Subira House
Bed and Breakfast in Lamu
4-Star Hotel
Reasons to book
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Internet / Wifi and more
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About this bed and breakfast
This historical Arabian-style building is located in the UNESCO-listed town of Lamu. It is less than 300 metres from the seafront and 3 km from the white sandy beach.
Amenities
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Smoking allowed
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
TV
Beachfront or waterfront
Gym or Fitness Center
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Lamu
Available Rooms
2 Single • 193 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
1 King • 290 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
1 King • 226 ft²
Sleeps 3
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
1 King • 193 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
1 King • 279 ft²
Sleeps 3
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
$$$$
Reviews
100% verified reviews5.0
The house is very well located, making it convenient to get your bearings and experience Lamu’s authentic ambiance. The house in itself is gorgeous and well ventilated, with several resting areas. The room was very spacious and well maintained, with eco-friendly towels and toilets. The breakfast was particularly good and filling, with everything homemade or locally sourced and very tasty. The staff is very polite, hospitable and skilled.
Nothing
5.0
Fabulous place - it's an amazing building with lots of places to hang out in the peace and cool away from the heat! It's just behind the fort in the Lamu Town so always easy to find. The breakfast was lovely and the staff were great. They also make every effort to be as sustainable as possible.
4.5
Lugnt, fint, trevligt, bra frukost, fantastisk välkomst middag, bra läge
Jag skulle velat haft ett kylskåp i rummet. Kuddarna kunde varit bättre.
5.0
Casa del governatore restaurata da una coppia di svedesi, molto attenti ai dettagli e alla conservazione della struttura originale. Arredo curato e personale attento al cliente. Cuoca ottima sia per come cucina sia per come sa presentare i piatti.
La casa è molto bella, dal fascino antico . Ospita anche artisti e ha un laboratorio per la produzione di opere d’arte
Niente. Tutto bene anche il wc a secco. Nessun odore
4.5
The place is stunning and querky. Beautifully furnished and well maintained. Salutations to katy the owner who came to speak to us every day to ensure we were comfortable and offer suggestions.
there was a nationwide power cut that lasted close to 48 hours. No fault of the Subira, but it did effect our comfort.
5.0
The staff are always very helpful in case of anything. The room was clean, the entire hotel was clean and you can walk around barefoot.
The toilets are something to get used to 😊
5.0
The staff was very kind and helpful. The building is beautiful and the style is really nice. The breakfast was really good, especially home made bread and peanut butter!
Double bed with single sheets
5.0
Fantastic place to stay and enjoy the beautiful island of Lamu. It is located in a safe area close to the waterfront. The place has a great atmosphere in a historical building with very comfortable rooms. The breakfast was excellent, with fresh fruits and omelettes with moringa leaves. The staff was very helpful and kind; you can count on them for advice and suggestions to have a wonderful experience in Lamu.
4.0
Ambience/atmospher. Archecture/design of space. Friendliness of the staff and owners.
Breakfast - more diversity/variety needed.
5.0
The location is great. An easy walk to explore the town and shops are all nearby. The house is such a paradise. You walk in and it's a whole other place. The many courtyards give it such a wonderful ambiance and make for excellent relaxation spots. The room I stayed in was quite spacious and designed to the true Lamu designs. Christina and the staff we truly amazing. They make the stay so comfortable and are always ready to help if you're new to the town. They'll advise on activities, restaurants and places to visit just to make your stay even more enjoyable.
I was there for such a short time. But I'll be back.
4.5
Mama Subira (Christina) was very helpful and gave us nice tips for our trip in Lamu.
She even arranged a boat trip for us .
I strongly recommend this place!
5.0
Subira house was really an amazing place to stay. Its a lovely old swahili townhouse which has been beautifully restored - every corner of the place has been created with so much care and artistry. The atmosphere of the place is very peaceful, calm and has its own special energy, and my room was very quiet with a beautiful bathroom.
