Leonardo's Restaurant

Ask any long-term Diani resident where to get the best Italian food on the south coast, and Leonardo's comes up every time. Tucked into the Colliers Centre on Diani Beach Road, it doesn't have an ocean view or a flashy setting — but what it does have is the most honest, satisfying Italian food between Mombasa and the Tanzanian border. It's the kind of place where you pop in for a pizza and end up staying for dessert, then come back the next morning for breakfast.

The Menu

Wood-fired pizzas are the main event — thin-crust, perfectly charred, loaded with quality toppings. The Margherita alone would stand up in Naples. But the daily specials are where the kitchen really shows off: rigatoni with crispy bacon and wilted spinach in a cream reduction, beef fillet in gorgonzola sauce, or fresh seafood linguine with garlic and white wine. The breakfast pizza — topped with eggs, prosciutto, and peppery rocket — has become a Diani institution. Everything is made in-house, including the bread.

The Gelato

Leonardo's gelato is legendary. Made fresh daily, the flavours rotate but you can always count on stracciatella, pistachio, and tropical options like passion fruit and mango. It's the best ice cream on the Kenyan coast — creamy, not too sweet, and made with real ingredients. Locals buy it by the litre to take home. The affogato (espresso poured over gelato) is the perfect end to any meal.

Good to Know

Open daily from 8 AM to 11:30 PM — one of the longest kitchen hours in Diani. No reservations needed for lunch, but they're recommended for dinner on weekends. Outdoor terrace seating available. Family-friendly with a relaxed dress code. Budget KES 1,000–2,500 per person. Cash and M-Pesa accepted. If you're staying in Diani for more than a day, you'll eat here more than once.