Nairobi has a number of lively venues for drinking and dancing as well as musical attractions that include some of East Africa's busiest clubs and best bands. Entrance fees to clubs are low and prices inside reasonable. You may find that if you are unaccompanied, you will attract quite a lot of not-entirely welcome attention though. Westlands and the River Road area tend to be the most popular districts with revellers after a drink and a dance, whilst the live music venues tend to be scattered on the outskirts of town.

The Lord Delamere Terrace Bar, in the Norfolk Hotel on Harry Thuku Road, is an obligatory stop for a well-appointed Tusker beer and a chance to people watch. Zanze Bar on Moi Avenue is a friendly top-floor bar with pool tables, cheap food and a wide selection of drinks that gets very busy on weekends. Another popular watering hole is the Latin-themed Havana, on Woodvale Grove in Westlands, which attracts a hip young crowd. Bar Code, also in Westlands in the Westview Centre, sells potent cocktails and has a DJ playing hip hop and R&B tunes.

Nightclubs playing reggae as well as contemporary pop and dance tunes include Sahara City on Mombasa Highway, which boasts Nairobi's best sound system and the popular, frequently heaving Florida 2000 on Moi Avenue. Black Cotton on Langata Road is a monthly club outside the city centre whose open-air dance floor attracts people from all over.

For live music try Club Sikiliza on Limuru Road, which hosts Kenyan pop as well as theme nights playing jazz, rock and hip hop. The Green House on Nyangumi Road has a very good reputation for live music and for serving tasty Kenyan food, whilst the Ngong Hills Hotel on Ngong Road hosts great live music in the evenings and a jam session on weekend afternoons.