IRIS Restaurant Mafia Island

IRIS Restaurant Mafia Island IRIS. Restaurant is a true culinary experience around the world with Italian specialties , wood-burning oven for pizzas , African and Indian cuisine

Restaurant is not just a place — it’s a passionate culinary team. Founded by Giuliano and Iris, it all began in Malindi, Kenya, then brought flavor and soul to Mafia Island Lodge, and now continues in a brand-new adventure at Nyumba Peponi, on the north coast of Mafia Island. Over the years, wonderful helpers have joined the journey — people who helped shape our vision of food and hospitality, and

who will always be part of our story and our hearts. A true culinary experience inspired by the world: Italian specialties, wood-fired pizzas, African and Indian flavors — all crafted with love.

🍋 THE NEW RESTAURANT PROJECT – Tradition ReimaginedEvery dream starts with a vision.Ours was born from our own roots, fr...
28/10/2025

🍋 THE NEW RESTAURANT PROJECT – Tradition Reimagined

Every dream starts with a vision.
Ours was born from our own roots, from the way we grew up cooking, sharing, and finding joy in simple things.

Here on Mafia Island, surrounded by the sea and the scent of firewood, we felt the call to go back to basics.
To create a kitchen that celebrates what is real: the land, the people, the stories behind every ingredient.

We aim to revive the essence of food, one dish, one memory, one smile at a time.

It all starts here, with an idea made of love and simplicity. 💛

Every flavor has a story, and ours is just beginning.
Join us as we transform memories into recipes and roots into inspiration. 🌿

And because every story deserves a flavor, here’s a little gift from our kitchen

🐟 Coconut & Lemon Grilled Fish – Roots of the Sea

A dish that connects sea and land, tradition and simplicity.
Born from what the island gives, cooked with heart.

Ingredients
• Fresh local fish fillets (kingfish or red snapper)
• Fresh coconut milk
• Lemon juice and zest
• Garlic, mild chili, and grated ginger
• Sea salt, black pepper, and a drizzle of coconut oil
• Banana leaves or lemongrass for wrapping

Preparation
1. Marinate the fish in coconut milk, lemon juice, garlic, and ginger for about 30 minutes.
2. Wrap it in banana leaves or brush it with the marinade, then grill slowly over charcoal until golden.
3. Serve with a fresh lime and coriander dressing.

Simple, pure, and full of island soul.

🇹🇿 NYERERE DAY 🇹🇿Today, Tanzania celebrates Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the father of the nation, a leader who believed in...
14/10/2025

🇹🇿 NYERERE DAY 🇹🇿

Today, Tanzania celebrates Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the father of the nation, a leader who believed in self-reliance, shared work, and the dignity of food grown by our own hands.

🕊️ “We must produce what we need, and we must grow what we eat.” — J.K. Nyerere

Today, we remember him with a simple thought:
Food unites, nourishes, and teaches gratitude and respect for the land.
Every dish prepared with love and local ingredients is a small act of freedom.

And for us, this message lives every day, in the care we put into knowing the land around us, growing what we need, and bringing it from our garden to the kitchen in less than fifty steps.

✨🌸 A Sweet Light for Diwali 🌸✨Diwali, the Festival of Lights, reminds us that even the smallest flame can brighten the d...
06/10/2025

✨🌸 A Sweet Light for Diwali 🌸✨

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, reminds us that even the smallest flame can brighten the darkest night. It is a time of joy, hope, and togetherness – a moment to celebrate not only with lights and prayers, but also with the sweetness of sharing.

As our little gift for this special occasion, we share with you a simple recipe for Coconut Ladoo 🥥 – soft, delicate, and full of festive flavor. Perfect to prepare at home and enjoy with your loved ones, these sweets are a reminder that Diwali’s light is also found in every act of kindness and every moment of sweetness.

💫 From our kitchen to yours, may your Diwali be filled with light, love, and delicious memories.

🥥 Coconut Ladoo Recipe (makes about 15 pieces)

Ingredients
• 250 g grated coconut (desiccated) + extra for rolling
• 200 g sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional, for aroma)
• 15 whole almonds (one for each ladoo, for decoration)

Preparation
1. Set aside 2–3 tablespoons of coconut for rolling.
2. In a non-stick pan over low heat, combine grated coconut and condensed milk.
3. Stir continuously for about 5–7 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly (be careful not to burn).
4. Turn off the heat, add cardamom if desired, and let it cool slightly.
5. With lightly greased hands, shape small balls (ladoo).
6. Roll each ladoo in the reserved coconut, then press an almond on top of each one.
7. Allow to cool completely and serve.

Storage: Keep refrigerated for up to 4–5 days. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before serving for the best taste.

✨ Instead of “bon appétit”… let’s just say: light a lamp, take a bite, and let the sweetness shine through! 🌟

🍴 Manifesto of Sustainable CuisineThe ocean is not an endless pantry.It is a gift to be protected.The whale shark remind...
30/08/2025

🍴 Manifesto of Sustainable Cuisine

The ocean is not an endless pantry.
It is a gift to be protected.
The whale shark reminds us of this with its majestic presence: strength and gentleness combined.

In our kitchen, this becomes a choice:
✨ local and seasonal ingredients,
✨ respect for natural rhythms,
✨ dishes that tell an authentic story of our island.

💙 Today, on International Whale Shark Day, we celebrate not only the ocean but also a method: cooking with respect, living with balance.

🌱 Nane Nane Day – Nature in the Kitchen 🌱Today we celebrate the land… and in the kitchen, for us, that means one thing: ...
08/08/2025

🌱 Nane Nane Day – Nature in the Kitchen 🌱

Today we celebrate the land… and in the kitchen, for us, that means one thing: letting it inspire us.

