House of Waine (view website)
Price by venere.com : 393 $
House of Waine is a family owned and run property and this is reflected in the name Waine which is made up of the initials of the family members.
Originally a family house, it was lovingly converted to a boutique hotel and eventually opened in 2004. The interior design takes its cue from the Matriarch of the family and is imbued with a timeless elegance much like her.
House of Waine is the realisation of a generations long dream that all started with our maternal Grandfather, an entrepreneur who started a “mkahawa” or coffee shop in Mwiria Village in Meru in the 1950’s.
Positive reviews on this Lodge :
This must be a piece of heaven in Nairobi. We were upgraded to the suite, and wow, what a stunning room, very large and comfortable with a superb balcony. The hotel also has a large swimming pool and beautiful gardens. It is located in a quiet and pretty area of Nairobi with easy access to local attractions. The restaurant is super with good wines to accompany the excellent food.
We have no hesitation in recommending this quality hotel, the place is spotless and comfortable and the staff friendly, I cannot imagine anyone will ever have a bad experience here. Visit and enjoy!!
I am sure all of the rooms are excellent, the suite is stunning.
We stayed here for just one night in July. The Room was Huge & perfect with the exception of a small fault on the shower head which sprayed water everywhere other than that couldn’t fault it. If I went back to Nairobi would stay here without a doubt. Friendly staff and nice Breakfast.
We loved the House of Waine. The rooms, meals and service were all impeccable. A perfect beginning to our safari. Fantastic location for visiting Daphe Sheldrick Trust as well as Giraffe Center and Karen Blixen house. We would stay here again. With mounting security concerns in Kenya – especially on the coast and in Nairobi, the House of Waine feels like a safe haven. The property is lovely and peaceful. We enjoyed our Swahili lessons during breakfast. Thank you.
We stayed 1 night in the House of Waine during our Kenya Honeymoon Travel and we loved this small, personal house with the lovely people, beautiful environment, tasteful, romantical rooms and absolute calmness.
We liked everything about this hotel and can recommend it with all our heart!
Negative reviews on this Lodge :
The traffic was so congested it took us almost an hour to get there from the airport. The rooms were damp and musty. If you like dated furniture then you would think it is quaint. The shower kept switching from scalding hot to cold. Dinner was a disaster, the steaks were not fresh and we couldn’t eat them. What a relief that we only stayed one night. Never again.
This hotel is quite grand, and feels like something from the colonial era.
We found it very quiet – in fact, almost too quiet. Having two separate stays during Feb/March we barely saw another guest and both times had the lounge, bar, swimming pool and resturant all to ourselves. Some people will no doubt enjoy this, but we found it a little unnerving.
In parts, the ‘colonial style’ has lapsed into ‘out dated’ – especially the resturant, which is fairly dim desperately needs uplifting.
The beds are also very hard and (as I see other posters have noted) the shower was unreliable – which is not want you want at 4am when rising for an early flight.
The small safe amused me. After looking it, I found that it was not bolted in, and I could simply pick it up and easily walk away with it.
Nairobi Serena Hotel (view website)
Price by booking.com : 209 $
Price by hotel.com : 305 $
In the heart of Nairobi, the extensive ground of Serena Hotel contains a fitness center and spa. Guests can relax in a lounge chair next to the outdoor pool, which is surrounded by palm trees.
The elegant and spacious rooms and suites are decorated with warm colors and wood furniture. They come equipped with a TV, air-conditioning and a private bathroom. Free Wi-Fi is available.
Nairobi Serena Hotel offers a fine-dining restaurant with a seasonal menu and extensive wine cellar. Guests can enjoy a variety of snack and drinks at the poolside bar, or a cocktail at the Aksum Bar.
The 24-hour front desk can organize concierge, limousine and baby-sitting services or make an appointment for guests at the on-site hair salon. Free private parking is also available.
A shuttle is available upon request to Jomo Kenyatta Airport, only 8 miles away. The Railways Golf Course is 2 miles away and Nairobi National Park is within a 6 miles drive.
Positive reviews on this Lodge :
My room is comfortable, clean and large. The breakfast is amazing and food and drinks in the bar are terrific. This hotel is a perfect combo of 5 star comfort and exotic experiences. Love, love, love it!
Room Tip: Have a light dinner in the bar. Had chicken Skewers and a Tusker beer.
The service is fantastic throughout the hotel and staff went the extra mile for us in various ways. It offers the comfort of an international chain but with a distinctly and proudly African feel. Best breakfast buffet we had every seen. Very large and comfortable beds, free wifi, great pool despite city centre location. Importantly for Nairobi, security procedures are thorough and will give even the most nervous travellers comfort.
