You come to Mode Cafe for brunch in Kilimani, where the kitchen serves East African dishes alongside global staples. The sourdough is warm, the suqaar is beef with carrots and potatoes on crepes, and the French toast comes with mascarpone and berries. Eggs are poached, scrambled, or fried, depending on the dish.

The menu leans on Kenyan suppliers — avocados, tomatoes, and dairy from nearby farms — and the tables fill with people eating late breakfasts and early lunches. You can book by WhatsApp, which is how most reservations come in.

The cafe opened in Nairobi with a focus on brunch, and the menu still reflects that: eighteen dishes, from shakshuka to halloumi on toast. The space is light and open, with room for groups at larger tables. Dishes are plated for sharing, though some, like the Canadian breakfast with pancakes and grilled pineapple, are clearly meant for one.