I felt at home immediately and was truly sad to leave - the owners have really created something special in Subira house. The owners and all the staff were also very kind and welcoming and extremely helpful with logistics for my trip. The breakfast and dinner were also amazing, all very fresh ingredients prepared by a skilled chef. As a solo traveller, it was also great as I met other people at breakfast and dinner.
I moved on from Subira house to stay in Shela, but wish I'd stayed a bit longer at Subira. Its such a relaxing place, and perfect if you want to experience the atmosphere and authenticity of the Lamu old town. Its very easy to get to Shela beach, however I preferred the beach on Manda island as its more peaceful, easier/safer to swim there and you can watch the sunset. Its easy to get a boat there from Lamu town, so if you are coming to Lamu for a beach holiday you don't necessarily need to stay in Shela to have that experience (even while staying in Shela, I would catch a boat to go to Manda Island).
Overall, I would thoroughly recommend Subira house, its the most beautiful house I've ever stayed in and perfect for a holiday to Lamu.
3.5
the old style vibe, the staff was very sweet and available, the chef and the food was really good they managed to provide food also for my intolerance
we didn’t really understand the toilet were “old-style”, we found them a bit uncomfortable and smelly
4.5
The breakfast of omelette, cereals, yoghurt, fruit and toast was both filling and tasty and a great way to start the day. The fact that most of the ingredients came from the hotels own shamba (farm) was an added bonus.
5.0
Loved the location of this property, the staff are the most welcoming and sweetest people.
none
4.5
Great of Paul, Christina and Victoria to chat with guests. Feels homely. And a beautiful story they have!
The toilets were a bit a culture shock but understandably for a good cause.
4.5
Subira House was lovely. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful and the building in itself was fantastic, with much attention to details. The staff members were very sweet and helpful and the breakfast was super! I loved its location too, very practical.
My room had a small street just behind and with open windows due to the heat, it was impossible not to wake up very early in the morning because of people passing there, talking and shouting. However, a price that one should be willing to pay to live in the historical centre of what is a very vibrant small town.
5.0
The house has been beautifully restored to traditional Swahili design (take a look at old photographs in the reception). The staff were all extremely friendly and helpful and we felt very welcome and at home on first walking through the front door - thank you. Really good central location to avail of boat taxis, local restaurants and experience a glimpse into every day life within the hustle and bustle of the town located right behind the main square / fort. Breakfast was a simple offer of homegrown fruits honey yogurt and eggs with home made breads jams and peanut butter but really really lovely and I think my favourite breakfast having been in Kenya for 8 weeks!! Sara was so welcoming and approachable to help with booking tours and answer any question we had. Communal spaces outside rooms were nicely decorated and relaxed for guests to chill in some shade. Love that the house is sustainable and also has a local Shamba farm. Sara arranged a 2 hour walking tour with a local guide which was fascinating. We only wish we had more time to explore the farm and go on more trips as Lamu has been a truly magical place and so happy we visited and stayed at Subira. Thanks to all the team who made our stay so special and homely.
Room was quite hot at night and our fans didn’t work. (We didn’t mention this to team during our stay and I have no doubt they would of sorted the problem straight away once told :) ) the Lighting in the room at night was quite low and maybe not ideal for visually impaired or guests with reduced mobility as you needed to leave room to access toilet across the way but we didn’t mind this! ❤️
5.0
Beautiful, historic building with genuine efforts to be ecologically sustainable eg no plastics etc
Outstandingly friendly and helpful hosts and staff.
Really well-prepared and sourced organic food eg home-made breads, jams, yogurt etc, often from their own permaculture "samba".
5.0
Subira House is a majestic oasis in the heart of Lamu Town!! The house itself is decorated in the traditional Swaheli style with many cute little terraces overlooking the town and gardens below. The bedrooms are comfortable. All the ingredients for breakfast and dinner are locally sourced or home grown and cooked with so much attention to detail. But what is outstanding is the hospitality from Christina and Paul - they have lived here 30 years and really care so much about Lamu town and make you feel so welcome. I joined them for dinner on a few nights, visited their farm and went for a yoga class in town. I couldn't recommend this place enough. Thank you Subira House, Christina, Paul and all the wonderful staff.
