Behind Lamu Fort
View on map and nearby hotels
“Excellent service in a beautiful restored accomodation”
“The hosts are amazing”
“Gorgeous property, incredibly welcoming staff, perfect location to see Lamu town”
“Location, breakfast, very helpful owners and staff”
“The rooms are beautiful, as are the common spaces”
“Also the hotel itself is beautiful, rooms are nice and comfortable, location is …”
“Breakfast is delicious and freshly prepared”
“Great location, gorgeous room with terrace looking over the old fort, breakfast …”
“The architecture alone is worth the stay - a truly beautiful historic house”
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. The bright rooms at Subira House have either a patio or a balcony and some have sea views and free Wi-Fi. Every room has a fan, a seating area, and a dining area. Guests can enjoy a free buffet breakfast each day at the restaurant. The restaurant serves a range of healthy organic cuisine, with packed lunches and room service available upon request. This eco-friendly property has a library and a garden with sunny terrace, and offers massages and babysitting services. Activities in the area include Snorkeling , whale-shark swimming, canoeing, yoga and a day trip to our Perma culture farm. The Lamu Airport is less than 3 km from the property, but can only be accessed by boat.
Christine
solo_traveller
April 7, 2026
“Exceptional”
It was close to most utilities around.
Jadefox
family_with_children
March 27, 2026
“Truly special historic property”
Gorgeous property, incredibly welcoming staff, perfect location to see Lamu town. Delicious food. We felt like we were the guests at an ambassador's residence.Truly wonderful and very special hotel - one of a kind - for those wanting to see Lamu town, rather than the beach side (which is still visitable from here).
Maaike
family_with_children
March 19, 2026
Wonderful team offering hospitality with a smile. Excellent service in a beautiful restored accomodation!
Dinti
solo_traveller
February 24, 2026
“A gem in the heart of Lamu old town”
Tastefully renovated and full of character , like being a guest in a stylish private home. Delicious food, welcoming owners.
Beryl
solo_traveller
February 18, 2026
“Exceptional. Subira house exceeded my expectations, loved my stay .”
Everything about the property is stunning . The hosts are amazing!
Lucy
extended_group
February 16, 2026
“Kennedy was kind and friendly.”
Adil
family_with_children
February 15, 2026
“Nice place, but Be Careful With Valuables.”
The architecture and the café, this stay would have been a great experience without the cons below.
Barry Lamont
couple
February 5, 2026
“Authentic stay in old Swahili house”
Location, breakfast, very helpful owners and staff
Said
couple
January 21, 2026
“Cozy place with very social staff and host”
Sofie
solo_traveller
January 9, 2026
“Beautiful, warm, breathtaking tranquility”
Oh Subira house, where do we start? When we decided to combine our Kenyan adventure with a trip to the coast, we both knew we didn’t want a lot of hustle and bustle, but a more laid back and relaxed atmosphere. We discovered the Lamu archipelago, and thusly Lamu town. It was perfect. Scouring booking.com and discovering the Subira house was like a dream. The architecture, interior, the placement in the heart of old Lamu town - wow! Upon arrival reality exceeded expectations by a million miles. The house itself it absolutely stunning. So full of warmth, history, culture, tranquility and beauty. The rooms are beautiful, as are the common spaces. It feels like entering a new world entirely. The staff are wonderful people through and through. Dearest Joyce and Rosemary - you are so delightful and beautiful, inside out! Thank you Mohammed, for helping us with arrangements outside of the house, you are a lifesaver! To Christina and Paul; what a lovely hotel you’ve created, and what lovely people you’ve filled it with. We love your eco appt and how you’ve intertwined it with the house and its soul. Thank you for including us from the start in all sorts of activities! Spending New Year’s Eve with you, and then January 1st with all of the staff and yourselves was so amazing! We loved it so! To anyone that is considering booking with the Subira house for their adventure - stop considering, do it. You will fall in love with the house, the people and its surroundings. To anyone concerned with the eco toilets; don worry, they are unproblematic, hygienic and easy to get used to. You will in no way be bothered by smell or unpleasantness.
Valerie
family_with_children
January 1, 2026
This is such a special place. Besides the history and beauty of the house, the staff and owners of Subira are exceptional. They went out of their way to make one feel welcome and make the stay a wonderful experience.
Guest
couple
December 12, 2025
“Cozy place with very social staff and host”
Tymo
couple
November 16, 2025
“Home far away from home.”
Paul and Christine were amazing hosts, also the other staff were more then amazing, such friendly people, it felt like a home far away from home. Also the hotel itself is beautiful, rooms are nice and comfortable, location is perfect and the people of Lamu are so friendly. We will be back someday for sure.
