Safari254

I remember I first noticed the Mövenpick Nairobi when it was under construction and wondering why the building had a hideous looking contraption at the top. Boy was I pleasantly surprised at what was inside when I visited. What I thought (wrongly) was a grotesque aspect of the building, is the View – a 360 degree revolving restaurant situated on the 24th floor. The tower is something that stands out and is now an integral part of the Westlands skyline.

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The hotel is located in the thriving commercial hub of Westlands and according its website Mövenpick is a 5-star hotel that charms with its African design, uplifting atmosphere, open spaces, cool features and panoramic views. I’ll be honest, I haven’t visited the hotel, so I will reserve my opinion till I have spent some time there.

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I had initially visited the place on a Tuesday but unfortunately it was not open for dining. It however got to pique my interest when I saw the spectacular views it presented.

I got to visit the place on a Thursday, but had forgotten to make a reservation, which I only recalled after I got to the door. We requested to get seated despite not having a reservation. The host was extremely pleasant and after a few minutes got us a table for two.

I hadn’t noticed the rotating bit until I looked down and noticed the slow motion spin in the center. Being rather queasy I wondered if I would be overly conscious of the rotation, so I made an effort to avoid looking at the part that was noticeably rotating.

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We got a table next to the window and the views were just wow! I grew up in Westlands and the view from the top made me realize half the stuff I had no clue existed and also gave me memories of a few places I knew very well. I felt a wave of nostalgia. I for one did not know the Oshwal Centre was that big and well equipped, for a minute there I wished I had a chance to visit. I guess that’s a story for another day.

So straight to the dining. I felt the menu was a bit restrictive and there weren’t as many options as I had hoped.  The wine list didn’t cater to someone like me who like sweet wine, hence I had to settle for a semi sweet option. I ordered a mushroom chicken meal while my date had fondue. I am an avid fan of the food channel and had always heard of it, but it had never registered that it contained raw meat. As curious as I am, I will never try it. Sushi is the furthest I am willing to go when it comes to anything raw.

The meal was ok, I was not that impressed, plus I needed an escape from adulting hence the view made up for anything else that wasn’t up to par. The cost I think was reasonable seeing that most Nairobi high end restaurants over charge for many a not-so-impressive-meal. By the end of our meal we had completed a full 360 degree rotation and we were well into the next one before we decided to leave.

Overall it was pleasant. Would I go back, not sure, but I would definitely recommend it for the unparalleled 360 degree rotating view.