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Hob House is a boutique guest house located only 8-10 min drive from most shopping malls and centers. Away from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi center, Hob House sits in a lush green garden, which boasts more than 20 variety of local East African bird life. That way you can relax and enjoy delicious and healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Hob in Arabic means love and it is with this intention that Peter and Kelly wanted to create a caring and warm experience for their guests with their 7 rooms and restaurants. At Hob House you can use our comfortable spacious living room - where you can work, plan your trip or have your meetings. We offer different types of massages (pre-booking required) to ease your jet-lagged muscles. Our restaurant's menu is mostly vegan/vegetarian but we also offer meat and fish options. CNN has featured Hob House as a bucket list destination in Nairobi, not only for the guest house but also for its celebrated Lebanese/Levantine cuisine. We pride ourselves for sourcing the best organic ingredients to create traditional and fusion Lebanese dishes serving Manoushe, Shakshouka and many other delicious homemade mountain food from the various regions of Lebanon. Our warm and friendly Kenyan staff is trained to meet all your needs. We look forward to hosting you. Welcome - Karibu Sana!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
I cannot say enough good things about this B&B/Boutique Hotel (7 rooms) AND its restaurant. Sheila handles email inquiries and always responded quickly and accurately. The facility is spotless and the online pictures are accurate. Strong wifi/internet. All the staff in the hotel and the restaurant are genuinely happy to see you and quickly respond to any request. If you want to stay in a quiet place with character and not a name brand hotel chain, this place is for you. Sheila arranged for a car and driver for a full day of exploration. The driver, Charles, is excellent. He took us to the Nairobi National Park, the Elephant Orphanage Experience, the Giraffe Center, souvenir shopping, and more (9 hrs total). He also took us to the airport. Total cost for everything: $100 US. A big bargain. The restaurant serves delicious meals (vegetarian and meat). The apple pie with cinnamon ice cream is a desert to die for. Thanks to everyone at Hob House for a fabulous experience.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
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Trip 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 Hob House, Owner at Hob House
Responded Jun 19, 2024
Dear David, Thank you so much for your terrific review and feedback. We highly appreciate your kind support. We are very pleased to welcome and host all our guests with warmth. We also work/support others such as Mr. Charles, a great driver who has worked with our guests without any complaint for many years. We hope you arrived safely back home, we look forward to host you again in future if you chose to visit Kenya again! Kindest Regards, Peter
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I loved the ambience of this restaurant, it gives you the time to have a mature conversation with someone you love like i did with my wife the last time we visited. For those who dont like crowded places like me, then this is a perfect place to go with good food and helpful staffs if you need to make some choices. As someone with a disability, i however thought they could try to address ramp provision around the facility- it should be a minor addition but would make a great experience for all of us
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Very natural hideouts for eating
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.
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A small guest house ideally located far from the hustle and bustle of the city center, in a lush garden. Simple but comfortable rooms and friendly staff. A place different from impersonal hotels. A good address when arriving in Kenya. Local partner taxis will take you to the different destinations. The breakfasts are excellent and plentiful. The meals are based around Lebanese cuisine and renowned.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip 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.
A warm and friendly place that instantly welcomes you in its heart and allows you to hide in it's gardens. Yoga and and lots of authentic vegetarian Lebanese food make this retreat stand out. Non-vegetarian meals available as well- all halaal according to tradition. Soft beds and fluffy pillows and a garden view in each room. Staff were friendly and attentive to your needs. Definitely a place to put on your bucket list. Ask about the Hob House Beach house and tower in Watamu on the coast of Kenya as well.
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Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
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.
My new hide out in the heart of the outskirts of the city. I loved every bit of it. From the ambience, the food, customer service and location. It was very kind of Kelly to introduce to herself and share a bit about Lebanon and their cuisine. I wish I had spoken to her earlier before ordering as I would have made another choice but there is always a next time Hob house is so warm and neat; such a homely feeling. Ideal for family, friend, solo or date treat. Interesting to note that one can carry alcoholic drink of choice at a corkage of 500. They do not serve alcohol at the premise. I loved every bit of my solo date. I will surely be back for 'Jesus bread'
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Date of stay: June 2020Trip type: Traveled solo
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 Kelly Aburi, Owner at Hob House
Responded Jul 20, 2022
Many thanks for your kind review all appreciated. We will be serving wines from September 2022
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I went to Hob House for lunch and I must say the food was amazing, freshly cooked, and gives you the feeling of a home-cooked meal. The staff was friendly and helpful. I enjoyed everything from the starter, main course, and the dessert which was perfectly balanced. The location is fabulous for those who do not like crowded places.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Cleanliness
Service
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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 patronized the Hob house for lunch with friends in January, 2020.It was my first time there and I am happy to state that they exceeded my expectations.The cuisine is traditional Lebanese served in filling portions, family style dining and it was very tasty and flavorful.The ambience was cozy, quaint, charming and intimate with local art displayed on their walls, for sale. My only request for an ammend is to the Chef on the Umm Ali dessert, the flavors were yummy and it was delicious I enjoyed it.Only make it less runny, make it more moist (like the moistness of a well baked bread & butter pudding). I enjoyed my lunch experience and will definitely be back.A must try if you haven't yet been.
