Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Kenya / Nairobi / Fairmont The Norfolk
Fairmont The Norfolk
Nairobi, Kenya · Fairmont · High Luxury
Opened Christmas Day 1904 as what it billed the only stone-built, tile-roofed hotel in East Africa, Fairmont The Norfolk still wears low Tudor blocks around a private Nairobi garden. Theodore Roosevelt staged his 1909 post-presidential safari from here; the East African Professional Hunters' Association was founded in its rooms in 1934. The cast of Out of Africa, including Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, stayed during the 1985 shoot.
- 125 rooms
- Opened 1904
- Neighborhood: Starehe location
About Fairmont The Norfolk
- Maj.-Gen. Robert Baden-Powell stayed in February 1906; safari figure Bror von Blixen-Finecke later used the hotel as a base.
- A Ford Model A Roadster remains on property as part of the 1973 transportation trio museum display.
- On New Year's Eve 1980 a bomb destroyed the western wing three hours before the scheduled celebration; rebuilding of that wing was complete by 1982.
- Abraham Block bought the hotel in 1927, launching the Block Hotels dynasty with the Norfolk as its flagship.
- Early ads promised 40 rooms, a billiard room, and a French chef for settlers arriving in the young railway town.
History
Fairmont The Norfolk opened on Christmas Day, 1904, as the first proper hotel in what would become Nairobi, Kenya. Originally serving colonial settlers, safari hunters, and early East Africa settlers, the hotel has been the meeting point of Nairobi's history for over a century. Theodore Roosevelt used it as a staging base for his 1909 safari. Karen Blixen (author of 'Out of Africa') was a frequent guest. The hotel survived a bomb blast in 1980 and underwent full restoration. Fairmont assumed management in 2004 for its centennial.
The setting
10-minute walk to National Museums of Kenya. 3 km from Uhuru Park.
Restaurants and bars
- Cin Cin — Bar · Bar
- The Tea Room At Fairmont The Norfolk — Restaurant
Experiences
- Signature Afternoon High Tea — Afternoon high tea with Gourmet, Iconic or Vegetarian menus, designed for two to share, with an option to add bubbly. Offered Sunday to Friday.
- City safari game drives — City safari game drives offered around Nairobi.
- Tea plantation visits — Visits to lush tea plantations.
- Historic city tours — Guided city tours exploring Nairobi's rich history.
- African fashion pop-up markets — African fashion pop-up markets.
- Golf experiences — In-house golf experiences.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Recommended (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
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