"Tanzania's only revolving restaurant turns a slow 360 above the city — come for the view and the seafood platter, not for a tasting-menu reinvention."
About Akemi
Akemi sits 21 floors up in the Golden Jubilee Towers on Ohio Street, in the centre of Dar es Salaam, and its single defining feature is that the floor moves: tables rotate slowly through a full 360-degree turn, so the harbour, the skyline and the Indian Ocean all pass by over the course of a meal. It is Tanzania's only revolving restaurant and one of a small handful in Africa.
The draw is the view and the occasion rather than a chef's signature — the kitchen runs a broad Continental, African and Asian menu under its executive chef. For waterfront alternatives in the city, compare Karambezi Cafe, or browse the seafood guide.
The Kitchen
The menu is deliberately wide, spanning grills, pasta, Indian and Chinese plates from a 'From the East' section, and a strong seafood list that plays to the coastal setting. The headline order is the Festival of the Ocean seafood platter (TSh 135,000) — line fish, lobster, jumbo prawns and calamari — while the Akemi Choma Platter (TSh 95,000) covers the barbecue crowd and the spicy crab-meat soup is a long-standing favourite.
Most mains run TSh 26,000 to 55,000, with grills and seafood climbing higher. It is priced for an occasion rather than an everyday dinner, and the cooking is solid and varied rather than cutting-edge — the rotating room does much of the work.
The Room
The dining room circles a fixed central core, so every table completes a slow turn during dinner and no one is stuck with a wall view. Lighting is low and the mood is celebratory: this is where the city comes for anniversaries, proposals and big birthdays. Go at sunset for the best of it, when the light over the ocean and the harbour cranes is at its most dramatic.
Best for a special-occasion dinner with a view
Akemi is built for a proposal, an anniversary or a milestone dinner with a view: a slow-turning room, a sunset skyline and a generous seafood platter. For more of the city's best, see Zuane or the proposal guide.
Not for
Not for a quick, low-key bite or a diner chasing a chef-driven tasting menu — the slow-turning view and the occasion are the point, and you pay for them.
Frequently Asked
What makes Akemi special?
It is Tanzania's only revolving restaurant. Set 21 floors up in the Golden Jubilee Towers, its dining room turns a slow 360 degrees, giving every table a full sweep of the Dar es Salaam skyline, harbour and ocean.
What should I order at Akemi?
The Festival of the Ocean seafood platter (TSh 135,000) of lobster, jumbo prawns, calamari and line fish is the headline. The Akemi Choma barbecue platter and the spicy crab-meat soup are also long-standing favourites.
How much does dinner cost at Akemi?
Most mains run TSh 26,000 to 55,000, with grills and seafood platters climbing to TSh 95,000–135,000. It is an occasion restaurant rather than an everyday one.
Where is Akemi?
On the 21st floor of the Golden Jubilee Towers on Ohio Street, in the centre of Dar es Salaam.
When is the best time to go?
Sunset, for the light over the ocean and harbour. Book a window table and allow time for a full rotation of the room.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Akemi
Book through Akemi; ask for a sunset slot and a window table for the best of the turn.
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Practical Information
Address21st Floor, Golden Jubilee Towers, Ohio Street, City Centre
NeighbourhoodCity Centre
CuisineInternational
PriceMains TSh 26,000–55,000; grills to TSh 95,000; Festival of the Ocean seafood platter TSh 135,000
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingRevolving dining room; window tables and sunset slots book first
ReservationReservations recommended, especially for sunset and weekend tables
