In the Italian restaurants of Malindi and Watamu, New Year's Eve dinner is a tradition and at the same time an attraction for a clientele not only of compatriots, but also a way to celebrate together and in the harmony that Kenya teaches the world, the arrival of 2024.
Here is a round-up of the New Year's Eve evenings at venues in the two tourist destinations that are sponsors and supporters of the Italians in Kenya portal.

KILILI BAHARINI RESORT

In the elegant seaside resort and restaurant in Casuarina, New Year's Eve is celebrated in style with an exclusive dinner that starts with an aperitif with appetisers at 8pm, followed by a round-up of starters, starting at 9.20pm, including Catalan lobster, tuna carpaccio, fried crab claws, oysters, courgette carpaccio, vegetable kebabs, Russian salad, and salad with prawns, mangoes and avocados.
The choice of first courses is also excellent and varied, with crab bisque, dumplings in beef broth, tagliolini with lobster (or tomato and basil) and homemade ravioli with pumpkin and crab with sailfish sauce (Kilili's chef's speciality) or classic ricotta and spinach with tomato sauce. For the main course there is the big grill under the stars with lobster, squid, octopus, snapper, shrimp skewers and lamb.
To finish, fruit salad and tropical fruit, and after dinner, when the festive air gets close, cotechino with lentils, before the fireworks display.
Kes 9,000 per person (excluding drinks). For info and reservations 0756560091

MALAIKA TOWN

In the restaurant on the Malindi seafront, Malaika Town hostess Antonella proposes an à la carte menu designed for the occasion, without neglecting traditional Italian dishes such as meat and lentil cannelloni with cotechino and the restaurant's well-established dishes.
Other special dishes to be highlighted for the last big dinner of the year include: sushi trio with salmon caviar, fish crepes with shrimp cream or the more classic ricotta and spinach, oysters both fresh and au gratin, burrata cheese with prosciutto di parma, as far as starters are concerned.
You cannot miss spaghetti with clams, one of Antonella's specialities, and expertly home-made tagliatelle. Among the main courses, there is a wide choice of proposals including porchetta with roast potatoes or excellent grilled meat, fish and shellfish.
In view of midnight, guests will be offered homemade desserts including the classic cantucci biscuits, and of course the classic panettone. For info and reservations 0796035766

OLIMPIA BEACH CLUB

For New Year's Eve, the Olimpia Beach Club proposes an evening of good food and plenty of opportunities to have fun, while waiting for the historic fireworks on the beach, which Pasquale Pes's restaurant has been organising for years, having continued the tradition of the Malindi Casino, in memory of its founder Bobby Cellini.
It starts with a buffet of appetisers and oysters galore, followed by one of the restaurant's signature dishes, the calamarata. For those who don't like fish, there are gnocchi with gorgonzola or meat sauce and chickpea soup with crispy smoked bacon. This is followed by mixed fried seafood or mixed grill of meat, with a buffet of side dishes, fruit, while waiting for midnight there will be a raffle with attractive prizes, and music to listen to and then dance to, from midnight, with DJ Alipappi. At midnight, fireworks and then cotechino and zampone with lentils to celebrate the New Year together, panettone pandoro and torrone. All at kes. 8500, excluding drinks. After midnight, entrance to the disco, women Kes. 500, men Kes. 1000. For information and reservations, Tel. 0113248801

PAPAREMO BEACH AND TAMU

The discotheque on Paparemo Beach in Watamu is one of the most popular New Year's Eve events on the coast, but the seafood dinner at the venue is also a draw, so much so that it has been sold out for days. For the evening dance until dawn, with special deejay set, admission Kes. 1000 for women and Kes. 1500 for men.
There are still a few tables instead at the other splendid location on Watamu beach, owned by the same proprietor: the Tamu. The dinner amidst the palm trees and under the stars includes a la carte menus with several tasty surprises, gospel music appearances and a midnight toast. For information and reservations: 0769218514

ROSADA BEACH

Dinner by the sea in the romantic atmosphere of Rosada starts at 9 p.m., with an exhaustive and classy set menu with fish and shellfish, meat and vegetarian dishes, with a bottle of prosecco for every 4 people and admission to the beach party included in the price. (Kes. 13,000 excluding drinks)
From 11.30 p.m. onwards, dancing while waiting to toast together barefoot on the sand, with the music of Dj Macs, to the New Year with the most celebrated beach party in Malindi. Entrance for women Kes. 1000, for men Kes. 1500. After midnight, cotechino and lentils for all.
Table reservations compulsory with minimum charge Kes. 5,000 per person. 
For information and reservations, Tel. 0746232254