Local tourism, which in these days is happily invading the coast of Kenya, has very different prerogatives from those who arrive on vacation from Europe.
First of all, they are not necessarily looking for heat and are not attracted by the sun as a tanning element.
Moreover, despite having the pleasure of contact with seawater, they are not excellent swimmers and do not have a particular confidence with the ocean, being highlanders, if not mountain people.
The beach is a favorite destination for walks, for children's games and for stops in bars that offer drinks with the comfort of the sea breeze and the beautiful view.
For this reason, whether the holiday resort is called Diani, Watamu or Bamburi makes little difference. Other factors weigh on the decision, and they don't take into account the most beautiful sea or the most spectacular beach: the quality-price ratio of the facilities, the services and attractions for children or families, the convenience of reaching and accessing the resorts.
For this reason, the satellite destinations of Mombasa (Nyali, Bamburi, Bombolulu, Shanzu Beach) are always the most crowded, but there is also a tourism that is not only looking for the African "Rimini", but aims at something more exclusive. This explains the success of Lamu, finally experienced by the Nairobans as an escape from civilization, which in its negative meaning means traffic and stress. As you can see, Malindi has not yet been mentioned, which in these days is experiencing a good moment of return of quality tourism from the cities of northern Kenya.
And judging by the crowding in the restaurants that overlook the sea, there seems to be a valid reason: in Malindi you can eat well. On the contrary, it is surely the place which offers the best food and wine proposal of the coast and not only. There are many restaurants with captivating and exhaustive menus, with specialties that hardly in the rest of the country are so good and cured, besides fresh fish, which is abundant in this period.
Italian restaurants, of course, take the lion's share. But an extra point goes to those that have been able to renew themselves in order to welcome an international clientele that includes Kenyans, Indians, Eastern European tourists and other Westerners from the countries that have opened in Kenya, but also residents who work in Nairobi in various fields, with their families. Displeasing as little as possible the Italians who for one reason or another still managed to arrive, as well as residents and homeowners.
For all of them, Italian restaurants have adapted and expanded their menus and try to make lunches and dinners a real experience. Because Malindi has something that other resorts don't have and local tourism is discovering it, more and more each season.