Nairobi · In partnership with BHMS Switzerland
Swiss standards.
African heart.
Earn a Swiss diploma, train in professional kitchens, and start a hospitality career that can take you anywhere in the world, at Cake Hearts International Hospitality Institute, Nairobi's award-winning TVET school for chefs, pastry artisans and hospitality leaders.
World-class culinary education
Where Kenya's next great chefs are made.
We build chefs, pastry artisans and hospitality managers ready for the world's best kitchens, hotels and restaurants.
At CIHI, learning happens at the stove, not just in the classroom. Our students train in professional kitchens under experienced chef instructors, master the standards of international hospitality, and graduate with the skills, discipline and confidence employers look for, whether that's in Nairobi, Dubai or Zurich.
The Swiss pathway
From Westlands to Switzerland, one step at a time.
Through our partnership with BHMS, one of Switzerland's respected hospitality business schools, CIHI gives local talent a clear route to an international qualification and career.
Nairobi · Year one
Train at CIHI
Learn technique, food safety and service standards in our professional kitchens.
Partner hotels
Industry internship
Put your skills to work in real hotel and restaurant kitchens alongside professionals.
Year two
Earn your Swiss Diploma
Graduate with a Swiss Diploma in Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management.
Switzerland
Go further
Progress towards a bachelor's degree in Switzerland, or join our Summer Program there.
Programmes
Choose your station.
Every great kitchen runs on specialists. Whether you're starting a career, changing one, or building a food business, there's a programme built for where you want to go.
Swiss Diploma in Culinary Arts
Master classical French foundations and modern cuisine, kitchen management and menu design. Built for careers in top hotels, restaurants and cruise lines worldwide.
Swiss Diploma in Hospitality Management
Learn how world-class hotels and restaurants are run: front office, food & beverage, guest experience and operational leadership.
Culinary Arts
Knife skills, stocks and sauces, proteins and plating. A practical grounding for anyone serious about professional cooking.
Pastry & Bakery, Level 1
Breads, basic pastries, sponges and icing. The essential techniques every baker builds on.
Pastry & Bakery, Level 2
Laminated doughs, entremets, tarts and decorated celebration cakes, for a stronger, more creative range.
Pastry & Bakery, Level 3
Advanced finishing, chocolate and sugar work, and showpiece cakes to a professional, commercial standard.
Certificate in Barista
Espresso extraction, milk texturing, latte art and café service, from bean to cup.
Dessert Table Creator
Design, produce and style show-stopping dessert tables for weddings, corporate and private events.
Cookery & Bakery 1
A combined introduction to cooking and baking fundamentals. Ideal for beginners and aspiring food entrepreneurs.
Why CIHI
Learn locally.
Build an international future.
Five reasons students, parents and employers choose Cake Hearts International.
A Swiss diploma, earned in Nairobi
Graduate with an internationally respected Swiss Diploma in Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management through our BHMS partnership.
Real kitchens, real service
Internships with partner hotels and restaurants mean you graduate with experience, not just certificates. 85% of our students secure placements.
Rooted in Kenya's leading dessert house
Study at a pastry and dessert institution recognised across Kenya's food and baking industry.
A route to a Swiss bachelor's degree
Our two-year programme opens the door to continuing your studies towards a bachelor's degree in Switzerland.
Summer in Switzerland
Access international experiences including our Summer Program in Switzerland: new kitchens, new cultures, new connections.
Join the success
CIHI truly lives up to its reputation and delivers in giving students the knowledge, understanding and hands-on experience.
Edith Chelangat · Class of 2023
For parents & guardians
An investment in a career with a future.
Hospitality is one of the world's largest employers. Here are the questions families ask us most, and how we answer them.
Is the qualification recognised?
Yes. CIHI is a recognised TVET institution, and our flagship diplomas are awarded in partnership with BHMS, a Swiss hospitality business school, giving graduates a qualification that is respected internationally.
Will my child get real work experience?
Every serious programme includes practical kitchen training, and we place students in internships with our partner hotels and restaurants. 85% of our students secure internship placements.
What careers can this lead to?
Our graduates work as chefs, pastry chefs, bakers, baristas and hospitality managers, in hotels, restaurants, cruise lines and their own food businesses, in Kenya and abroad.
Can students continue their studies abroad?
Yes. The two-year Swiss diploma pathway allows students to progress towards a bachelor's degree in Switzerland, and our Summer Program offers international exposure along the way.
Culinary for everyone
Classes, workshops & experiences beyond the diploma.
Our kitchens open their doors to teams, young cooks, working professionals and food businesses looking to grow.
Team Building
Cook-offs and shared kitchen challenges that build trust, communication and a little friendly rivalry.
Plan an event → For young cooksSchools & Holiday Programs
Holiday cooking programmes that spark curiosity and teach young minds practical life skills.
See holiday dates → For professionalsIndustry Training
Masterclasses and upskilling that raise kitchen standards and keep your team ahead of the trends.
Train your team → For food businessesBusiness Consulting
Concept development, menu planning and signature dishes for restaurants, cafés and bakeries.
Talk to us →Trusted by the industry
Friends across the hospitality world.
The hotels, restaurants and institutions that train, host and hire our students.
Hiring for your kitchen or hotel?Partner with CIHI for interns and graduates trained to international standards.
Become a partner →Admissions
Your chef's whites are waiting.
Take the first step toward a professional career in culinary arts, pastry or hospitality management. Our admissions team will guide you and your family through every step.
- Choose your programmeExplore our diplomas, certificates and short courses.
- Submit your applicationComplete the online form. It takes about 10 minutes.
- Meet our admissions teamWe'll contact you to discuss your goals, intake dates and fees.
- Secure your placeConfirm enrolment and get ready for your first day in the kitchen.