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Average
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About
4.5
#32 of 249 hotels in Nairobi
Location
4.6
Cleanliness
4.9
Service
4.8
Value
4.5
House of Waine is a family owned property and this is reflected in the name Waine which is made up of the initials of the family members. Originally a family house, it was lovingly converted to a boutique hotel and eventually opened in 2004. The interior design takes its cue from the Matriarch of the family and is imbued with a timeless elegance much like her.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
House of Waine is a large country house which has been turned into a small hotel and has recently been refurbished tastefully in shades of grey and silver so it looks quite different from some of the photos online. However, I personally feel that this has resulted in a loss of character as it now feels rather bland and 'international' rather than Kenyan.
As the only occupants during COVID we were upgraded to the Malaika suite which is ridiculously huge and sunny with windows on three sides, a large bathroom with both a corner bath and a shower and a separate dressing room. It also had a balcony overlooking the gardens and pool with room for both a dining table and chairs and a coffee table and sofa plus two large, adjustable umbrellas.
Service is excellent, especially Alex on the front desk who was very helpful with sourcing PCR Covid tests and other admin. Despite the tribulations of the pandemic, they still seem to have a large staff working and everyone was friendly and helpful, masks were worn and social distancing observed.
Breakfasts were good and they kindly set up a table for us on the lawn. The fruit plates were variable but that might just be because we don’t particularly like melon! Cereal and bread were basic but the cooked breakfast was excellent. However, while service was very professional, it could also be quite slow with not much forethought. The set lunch was 4 courses which was too much for us so when we ate lunch we asked for a salad, which was perfect. The dinners were also 4 course and felt very old school with a starter, soup course (usually very good), meat or fish with potatoes and veg and a pudding.
However, this is a lovely place to come back to after the hectic pace of the outside world. We spent four days here before going on safari and considered staying somewhere else on our return but, having looked at the alternatives, we chose to return and were delighted that we did. It felt like coming home.
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Date of stay: March 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Paul Omache, General Manager at House of Waine
Responded Apr 14, 2021
Dear Lazzagear, Greetings from House of Waine in sunny Nairobi. We do appreciate your review of our property and your candor with respect to our ongoing renovations and facelift. We are yet to roll out the new images online as the current refurb is 90% completed. The aim of the soft furnishings was to lighten the heavy feel our rooms had previously and tone done the color blasts by ensuring the room blends with the natural environs of our beautiful surroundings. We still maintain our core value of being a hotel with the Spirit of Modern Africa which incorporates both traditional and modern aesthetics in design and look. We always want our guests to experience the best we have to offer and are happy that the room upgrade made the stay extra special and brought in the feeling of home. Our staff are dedicated to all our guests and we always encourage them to go the extra mile and ensure that all guest needs are met and exceeded. Alex will be delighted to hear of your kind words. The English Breakfast we serve is of international standard but we are always happy to customize it for our guests especially in due consideration of dietary requirements. The seasonal fruits offered can always be changed and we will ensure your next visit has all the tropical fruits in our rich country. Our a la carte lunches and dinners are usually vast and we always encourage guests to make their preferences known and not feel that they have to partake of all the offerings. We are happy to note that the meal service experience met your expectations. We are always happy to have you back during your next visit post-pandemic and we believe that the hectic pace experienced during this visit will be a thing of the past. From all of us at House of Waine, we say... Karibu Tena!
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We stayed at this property for 2 nights while passing through Nairobi on our honeymoon. The property is gorgeous and very spacious, they upgraded us to the master bedroom suite and then showered our room in rose pedals and left us a bottle of champagne. The first night they set up a private candlelight dinner in a separate room and the food we had both nights was wonderful. The staff was so attentive and helpful, I just wish we would have had more time at this property.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Paul Omache, General Manager at House of Waine
Responded Sep 23, 2021
Dear Grant, Thank you for making us a part of this wonderful milestone in your life as you celebrated your honeymoon with us. We had an awesome time hosting you and making your stay at our boutique luxury hotel memorable in the true spirit of modern Africa. Our staff are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the professional and safe service extended to you during your stay. We are happy you enjoyed the small and thoughtful surprises we planned for the two of you with the VIP amenities and room upgrade on your special day. We remain always at your service and we will be waiting to welcome you back next year when you commemorate your wedding anniversary. From all of us at the House we say... Asante Sana. House of Waine Team.
