Wonderful
176 Guest reviews
Harry Thuku Road, Nairobi, Kenya. See map
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A stay at Fairmont The Norfolk places you in the heart of Nairobi, steps from University of Nairobi and a 3-minute drive from Kenyatta International Convention Centre. This luxury hotel is 2.4 mi (3.9 km) from Sarit Centre and 3.4 mi (5.5 km) from Yaya Centre. Make yourself at home in one of the 170 guestrooms featuring minibars and flat-screen televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with premium bedding. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature rainfall showerheads and designer toiletries. Featured amenities include complimentary wired internet access, a business center, and limo/town car service. Planning an event in Nairobi? This hotel has 2196 square feet (204 square meters) of space consisting of a conference center and meeting rooms. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and free valet parking is available onsite.
No rollaway/extra beds available
Green Globe
Professional property host/manager
Pets not allowed
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
German
Arabic
Swahili
Greek
English
French
Free WiFi
Parking available
Bar/Lounge
Airport transfers
Dining services
Concierge
Laundry
Spa
Gym
Entertainment
Smoking areas
Business facilities
Banquet facilities
Transportation services
Accessible facilities
Elevator
ATM/banking
Concierge services
Gift shops or newsstand
Airport transportation (surcharge)
Conference space
Coffee/tea in common areas
Breakfast available (surcharge)
Laundry facilities
Garden
Health club
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Spa services on site
Multilingual staff
24-hour front desk
Business center
Porter/bellhop
Limo or town car service available
Full-service spa
Spa treatment room(s)
Meeting rooms
Steam room
Sauna
Wedding services
Designated smoking areas
Pool umbrellas
Free wired internet
Wheelchair accessible parking
Number of restaurants - 2
Conference space size (feet) - 2196
Conference space size (meters) - 204
Number of outdoor pools - 1
Conference center
Snack bar/deli
Free self parking
Free valet parking
Number of bars/lounges - 1
Number of poolside bars - 1
Number of swim-up bars - 1
Number of coffee shops/cafes - 1
Pool sun loungers
Terrace
Water dispenser
Vegetable garden
Ballroom
Banquet hall
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
Excellent all round - especially the staff
All the staff are great! Breakfast is great property is beautiful
Superb hotel in every respect: courtyard. People, service, rooms, dining, bar ( but skimpy hard liquor drink pours) location and attention to quality details.
recently stayed for two nights at the Fairmont in Canyon, and while most of my stay was pleasant, I encountered an issue on the last day. The hotel provided a very small, single-use toothpaste, which wasn’t enough for the duration of my stay. As I was heading to a safari, I requested a few extra small toothpaste tubes to take with me, but the front desk was unhelpful and questioned why I needed more. They even mentioned that since I was checking out soon, they couldn’t provide any more, even though I still had a few hours left before check-out. Their attitude, including the manager’s, felt dismissive and discriminatory. I’m very disappointed to experience such poor service at a hotel of this caliber.
Outstanding hotel in the middle of Nairobi. Superb, friendly staff, good food, skimpy drinks, and beautifully maintained British colonial furnishings and layout. A refreshing break from the sterile and cold environment of newer hotels. Just teriffic!
Refused to reimburse for a cancellation one week in advance. Promised to follow-up and never did. Terrible service.
Very nice hotel and get staff
Superb Hotel
Excellent hotel and amazing staff. Kennedy makes the best Espresso martini ever. Gedi, Isaac, Njeri and Sharon are all brilliant too. Joy, Elijah and Veronica Make dining at Tatu and incredible experience and we hope to be back again soon.
Beautiful hotel in downtown Nairobi.
Best in Nairobi
Best hotel I Nairobi. Service and people are kind and service minded.
The property and staff are first class. Suggest more sun lounges around the pool Would return in a heartbeat
This was certainly a grand dame 40 years ago when my wife first stayed at The Norfolk, but we found the place tired and the whole routine a bit sketchy. We were given a room that was not what we booked (booking specifically called for a King bed, but we received a Queen and the hotel staff tried to convince us that indeed the bed was a "King-like" bed). I was given two separate quotes for a car service, one twice the other, and both were a multiple of what Uber quoted for the same ride. I sat outside enjoying a cigar and a waieter asked me if i had an "extra cigar" for him. That's never happened to me anywhere. Also of note, the manager was quite welcoming until he saw we had a problem with the room and he then disappeared faster than you could imagine. Indeed it's a grand dame that has seen better days.
Awesome staff great room and pool
Fabulous hotel….
Fantastic stay - charming, helpful and efficient staff, clean and comfortable resort with all the modern offerings a good hotel should have, set in an old world setting in the heart of town. If I can help it - will always stay here when visiting Nairobi.
