Moshi is a small and lively Tanzanian market town. It is the capital of the Kilimanjaro region. What makes Moshi so unique is the fact that it is hidden behind one of the world’s most beautiful scenery, the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. No matter where you wander around in Moshi, the mountain is always within reach. The town is located at an altitude of 890m above sea level. Moshi is the kind of place where you can relax in a friendly atmosphere and it’s easy to get in contact with the locals. Spend a few days in Moshi and see what it has to offer. We collected some of our favourite places for you to enjoy while staying with us. Plus there are heaps of interesting Tanzania tours, that you can do with us.
Next Door
Afrika House Moshi
Price: $$
Food and drinks are available just across the road. Great place to mingle with the other backpackers.
Mama Freddies
Price: $$
At Mama Freddies you can taste the traditional Swahili cuisine. She cooks lunch and dinner – as long as supplies last! The small restaurant is a good place to have a chat with the residents of the neighbourhood.
Rau Pub
Price: $
Only a 5 min walk from Rafiki Backpackers is one of Moshi’s finest Nyama Choma (BBQ meat) places. You get everything from goat, beef and chicken and drinks too.
Local shops (dukanis)
Just across the road you find a little dukan, that has the everyday items on stock.
Fruit stands
Around Rau there a plenty of fruit stands, where you can buy onions, carrots, tomatoes, bananas. If you walk down to Uru or KCMC road you find a bigger variety of vegetable and fruits.
In Town
Eating Out
Mimosa
Price: $$$
Situated at the edge of Uhuru Park in an open hut. Mimosas offers a wide range of international dishes: e.g. salads, burgers and steaks. They have a show kitchen, watch your food getting prepared.
Indotaliano
Price: $$$
Across Buffalo Hotel you can get one of the best pizza in town and excellent Indian food. They have a nice veranda to sit outside.
Fifi’s Restaurant
Price: $$$
Menu ranges from burgers to sandwiches. Make sure you try one of their fresh juices or smoothies. Great place to catch up with people at home as they have free wifi.
Pamoja Café
Price: $$
A nice balance between burgers, sandwiches and local cuisine. Free wifi and regular special events like movie nights, Thirsty Thursday make this venue a popular travellers’ gathering point.
The Coffee Shop
Price: $$
Located on Hill Street the Coffee Shop serves great homemade cakes, which are best enjoyed in the courtyard garden. Their menu also includes burgers, quiches and sandwiches.
Mr. Feng Chinese Restaurant
Price: $$$
Enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine from Chengdu in Mr. Feng Chinese Restaurant. A large garden with a vegetable growing section invite you to linger.
Jay’s Kitchen
Price: $$$
Moshi’s first and only Korean restaurant. Situated on Boma Road close to the Dar Express Office. The open show kitchen is the eye catch of the place. Try their Korean Chilly Fried Chicken, plus they have Maki Sushi too. Yum!
Kajembe
Price: $
The best place to have cassava in Moshi. Definitely a local gem you don’t want to miss.
Maembe Cafe
Price: $$
Maembe means “Mango” in Kiswahili and in the garden of this lush restaurant you find many of the mighty mango trees. Enjoy your food comfortably under different pavilions, that invite to lounge and laze. The cuisine is international from paninis, wraps to seafood dishes.
Kilimanjaro Coffee Lounge
Price: $$
Opposite to Nakumatt this is the perfect pitstop after or before doing grocery shoppings. Chilled outdoor seatings and a menu that covers pizza, Mexican food as well as sandwiches and burgers. Wifi is available for 1600 TZS.
El Rancho
Price: $$
Located in the wealthy district of Moshi, Shanty Town, this place serves one of the finest Indian food in town.
Milan’s
Price: $
Located in the heart of the city, this place is very popular amongst locals as well. Menu is exclusively vegetarian, inexpensive and delicious too.
La Fuente Gardens
Price: $$
A new joint in town, located in Shanty Town, La Fuente serves fine Mexican food in a beautiful garden hence the name. They also have a remarkable dessert menu and a great kids playground.
East Africa Pub
Price: $
Great place to experience the local eating scene and located just behind Milan’s. Everything comes from the grill, mainly chicken and goat and is served with plantains or chips.
