Hemingways Eden Residence

Amid a lush forest in the leafy suburb of Langata, this unique hotel is an oasis in Nairobi, ideal for either a restful overnight or a longer stay.

• The verdant grounds immersing guests in nature
• Fashion designer Anna Trzebinski’s creative and unique, hand-picked art and personal decor throughout the property
• The enchantingly designed open-plan living rooms with a fireplace, bar and dining area

Upon arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and after a 45-minute drive to the city’s Langata neighborhood, travelers arrive at the oasis that is Eden, and are swiftly enveloped in designer Anna Trzebinski’s world. Guests are greeted first by Samburu warriors in traditional clothing and then by the sounds of the forest and cozy fire blazing in the living room. The energy is palpable, as is the feeling of immediate connectedness to a culture. While Nairobi has traditionally been looked at as a quick overnight destination before heading to the bush, Eden in itself is an argument to stay longer. , Anna’s hope is that her hotel—managed by a small Kenyan hotel brand, the Hemingways collection—is seen as a retreat, a place to spend multiple nights reconnecting while disconnecting.

The design across the property is as quirky as it is charming—think ostrich eggs hanging from the ceiling, fur throws and abundant abstract artwork. It comprises two houses with eight rooms (three in the main house and five in the studio annex). The main house, called Mount Kenya, has bedrooms named after its three main peaks. (Batian is the most spacious, with a walk-in wardrobe and large private balcony.) The house is equipped with an open-plan dining area, bar, living room with a fireplace and veranda, as well as a divinity room. The studio annex has three standalone rooms with a bedroom and bathroom on the bottom level, a living area on the top floor and two bedrooms set above another open-plan living room with a fireplace, bar and dining area. The communal spaces at Eden are serene and calm, while still facilitating encounters between guests.

Eden also houses an Artist Residence Cottage, called Ololokwe—after the sacred mountain that stands alone north of Isiolo—which is available to rent on a weekly or monthly basis. The fact that you’re staying in the former home of a fashion designer is evident in the deeply stylish, personal decor. A coffee table constructed of dhow wood displays dozens of ostrich eggs under a glass top, and most tables showcase colorful glassware hand-blown at a Nairobi glass studio. Butterfly murals line the hallways and trays are painted with animals by the Hog Ranch Studio artists who worked with Anna’s friend, the late photographer Peter Beard. Paintings by Anna’s late husband, Tonio Trzebinski, are displayed throughout, as are the works of their children (her daughter is a ceramicist, and her son is a sculptor). An additional perk of staying here is the proximity to Anna’s working atelier and boutique, so guests have the opportunity to shop her high-design coats, shawls and bags, all with gorgeous African embroidery.

At Eden, everything from the cocktail menu and coffee selection to the delicious food is authentically Kenyan. The sundeck facing a pond is an ideal location to enjoy a sundowner or a meal. Guests can go on forest walks in the hotel’s own backyard with the Samburu and can visit the nearby David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Nairobi Elephant Orphanage, the Giraffe Center (home to Giraffe Manor’s Rothschild’s giraffes) and the Karen Blixen Museum, which houses many of Blixen’s personal effects and props from the movie Out of Africa (the book has often been published under Blixen’s pen name, Isak Dinesen). There is also the opportunity to visit artisans, markets and shops that are farther afield in the city.

Unless you take over the main house or studio annex rooms, it is important to enjoy communal living to get the most out of an Eden stay. The hotel is best for those who are not bothered by animals roaming the property, be they guinea fowls and peacocks or monkeys (who might act as your morning wake up call when they jump on the roof).

Boutique hotel lovers, art- and design- focused travelers, nature-lovers wanting lots of outdoor space and anyone looking for charm and a sense of place