Nairobi’s robot cafe: East Africa’s first robot-assisted dining experience

In Nairobi, Kenya’s bustling tech hub, a new attraction draws crowds: the Robot Cafe, where robots deliver meals to diners. This innovative eatery, the first of its kind in East Africa, features three robots—Claire, R24, and Nadia—gliding between tables with food trays, captivating customers who come to witness this futuristic service. The cafe’s owner, Mohammed Abbas, was inspired to bring robot waiters to Kenya after experiencing them in Asia and Europe despite the high cost of importing the technology.

While the robots add a unique, entertaining element to the dining experience, they don’t replace human staff. Waiters still play a crucial role in taking orders and serving drinks, with the robots primarily handling food delivery. The technology highlights the potential for automation in the hospitality industry, but cafe manager John Kariuki notes that robots aren’t a cost-saving replacement for human workers. Instead, they complement the service, showing how human and robotic labour coexist.

Industry experts believe robotic and human service can thrive together, catering to different customer preferences. While some diners may enjoy the novelty of robot service, others still value the warmth and personal touch that only human waitstaff can provide. As Nairobi continues to grow as a tech hub, the Robot Cafe symbolizes the city’s embrace of innovation while recognizing the enduring importance of human interaction in hospitality.