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Very comfortable, spacious rooms. Located near many attractions and artisan shops in Karen District of Nairobi. What it lacks though is character. Decor, although new, is uninspired and without personality. Much could be done, and the space and the tranquil setting are really lovely. The garden is impeccable. Staff were extra extremely attentive and the food was delicious. The cottage has a more homey feel.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HoWNairobi, Assistant General Manager at House of Waine
Responded Mar 10, 2020
Dear Africa Travel Centre, We thank you for your review of the hotel and the analysis of our rooms which you did during your site inspection. We want to confirm to you that your proposals are well taken into consideration as we are planning soft furnishings for all our 11 beautiful boutique rooms which will be individually styled to give each guest a different experience from all over the world in The Spirit of Modern Africa. The rooms will all have the original and renewed personalized special themes adopted from local cultures and the African continent. We do encourage you to visit us once again to enable us showcase to you our newly done rooms after May 2020 and assure you a renewed perspective on what the House offers. Our staff are happy to hear of how much you appreciate their service and the food served while enjoying the lush gardens that are home to various indigenous birds. Please feel free to contribute further with ideas about our rooms by writing to us (mail@houseofwaine.co.ke) and we are more than happy to be of service to you in the future in our usual World Class Style. Best Regards, The House of Waine Team.
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The House of Waine is a spectacular location in the Karen suburb of Nairobi. It is approximately 40-45 minutes from JK airport. The rooms are surrounded by gardens, grasses, and blooming plants. I stayed in the Cottage, a two bedroom bungalow toward the rear of the property that included a kitchenette. The other rooms are located in the main house. I was shown the Victoria room and it would have justified her presence.
The staff are all very polite and ready to assist. They look after the guests without being overbearing. The restaurant served a very good Red Snapper and the bar is always open. In fact, the staff is on 24-hour call to serve.
I highly recommend the House of Waine. If you have never been to Kenya then a hired automobile will be necessary.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Â Probably going to need a taxi
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Paul Omache, General Manager at House of Waine
Responded Aug 5, 2021
Dear William, Thank you for taking your time to review our luxurious boutique hotel. The Cottage is our piece de resistance and we are glad that you got to stay and experience the serenity we offer. Our environs as you have perfectly summarized is kept in pristine conditions and we do our best to ensure that guests get the full African vibe and experience. The hotel proximity to the airport has also been made more accessible through the newly built and completed express highway that links the airport road and the great southern bypass which reduces the travel time to the hotel. Our service staff are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful stay with us and that the service rendered to you was satisfactory in the true spirit of modern Africa as our hotel motto reads. We are always ready to serve and would be ecstatic to host you once again in the coming future. Much appreciation for your recommendation of our hotel. From all of us at the House, Karibu Tena Sana (You're always welcome). House of Waine Family.
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The House of Waine is centrally located in Nairobi to many of the more popular attractions. The grounds are stunning and the food is well presented with lots of options. The site is smaller, not a large in personal hotel. The site offers laundry services for a fee. We would recommend this location as a start/stopping point as part of a safari trip or just to spend a couple nights to enjoy Nairobi and what it has to offer.
