Nairobi’s best rooftop bar, the Sarabi at the Sankara has a shimmering rooftop pool, glittering views over the traffic and city beyond and a creative drinks menu that make it a classy little find. It’s a grown-up yet relaxed space, with pool loungers, leather sofas and lights casting a blue and gold glow.

This is a great live music spot in central Nairobi, set in a garden with an outdoor bar and hay bales to sit on. There’s a regular programme of events and a wide range of music genres year round but bigger artists tend to sell out so be sure to book in advance.

This Kenyan pub in the industrial area of town has live acts on Thursday evenings and a brilliant crowd of locals getting jiggy to it. It’s a dark place with a reddish glow and couple of levels of seating, plus a stage for the musicians. The bar is always busy but a waiter will come and take your drinks orders if you don’t mind waiting.

Expat-haven Juniper will appeal to those whole like to drink cocktails out of jam jars. It’s actually a pretty cool set up: the bar and loos are in the house (and it still looks very much like a house), while outside there are long wooden benches and wine barrels to prop yourself up on. At the weekend it’s the place to go for a dance, and they have regular events and themed nights.

Expats and locals mingle in this loud open-air bar in Westlands, which is always packed on a weekend thanks to the blaring tunes. There’s a couple of indoor areas and two bars, plus high stools and several tables – but you don’t come here to sit and chat, you come here to dance.

This funky little rooftop bar at Tribe Hotel has Moroccan lamps, shisha pipes and wicker seats. The bartenders are both creative and cheeky, concocting an inventive menu to get you started, but if you have a favourite drink you don’t see advertised they’ll be more than happy to whip it up for you.

Artcaffe is a Nairobi chain serving coffee, pastries and main meals, but the Oval branch do a salsa night every Thursday on their large terrace. It feels somewhat Mediterranean thanks to cocktails, sunshade umbrellas, a mixed crowd and vibrant music. It’s always busy so call in advance to book if you’re a large group, or be prepared to sit on a stool at the outdoor bar.

This brilliant and very popular Nairobi haunt has a daily happy hour from 5-7PM. They regularly have live music here and, when they do, locals aren’t be shy about having a good old boogie. Their solid drinks menu has nice cocktails and wines and a great range of beers.

When your Nairobi adventure finally comes to an end break up the journey back to the airport with a stop off at the Ole Sereni’s Waterhole bar. The hotel overlooks the National Park and is just off the main highway leading to the airport making it a convenient stop off. There’s no better way to finish your trip than with an ice-cold G & T in hand watching impala leap through the long grasses into the beyond.

Rooftop bar Mezze on the Deck has a great view over the CBD skyscrapers and is an ideal spot for an early evening drink as the sun goes down. They have shisha pipes, a selection of mezze plates to snack on and a small rooftop pool. The drinks menu isn’t extensive so opt for a dawa, a Kenyan cocktail made with vodka, lime, honey and finished with a stick of sugar cane.