Yummy Goes To Small World

Usually, when we’re on a road trip, the destination is a lot further, a lot more traffic and definitely not in Athi River. But when the Yummy team got an invite to experience the Small World Country Club for ourselves, a little staycation was impossible to resist. About an hours drive from Nairobi (when the traffic isn’t horrid), we found ourselves in the most unexpected place to spend the night. From the outside looking in, it doesn’t look like much.

Then we were led to the rooms and we finally realized what we had driven down for. A beautiful building that was clearly inspired by Swahili architecture. Their rooms are a dream with a 5-star bathroom, four-poster beds and lamp lighting that looks like it belongs in a movie. This was the start of our short holiday and it began right. Resisting the urge to stay in the rooms, we went in search for some drinks and a place to enjoy the dwindling sunshine. We were led to the pool and the bar- the spot where we would be spending most of our evening at.

The Small World pool is exactly what every pool should be - perfect for families, friends and couples. In some corners, they’ve got pool beds that are inside the pool AND a swing! And in the other corner, a pool bar that is on the same level as the pool which also has submerged stools. It was basically a chill-out haven and we made it just in time for happy hour. Their happy hour offer included two for one mojitos and long island iced teas, and for families, they also have kids playing section that is guaranteed to keep the kiddos busy. The evening went on, with tons of laughter and drinks.

When dinner time arrived, the symphony of meals from Chef Chris Barret was not what we expected. It started with a Salt Baked Beetroot with Curd, Parsley and Hazelnuts, Fresh Rosemary Bread, Cauliflower Steak and Roasted Pumpkin Soup. The highlight though was the fresh pizza that Chef Chris invited us to make for ourselves at their Pizza Corner which is equipped with a clay oven. As a team, we all made the weirdest combination of pizzas while Chef Chris talked us through the Small World farm and the organic vegetables that the toppings were made from, such as the yellow tomato sauce and chillies. After the pizza bonanza, the long-awaited dessert appeared in the form of a Mango Frangipane Tart that took our breath away. The tart was like no other; soft on the inside, crunchy on the out. Sweet but not overwhelmingly so and it reminded almost all of us of home. The food at Small World was a delightful experience, made even more so by Chef Chris who took the time to talk through every dish and tell us how he carefully curated the menu. There are not a lot of places out there that have a menu like Small World. Even at their breakfast buffet, the pancakes and hash browns stole the show and made the morning even better.

The rooms were blissfully perfect to sleep in and the showers hot, with the right amount of pressure. The whole experience at Small World was amazing and we left there happier than before, already making plans to come back.

If you’re looking for a place to spend the weekend, not too far away, with great drinks, food and rooms, Small World is it. Clearly, a diamond in the Athi River rough.