Some places you stumble into. Others feel like they’ve been quietly waiting for you to arrive. Artisan Blend in Kilimani is the latter.
I stopped by one afternoon, partly because I was hungry, partly because I needed to get some work in after a rather unusual day. The café sits inside The Arch Place, with a simple ambient lighting to supplement the warm afternoon light that fills up the space. Some fixtures in the shape of a full moon complement the cream-colored furniture contrasted by faux olive trees making a statement whilst giving the impression of effortless charm. Clearly a well thought out space with a loft like setting.
On one corner a lady is focused on her laptop getting her work in over an iced coffee. In another corner are two men discussing something passionately, in another a small group of friends giggles as they pass the phone around. Upstairs beckons and I respond mainly out of curiosity over how lovely it must be. And it was. Just as much as the downstairs extension that I finally settled on which comes complete with a prayer room. Like I said, well thought out.
After a small bout of analysis paralysis, I finally settled for a plate of Beef Suuqar because if we can’t visit Somalia yet, we might as well get a taste of it on a plate. The dish features diced beef cooked with onions, garlic and green peppers and is served with somali rice or pasta. Turns out that with the cosmopolitan nature of Kenyan cuisine, Suuqar brought with it a sense of familiarity. Could have easily been a beef stew from my mother’s kitchen and that’s what I liked about it. New yet with a sense of homeliness.
While I love a cappuccino as much as the next person, I never pass up the opportunity to sample different coffee brews and if Arabic Coffee is on the menu, you can count me in. The hit of caffeine comes with a whiff of cardamom in each sip. Talk about coffee with personality. To accompany the delectable coffee I had their honey cake which came highly recommended by the friendly waiter. Although I was hesitant at first, I was grateful I took her advice upon getting a taste of the cake. Soft thin layers with a good balance of honey that quelled my concerns that the honey would be overbearing. Blended with the spices from the coffee, a match made in heaven cafe.
All in all, I’d say go for the suuqar, stay for the coffee and leave with a little honey on your lips and the quiet satisfaction of knowing you found a spot you’ll want to come back to especially considering how much more there is to try on the menu.
