Top 10 Things to Do in Karen, Nairobi
There’s a part of Nairobi that doesn’t rush. It doesn’t honk or hustle. It breathes. That part is Karen.
Named after the legendary Danish author Karen Blixen whose memoir Out of Africa gave the world a romantic glimpse into colonial-era Kenya this suburb is where Nairobi lets down its hair. Karen is not just a neighborhood; it’s a journey through stories, culture, cuisine, and safari all just 30 minutes from the city.
If you’re planning a visit, or simply dreaming of one, here’s what your perfect day in Karen could feel like.
1. Wake Up with the Birds at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden & Cottages
You don’t need an alarm here the gentle chirps and the rustle of jacaranda leaves will do. As sunlight filters through colonial-style windows, you open your eyes to lush gardens and birdsong. The coffee? Locally roasted. The breakfast? Served under century-old trees.
2. A Quiet Stroll Through the Karen Blixen Museum
A short walk away, you find yourself stepping into the past. This is the actual home where Karen Blixen once lived her original furniture, letters, and photographs still intact. Each room echoes with tales of love, loss, and lion-laced landscapes. Outside, the Ngong Hills stand like silent witnesses to her time in Africa.
3. Feed Giraffes Eye-to-Eye at the Giraffe Centre
Not every day offers a face-to-face with a giraffe but in Karen, it’s just down the road. At the Giraffe Centre, you stand on a wooden platform, a food pellet in hand, as a towering Rothschild giraffe leans in with gentle curiosity. Kids squeal, couples laugh, and cameras click. It’s intimate. It’s unforgettable.
4. Handcrafted Beauty at Kazuri Beads & Pottery Centre
Next, you turn into a courtyard where over 300 women handcraft ceramic beads, each one shaped and painted by hand. Kazuri means “small and beautiful” in Swahili and each bead tells a story of empowerment. You watch as fingers dance over clay, transforming it into necklaces that now circle necks across the globe.
5. Tea with a View at Kiambethu Tea Farm
By now, you’re craving something warm. A scenic drive takes you to Limuru lush, misty, and green. At Kiambethu, you learn the story of tea in Kenya while sipping it straight from the source. Lunch is served with sweeping views and stories from the estate’s fifth-generation host
6. Lunch Under the Trees at The Garden Restaurant
Back in Karen, it’s time to unwind. At The Garden Restaurant (part of Karen Blixen Coffee Garden), tables sit beneath blooming bougainvillea. The air smells of grilled meats, roasted veggies, and fresh herbs. There’s laughter from a nearby family. A couple shares wine. You smile.
7. Browse Global Treasures at House of Treasures
Tucked away in lush gardens, this two-story boutique is a traveler’s dream. Think beaded armchairs from West Africa, antique chests from India, silver jewelry, and silk scarves all curated by a mother-daughter duo who’ve sourced these pieces from across the globe.
8. Sunset at Nairobi National Park
Few cities in the world offer this. You enter the park gates just as the sun starts dipping. You drive past zebras, gazelles, maybe even a lion and behind them, Nairobi’s skyline begins to glow. The wild and the urban, side-by-side. A photographer’s dream.
9. Dinner in Elegance at Babette’s Fine Dinin
As twilight wraps the garden in amber light, you take your seat at Babette’s. This is dining, elevated. European finesse meets African warmth. The wine is perfectly chilled. The steak melts in your mouth. And somewhere in the background, the hum of quiet conversations and clinking glasses.
10. End the Night with a Nightcap at The Atrium & Bar
Before you turn in, you wander into The Atrium where garden and glass meet. You sip a craft cocktail under the stars, the flicker of candles and soft music the only companions. The city feels far, far away and yet, here you are. Still in Nairobi.
