8 Best Hotels in Nairobi, Kenya

This grand old colonial lady will take you back to the heady early days when settlers, adventurers, colonial officers, and their ladies arrived in the capital to make their names and their fortunes. Built in 1904, the Norfolk was one of Nairobi's first hotels and quickly became the meeting place and waterhole for everybody who was anybody in the colony. The hotel is now part of the Fairmont chain of hotels, but the original mock-Tudor facade and colonial opulence still remain, so you can easily imagine yourself back in the early days as you sip your G&T—it's always called G&T, never gin and tonic—or an excellent local Tusker beer on the Lord Delamere Terrace or in the leather-chaired bar. If you're there on a Sunday, do not miss the lavish high tea.

One of the world's most Instagrammed hotels—yes, giraffes really do pop their heads through the windows and bat their eyelashes at you at this stately old look-alike gabled Scottish hunting lodge. Built of honey-color sandstone and set in a forest in the Nairobi suburb of Langata, it's 30 minutes by road from the city center. It's a haven of peace and tranquility, unless you reckon curious giraffes and snuffling warthogs as stressful. Rare, endangered Rothschild's giraffes roam freely through the estate, and you can find out more about the species at the adjacent Giraffe Centre. If possible, choose a honeymoon master bedroom with an Art Deco bathroom. There's also a family suite with two rooms that can sleep two adults and up to three children, and the Karen Blixen suite that's got a courtyard garden.

You'll find nostalgia, history, and romantic surroundings at this family-owned boutique hotel. Set in lush gardens, it's 20 minutes from downtown Nairobi in the quiet suburb of Karen. It was here that the notorious Danish womanizer, man-about-town, and wannabe coffee farmer, Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, brought his lovely young wife, Karen. It was also here that Karen met and fell hopelessly and helplessly in love with the English hunter and adventurer Denys Finch Hatton—their tragic romance was brought vividly to life in the movie Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. The hotel, a colonial-style villa with two wings, is family-owned and -run (Waine is an acronym comprising the initials of family members’ names). Colonial ambience mixes comfortably with modern luxury in the beautifully appointed guest suites, each uniquely decorated in vivid colors with elegant furniture and a marble en suite bathroom. Fresh and wholesome lunches and dinners with daily changing menus are served, and there's a comfortable lounge and bar where a welcoming roaring fire is lit on cooler evenings.

Only a short walk from the serene Karura Forest, this hotel seamlessly merges modern luxury and Kenya's rich cultural heritage which is woven into its architecture and decor. The name 'Kwetu' means 'our home' in Swahili, and that perfectly reflects the personalized service that makes one feel at home here. The hotel features two exceptional dining options: Meko Restaurant located by the stunning pool, serving Mediterranean-inspired dishes, and Upepo, the rooftop bar and restaurant, offering South East Asian cuisine (try the Japanese nasi goreng if available on the menu). Both have quickly become popular destinations for locals and visitors alike, particularly with DJs and saxophonists on rotation in the evenings or weekends to serenade guests. Take in the forest from your room's large windows, or arrange a complimentary excursion at the reception.

This stylish city hotel is conveniently located in Westlands, close to a number of restaurants and malls, although you will find all you need for a relaxing stay in the hotel itself. Striking contemporary East African art decorates both the rooms and public areas, and the rooms themselves are comfortable and modern, with panoramic views, marble bathrooms, and all possible modern conveniences. There's a patisserie, which turns into a cheese and wine bar at night, a brasserie serving global cuisine, and a New York–style steak house, plus rooftop dining next to the pool (check out the glass panel on the floor of the pool, which looks down onto the street hundreds of feet below). The Angsana Spa is exquisite, and the hotel boutique has specially commissioned, high-end souvenirs.

The city's oldest hotel was established in 1902 but has switched owners and undergone major upgrades through the years; the Stanley was named after the journalist Henry Morton Stanley who immortalized himself by discovering a long-lost Scots explorer with one of the best sound bites in history: "Doctor Livingstone, I presume?" A lot of history lies within these walls which have hosted African presidents, author Ernest Hemingway in the '30s, Frank Sinatra and his wife, Princess Elizabeth just before she became Britain's sovereign, and even a young Barack Obama. A Heritage Tour provides insight into Nairobi's history (Nairobi's Stock Exchange was, for instance, established in 1954 at the once popular Long Bar which is now The Exchange Bar). At the hotel's famous outdoor Thorn Tree Café, named for the acacia tree at its center, early travelers would pin notes and messages for fellow travelers to the tree, and it was regarded as Nairobi's first post office. Today, there's an Internet café where the communication tradition continues, and you can get light meals and live music. Public areas retain a trace of the elegance of times past and rooms offer all the standard amenities of a modern business hotel—soundproofing (useful in central Nairobi), blackout curtains, satellite TV, and coffee-makers. Rooms vary in price, from the basic right up to presidential suites in the VIP wing.

This sleek and urban business hotel sits in the new wing of one of Nairobi's leading malls, The Village Market in the suburb of Gigiri, where you can find clothing and jewelry stores, two food courts, a bowling alley, art gallery, wine, cheese and chocolate shops, trampoline park, and more. Plus, there are always fun activities such as salsa dance mixers that you can participate in. Trademark's two dining outlets, Harvest and Hero, offer excellent cuisine; the former has a live kitchen where you can watch the chefs plating your steaks and seafood, while the latter has incredible sushi. Unlike a lot of other lodgings in the country, rates are standard for both residents and non-residents. It's sister property, The Tribe Hotel, sits on the opposite end of the same mall and shares the Kaya Spa; guests have access to facilities in both hotels.