Fodor's Expert Review House of Waine

You'll find nostalgia, history, and romantic surroundings at this family-owned boutique hotel. Set in lush gardens, it's 20 minutes from downtown Nairobi in the quiet suburb of Karen. It was here that the notorious Danish womanizer, man-about-town, and wannabe coffee farmer, Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, brought his lovely young wife, Karen. It was also here that Karen met and fell hopelessly and helplessly in love with the English hunter and adventurer Denys Finch Hatton—their tragic romance was brought vividly to life in the movie Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. The hotel, a colonial-style villa with two wings, is family-owned and -run (Waine is an acronym comprising the initials of family members’ names). Colonial ambience mixes comfortably with modern luxury in the beautifully appointed guest suites, each uniquely decorated in vivid colors with elegant furniture and a marble en suite bathroom. Fresh and wholesome lunches and dinners with daily changing menus are served, and there's a comfortable lounge and bar where a welcoming roaring fire is lit on cooler evenings.