5.0
I loved the atmosphere and history of this place. Warm welcome from the hosts and staff. Excellent breakfast and dinner with fresh natural ingredients. I also enjoyed the location in the centre of the old town but a few steps from the waterfront
Some guests may find the composting toilets an issue though it was no problem to me. The place is keeping their eco credentials but this may not suit everyone.
5.0
Breakfast was excellent, consisting of local fruits, yogurt, eggs and delicious bread. All fresh and tasty.
Most of all, we loved the people working at the hotel. We felt like family.
impeccable, we liked everything
4.5
A beautiful residence with amazing architecture. The staff and Kiki were amazing. We felt right at home. Food was delicious. Will remember the pistachio ice-cream in my dreams. Was a comfortable stay.
Cockroaches in the bathroom
4.0
I loved how it felt like a little oasis in Lamu town. all of the plants and the historical influences, the architecture with such beautiful furniture and plants. The dinner smelled amazing and sad we didn’t eat here, but weren’t feeling well the night we would have eaten.
I understand why they have them, but long drops are a still a bit scary at night.
it would have been great to of had more local things in the little shop as there aren’t many shops in Lamu or Shela which you don’t get bothered by lots of people trying to sell you things.
4.0
I had a long two week stay at Subira House and it felt like a peaceful retreat while I was participating in a writing program at another hotel in Lamu. Beautiful building, comfortable room, and delicious, filling breakfast. Convenient location right near the main pier for taking boats to the beaches. I appreciated the breezy terrace where I often lounged at night looking at the stars. The owners and staff were attentive and kind. When I was sick one day and often not feeling well, they made me soothing teas, and frequently checked in on how I was feeling. I loved the resident dog Amani and the kitty (whose name I forget). It was nice getting to know Christina and learning about Lamu through her experience. I would recommend Subira House to anyone visiting Lamu.
The room was stuffy even with two fans. Although I appreciated the eco-friendly status of the hotel, I did not like the wooden seat of the composting toilet... it did not feel totally hygienic to me. Also there was often a cockroach under the toilet seat. We seemed to have a mutual agreement not to bother each other, but I would have preferred not to share the toilet with him. It was often noisy during the day with men playing checkers down the street and on a few nights there were weddings at the fort with very loud music. I didn't mind the wedding noise so much because I liked the music and once I was in the room with the fans on, I couldn't hear anything outside the room, but in general, more quiet would've been nice -- not a criticism of Subira House, it's just a consequence of the location being right behind the fort.
5.0
John, Kennedy, Jacinta, Yusuf, Mohammed, and everyone who interacted with us, thank you so much for the Lamu generosity. Christina and Paul are lovely and thoughtful hosts. It is so inspiring to see such a sustainable way of life simultaneously remain beautiful.
4.5
Lovely property in the heart of Lamu town. Well run and very helpful managers and staff.
More space in the family room
5.0
Everything at Subira House is simply perfect. Subira House represents the spirit and the roots of Lamu Town. Christina and Paul are exceptional hosts, together with Dauda and the rest of the team. Don’t miss the opportunity to have at least one dinner with them.
Unique stay!
4.0
the architecture
the breakfast
the toilets took a lot to get used to
4.5
The rooms are nice and authentic, the staff is super sweet and the food is amazing.
5.0
The history, the staff and just the overall experience being there for a night was amazing
There was no bottled water on site and the water in the jugs did not taste so great.
FAQs
How much does this bed and breakfast cost compared to others in Lamu?
The average price for a rental in Lamu is $58 per night. This rental is $0 less expensive than the average.
Is parking included with this bed and breakfast?
Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Subira House. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this bed and breakfast?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this bed and breakfast. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Subira House pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this bed and breakfast is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Subira House?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, smoking allowed, laundry, and balcony or patio.
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