Relaxing oasis
Spent 4 days here after a busy 4 weeks traveling around Kenya and Tanzania. What a welcome treat to be pampered in this little oasis of comfort in the middle of Nairobi. Great service staff!!
This is probably the worst Fairmont I've stayed in. The room was fine but the property itself was a little tired. The service was abysmal. In particular we have questioned why a 28usd charge was added to our bill when WiFi is included and not given an adequate response in a reasonable amount of time. I would recommend anyone looking for accommodation in Nairobi to look elsewhere to avoid disappointment.
eat place
The Fairmont the Norfolk is an amazing wonderful old historic hotel. Wonderful place to stay in the heart of Nairobi. Amazing accommodations and helpful friendly service. A gem. Great food too. Looking forward to more nights here.
Wonderful place, very atmospheric. Noisy room at night.
Beautiful property in the city center with gardens and wonderful staff!
Incredibly friendly and helpful staff. Great food.
Friendly and efficient staff. My home when I’m in Kenya.
Beautiful gardens, small rooms
The gardens and grounds were beautiful and well maintained. Lots of areas to spend time and relax. Service was great. Only issues were small rooms and bad views to the street in all standard rooms.
Great stay
Loved the gardens and the grounds. The main restaurant was great and we enjoyed the breakfast. Charming bar. Everything was simple and straightforward. Only complaints are Tatu wasn’t great and room was very small.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The grounds and service was very good.
Hmmmm
It’s generally good - no wow factor that I was looking for
Was very expensive for drinks and food. Service was a bit slow. Pool was great. Thoroughly enjoyed experience of staying at the famous Norfolk hotel
Best few hours in Nairobi's best hotel
At reception the sensitivity of the check in desk to our situation, short turn-around time. They suggested tea in the room, early morning and a double wake-up call. Everything worked seamlessly. A total professional operation that is still human and customer orientated. Rooms are English plugs but some have adaptors. Staff attentive, professional and you do not see them until you need them. The physical property is charming and has top security.
Very nice hotel with very good staff. Food was delicious also. Didn’t venture outside much as Nairobi doesn’t seem like the safest place but hotel makes up for that!
A charming property with oodles of culture. Beautifully maintained jewel, a prized possession of Kenyan history. Some of the finishing of the interiors leaves a bit to be desired, else fantastic.
Fairmont The Norfolk is beautiful hotel with impeccable service.
Lovely hotel complex. Nice casual restaurant. When I had to walk to a meeting nearby a staff member was assigned to escort me to ensure my well being.
Loved it
Historic and beautiful hotel. Friendly and helpful staff. We loved it. Take cabs or Uber - don’t walk in this neighborhood
The Norfolk has a traditional feel but with completely up-to-date room interiors and facilities with an excellent gym and luxurious heated outdoor pool. All staff were very helpful and welcoming.
Quiet, elegant comfort and smooth service.
A great place to layover post-safari
Great hotel and staff. Great security as well. I stayed here after a safari in Tanzania and it was a good way to regenerate post safari
A charming and tranquil spot with excellent service.
great secure and absolutely beautiful hotel
Two glorious days! Staff was fabulous - arranged for us to spend the day at the local National park.
A gem in Nairobi
Really great staff and service culture. The TATU restaurant offer many choices of steak cuts,lamb and fish grills and above all a welcoming smiles and staff attitude.Thanks TATU staff and chef and to the front office and concierge staff for assisting us in safari arrangement.
Get in Nairobi
Wonderful stay here. Staffs are friendly and food from the restaurant are very delicious with reasonable price!
Great hotel, central, safe and enjoyable. Recommendable
Fairmont the Norfolk, Nairobi
The hotel is situated in the University district of Nairobi not far from the museum. The hotel is lovely, with a very good restaurant and a bar that also serves food. There is a welcome heated pool. There are lots of repairs being done in various parts of the hotel. Lighting along the paths to the wings was very limited and a potential hazard given the slippery surfaces of the walkways and construction materials along the way. Our room in a further wing was quite dated, though very spacious. There were noise problems somewhere in the system that were quite annoying and forced our friends to relocate to another wing. The hotel mentioned that they were going to shut down that wing due to persistent issues with this. We did not experience that noise until the final night but it was significant.
Internet was slow
The hotel is very historic but the Internet was slow at 100 kb per second, no free breakfast and you have to pay to print your boarding pass. All in all there are better business friendly hotels in Nairobi at a much more reasonable fair.
Great choice in Nairobi
Great place to stay in Nairobi with a very good blend of historical interest and modern comfort. We've stayed here several times and very much like it.
Nice grounds. Otherwise terrible
Bad food poor service small room needs updated but was clean
Nice central location.
