Tribe Hotel

Character and identity

Set in Gigiri, Nairobi's leafy diplomatic quarter near the UN and Karura Forest, Tribe is the city's design-forward alternative to its more traditional upscale stays. A four-storey glass atrium anchors the property, and more than 900 original African artworks turn the public spaces into something closer to a gallery than a lobby. The 137 rooms and loft suites run in ochres, browns and beiges, with curved walls, freestanding tubs and floor-to-ceiling windows onto jacarandas. Jiko pours cocktails to an expat and diplomat crowd; Jinko handles flame-grilled African cooking. The 10,000 sq ft Kaya Spa works with Kenyan coffee, chocolate and sea salt.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets Tribe apart is the art and design programme: this is Nairobi's most stylistically confident hotel, and the Gigiri location delivers calm, security and walkability to the UN in equal measure. Book it if you value design and a serious spa over a downtown address. A loft suite is the room category that best showcases the architecture; weekends are quieter once the business crowd thins.