The Drexel House Kenya

Hotels
9.3 (202 reviews)
Karen end Rhino Gardens , Nairobi , KE

listing image 1
Show all photos
Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Business center
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Beautiful, well-maintained gardens
Attentive and hospitable owner and staff
Delicious/home-cooked food and generous breakfast
Peaceful, safe Karen location
Flexible check-out and guest-friendly touches (welcome drinks, chocolates)
Cons:
Hot water issues at sinks / water temperature problems
One report of unusable pool
Occasional noise from nearby barking dogs
Rooms décor slightly dated

Categories

Cleanliness
9.6
Guests repeatedly praise the well tended grounds, gardens and general upkeep of the house and cottages; no explicit cleanliness complaints noted.
Service
10
Highly praised owner (Dan) and staff: attentive, welcoming, flexible (late check-outs, luggage storage), personal touches like welcome drinks and chocolates; staff repeatedly described as obliging and friendly.
Location
9.5
Described as peaceful, safe and in an upscale Karen neighbourhood with short Ubers to attractions (Giraffe Sanctuary, Karen Blixen Museum); one mention of nearby barking dogs.
Room Quality
8.4
Rooms described as retro/dated but charming and authentic; several guests noted issues with hot water at sinks and difficulty adjusting water temperature, which lowered this score slightly.
Amenities
9
Breakfast and food are repeatedly praised and small touches are appreciated; one review noted the pool was unusable, otherwise amenities were seen as generous and pleasant.
Value for Money
9.4
Multiple guests extended stays, recommended the property and praised the overall experience and hospitality, indicating strong perceived value.
Food and Beverage
9.6
Food repeatedly described as delicious, stunning, home-cooked and generous breakfasts; one isolated remark about dinner was negative but overwhelmed by positive mentions.
Overall Experience
8.9
Strongly positive overall — relaxing, home-from-home atmosphere, highly hospitable owner and staff, beautiful gardens and a peaceful oasis; a few minor operational issues (hot water, pool/dinner for a small number of guests) reduced the perfect score.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-15 06:33

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation with Exceptional Amenities

Located just 19 km from Kenyatta International Conference Centre, The Drexel House Kenya offers a perfect blend of comfort and convenience. Guests can enjoy the outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, and a beautiful garden.

Culinary Delights and Family-Friendly Atmosphere

Indulge in a variety of cuisines at the on-site restaurant, including American, international, and European dishes. Special dietary needs are catered to with vegetarian, dairy-free, and halal options available. Families will appreciate the children's playground and the opportunity for cycling in the area.

Business and Leisure Facilities for a Memorable Stay

Whether you're traveling for work or leisure, The Drexel House Kenya has you covered. Take advantage of the on-site business centre, hot tub, and other amenities for a truly enjoyable stay.

Book now at The Drexel House Kenya for an unforgettable experience in Nairobi!

Important information:

This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

9.3
Based on 202 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.6
Service: 10
Location: 9.5
Room Quality: 8.4
Amenities: 9
Value for Money: 9.4
Food and Beverage: 9.6
Overall Experience: 8.9
J
James • solo_traveller • gb
10
Great stay in a quiet neighbourhood of Karen
Pros:

The staff were very welcoming as soon as we arrived and happy to help with any questions we had, including advising on how to set up m-pesa. They were also able to prepare a packed lunch for us on a day where we were going to the national park.

Cons:

Window in the bathroom wouldn't fully close as the handle was too long and hit the wall. Luckily there weren't any bugs so wasn't really an issue.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
J
Julia • couple • gb
9
The team were very welcoming and attentive and the garden was lovely.
Pros:

Very helpful team. We were presented with a fantastic picnic breakfast for our 5.30am start to a game drive.

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
L
Lea • solo_traveller • ae
9
Pros:

The property is beautiful and very well maintained. The rooms are large and very comfortable. The highlight of the stay was the kindness of everyone who worked there. We had dinner and were served by wonderful Kennedy, who was extremely professional and kind. I also had breakfast here and the portions and quality of the food is great. I highly recommend for anyone who would like to stay a few nights in Nairobi.

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
J
JEAN-FRANCOIS • couple • fr
10
Un endroit formidable!
Pros:

Nous avons particulièrement apprécié l'accueil, la gentillesse et la disponibilité de toute l'équipe, quelle que soit l'heure.
L'histoire du Drexel House est intimement liée à celle de Dan, le propriétaire. J'ai adoré partager son histoire un petit matin tranquille pendant le petit déjeuner. Au fil de nos échanges, nos parcours respectives à des milliers de km se sont avérés parfois bien proches.
Dan est formidable, respectueux et respectable, une joie et un souvenir de l'avoir rencontré.
C'est sûr, nous nous reverrons!!!
Merci Dan d'avoir fait de notre séjour un moment suspendu dans cette maison de verdure, cet havre de paix.
Nadia, Jean-François France
juillet 2026

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
B
Bruce • solo_traveller • gb
9
Recommended.
Pros:

Very hospitable stay - everyone was very helpful and friendly. Accommodation was good - clean and well maintained. Beautiful gardens. Very accommodating around serving dinner or breakfast to fit in around my travel plans.