This hotel was a five star hotel. We were treated very well. The service was exceptional. The grounds very clean and the food was a very good. Would love to return someday. There is a beautiful pool area and gym area was good size. I would highly recommend this hotel.
very few hotels in the world that have all these advantages, the friendliness of the staff is exceptional and they are really ready to fulfil all your requirements.. the hotel is very clean and tidy, you can’t complain about anything.. the gym has all types of equipment’s that you may need, and the pool is quite spacious, and more important, very clean.
the breakfast had a wide variety of choices, I also had dinner in the hotel, and the food really tastes good, compliments to the Chef.
Negative reviews on this Lodge :
A few days after leaving the Serena I noted from my bank that my payment had been put through twice. When I pointed this out to the hotel I was refunded one of the transactions with an apology, but not the transaction costs. Almost six months later, I discovered today that the payment from August was put through my account AGAIN!
Is this incompetence to be expected from one of the “Leading Hotels of the World”?
We went out for about 6 hours, having been in the hotel for a few hours after our flight. We left cameras, MP4 players, and our money in the safe in the room. Having been the victims of a burglary in the UK weeks earlier, we were extra careful to ensure that the safe was locked.
We came back to the room to find the safe wide open. Everything seemed to be there, until we counted the cash in our wallets. We each had $200 US prior to going out, and now we each had $160. Someone clearly hoping we would not miss a slice of the money.
s. The costs are ridiculous for what can at best be described as a 3 star hotel.The room was decent but the service was just dire.I waited over 30 minutes to be served at the pool bar / restaurant.The main Askim bar was very poor also.The hotely potrays itself as the best in the country but compared to global standards it is poor.I had a meal at the Mandhari which was supposed to be the best in the country.The service was just poor.While I was eating water was dripping onto my table and meal from the roof! I suppose thsi is Africa so dont expect anything good, but after settling the bill I felt robbed. Honestly look for alternative this hotel is just not as good as they try and portray.
Fairmont The Norfolk (view website)
Price by booking.com : 250$
Price by hotel.com : 233 $
Set among tropical gardens, Fairmont The Norfolk offers luxury accommodations in an early 19th-century colonial building. It includes a fitness center with sauna, 6 restaurants and an outdoor heated pool.
Elegantly decorated rooms include a flat-screen TV, marble bathroom and views of the surrounding garden. More spacious suites feature a separate sitting area and some have a large, furnished terrace.
The Norfolk features a modern-style American steak house, a classically furnished wine bar serving hors d’oeuvres and a poolside restaurant. Historical Lord Delamere Terrace restaurant and bar provides an international menu and drink selection.
Shopping and cultural tours of Nairobi can be organized at the 24-hour front desk. The gym has personal trainers and daily classes as well as a steam room and massage facilities.
A collection of Kenyan history and culture can be seen at the National Museums of Kenya, a 15-minute walk away. A shuttle is available for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, 11 miles away.
Positive reviews on this Lodge :
Have stayed at the hotel a few times and it is great – from service to the rooms. Is quite pricey on the food and beverage side.
If you need a base for a small conference or to stop over (in Nairobi) when on Safari, this is a perfect hotel, with a lot of the old charm still present, and will help make your trip to beautiful Kenya even more special.
If you are not a smoker, choose a room without a balcony on the upper levels.
We spent only two nights at this hotel on our way to the Mara for safari. It is located near the University of Nairobi. There are no restaurants or attractions within walking distance of the hotel, but taxis were readily available. The property itself was in excellent condition and the staff was very helpful. The room was spacious and well appointed. We ate at the more casual restaurant twice and the food was good. We did not have a chance to eat at the more formal restaurant. Buffet breakfast was expensive but provided an extensive selection.
wonderful place to stay. The hotel is no differences from any upscale hotel in the US. The service and staffs are extremely friendly. The room is spacious and clean, with everything you need. very safe.
There is a large variety of rooms. We recommend the suites that have views of the beautiful courtyards. The rooms are quiet and the beds are clean and very comfortable. The restaurant at the hotel has the best gourmet food in Nairobi, offering both traditional Kenyan and western fare. It is the best food we have had outside of France! The savory meat sauces are especially French-tasting. We really enjoyed the prawns and mushroom plate that we had during our most recent stay. Finally, the service at the Norfolk is second to none. They treated us like royalty! Our highest recommendation goes to the Fairmont Norfolk!
Negative reviews on this Lodge :
Several mosquitos in room. Windows tightly closed. Still these pesticides keep appearing and flying around for second night. Dirty bathroom, stains on floors and bedlinen and a sticky carpet. Not quite what to expect from a “Fairmont”. Not so fun time spraying around repellent to keep mosquitos away.
Nairobi is nice but in some other place.
Go elsewhere, do not get mosquito bitten in you room.
Booked this hotel because of the Fairmont Brand. Have stayed at other Fairmonts around the world. This place is noisy, smells old and needs some major work,. Price paid is way to high for product offered. Service is slow, long lines at the desk, Food Over priced for what you get. Maybe someone from Toronto should visit this place.