Kenya

From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

Nairobi's first hip property is a welcome addition to the respectable but staid choices that have, until recently, summed up the capital's upscale hotels. Inside, a four-story glass atrium and more than 800 pieces of artwork create a striking nightclub-like space in which modern architecture and traditional African forms intermingle. The 137 rooms and loft-style suites—decorated in shades of ocher, brown, and beige—convey an urban cool, with curved walls and headboards and the contemporary and traditional sculptures on display. Even the least expensive standard rooms have huge glass-walled bathrooms, some with freestanding tubs, packets of ground Kenyan coffee, and complimentary minibar treats. The majority of guests are business travelers taking advantage of the hotel's high-security location in the Village Market, a gated shopping mall and expat hangout near the embassy district, and 20 minutes by car from the city center. The pool terrace hosts private receptions and cocktail parties on weekends, while the restaurant Epic—which serves grills and a montage of African, Asian, and Italian dishes—attracts an upscale local crowd. Staff are enthusiastic without being obsequious.—2010 Hot List

Which room to book: Ground-floor standard rooms with free-standing tubs are the best deal.

View the entire Hot List of the travel world's most noteworthy debuts in 2010 ›

Subscribe now to Condé Nast Traveler for just $1 an issue! ›