Many Thanks, Roselyne
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip 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.
Response from Kelly A, Owner at Hob House
Responded Jan 12, 2020
Dear Roselyne, Many thanks for your review, we really appreciate the wonderful things that you appreciated about Hob House, with regards to the Oum Ali,I also agree with you, we have hired a new team in the kitchen and this was one of the dishes that I have been wanting to address, So please accept our apologies for this time, but promise that it will be as it should be when you return. Many Thanks again, Kelly
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We had a business dinner -- beautiful setting in the garden. Fantastic good with good vegetarian options. My meal was very good, and my colleagues all said that their food was outstanding. Service good and staff very friendly. We'll go again on our next trip to Nairobi.
FYI: if you want alcohol please check ahead if licensed.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Service
Trip type: Traveled on business
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 Kelly Aburi, Owner at Hob House
Responded Jul 20, 2022
Thank you for your review, we really appreciate, we will be serving wines from September and we hope to host you again.
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Hob House was the first stop on a 3-week trip to Kenya and Tanzania. It is a charming period-style house converted to a guesthouse, in a green and hilly area of Nairobi. On the lower floor and in the garden the proprietors have also created a popular and highly-regarded Lebanese restaurant. It's available to guests and is also patronised by locals and other visitors to the city. The food was fresh and enjoyable. Accommodation-wise, we had the suite, which was most tastefully furnished and decorated. The bed was large, with good quality linen - great for jet-lagged travellers. There was a small balcony giving a view over the garden. The communal areas are also presented tastefully - with a fused Middle-East/African aesthetic; they open on to the pretty rear garden, scattered with lights and outdoor eating areas. However, the restaurant can be a bit noisy if you're in your room trying to relax or sleep. The staff were friendly and generally good - occasionally uneven service. But Kelly - half of the proprietor couple and the mastermind behind the Lebanese cuisine - puts emphasis on service quality, she's committed to staff development. The property is well secured, with a high fence and an attended driveway. It is a 20-30 minute drive from downtown (not necessarily a bad thing) and 20 minutes from Karen, location of most of Nairobi's tourist attractions. Little of interest is walking distance. Therefore you have to use taxis/cars; there is no easily-accessible public transport. Hob House arranged a good airport transfer for us; it can also arrange for reliable taxis to get around Nairobi. They also recommend contacts for safaris and activities outside Nairobi. We enjoyed some long chats with Kelly, who's had a fascinating life and has many stories to tell. A real raconteur. This was a memorable start to our Africa trip.
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Date of stay: August 2019
Cleanliness
Service
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We had a quick stop in Nairobi in between two legs of our safari and had such a lovely experience at Hob House. We booked the deluxe room and were not disappointed -- we had patio overlooking the garden, a large bathroom with separate tub/shower, and the most comfortable bed.
We had a late lunch at the restaurant downstairs then dinner again three hours later because the food was so good. We ordered a mezze platter, shakshuka, the chicken skewers, falafel, and the chia pudding dessert.
However, the highlight of our experience was meeting our two incredible hosts Kelly and Peter. They truly care about their guests and were so gracious and kind. We especially loved chatting with Kelly over tea and hearing about her world travels.
Truly a hidden gem -- we will definitely be back again. Thank you for a wonderful stay!
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Date of stay: March 2018
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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 Kwanboka, Owner at Hob House
Responded Jun 21, 2018
Thankyou so much for such wonderful review, these kinds of reviews indeed help us to move in the right direction and give us oxygen to do more. thanks Kelly
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Dear Alice,
Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay to respond. We had an issue with our account. We hope to welcome you to Hob House, of course following the guidelines from the Ministry of Health in Kenya.
Kindly let us know if you booked directly on TripAdvisor?
Looking forward to welcome you soon.
Kind Regards,
Peter
Yes they are Claire, all our rooms are ensuite/
Thank you for considering us, if you need more information please do not hesitate to ask.
Warmest of Regards,
Kelly
There are more places to choose from in the Nairobi area.
PRICE RANGE
$113 - $193 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
KenyaNairobi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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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