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Date of stay: August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at House of Waine with my family for 4 nights just before Christmas. It's a very special place - quiet, and relaxing and a more intimate place to stay where the staff are not only very welcoming and friendly but are extremely helpful and will go that extra mile to make your stay perfect. The hotel has recently been completely refurbished to an extremely high standard. Management have done a fantastic job in managing to retain such great, professional staff during these very difficult and quiet Covid-times, whilst other hotels in Nairobi have been forced to close. Our rooms were spacious and of a very high standard and the interconnecting rooms worked well with our 2 boys. All of our meals at House of Waine were delicious and our boys particularly loved their time spent in the attractive swimming pool. Thank you to all of the staff for a great stay. We were very sorry to leave and hope to return one day.
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Date of stay: December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were so impressed by the attentiveness of the staff prior to our check in at the House of Waine and equally impressed by the helpfulness, professionalism, and customer focused staff during our stay.
The Malaika Suite is beautifully designed and furnished, with a private balcony, sublime bed, deep bath and a quiet minibar. We loved it.
The staff spoiled my husband and I by suggesting we had dinner in a private dining room, we had some of the best wait service we have ever experienced. Polite, unobtrusive and attentive. On a cold night in Karen, the indoor heater made our intimate dinner very warm and cosy.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Its such a beautiful, clean and quiet property in a serene Karen neighbourhood, from the security at the entrance to the reception, everything was exceptional. Shout outs to manager Anthony and Amo, your smiles, fast check in and accommodative to our requests deserves recognition. Maurice really knows his product well and such an excellent service you offered. Chef Susan, from dinner, breakfast and lunch, the food was fresh and savoury (should try their steaks). Housekeeping team (sorry we forgot the names) did an excellent job in making sure though its cold in Nairobi, our night was warm. In generally, you made our stay memorable and sure to recommend and come back.
Hints; carry a camera, the new look after renovation needs memorable photos to tag along.
Cheers How Team.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Paul Omache, General Manager at House of Waine
Responded Jul 27, 2021
Dear Ken, Thank you for the wonderful and honest review of our property and staff. We do appreciate the time you have taken to review us and let the world know what the hotel has to offer. Our recent renovations are a true testament that the new additions are positively noted and are making guest stays memorable and exceptional. The staff members are happy for the positive reviews and not to worry if you forgot some of the names. The most important thing is that you remain with the wonderful experience and we believe that you will capture the other names on your return visit. A camera is indeed needed as all the beautiful flora and environs deserve a capture for memories sake. We do look forward to your next visit and as always will be happy to be of service to you in the true spirit of modern Africa. From all of us at the House... Karibu Tena Sana. House of Waine Family.
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I stayed here for 2 nights before heading on safari. I have to say it was the most wonderful, quiet, calm, relaxing place you could imagine in Nairobi. Someone's former home, the now boutique hotel is elegant without being pretentious. I stayed in the Pwani room that had a sweet balcony overlooking the grounds on the back side. The bed and pillows were incredibly comfortable and the bathroom had every amenity you could need. I loved the juice and Cadbury's in the mini fridge and it was very nice to have a plate of fruit upon my arrival! (as well as a yummy fruit drink!) It was a little chilly to use the pool, but was a nice area to sit with a drink.
The staff were all so kind and meals were great, if over-abundant. Special thanks to Maurice, who took such good care of us! Be sure to try the mandazi at breakfast.
We also had a day room here at the end of our Kenya trip, and it was just as wonderful at the end as the start of the trip. Highly recommend!
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at the House of Waine for 2 nights before going on Safari to the Mara. Our flight was late getting into Nairobi but staff members stayed up to greet us and offer food and drink. The relaxed atmosphere and the excellent service are just what we needed after app. 26 hours of flight and airport time. The room was excellent with a large bath and everything was done to our liking. We really appreciated our short time at The House of Waine! ........Tim and Donnie Bryan
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Date of stay: July 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Anne,
Many thanks for your inquiry and interest in our services. Due to the small capacity of our hotel, the restaurant mainly serves resident guests and those on conference.
Kind regards,
Alex
There are more places to choose from in the Nairobi area.
PRICE RANGE
$547 - $763 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
house of waine hotel nairobi, hotel of waine, of waine hotel
LOCATION
KenyaNairobi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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