In a world where so many hotels claim "luxury" status, this is one that delivers. The staff are welcoming and keen to oblige (you are even assigned a butler), the suites are grand and the setting is so tranquil and lovely it's hard to imagine you're in the middle of a traffic-congested city. There's not a murmur, apart from the birds and the fountains. And there's something other-worldly about the view of Karen Blixen's green hills from your balcony. The food is top-notch too – carnivores come miles for the steak!
As your car pulls into the portico, you and your luggage will be whisked through the foyer and up the curved staircase to your private suite. When you're hungry, the elegant Brasserie serves the best steaks in Kenya, and its Seafood Fridays and Saturdays are pretty good too (try the Watamu prawn masala). Comfortable seating areas are plentiful, and the drawing room is formal enough to make you sit up straight and actually get some work done. And the whiskies at the bar are swirled to perfection. The gardens are beautiful, as is the pool.
Forty-five rooms (two are penthouse-style Presidential Suites) are set on a gentle hillside running down to a river. All are high-ceilinged and decorated in muted colours with brass, mahogany and leather accents echoing vintage East African safaris. The bathrooms are so huge they're the size of most hotel bedrooms. You'll enjoy the freestanding bath, rain shower, pop-up TV and balcony overlooking the bird-filled gardens. The main reason you'll be back though, is the impeccable service and care. And your private butler!
Hemingways lies in the peaceful Nairobi suburb of Karen. Wander around the city, with its exciting restaurants and historical sights, including the Karen Blixen Museum, the Giraffe Centre and shopping malls. Do laps in the pool and enjoy a treatment(or two!) at the spa.
There is no limit to the luxury here, from having your suitcase unpacked by your personal butler, to the golf cart that drives you from your room to the dining room and the TV that pops up from an old school trunk.
Ask for a suite on the first or second floor to make the most of the views over the lush gardens and surrounding hills.
Hemingways has quite a formal vibe, so if you're looking for small and boutique, it might not be for you. Having said that, it's still an all-time favourite!
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13 nights from $10.9K per person
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Hemingways Hotel can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Kenya trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Kenya trips featuring Hemingways Hotel or get advice and suggestions from one of our Kenya specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Hemingways Hotel start from around $280, or US$280, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
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