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Ijuru Café Review – Naguru, Kampala
I recently went to Ijuru Café for a meeting with the owner, Beth. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this was her place. I hadn’t seen her since university, and to be honest, she hadn’t changed at all. She was definitely breaking the “drug dealer” rule by getting high on her own supply – which, in this case, is an acceptable exception. She looked like a very strong representative of everything she was selling.
It’s easy to miss. Although it shows up on the map, the exact entrance is tucked behind a gate that stays closed most of the time. Unlike many restaurants that sit right on the main road with open frontages and security checks, this one is low-key. Once you follow the pin there, though, you will get let in at the gate.
Parking is secure – they share the compound with what appears to be a diplomatic office and Karuna Wellness Studio that offers yoga and other wellness activities. From the parking, you walk down a little stone-paved path lined with greenery. It’s a very welcoming approach. Small tables sit on either side of what would otherwise just be a corridor – smart use of space.
As soon as you walk in, something shifts. You feel the urge to stretch your arms up or take a longer step, as if a muscle you’d forgotten about has been quietly itching and is finally getting the chance to release. You’re not putting your hands up in surrender because you’ve done something wrong. It’s the other kind of surrender, the one that happens when you arrive somewhere you can simply let go.
The main seating area has bright, welcoming colours that immediately make you feel relaxed. It’s a cosy spot rather than somewhere you’d throw a large party. Ideal for small groups or for people who want to sit and work. The smell of coffee from the machine fills the air in the nicest way.
They had a July special running: cappuccino + muffin for 15,000 UGX. That’s what I ordered. Even though I’m a wannabe coffee farmer, I’m not yet a coffee snob. I blame that guy who squandered the money meant to teach Ugandans how to appreciate coffee. Right now, I just like good flavour, good aroma, and a warm drink. This one tasted great. I haven’t tried the August special yet, but I’m planning to so I can come and tell you about the food.
Kampala is full of little places like this springing up, and it’s encouraging to see so many Ugandans getting into the food business and creating spaces tailored to different crowds. Ijuru Café is clearly aimed at people who want to eat a bit healthier and look after their bodies. It ticks those boxes well. If you’re after tenderism steak and barbecue, this probably isn’t your spot, but what they do, they do it bulungi.
Beth mentioned they’ve been talking about expanding the brand and the space. I am confident any future projects will get the same careful attention they’ve already shown here. The yoga studio next door is run by a different outfit, but she said they’ve been fantastic business neighbours. They feed off each other and even create joint packages so customers can move seamlessly between the two. She also said she’s learned a lot about business from them; ela if they ever start offering business classes, count me interested.
Location: 3b Naguru Drive (Naguru). You’ll most likely need a car or a boda to get there, and maybe that’s a good thing. You don’t want to be deep into a work session, a quiet moment of relaxation, or simply enjoying your coffee only to be interrupted by taxis and bodas hooting and hollering. This spot is removed enough to feel genuinely serene, exactly what you want when you’re trying to switch off or lock in.
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