Located in the heart of Lamu Old Town, Lamu House Hotel offers a sun-kissed retreat with 2 beach bars and a white sand beach. Enjoy surfing and windsurfing activities, then unwind at Moonrise Restaurant or indulge in a Swedish massage at Lamu House Spa.
At Lamu House Hotel, you'll have access to onsite surfing/body boarding, windsurfing, and sailing. Guests in the mood for pampering can indulge in deep-tissue massages at the spa, and there's fun for everyone with the 3 outdoor pools and indoor pool. Moonrise Restaurant serves local and international cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Other highlights at this Art Deco hotel include 2 beach bars, a rooftop terrace, and a free airport shuttle.
At a glance
DONE
Hotel size
10 rooms
Arranged over 3 floors
DONE
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 15
Check-out time is 11:00 AM
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Special check-in instructions
This property offers transfers from the airport; guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
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Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 15
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Children
No cribs (infant beds)
Babysitting*
Supervised childcare*
DONE
Pets
Pets not allowed
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free onsite self parking
DONE
Transfers
Free airport shuttle on request (available 24 hours)*
DONE
Offsite
Beach shuttle*
DONE
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Free continental breakfast each morning 7 AM–10 AM
2 beach bars
Restaurant
Bar/lounge
Poolside bar
Coffee/tea in a common area
Barbecue grills
Private dining
Private picnics
Free daily reception
Room service (late night)
Snack bar/deli
Traveling with children
Children's pool
Supervised childcare (surcharge)
What to do
Beach shuttle (surcharge)
Sailing
Boat tours
Motor boating
Surfing/body boarding
Windsurfing
Concerts/live shows
Winery release events
Fishing
Beach club nearby (surcharge)
Beach nearby
Access to nearby indoor pool
Access to nearby health club
Snorkeling nearby
Working away
Coworking spaces
Services
24-hour front desk
Concierge services
Dry cleaning/laundry services
Luggage storage
Multilingual staff
Beach shuttle (surcharge)
Beach towels
Pool loungers
Romance packages
Facilities
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Rooftop terrace
Garden
Picnic area
Mosquito nets
24-hour health club
3 outdoor pools
An indoor pool
Art gallery on site
Full-service spa
Lockers available
Art Deco architecture
Accessibility
Smooth flooring in room
Room amenities
Home comfort
Ceiling fan
Iron/ironing board (on request)
Sleep well
Turndown service
Premium bedding
What to enjoy
Furnished patio
Individually furnished and decorated
Freshen up
Shower only
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Towels
Stay connected
Desk
Free WiFi
Food and drink
Champagne service
Refrigerator
Free bottled water
More
Daily housekeeping
In-room safe
Special features
Spa
Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa, Lamu House Spa. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, and Swedish massages. The spa is open daily.
Dining
Moonrise Restaurant - This restaurant specializes in local and international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
Fees & policies
Refundable deposits
Deposit is payable by bank transfer and is due within 48 hours of booking the reservation
Optional extras
Beach shuttle service is offered for an extra charge
Children & extra beds
Supervised childcare is available for an extra charge
Babysitting is available for an extra charge
Rollaway beds are available for USD 25.0 per day
Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation
Policies
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room.
Some facilities may have restricted access. Guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher on site.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
Also known as
Lamu House
Lamu House Hotel Lamu
Lamu House Hotel Hotel
Lamu House Hotel Hotel Lamu
Frequently asked questions
Is there a pool at Lamu House Hotel?
Yes, there are 3 outdoor pools, an indoor pool, and a children's pool.
Are pets allowed at Lamu House Hotel?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
Is parking offered on site at Lamu House Hotel?
Yes, there's free self parking.
Is airport shuttle service offered by Lamu House Hotel?
Yes, a free airport shuttle is available.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Lamu House Hotel?
Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: anytime. Check-out time is 11:00 AM.
What is there to do at Lamu House Hotel and nearby?
Have fun with onsite activities like sailing, windsurfing, and fishing. Indulge in a treatment at the spa and enjoy a swim in one of the 3 outdoor swimming pools. Lamu House Hotel also has 2 beach bars, an indoor pool, and a 24-hour health club, as well as spa services, a picnic area, and a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near Lamu House Hotel?
Yes, Moonrise Restaurant offers local and international cuisine.
Does Lamu House Hotel have any outdoor private spaces?
Yes, every room features a furnished patio.
What's the area around Lamu House Hotel like?
Lamu House Hotel is in Lamu Old Town, a short 3-minute walk from Lamu Fort and 3 minutes' walk from German Post Office Museum.
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Reviews
Lamu House Hotel Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
9.2
Cleanliness
8.0
Location
9.2
Staff & service
9.0
Property conditions & facilities
Popular mentions
Service staff
Room
Location
Islands
Waterfront
Reviews
Verified
8/10 Very good
Feb 8, 2026
Staff was great - especially the in house tour guide, Abu!
martin
martin, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 27, 2026
Lovely room overlooking the waterfront. Excellent restaurant and overall a great experience
Deborah
Deborah, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Dec 8, 2025
Enjoyed my stay the place is charming and well maintained and great staff. Can’t wait to be back with my family
Marsha
Marsha, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Dec 6, 2025
Great Staff, awesome breakfast! Good location for walking in Old Town Lamu, nice pools
Garold
Garold, 5-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 15, 2025
Peaceful stay in the heart of Lamu town
David
David, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 17, 2025
Amazing view
One of the best places one can dream to stay
Fabrice
Fabrice, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 20, 2025
Our stay was fabulous. The owner went out of his way to assist, answer all questions and gave suggestions of best restaurants to visit. Thank you!
Alihaid
Alihaid, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 20, 2023
Family-friendly and amazing staff ! We felt at home every day during our 2-weeks stay.