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
R
Rod • solo_traveller • cl
10
Pros:

This place is amazing, from the facilities to the owner and staff. We had a group event here for a couple of days, and the place was perfect for it. The rooms were spacious, clean, and comfortable. The conference rooms worked great, and the gardens and multiple living rooms were perfect for meeting, relaxing, and enjoying our time together. One small recommendation would be to add one or two desks to one of the living rooms for guests who need to work.The premises are beautiful and full of charming little details to discover and enjoy.
The food was delicious and served in generous portions, both at breakfast and when we ordered lunch or dinner on the premises. Also goid vegetarian options. The location was also great, quiet and super safe, while still being just a short drive from some excellent restaurants in Nairobi.
The owner and staff were incredibly accommodating, making sure everything, from pickup arrangements to any other needs we had, was well taken care of. I would absolutely come back!

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
A
Anna • solo_traveller • sg
7
Warm and welcoming. Spacious room. Convenient for most Karen locations.
Pros:

Amazing staff!

Cons:

Could have been cleaner.

2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
R
Rod • solo_traveller • cl
10
2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
A
Ambroise • extended_group • fr
4
Pros:

Joli jardin

Cons:

Hotel très viellot et beaucoup trop cher pour le niveau de prestation.
Nourriture servie au diner moyenne et relativement cher

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
N
Neeley • couple • us
10
It was a lovely boutique hotel in Karen. Very reasonably priced.
Pros:

Very quiet, lovely outdoor areas.

2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
N
neil • couple • za
8
Quiet and secluded.
Pros:

Quiet location, spacious room

Cons:

Sometimes there was a delay getting into the gate. You have to get out of the car ring a bell and wait.
Bed was sagging

2026-08-13 • via Nuitee
J
JULIUS • solo_traveller • ug
9
Traveled to visit family. Friendly and polite staff. Great value for money. Excellent food.
Pros:

Superb breakfast. Excellent chef.

Cons:

Nothing really. Everything was perfect.

2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
K
Kevin • family_with_children • es
10
Unique personalised stay
Pros:

This has been a 20 year passion project by Dan the owner and it shows. The house, cottages and gardens are truly amazing, from the birds and plants to the art collected over the years.

Dan spends time with all his guests and his enthusiasm is infectious. The rest of the team are all great and the food is delicious.

The flexibility on checkout is great as are the recommendations Dan gives.

As you can tell, would not hesitate to recommend.

2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
T
Toine • solo_traveller • nl
7
voldoende
Pros:

mooie omgeving

Cons:

dinner, blaffende honden in de buurt, zwembad was niet te gebruiken.

2026-07-21 • via Nuitee
D
Deborah • family_with_children • gb
10
Amazing gem in the Karen region
Pros:

Beautiful hotel and gardens, very relaxing, like a home from home, Dan and the staff were brilliant, they were so attentive and made beautiful home cooked food. We had a late flight and we could stay in cottage until we left for the airport. Which was such a treat, so were rested before our flight home. Highly recommend this hotel. A great way to end our safari holiday rested and relaxed.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-19 • via Nuitee
T
Tina • extended_group • gb
10
Booked very last minute as I didn’t feel safe where I was, and what a find! Dan and Ken, the chef, were so lovely - Ken
Pros:

Such a beautiful house in fabulous gardens. The staff were all so welcoming and couldn’t do enough for us. Little touches like welcome drinks and chocolate on the pillow made it feel very special. Food was stunning.

Cons:

There is nothing to not like.

2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
R
Riddell • couple • za
10
Pros:

The staff were friendly and helpfull eventhough we arrived around minnight due to our late flight.

2026-07-07 • via Nuitee
S
Suzie Bishop • family_with_children • gb
9
Gorgeous home from home with beautiful gardens and food
Pros:

Friendly attentive staff. Beautiful, beautiful landscaped garden (honestly we were blown away by how well tended the grounds were and the beautiful array of flowers and plants). Delicious food and extremely generous breakfast. Location is perfect, short Ubers to Giraffe Sanctuary and the Karen Blixen Museum

Cons:

Nothing! Everything was perfect! The only thing I'd say of I had to come up with one constructive piece of feedback is that the decor in the rooms was a tiny bit dated, but honestly the old world charm made it very homely :)))

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
E
Emily • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Beautiful house and peaceful location in Karen. Helpful, friendly staff. Lovely breakfast in the garden. Perfect for my first stop in Kenya.

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
A
Alex • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

Very lovely house with attentive staff and nice food.

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee