food.
The venue also advertises rooftop dining and entertainment activities. Its elevated location and views of the city are among its main attractions.
4. Stonehaven Restaurant & Winery
Malcolm X Avenue, Kololo | Supplied Google rating: 4.3/5 (1,300 reviews)
Stonehaven Restaurant & Winery offers a dining experience centred on Continental food, wine and a garden setting.
Located on Malcolm X Avenue in Kololo, the restaurant combines indoor dining with outdoor spaces. Its food offering includes meat dishes, seafood and other international selections.
The establishment also features a wine cellar, adding to its appeal for customers interested in pairing meals with wine or meeting in a quieter restaurant environment.
Other recommended restaurants in Kampala
5. Mezo Noir
Somero Road, Kololo | Supplied Google rating: 4.3/5 (718 reviews)
Mezo Noir is a restaurant and entertainment venue in Kololo, offering contemporary Mediterranean and Continental cuisine.
Its menu includes steaks, seafood, pasta, grilled meat and other international dishes. The restaurant also serves breakfast and lunch, while its separate lounge facilities cater to evening entertainment.
Located off Kabojja Road on Somero Road, the establishment combines restaurant dining with private dining spaces and a courtyard.
6. Cantine Divino
Mabua Road, Kololo | Supplied Google rating: 4.4/5 (1,400 reviews)
Cantine Divino is an Italian restaurant in Kololo specialising in handmade pasta, steaks, cheese platters and cured meats.
Its menu includes Italian favourites alongside a selection of wines. The restaurant also offers dishes such as lamb chops, T-bone steak and mushroom soup.
Located on Mabua Road, Cantine Divino combines restaurant dining with an Italian deli, where customers can explore different cheeses and cold cuts.
7. LUVE Restaurant
Kololo, Kampala | Supplied Google rating: 4.4/5 (191 reviews)
LUVE Restaurant is another dining option in Kololo, with customer reviews highlighting its food, service and ambience.
The establishment has attracted positive feedback for its meals, including pork ribs and other grilled dishes. Reviews also mention its customer service and dining environment.
Its Google rating places it among the well-reviewed establishments in the supplied selection, although customer ratings alone do not establish the consistency of its food or service. Restaurant menu, prices and reviews
8. Emirates Grills
Plot 11, Kisementi | Supplied Google rating: 4.5/5 (457 reviews)
Emirates Grills, located in Kisementi opposite Acacia Mall, specialises in Middle Eastern and Arabic-inspired cuisine.
Its menu features Mandi rice dishes, including chicken and lamb options, alongside mixed grills and other grilled meals.
The restaurant’s location in Kisementi makes it accessible to customers visiting the Acacia Mall area and surrounding parts of Kampala.
Choosing where to eat in Kampala
The eight restaurants offer different dining experiences, depending on the type of food, setting and occasion customers have in mind.
La Cabana caters to diners interested in Brazilian-style churrasco and international cuisine, while Izumi offers Japanese and Thai food. Golden Hill provides rooftop dining and city views, whereas Stonehaven combines Continental food with a garden setting.
Mezo Noir offers Mediterranean and Continental dishes. Cantine Divino focuses on Italian food, LUVE provides another option in Kololo, and Emirates Grills serves Arabic-inspired meals in Kisementi.