Wonderful experience. We spent a few days in Nairobi and chose this hotel as it was in the heart of Nairobi. We felt it would be easier to get to other places. The hospitality was great and everyone went an extra mile to make the stay memorable. The rooms were clean and comfortable. I would have preferred more choice of Indian food being a vegetarian but overall the food was great. Room service was quick and satisfactory. The taxi service attached to the hotel was again very good. We used the same driver for most of our stay and he also took us outside Nairobi as a trust had been established. His knowledge of the area and experience were very helpful. This made a difference. Overall a wonderful location, peaceful and very hospitable staff.
lovely hotel. good location. helpful staff. rooms clean and quiet.
Quiet
A lovely quiet place in a bustling city. The staff are so friendly and the restaurant Tatu is very impressive.
An enchanting oasis in the heart of Nairobi.
Fairmont The Norfolk is an oasis of comfort and beauty in Nairobi. To be honest Nairobi itself leaves much to be desired - the best things to do are the giraffe sanctuary and the David Sheldrick trust for the baby elephants ( you can foster one for $50 a year and then you can go at 5pm to watch them run in from the bush to go to their beds and have supper - an absolute delight). Back to the Norfolk though which has been there since colonial times and still has that grandeur. The heated pool and free spa is a great bonus too, especially after coming back from a safari. We loved it and were sad to leave.
Good stay at Norfolk Fairmont Nairobi
Norfolk is a really nice and quiet hotel. The staff/service was excellent. At the same time, there were about 5-6 dead mosquitoes on the bathroom walls and the furniture was kinda old and stained. Frankly, I could care less about the old furniture but if I have to pay almost $200 for a room, I certainly expect more. Nice hotel but grossly overpriced.
Good enjoyable comfortable stay.
Stay out of the city.
Just an overnight- but wouldn't go again. Better to stay out of the city.
Pleasant hotel but the service is really slow
Pleasant hotel but the service is really slow
Nice hotel close to shops and restaurants.
Overall our stay at the Fairmont, The Norfolk Hotel is a little bit disappointing because we were expecting a 5star hotel. In our own travelling experience we have stayed in far better hotel than this one. Fairmont realistically is a 4star hotel. Firstly, when we booked we were not informed that there is a renovation happening within the hotel; i.e. hotel swimming pool is not available, painting inside the hotel is happening, at the front by the gate, the ground area is being resurfaced, a little bit of inconvenience. Inside our Double deluxe room, the shower head, towel rails and the connection for international plug all need maintenance. We informed the front desk and it was immediately resolved. But for a 5star hotel these minor issues should have been looked into by the manager. On our last day, after being out enjoying the sites of Nairobi we came back to the hotel and painting on the floor where we are staying is currently going. We could not stay in our room because of the smell and fumes was incredibly bad. We were not informed that it was happening that day. We asked for a change of room and it took more than 2 hours and we have to keep on following it up from the front desk. Yes, we were upgraded to a suite with bath (which is what we asked and booked for prior to arriving at Nairobi) but once again, the room appears to be outdated and needing an uplift. 5star hotel rating for Fairmont, The Norfolk should be reviewed or reassessed.
Lovely hotel which catapults you back in time
Special hotel with lovely staff. Everybody goes the extra mile to make you feel comfortable and happy. The ambience is amazing and throws you back in time.
Great hotel in Nairobi
I really loved staying here and would recommend it. Check-in didn't go particularly smoothly, my room wasn't ready and I was continually told it would only be 5 mins, when in reality it took 50 mins. Had I been told this in the first instance it would have been absolutely fine and not an issue, this did get my stay off to a bad start.
Nice hotel, atmosphere and good food
Location is pretty good. The building itself is very nice and staff are pleasant. Nice restaurant and bar. Good and timely room service. Only thing is the front desk didn't pick up my calls so I had to go to the front desk to book a wake up call. Otherwise it was great!
Great stay in Nairobi
Nice hotel. Great for a stopover after a long journey.
Be aware of older wings - mosquitoes
Initially, I was allocated with a room in older wing. There were so many mosquitoes, I woke up with at least 10 bites. When I contacted the reception, they have organised to move me to the latest wing with a balcony. I had no problem with mosquitoes then and enjoyed comfort stay and sleep.
Dilapidated property, poor staff quality
Aging property, that used to be nice,but now looked pretty run down. Lots of mold in the grout in the bathroom and chipped tiles. And the drain was so clogged that quickly you were standing in pool of water that threatened to overflow into the bathroom floor. Hotel service was also not good. Items (of low value) were missing from the room after first servicing of the room. Hotel did not properly address this issue, came back to us and said, no the housekeeping did not take the items.
Very nice hotel and very safe!
