Nairobi's most acclaimed boutique luxury hotel, set in a gorgeous colonial property in Karen. The 45-room hotel offers impeccable service, award-winning dining and a beautiful pool set within lush gardens.
The Hemingways Nairobi sits on Mbagathi Ridge in Karen, the leafy suburb southwest of the city centre named for writer Karen Blixen, a short drive from the Karen Blixen Museum, the Giraffe Centre and Ngong Racecourse. The property is built in a plantation-house style with wide verandas, whitewashed colonnades and manicured gardens that evoke the colonial-era farms of the surrounding area, though the building itself is a modern construction completed in the 2000s rather than a historic estate. All 45 rooms and suites are decorated with African art, four-poster beds and marble bathrooms, and many open onto private balconies overlooking the Ngong Hills or the pool terrace. Dining centres on Torr's, the hotel's fine-dining restaurant serving contemporary international and Kenyan dishes, alongside a lounge for afternoon tea and light meals. The Grace Wellness Spa offers a full menu of treatments, and there is a heated outdoor pool set within tiered gardens plus a small fitness centre. Service is built around a butler-for-every-room model, with 24-hour personal assistance, airport transfers and safari-planning support, making the hotel a popular choice for honeymooners, business travellers and guests using Nairobi as a gateway before or after a safari.
Amenities
- pool
- wifi
- spa
- restaurant
- bar
- fitness centre
- butler service
- concierge
Location
Mbagathi Ridge, Karen, Nairobi
-1.3560, 36.7178 View on map
Highlights
- Butler service included with every room
- Torr's restaurant for fine dining in Karen
- Heated outdoor pool set in tiered gardens
- Grace Wellness Spa with full treatment menu
- Close to the Karen Blixen Museum and Giraffe Centre
Tips for visiting
- Book a room with a Ngong Hills view for sunset from the balcony
- Reserve Torr's in advance on weekends, as it is popular with non-guests
- Ask the concierge to arrange transfers, since Karen is a 30-45 minute drive from the CBD depending on traffic
- Combine a stay with same-day visits to the Karen Blixen Museum and Giraffe Centre, both under 10 minutes away