In preparation for the opening of our restaurant, TAITA is experimenting with new crops in the residence gardens.
We want to create a menu that grows directly from the land around us: salads picked in the morning, sun-ripened fruits, and local wild herbs that bring unique flavors to the dishes we already know and love.

It’s an adventure where nature is our teacher, and every day we learn something new. 💚

🇬🇧 SABA SABA DAY – A TASTE OF WHAT’S COMING 🇹🇿✨Today, on Saba Saba Day, we celebrate the Tanzanian spirit of progress, c...
07/07/2025

🇬🇧 SABA SABA DAY – A TASTE OF WHAT’S COMING 🇹🇿✨

Today, on Saba Saba Day, we celebrate the Tanzanian spirit of progress, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.

We’re still cooking behind the scenes – shaping a new restaurant concept that blends local flavors, seasonal ingredients, and natural inspiration. A place where every dish will tell a story of this land and the people who call it home.

Our vision?
🥥 Farm-to-table freshness
🔥 Open-hearted service
🌿 A soulful food journey rooted in Mafia Island

We’re not open yet, but the taste of something special is coming soon.
Stay close, stay hungry – and Happy Saba Saba Day!

📍

🌿🍯 We love nature… and it shows!We’re deeply in love with natural products, and today we want to share a little golden t...
30/05/2025

🌿🍯 We love nature… and it shows!
We’re deeply in love with natural products, and today we want to share a little golden treasure from right here on Mafia Island: our wild local honey. 🐝💛

Yes, you heard right — in this untouched corner of paradise, honey is made too!
🍯 Wild honey, sustainably harvested, rich in aroma, and full of natural goodness.

✨ Honey isn’t just delicious:
– It’s antibacterial and soothing,
– Strengthens your immune system,
– And it’s perfect for desserts, dressings, marinades… or simply on warm bread at sunset 😍

At Iris Restaurant, we use it with care in our recipes — in dishes, drinks, and even in our little home remedies. Because nature always tastes better.

🧡 Come discover the sweetest side of Mafia Island!

🍊 Mafia Island in a Jar  @  Our Homemade Jam Love Story 💛What happens when juicy oranges from Mafia Island meet cinnamon...
12/05/2025

🍊 Mafia Island in a Jar @ Our Homemade Jam Love Story 💛

What happens when juicy oranges from Mafia Island meet cinnamon, star anise… and a little bit of magic?

You get our jam.
Made in-house with love, a dash of passion, and just enough secret ingredients to make you fall head over heels (don’t say we didn’t warn you!).

Every spoonful tells a story, of lazy mornings, sun-ripened fruit, and a kitchen filled with smiles.
Because here, we don’t just make food. We make memories.

Come taste what love (and a little anise) can do.
From our kitchen to your heart.

🔥 Wood-Fired Perfection — The Art of Italian Pizza 🍕There’s something magical about a pizza baked the traditional way.At...
09/05/2025

🔥 Wood-Fired Perfection — The Art of Italian Pizza 🍕

There’s something magical about a pizza baked the traditional way.

At TAITA, we honour the true Italian spirit:
🍕 Handcrafted dough
🔥 A real stone oven, fired with wood — personally built by us, and not the first we’ve made!
🌿 That unmistakable aroma from crackling fire
⏱️ Just a few minutes of baking for a soft, airy crust — perfectly golden and crisp on the outside

Every pizza is a celebration of authenticity, thanks to the skilled hands of our beloved pizzaiolo — one of the best, and a true master of the flame.

Come for the view, stay for the pizza.
TAITA — where tradition meets taste.

Community Connection: Your Voice, Your IslandText:At Nyumba Peponi, we believe the best ideas grow from the ground up.Th...
12/04/2025

Community Connection: Your Voice, Your Island

Text:
At Nyumba Peponi, we believe the best ideas grow from the ground up.
That’s why we’re listening — to the community, to travelers, to dreamers. 🌍💬

What makes you feel at home on Mafia Island?
Is it the smell of grilled octopus at sunset? The sound of kids laughing near the market?
Tell us what belonging tastes like. Your thoughts might shape the soul of our future restaurant.

Drop a memory, a flavor, a wish in the comments.
We’re building this together. 🧡


🔥 Food Fusion Alert! 🔥We’re cooking up some serious island magic!Picture this: juicy ocean prawns dancing in a creamy co...
10/04/2025

🔥 Food Fusion Alert! 🔥
We’re cooking up some serious island magic!
Picture this: juicy ocean prawns dancing in a creamy coconut swirl, with a cheeky kick of curry, a whisper of garlic and ginger, and just enough tomato to keep things saucy. 🌶️🌴

It’s bold, it’s tropical, and it might just become your new favorite dish.
🍤 Introducing: Ocean Prawn Curry – Island Style 🍛
A love story between East African coast flavors and Indian spice romance.

Would you dive in for a bite? Tell us below – your vote might make it a menu star! ⭐👇

“Nature doesn’t hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao TzuHere on the Island, we let things grow at their own pac...
04/04/2025

“Nature doesn’t hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu

Here on the Island, we let things grow at their own pace.
The restaurant isn’t open yet… but something meaningful is coming. A kitchen rooted in nature, in people, in simplicity.

🌱 We’re currently testing new crops — vegetables, fruit trees, spices, and herbs — to add a magical, local touch to our future dishes.
The land is nutrient-rich but still wild. The closeness of the sea, the salt, the insects, the birds… everything challenges us to find our place without disturbing the natural rhythm.

And we’re fully committed to doing just that — with respect, intention, and patience. 🍃

Address

Mafia Island
Kilindoni
11111

Telephone

+255763527619

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when IRIS Restaurant Mafia Island posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Restaurant

Send a message to IRIS Restaurant Mafia Island:

Share

Category