Name: Sweet Banana House
Address: Moi Road, Lamu, Lamu, Lamu, 80500, Kenya
Rating: 8.2

24-hour reception

Smoking areas

Garden

Terrace

No elevators

General

Room service

Family room

Shower/Bathtub

Wardrobe/Closet

Linens

Mosquito net

Rooms

Laundry

Safe-deposit box

Dry-cleaning

Wake-up service

Services and amenities

Breakfast

Breakfast in the room

Restaurant

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Airport transportation

Transfer

Sun Deck

Recreation

Swimming pool

Outdoor pool

Beach/pool towels

Pool and beach

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Shela Beach

Manda Beach

Manda Airport

Kiwayu Airport

Sweet Banana House

The hotel is clean, staff friendly ( big shout out to Carol [the manager] & Festus [service crew]. The food was quite tasty, breakfast portion adequate. WiFi is available but signal was weak in various locations. Please improve on that. Overall I’d vouch for a 9.5/10 rating 

As a solo traveller choosing Jannat House was the best decision I ever made! Caro and her team made me feel so much welcome and at home. I loved every minute I stayed at their house. The food was amazing and you also have the option to eat outside.  I love fresh juices and please have some at Jannat you will not regret. Lamu also has some amazing places to eat which are close to Jannat. I made so many friends during my stay. Lamu is SAFE for everyone whether you are blue, black, brown, yellow, pink trust me you will feel at home and people are so friendly and always happy to help you out. I was also working remotely and the wifi connection is good. I had a modem as a back up but their connection was totally fine. There was no issue with power during my stay so generally you should be able to work and explore the town thereafter. My thoughts you'll need someone to show you around Lamu since the small town is somehow confusing for a first timer but there are tour guides who charge as little as 1000 shillings for a tour per person. I loved that Jannat had signages across the town so it was so easy to find the house and you couldn't get lost. Shela and Manda can easily be accessed by foot or by boat. It's cheaper to go on a dhow sunset ride as a group. Caro helped me with this and joined me with a group and I had the  most amazing time and made friends! The floating boat is a must try as well and the pizzas at Diamond restaurant . Hawa, Ahmed and Mohammed were amazing too! I am planning to go back to Jannat soon! 

A place of sublime beauty and soulful nourishment! Beautifully built Cabanas overlooking indigenous forest, White sandy beaches and glistening creeks. An guest experience of a lifetime. Thank you to Bernie and the whole wonderful crew. You guys are amazing!