Chrisburger
Price: $$
Descent food for good money. Chrisburger’s menu includes steaks, burgers to fish and other local dishes as well as their popular and famous samosas.
More Than A Drop Restaurant
Price: $$$
From Tuesday to Saturday from 6:00 to 10:00pm More Than A Drop Hospitality Training Center open its doors. In a cosy atmosphere in the large garden you can enjoy Italian cuisine, e.g. bruschetta and homemade ravioli. All service staff are trained by More Than A Drop themselves. With a meal at the restaurant you help those in training to achieve experience in serving.
Ubuntu
Price: $$$
Ubuntu is located near Akiba bank. They offer healthy food items, accommodating all vegetarians, vegans, and gluten free customers. Let’s not forget the amazing cupcakes, milkshakes, burrito bowls, and smoothies.
KNCU Coffee Union
Price: $$$
The Union Cafe is operated by the Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union. Located at the corner of Arusha and Selous Road the menu includes dishes such as pizza, sandwiches, salads and pretty good coffee and a cakes.
Bar Time
Meku’s Bistro
Next to Arusha Roundabout Meku’s Bistro is a great place to watch soccer over a cold beer and some very good local food.
Railway Station Bar
Rather small and inconspicuous, but embedded in the magic of the abandoned railway station of Moshi. An ideal place to take amazing pictures of Kilimanjaro.
Malindis
You guess is another sports bar, but not only that on weekends this place get packed for Friday live music and Saturday karaoke night.
Kaka’s Pub & Restaurant
Kaka’s Pub & Restaurant is one of the newer joints in town. They have billiard, dart and soccer league broadcasting plus a beer garden to relax outside.
Local Bar & Sheesha Lounge
Not far from the Chrisburger on Kibo Road is the Local Bar & Sheesha Lounge. In addition to long drinks, cocktails, there is hearty meat from the BBQ and you won’t guess a Sheesha lounge.
Story Lounge
Situated on Kibo Road this two parted space: restaurant and Moshi’s first ever lounge bar is a great hang out. Air-conditioned with a classic collection of long drinks, which a attract a more urban mid- and upperclass crowd.
Bikerz Bar
Moshis new place to be! Rather far out of town, but great interior and magnificent views of Kilimanjaro. Gets very busy on the weekends!
Dance the Night Away
Glaciers
Glaciers is located in Shanty Town in a huge jacaranda-shaded garden. On Friday nights it is very popular amongst volunteers and expats. They have a cocktail bar with a good selection of drinks and their BBQ chicken is the best in town. The best thing the grill is on all night long. Temporarily closed!
Pub Alberto
Next door to Chrisburger is the home of Pub Alberto. It is the best place to finish a late night / early morning on the dance floor.
Kool Bar
A mixture of nightclub and bar, this place has a pleasant underground flair.
Black Diamond
Situated on Kibo Road across from Pub Alberto, this is the newest night club & bar in Moshi.
(Super)Markets
Mbuyuni Market
Mbuyuni Market is Moshi’s fresh produce market. Here you get all the local products to prepare a yummie meal at the rafiki backpackers kitchen.
Central Market
Take a right after Barclay’s, next to the forex bureau you find the entrance to Moshi’s tidiest and well organised market. You can buy everything from fruits, vegetables to meat. It definitely should not be missed on your Moshi city tour.
Memorial Market
This 6 soccer field big second hand market is worth a visit even if you don’t want to purchase anything. Tuesday and Friday are the new arrival days. Make sure to bargain!
Nakumatt
Nakumatt is Moshi’s biggest two floor supermarket. The place has everything from groceries, house ware to books.
Rafiki Supermarket
A lot smaller than Nakumatt, but yet very well stocked Rafiki Supermarket on Double Lane Road is another great place for doing your shoppings.
Aleem’s Supermarket
Aleem’s on Boma Road is the place to go to if you are longing for some home products such as cheese, meat, Ravioli or even chocolate.
Highway Supermarket
A bit outside of town on Arusha Road next door to Memorial Market, Highway Supermarket is a lot quieter than the markets in town, but very well equipped.