Eric
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 27, 2023
Staff were lovely.
Karen
Karen, 6-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Dec 11, 2023
Very nice and friendly personal. Spent twelve nights there and had a wonderful time!
Marco
Marco, 12-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 8, 2023
I highly recommend staying at the hotel. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The room and the hotel itself is very beautiful. The location is also really good as it is right on the waterfront.
Sumra
Sumra, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 7, 2023
The Staff, the architecture of the place, the view from the rooms into the channel, all these and more ensured I was able to completely unwind
Genuine
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 6, 2026
.
Nazeem
Nazeem, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 29, 2024
Great stay!
Had a wonderful stay, staff were very friendly and the breakfast was delicious. One thing to bear in mind is that this location is in the town centre and not near Shella beach - it's either a 40 mins walk or a 15 minute boat ride. There is also no aircon on the island so it's just fans.
Camilla
Camilla, 4-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 22, 2025
Lamu House is a lovely historic hotel right on the harbor front - top floor bedrooms facing the water are the best with cooling breezes. The staff could not be friendlier and the restaurant is tasty and popular. If you want an authentic experience of Lamu the town, this is the place . It is not a luxury resort type establishment like the ones out of town.
Glyn
Glyn, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 11, 2025
Oasis in Lamu Old Town
We loved the Lamu House hotel. The location was excellent and service wonderful. Not for people who can’t handle stairs however and may not be suitable for very young children but for us it was perfect. The restaurant was great too. Service was slower sometimes but it didn’t matter. Food was delicious. We loved the pool with the fragrant frangipani trees over it.
claire
claire, 1-night trip
Verified
4/10 Fair
Jan 7, 2025
The money I paid not worth it but nice place
Willis
Willis, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Dec 1, 2025
Would come back over and over again! The location is ideal, the building is gorgeous with incredible history. Be sure to enjoy the pool, and consider having a private meal in the back of the hotel. The price of our stay included a large bathroom, spacious sleeping area and lovely balcony. The sun poured in at sunrise, which was a beautiful way to wake up; it wasn't too loud at night. The price also included transfers to/and from the airport, which alone makes the trip much easier to navigate when arriving at the airport and also included breakfast, which was delicious. We had dinner at the restaurant, which was also fantastic. Yuri, the manager was helpful, the staff was courteous and welcoming. Be sure to take a tour with Abu and purchase some of his art. I will be sure to stay here when returning to Lamu. Can not recommend enough!
Rebecca
Rebecca, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 16, 2025
Gem of a boutique hotel.
What a gem of a boutique hotel. Quiet &safe. My top floor, seaview room had 2 balconies was very large & had a 4 poster mosquito netted king size bed. I left my balcony doors open at night. Only heard one mosquito. Giant walk in shower with benches in the bathroom, and an on sute masseuse. Staff was so nice. They recommended a wonderful tour guide, Abu Said who was very informative. As a very mature solo woman traveler, I felt very safe in this hotel & recommend it highly.
Verified traveler
3-night trip
Verified
4/10 Fair
Feb 2, 2025
Don’t stay here
No AC, limited responsiveness from
Front desk, delayed airport pick up
Verified traveler
2-night trip
Verified
2/10 Poor
Jan 10, 2025
There are so many flies and bugs in the room - it was just awful.
Lynda
Lynda, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 27, 2022
A haven of tranquility in noisy, dirty Lamu (which I love by the way). The Moonlight restaurant is a fine place to sit and have a quiet drink or meal under the shady flame tree; the pool a welcome place to cool off after the heat of the day. All very attractive in the old courtyard. The rooms a simple, but clean, furnished in traditional Swahili style. The staff, especially Esther on front desk, extremely helpful, arranging expeditions, finding old friends etc. Strongly recommend if you are staying in Lamu town.
vicky
vicky, 3-night trip
Verified
4/10 Fair
Sep 6, 2025
Beautiful hotel but we got food poisoning
A very beautiful hotel but the service is lacking. We got food poisoning from the hotel restaurant which ruined our stay. Concierge was also hard to reach whilst we were sick and there isn’t that attention to care from front desk/concierge. They didn’t really seem to care about our stay given that the food was making us sick. My earrings also went missing in the hotel and the front desk (again) didn’t seem to care and wasn't helpful.
The other staff members, however were nice and helpful.
Verified traveler
4-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 11, 2023
This property was amazing. It was a unique and quiet oasis in the middle of Lamu Town. The distance to the beach was a bit far, but this was a minor problem as there area number of Bodas and Taxi boats nearby to help you get to the beach. The property allows you to give a sense of what Lamu is truly like while still being quiet enough to be able to rest and relax. There are also a number of quiet pools on the property where you can enjoy nearly private relaxation. Some rooms also have private cabanas and balconies, which I enjoyed. Overall, this was a great place to stay at a very reasonable price point. The staff was even more amazing and helped me feel comfortable. Food at the moonrise restaurant was also really nice. I highly recommend this place to experience Lamu town.
Andrew
Andrew, 4-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Feb 16, 2024
Very friendly, charming hotel
This is a lovely hotel if one accepts the lack of a/c. During the day, with shutters and doors open to the sea breeze, it is quite comfortable, but I found it oppressively hot to sleep.
The manager, Esther, is simply terrific, and everyone is extremely friendly. My room was lovely, with a private courtyard leading to the small swimming pool. There is a good restaurant and a good b'fast.
You need to decide whether to stay in Lamu Town (where this hotel is) or Shela. The latter is a bit more Westernized. There are no cars on the island, so you go up and down the coast via water taxi, for which you wade into the water up to your ankles. Bring sandals you are willing to get wet.