I have to  admit a two month  stay in Lamu is a long time,  but we did recently, a bit due to a lockdown of flights coming and going, but it was a vacation at a place that will be long remembered and cherished.
I had been to Lamu 7 years ago and stayed in Shela but this time we wanted to stay in Lamu town itself to experience more of the flow and   rhythm of  daily life.   We picked Jannat House based on reviews, price, location, and the fact that they had a small pool for cooling off.  Knowing it  can be hot, and no AC for the most part, it was nice to have a pool.  And the construction of the Swahili   type houses maximizes cooling breezes so along with a fan, it was all most comfortable.  
We were picked  up at the airport by Ziwa the guide and he had a boat waiting for us and delivered us helping with luggage on our arrival at Jannat House.
We were met by  our host Caroline and she was most warm and welcoming and gave us several choices of accommodations , we then choosing an upper level unit with great views and a wonderful veranda balcony. 
We were set and settled  into the rhythm of daily life at Jannat House and it was so nice.  Breakfast requests were taken as to  type of eggs, bread, toast, pancakes or French Toast,  fruit , juices we so desired and also as to time.   And faithfully Caroline or a staff member would either deliver to our balcony or sitting would be available in the dining room area.  I would crank up the music video of Sweet Caroline (I like the Pitt version) and Caroline would be right on schedule.
One of the beauties of Jannat House was having the services of the  chef or cook, Karisa who would make meals on order and more than fair on the pricing.    He was excellent in providing what we desired, and as we love crab, he would cook these in a variety of ways along with any fish or  seafood  we picked up at the market.  Crab prices in Kenya and Lamu are of great value and the crab is tops.   He would also make Kenyan specials like bean stew, mutumbo, octopus  soup, salads as we desired with homemade dressing and standard African Kenyan food like ugali and sukuma wiki and kachumbari.  And always fantastic french fries at any time for  snack food and oh so good.   This availability of an in house chef was especially nice as dining choices in Lamu town are limited and more so in this time of Covid.   And the fact that Karisa was a great cook was indeed a bonus
The  whole staff along with Evans and Athan were always there to meet our needs and with a smile so it was more than nice to have such above average customer service.
While not a five star property  by any means, it  was comfortable and cozy, true the  furniture was a little dated, but it was kept very clean and the pool was always in top notch shape.  It was fun to swim with Caroline's son Brighton and sometimes we would take him with us when we went to the beaches at Manda.    I might add we used the boatman Kibunu and most excellent and always  on time on most  fair priced.  If in Lamu, seek out Kibunu for a  boatman.
Night sounds with the Call to Prayer from the many mosques  and  donkey's braying could be annoying but one got used to it, and I kind of miss  that night noise now a little.  Not that I would want it all the time, but it does bring back memories.
Our stay was a wonderful one for sure, and Caroline and staff made it happen as they worked very hard  to assure us that we were treated as almost more than guests but as personal  friends and this meant a lot.
WiFi was good and fast and really all our needs were met.
For a short stay or long stay in Lamu town, Jannat House is a choice that is hard to find fault with.  We very much enjoyed our stay and look forward  to returning.  

Jim at Maplelag in Minnesota USA

Carol the manager excellent couldn't do enough for you she arranged for us to be picked up at the boat and taken to the hotel staff was good breakfast was good rooms was clean and tidy good place to stay with good views over the town

We (4 people) spend a few days in Jannat House! It is simply great. Caro is so friendly, the staff is very nice and the rooms are cozy and comfortable. The pool can also be regarded as a very chilled place in the afternoons or mornings!! The included breakfast is great and I was celebrating my birthday there so Caro organized a suitable decoration and even a cake for my birthday. 
Guests are also able to book several trips there that are also quite nice!!Thank you for the very nice time!!

The hospitality is wonderful and the rooms are magnificent the staff they are very friendly and welcoming my friends from Rift Valley Academy since they first visit in 2017 they have never change and this year on March they are coming again with even the bigger group to enjoy the as it value even penny you spend.

I stayed at this place two years ago, so I knew what to expect. It is an excellent value. Not fancy or extravagant, just basic accommodations in a wonderful place. Friendly service, a swimming pool, strong WiFi. I’ll stay here on my next visit too. And look forward to it.

Lamu

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limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

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6 bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

park access

Solo traveler - First Trip to Lamu 

Fantastic two month  stay in Lamu at Jannat House

Great place for cheap money

Since 2017 when first I recommended the Hotel to my Friend from Rift Valley Academy they have enjoyed each staying

Holiday stay at Jannat house 

Alan de Boer

Short stay

Clean, comfortable, Authentic

We were in the hotel 2 nights. The price for the hotel is quite good. Value for money is ok. Great staff, good simple food. What is a bit tragic is that you feel that a loving hand by the owner is missing. The Swedish owners just leave it to the staff in Lamu to administer the place which they do well. But the flair of the place is about to be lost. Some low investment is needed. E.g. the pillows and chairs in the outside areas are really old and shady. The lights had in our room no cover, pictures in the dining room were taken out of the frame, old useless stuff is just dumped somewhere. So more attention is needed or that hotel will not attract people in the future to thrive.

Sweet Banana House

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Location

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General

Rooms

Services and amenities

Meals

Internet

Transfer

Recreation

Pool and beach

Kids

Pets

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Conditions of accommodation

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