Xwama Cultural Village & Restaurant

Finding traditional Namibian food in Namibia is a greater challenge than it probably seems like it should be. Thankfully, I was steered in the direction of Xwama Cultural Village & Traditional Restaurant during my recent trip to Windhoek and could not have been more pleased. Finding the location hidden inside the Katatura Township was a tad difficult, but locals were helpful in pointing out the way.

The interior of the restaurant is nothing fancy and the entire village is comprised of stone, wooden logs and thatched roofs so you get an authentic feel. Even the floor was covered in sand! The food itself was served in traditional bowls, a welcome relief from the more expensive restaurants in Windhoek that try desperately to feel like European eateries.

The staff at Xwama was one of the highlights. The owners were born and raised in Katatura and are always happy to chat with guests, as are the servers and other employees. The food was also excellent. I tried the marathon chicken along with traditional bean soup and the flavors were spot on. I wasn’t brave enough to sample the traditional beer, with kind of looked like slop, or the goat head entrée but the more adventurous foodie might want to give them a go.

Overall, my experience at Xwama Cultural Village & Restaurant was wonderful and the food truly enjoyable. I’d highly recommend it for the chance to sample truly traditional Namibian food alone.