Shanice
solo_traveller
October 17, 2025
“Simply expectional”
The absolute loveliest staff that made my trip unforgettable and exceptional experience. Breakfast is delicious and freshly prepared. The architecture alone is worth the stay - a truly beautiful historic house. I’ve had the pleasure of some amazing travel experiences and I will forever remember my stay at Subira House. I can’t wait to return again!
Mariana
solo_traveller
October 2, 2025
“Very much recommended! Perfect for my first time in Lamu. Charming house with a wonderful staff”
Absolutely wonderful staff, great food, and beautiful house and decor. Great vibe, and nice people coming in during the day for tea, lounging, or eating a bite. I loved staying in Lamu Town for a few days (I have stayed in Shela too) — it's lively, and I think it's more special to be among locals, especially coming to Lamu for the first time.
Chris
couple
October 2, 2025
“A property with great character and staff”
The house is well loved and has been restored beautifully. We really enjoyed out stay
RODGER
couple
September 30, 2025
“Charming historic House, wonderful staff, yet lacked basic home comforts.”
All of the staff are amazingly cheerful, engaging and always helpful. Meals were lovingly prepared and tasty.
Norbert
couple
September 16, 2025
We spent great time in Lamu and Subira House is one of the best place you can choose. Centrally located, carefully restored historical house. Eco-friendly and comfortable.
Jones
solo_traveller
September 13, 2025
“Beautiful Old-style Guesthouse!”
Great location, gorgeous room with terrace looking over the old fort, breakfast was amazing and the staff were great (especially John).
Bernardine
family_with_children
August 16, 2025
“A living heritage museum!”
This place is so special. The staff really made me feel at home and as someone traveling alone, this was really welcome. The location was both amazing and challenging - in the heart of everything but sometimes the bustle (and tour touting) of the harbour was a bit too close. My room was stunning, as was the whole building - it was like staying in a movie set or a living museum for Swahili architecture. The food was really great - and grown on their own permaculture farm. One thing that was very interesting was that whenever I told a local where I was staying, they all had very positive things to share about the hotel and about Mama Subira, including how she has invested in local people and was an advocate for preserving their cultural heritage. Sometimes I wonder if places like this are PR spin, but this is the real deal.
Fishing, Massage, Windsurfing, Canoeing, Hiking, Diving, Snorkelling, Water sport facilities on site, Beauty Services, Hair styling, Massage chair, Yoga classes, Personal trainer, Fitness/spa locker rooms, Temporary art galleries, Walking tours, Themed dinner nights, Tour or class about local culture, Live music/performance
Use of cleaning chemicals that are effective against Coronavirus, Linens, towels and laundry washed in accordance with local authority guidelines, Guest accommodation is disinfected between stays
Board games/puzzles, Baby safety gates
Kid meals, Kid-friendly buffet, Wine/champagne, Fruits, Coffee house on site, Special diet menus (on request), Restaurant, Bar, Breakfast options
Non-smoking rooms, Safety deposit box, Non-smoking throughout, Designated smoking area
WiFi, Free WiFi, Internet services
Shared kitchen
Sun terrace, Garden, Terrace, Outdoor furniture
Contactless check-in/check-out, Cashless payment available
24-hour security, Key access, Fire extinguishers
Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by local authorities, Shared stationery such as printed menus, magazines, pens, and paper removed, Hand sanitizer in guest accommodation and key areas, Process in place to check health of guests, First aid kit available, Access to health care professionals, Thermometers for guests provided by property, Face masks for guests available
Airport shuttle (additional charge), Shuttle service, Meeting/banquet facilities, Babysitting/child services, Laundry, Ironing service, Airport shuttle, Packed lunches, Fax/photocopying, Concierge service, Private check-in/check-out, Shuttle service (additional charge), Luggage storage, Lockers, Shared lounge/TV area, Daily housekeeping, ATM/cash machine on site, Vending machine (drinks), Vending machine (snacks)
Airport pick up, Airport drop off
This bright, spacious apartment has a patio and views of the gardens. It has a fan, a seating area, and a dining area. Please note that the price is based on 2 guests. Maximum occupancy is 3. One adult or child older than 4 years must pay an additional 50% of the room rate per person, per night for an extra bed. In this case, please contact Subira House in advance.
The spacious double room features a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a terrace with sea views as well as a private bathroom boasting a walk-in shower. The unit has 1 bed.
The double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower. The unit offers 1 bed.
The double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom boasting a walk-in shower. The unit has 1 bed.
This bright room has a patio and views of the markets. It has a fan, a seating area, and a dining area.
This suite includes 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower. The suite offers a seating area, a dining area, as well as a patio and an outdoor dining area. The unit has 1 bed.
Each day we'll check prices and send you an email for your selected dates at Subira House.
If you don't have specific dates but would like to check prices for say next weekend or say next month we can check the price too.
