Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kaia

    4.2 (13 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Kaia Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Kaia

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Jane B.

    Went to Kaia one evening for an early dinner and to watch a sports match. Kaia is a South African restaurant and wine bar on the Upper East Side that features an extensive selection of South African wines. They offer happy hour food and drink specials from 4-6 PM, so we started with the peri peri wings, which were excellent. The flavor was different from traditional buffalo wings, with a milder heat and a nice balance of spice. We also tried the pap & boerewors, a South African sausage served over pap (similar to polenta) and topped with a pepper and onion stew. It was flavorful, unique, and something I was glad to try. Finally, we shared the lamb burger, which came with thick-cut fries. The burger was a nice departure from a traditional beef burger, topped with cherry jam and Roquefort cheese that worked surprisingly well together. The restaurant is well-designed, feeling both modern and comfortable. There is a long bar, plenty of tables, and several televisions, making it a good spot to catch a game. The staff was incredibly friendly, taking the time to explain the menu and answer questions about the dishes. Overall, I enjoyed the food and appreciated the opportunity to try flavors that are not commonly found around the city. The prices felt a bit high for some items, but I would happily return, especially to take advantage of happy hour and explore their South African wine selection.

    Great new space

    See all

    19 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex H.
    0
    15
    28

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vik P.
    162
    54
    9

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul C.
    0
    51
    95

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Suzaan B.

    Suzaan B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of M R.
    0
    22
    0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Tim D.
    0
    10
    0

    5 months ago

    Cool spot, great food. Will be back for sure. Quality steak, octopus, as well as the pork dishes

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Kaia

    Review Highlights - Kaia

    “the biltong we ordered tasted just like the one he gets at home, the pap and boerewors was so flavorful, and their peri peri chicken...”

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Bar Vivant - Octopus

    Bar Vivant

    4.5(28 reviews)
    0.7 mi•Upper East Side

    Bar Vivant was a much needed pause with its intimate, dimly lit room with a relaxed, unhurried…read moreenergy that makes you want to linger for a little while longer. We shared Betsy's Mom's Clam Dip, Mushroom Toast, Bitter Greens Salad, Minted Lamb Meatballs, and duck pâté. The meal opened with the clam dip; cool, lush, and briny, with a creamy oceanic richness that coated the palate; followed by a tangy, salty depth that clung to each crunchy bite of bread. The Mushroom Toast followed with deeper savoriness: earthy, almost forest-floor mushrooms, warm and tender, turning silky as they soaked into the bread, while the edges stayed crisp and toasted, adding contrast to the woodsy umami and subtle garlic warmth. The Bitter Greens Salad provided a bright, palate-cleansing break that included crisp and peppery greens with a sharp lemony dressing that snapped on the tongue, layered with faint fennel sweetness and the nutty, salty bite of shaved parmesan. The Minted Lamb Meatballs arrived richer and more comforting, tender and juicy with a gentle gamey depth, lifted by fresh mint that cut through the richness, and a cool, tangy tomato-yogurt sauce that added creaminess and brightness in equal measure. We finished with pâté--silky, dense, and deeply savory, with a faint iron-rich intensity and buttery smoothness, especially when spread on bread with sharp, briny pickles that added crunch and acidity. Each dish felt intentional and well-balanced for sharing, with varied textures and temperatures that built naturally across the table. I'd happily return to explore more of the menu.

    This recent addition to the UES is proving to be the most charming little wine bar. I chanced upon…read morethis spot after an afternoon spent at nearby museums. I had an hour to kill before my dinner date and so I decided to sit down and have a glass of wine. The next day I came back with a friend and had dinner. Excellent wine selection! Fantastic small plates. The food was delicious though on the pricey side. The staff is friendly enough that if you come here frequently, they'll certainly get to know you. This is the kind of place I miss New York for.

    Photos
    Bar Vivant
    Bar Vivant - Beef Tartare and Hamachi Crudo

    Beef Tartare and Hamachi Crudo

    Bar Vivant

    See all

    La Bomboniera - Shakerato

    La Bomboniera

    4.2(74 reviews)
    0.9 mi•Upper East Side

    I was meeting a friend here for light lunch & desserts. Having walked by her numerous times, we…read moredecided to give them a try. Upon arrival, we were greeted at the counter to sit at any table inside or out and a server will help us. The inside is quaint with ample tables and chairs, with display of a commercial professional espresso machine and display of some of their pastries. Decided on outside, we found a table with two chairs and waited for service. Very quickly a young woman greeted us and while we looked at the menu, brought us water with lemon at our request. We end up ordering first two sandwiches, one with prosciutto and the other caprese. We waited to order our coffee drinks and parties afterwards. The sandwiches came quickly and to our surprise the sandwich was warmed which my preference and both were served on ciabatta-like buns that's had textures of foccacia. We loved both sandwiches. We then ordered the Italian donuts with Nutella and the cookies horn with light lemon crème as well as a cortado and latte. Pastries were also warmed and overall satisfied with our choices. I would come back here as I'm in the neighborhood often. Great place to meet a friend with reasonable prices and quality food.

    My friend saw this place as a recommend place for hot chocolate so we decided to stop by on a…read moreThursday night. The place itself is super cute and very cozy. The menu is fairly on the basic side - mainly drinks and pastries and there is some sandwiches. We decided to get the hot chocolate with whip cream (the whip cream is very needed). It was very rich, thick and delicious and not "too sweet." The whip cream really makes it more creamy and it does not really add to the sweetness which was good. We also got a side of Salame e Formaggio which I would recommend passing on because the cheese was kind of hard and not that great. The salami was good and honestly I'm not a fan of olives but my friend who liked it enjoyed them. Overall - a cute place to stop by for a hot chocolate and maybe a pastry!

    Photos
    La Bomboniera - Posted with review 09/05/25

    Posted with review 09/05/25

    La Bomboniera
    La Bomboniera - Over 400 more views because of this photo. 12/10/25

    See all

    Over 400 more views because of this photo. 12/10/25

    Kaia - wine_bars - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...