Subira house is a beautiful oasis of calm in the heart of Lamu town. The communal areas are lovingly furnished and comfortable, and the whole house has an otherworldly feel to it which we really loved. The views across the Lamu rooftops are delightful and the star gazing opportunities at night are fantastic. The food is good, we really appreciated their eco values (including the provision of free filtered water) and the staff are really attentive and friendly. We enjoyed getting to know the owners, who were helpful and always willing to impart local knowledge. We would recommend a stay here.

When we were there there were several lengthy area-wide power cuts - it was incredibly hot in our room overnight with no power for the fan, and our room didn’t seem to get much of a breeze (maybe other rooms were better located from that point of view!). The only other criticism is that things like the communal water dispensers could have been topped up a bit more frequently, and our room sometimes could have benefitted from a slightly more thorough clean each day (important when there are bugs around, and we had a snack-obsessed toddler with us) and, lastly, there were quite a few flies bothering us at breakfast (probably a Lamu-wide issue) which made an otherwise very pleasant meal slightly less relaxing!

Very likeable are the very kind and attentive staff and very attractive the historic Arabic architectural and furnishing style were stunning. This guest house was the former house of the Lamu governor appointed way back by the Sultan of Zanzibar and its rooms and spaces echo said times. Staff very accommodating and helpful. Its location is right behind the historical Lamu fort which makes it a great landmark to ask for when originally lost in a warren of bewildering yet charming tiny alleys. Old Town Lamu is solely experienced on foot and the occasional donkey (cart), no modern motorized vehicles anywhere to be found. Good walking shoes recommended and sturdy bags as the alley surfaces do not usually invite bags to be 'rolled'. At the ready young men can be found at the airport or landing pier to carry bags for a few hundered KES. Locals are very friendly and greet you regularly upon encountering them in the alley warren.

Subira House has ecological standards and this covers the area of their plumbing. All is doable, but requires adjustments. There is no "modern day sewage system" under the roads and alleys of Old Town Lamu and while charm abounds and individual places are well-maintained or restored, many areas are crumbling, forgotten and dirty. Nothing unsurmountable, but it might stretch usual tourist expectations...it is however authentic!

Beautiful eco-certified hotel in Lamu Town. Whilst the town itself is not everyone’s cup of tea, recommend you visiting it or even spend the entire time here saving you lots of money whilst commuting to Shela and Manda Bay. The hotel itself is picturesque and well maintained with a delicious breakfast and slow food dinner offering. Everything from the towels to the soap and water is sustainably sourced. The couple that runs the hotel is humble and passionate, full of life stories. Be mindful of the sustainable latrine toilets but if you’ll ever try them, it’s here. Indulge in a yoga class and enjoy the beautiful sky at night.

What can I say.. Subira House exceeded all our expectations and if you are looking to travel to Lamu - do not hesitate to book! On our first night, we had a lovely dinner with the owners (Kiki & Paul), Mohamed as well as other guests. I highly recommend this experience - delicious dinner with amazing company plus learned a lot about Lamu and its history! Mohamed organised a walking tour, sunset dhow cruise + snorkelling trip for us. All of it was seamless and just amazing! On top of this, Subira House is a grade 1 listed property in the heart of Lamu. The attention to detail, beautiful artwork and eco friendly ethos makes it one of the best guesthouses I have stayed in the world!! We made some amazing friends from the guesthouse that we will never forget... And we were treated like QUEENS! Best experience in Lamu :)

I can't think of anything!

Wonderful experience! We spontaneously decided to visit Lamu and came across Subira’s house. The team organized an amiable boat driver who brought us to the house. Once we arrived we were welcomed by Mohammed, who showed us the building and our room. The atmosphere and hospitality of the staff are so friendly and warm, which made us very comfortable. The breakfast is amazing - try the moringa omelette! The rooms were very cute and spacious and we had a beautiful outdoor patio which was perfect to wind down in the evening. The team is very connected to the town and can help with any requests such as organizing a Henna Designer or finding great restaurants. We were so happy with the decision to visit this beautiful town and the Subira house, which is perfectly located! We hope that the house will remain like it is and will find a lovely new owner!

I thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality. The manager, Mohamed, was amazing, very friendly and accomodating. He organized snorkeling and a sunset boat ride. Went out on the water with some of his trusted captains who were chill and hospitable. He also showed me around Lamu Town. He made me feel comfortable. I don't know what I'd do if it weren't for his recommendations. The hotel staff were also very nice and helpful. The breakfast was filling and delicious.

The soap in the bathrooms had a very strong off-putting scent. There was no shampoo or conditioner. The towels are not fast drying and not very absorbent. There were rips in the canopy bed netting, big enough for mosquitoes to get through and bite me many times throughout the night. I was bit more times here than on safari.

The location is great: just behind the main square so very easy to find if you get lost and the area is very safe. The house is beautiful and it's amazing to think how many events have happened there throughout the years. Breakfast was simple but delicious and prepared with a lot of care. I appreciated them letting me stay a bit longer after check out time.

There was no WiFi (wasn't an inconvenience for us but it's good to know) - the lower floor is a absolutely amazing, in terms of decoration etc. The upper floor feels a bit abandoned instead. We didn't have towels in our room but that was partly our fault cause we forgot to ask for them. Regarding the toilet, while we understand the system and the reasons, I wonder if there's anything that can be done to avoid the smell. We hadnt used the bathroom yet and it was already smelling quite a lot when we arrived. John was very sweet and helpful but we found some of the staff members not that willing to assist...

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.

Gorgeous house with amazing swahili flair, lovely hosts. Seems like they contribute to the Lamu community in a big way, they are well known and loved with everyone I spoke to. Hotel staff will help you organize any outing you‘d like, I can recommend Dhow trips, but they also help with other activities (plus reasonable pricing recommendations). Eco friendly facilities and the breakfast is amazing with ingredients sourced almost exclusively from their own Lamu farm.

Nothing.

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.