Not to be Missed Nairobi

Nairobi has blossomed from a get-in-get-out overnight stop, to a vibrant city urging you to linger longer.

Nairobi has blossomed from a get-in-get-out overnight stop, to a vibrant city urging you to linger longer. Two nights is a must. Not only the tempting culinary scene, the music, endless artisan markets, and boutiques but the contemporary art scene is what left us spinning. We landed in Nairobi a day earlier than anticipated thanks to a last-minute change of schedules - thank you KLM! Our dear friend, Anna, had told me she wanted to kidnap us for a full day and night to explore the new Nairobi, we were intrigued.

After a dreamy first night in our cottage enveloped by a breezy mosquito net, we awoke to the soft mumble of the locals walking to work and a cacophony of bird life. Waking up in Eden is like waking up in paradise, there is no other way to explain it, except to experience it firsthand. If ever there is a poster child for the NEW Nairobi then it is undoubtedly Eden Nairobi. The spectacular former home of Anna Trzebinski and her family has been turned into the most utterly divine boutique hotel sitting adjacent to the Giraffe Center and Hog Ranch (the late Peter Beards property). Anna's studio of lovingly designed and handmade artisanal and designer pieces is a must for anyone visiting this part of Nairobi and worth a detour just to visit her studio and have a meal or drink at the restaurant. From pashmina adorned with Masai beading, homewares that would cause a sensation at any dinner party, to butter-soft suede safari jackets and beaded sandals.

After a delicious breakfast overlooking the new pond, we were scooped up by our guide and lifelong friend Paul and off we sped through the ramshackle townships and looming new condo and office complexes that had popped up seemingly overnight. Our guide for the day, Peter Achayo, had left a very successful marketing career to become Nairobi's voice and vision for the contemporary African art world. His enthusiasm is contagious and our day spent with him was spent exploring, visiting, and meeting contemporary artists and hidden art collectives. Our day with Peter was one of my favorite days in Nairobi ever, with a highlight meeting Michael Soi and visiting his studio. Later we dined and danced at Geco, a garage-turned-restaurant, watering hole, and live music venue in the strangest of places. The food was okay, but it was the music and buzzy atmosphere of the place that was off the charts, very much a local's haunt and it felt so good to be home!

Deep Into the Samburu Tribe’s Heartland at Ol Malo

The next night we dined at Cultiva also a not to be missed culinary experience - which is revolutionizing food habits with its farm-to-fork meals. It started as a pop-up eatery in 2019, and now has a loyal following of foodies. Ariel Moscardi an Ecuadorian-born chef has brought a new dining experience to an already heady collection of international cuisine in Nairobi. Ariel's grandmother was a ‘seed saver’, an indigenous person who was committed to preserving agricultural diversity and local crop varieties, and Ariel has brought this concept to Langata and the restaurant is enveloped by the organic gardens that supply the eatery.

Other stops included some of our old favorites, the Talisman, Karen Dukas for market shopping, MatBronze Foundry and Restaurant for lunch and some Christmas shopping, as well as the Village Market which never disappoints with its astounding array of boutiques and galleries - all the kids got kikoy bathrobes under the tree and they were over the moon!

So before you head out on Safari or on your way back, take the time to explore this bustling and vibrant city chock full of talent and creativity - you will not be disappointed!

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