Staying at the Fairmont after returning from our safari was an excellent way to end our stay in Africa! Our flight was delayed by 3 hours- landing around 1:30 AM-and still our driver waited for us with a big smile on his face! In fact, he greeted us the following morning ready to drive us around to visit our last sites in Africa. Considered a Western hotel, The Fairmont had robust security at the entrance, yet not intrusive.The room was clean, the bed calling our names, and the breakfast was top-notch! We would definitely go back, without any hesitation!
Overnight stay in Berkeley.
Beautiful classic old hotel. Staff are up to excellent standards with the notable exception of the wait staff in the main dining room. It took over an hour for your dinner to arrive and they weren't busy. Also the place is a club resort and out of the people in the pool, etc were locals. This is great for business but not so much as a hotel guest getting jostled in the pool.
Don't even consider anywhere else in Nairobi!
What a perfect African hotel. The staff are outrageously friendly, the food and drinks delicious, and the setting straight out of a novel. Would consider only staying here when in Nairobi.
Enjoyed the Fairmont Norfolk hotel.
Wonderful, friendly staff. The Health center was inviting, and I had a 5 star facial and massage. When I return to the Norfolk, I will definitely schedule both again.
Highest quality
Very clean, comfortable, and safe. Spa and gym services are a real bonus. Terrace restaurant was wonderful. Bar restaurants had good food and selection but slow pace. Rooms along the street can be noisy, but insulation is above average. Staff went out of their way to return a forgotten item to me, much appreciated.
Fantastic service - but comes at a price!
The Norfolk Hotel is truly a gem when it comes to service. By my second day at the hotel everyone from the doorman to the front desk staff was greeting me by name and asking me how my day was.The security is very tight - with suitcases and taxis being scanned on the way in. The food was excellent. My only two criticisms of this hotel were the price and the noise in my room. This hotel is EXPENSIVE - compared to other similar hotels in other major cities. At the price I paid I would have expected breakfast to be included - but found out that it would be an additional $35. My room - 720 - must have been next to the pump house for the hotel. I battled to sleep with the intermittent sounds of pumping and whining motors coming through the walls. The door on to my balcony also did not lock and I had to ask maintenance to fix it for me.
Fantastic Service
Best service I've had in a long time. Such a great hotel if you are considering to stay in Nairobi. Great restaurants and fitness facilities.
Pleasant place that has everything you need
Four day business trip. Good location for my business visits. High security. Hotel garden very nice. Good service, good breakfast. Several restaurants. Prices high and not very good selection of dishes. However, I did not go to the fine dining place. Will stay here next time I'll come to Nairobi.
Top notch colonial hotel With great steaks!
Steak restaurant rivals Those in NYC on quality, service could not have been better. Unfortunately, they had no (none,nada) dishes for my vegetarian guests otherwise I would have eaten there more often. Desserts looked so sinful, you would have to go to confession afterwards. Breakfast is buffet style for approx $30. I had difficulty ordering a la carte and pricing was a bit questionable how it was calculated.
Old colonial charm gone but still wonderful.
The old colonial charm which used to be such a part of the old Norfolk is gone. Could now be any good hotel any where in the world. Rooms clean with all needed amenities, bar area nice good selection of wines, had dinner in their Tatu restaurant. Disappointing.. as fish over cooked, asked for fillet steak medium rare came medium well. No redness at all on meat. Service in restaurant was very good. Staff is excellent. Would definately stay again and recommend.
Superb, safe, central location
I never stay in 5-Star, high-end hotels, too pricey. But the Expedia deal I got when buying my flights made this irresistible. This historic hotel surpassed our expectations for security, comfort, and location. We loved the quality of the rooms, the old photos from the British colonial era, the art, the lush grounds. People and service were excellent.
Great experience!
I stayed at this hotel for 10 days while working at the National Museum up the street. The hotel is very posh - for the upscale crowd. The bathroom had a wonderfully large tub and separate shower, which I appreciated. A comfortable desk and chair were provided and the bed was perfect. The work-out facility was clean with modern equipment and delicious infused water for after workout refreshment. The grounds are beautiful and the staff is friendly. If you plan to eat here just be prepared to spend double what you would elsewhere. A Tusker at the bar here is 500, but if you wander down to the Boulevard down the street it is 250. But this is what I'd expect for any upscale hotel in any big city. The security is intense so you will definitely feel safe.
Classic old hotel in convenient central location
Enjoyed a few days business trip at The Norfolk. Excellent location near the centre of town for business. Great staff , excellent food, and a relaxing bar but they do need to sort out the wifi!
Fairmont The Norfolk | Hotel in Nairobi | Travala.com
Great hotel, very friendly staff, great food