From
$7,339
Boutique Hotel · Nairobi, Kenya
Fairmont The Norfolk
Nairobi's grandest address since 1904 — where the story of East African safari travel began, and where it still begins for those who know
Every safari itinerary in Kenya has a beginning, and for more than a century, a significant number of them have begun at The Norfolk. The hotel opened in December 1904 — before the city around it had fully decided what it was — built to service the flow of settlers, hunters, and explorers arriving on the Uganda Railway into a landscape that was still being named. That origin shapes everything about the property: the wide collonaded terrace designed for long afternoons, the sense that the building has absorbed the movement of notable people through its rooms and absorbed it without particular fuss, the habit of treating a passing safari expedition as routine business.
What Fairmont has done in the decades since acquiring the property is modernise without erasing. The guest rooms are contemporary five-star, the spa is fully equipped, the pool is serious, and the food and beverage programme has grown well beyond the colonial dining room. But the Lord Delamere Terrace — the long open-air veranda that faces Harry Thuku Road — remains exactly what it has always been: the place where Nairobi watches itself go past, where safari groups convene the evening before departure, and where the sense that something significant is about to happen is part of the ambient atmosphere. It is one of the few hotel spaces in Africa that has genuine civic meaning, not just a pleasant aspect.
Built in 1904 before Nairobi was a city, The Norfolk is Kenya's original safari hotel. Roosevelt, Churchill, and colonial East Africa's elite passed through its doors; the Lord Delamere Terrace remains the property's social heart. Today: 170 suites, the Fairmont Spa, and three dining outlets
Why Stay Here
- Nairobi's oldest hotel, in continuous operation since 1904 — predating the city itself.
- Lord Delamere Terrace — Nairobi's most iconic open-air social hub, unchanged in spirit for over a century.
- 20 minutes from Wilson Airport — the natural base for early safari charter departures.
- Private standalone cottages within the hotel grounds — boutique seclusion, full Fairmont service.
- Fairmont Spa and full-size pool — ideal at the start or close of an East Africa itinerary.
- Nairobi National Museum, Karen Blixen Museum, and Nairobi National Park all within 30 minutes
Our Commitment to Conservation
The Norfolk operates under Fairmont's global sustainability framework — covering energy, water, waste, and sourcing — with local procurement prioritising Kenyan suppliers and regional farms and cooperatives.
Rooms & Accommodation
The Norfolk’s 170 keys are distributed across four categories — Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Suites, and the Norfolk Cottages — spread across the hotel’s main building and private cottage grounds. Standard rooms and suites have been renovated to a contemporary five-star specification while retaining architectural references to the building’s heritage: high ceilings, wide windows, and a colour palette drawn from the East African landscape rather than international hotel neutrals. The Norfolk Cottages are the property’s most private offering: standalone units within the grounds, each with a private garden terrace, and serviced to the full Fairmont standard. For guests combining a Nairobi stay with a multi-week safari itinerary, the cottages provide a level of seclusion that the main building cannot replicate.
Deluxe Room
The core room category — renovated to a contemporary standard with king or twin beds, en-suite bathroom, and garden or city views. High ceilings, warm tones, and East African art give the rooms a sense of place. Full Fairmont amenities throughout: turndown, in-room dining, and access to the pool, spa, and Lord Delamere Terrace.
King or twin beds · En-suite bathroom · Air conditioning · In-room dining · Writing desk · Fairmont signature bedding · Garden or city views
Norfolk Cottage
Standalone cottages within The Norfolk's private grounds — the most secluded option and the most requested by returning guests. Each has a private garden terrace, separate living area, and full en-suite bathroom, with complete Fairmont service throughout. Quiet, genuinely removed from the city, and practical for private meals or early departures.
Private garden terrace · Separate living area · En-suite bathroom · Air conditioning · In-room dining · Fairmont signature bedding · Full butler service
Experiences & Activities
Every moment at Fairmont The Norfolk is crafted to immerse you deeper in the wild.
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Dining
Three food and beverage outlets serve different moments of the Norfolk day. The Brasserie handles all-day dining in a relaxed, high-ceilinged dining room — the menu ranges across Kenyan and international dishes, with particular attention to breakfast, which is one of the better hotel breakfasts in Nairobi. The Lord Delamere Terrace is the property’s social centre: an open-air colonnaded veranda serving food and drinks from mid-morning into the evening, with a menu that runs from light lunches through to late-night drinks and bar snacks. The character of the terrace — Nairobi street life on one side, hotel garden on the other — is something that no interior restaurant achieves and that guests tend to return to at every available hour. A dedicated cocktail bar serves the evening programme.
Gallery
Best Time to Visit
As a city property, Fairmont The Norfolk is a year-round address with no wildlife seasonality to consider. Its primary role in a Kenya safari itinerary is as a Nairobi base — the night before a Wilson Airport departure or the evening after a final charter return — and in that capacity it is equally useful in every month. Nairobi’s climate is temperate year-round given its altitude of 1,700 metres: daytime temperatures of 20–26°C, cool evenings, and two wet seasons (March–May and October–November) that affect travel in the city but do not materially change the experience at the hotel. The long rains of April and May can soften safari game viewing in some destinations; the short rains of October and November are lighter and rarely disruptive. For guests building an itinerary around any of Kenya’s key wildlife seasons, The Norfolk adapts to whatever the safari calendar requires.
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Location & Getting Here
Destination
Nairobi, Kenya
Conservation Area
Nairobi City Centre
Nearest Airstrip
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) / Wilson Airport
Transfer Time
35–45 minutes from JKIA / 20 minutes from Wilson Airport
Getting Here
On Harry Thuku Road in central Nairobi, 20 minutes from Wilson Airport and 35–45 minutes from JKIA. The concierge coordinates all transfers; the location removes the logistical friction from early charter departures and late international arrivals.
Safaris That Include This Lodge
Explore handcrafted itineraries where Fairmont The Norfolk forms part of the journey.
