Sarova Stanley
Junction Of Kenyatta Avenue And Kimathi Street, Nairobi 00100 Kenya
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Avg. â‚ą16,968 /night, 1/15 - 1/16
â‚ą16,968
per night
â‚ą16,579
per night
â‚ą16,189
per night
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About
#31 of 254 hotels in Nairobi
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Kenya’s first luxury hotel, Sarova Stanley opened its elegant doors in 1902. Since then, it has been making history- hosting royal safaris and legendary personalities such as Edward Prince of Wales and Ernest Hemingway. Today, as the hotel enters its second century, it continues to maintain its unique heritage and provides state-of-the-art services and facilities for business and leisure travelers. All guestrooms are a blend of luxurious Victorian grandeur and modern comfort.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Free breakfast
Babysitting
Airport transportation
Business Centre with Internet Access
Valet parking
Wifi
Fitness / spa changing rooms
Fitness classes
Rooftop pool
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Poolside bar
Rooftop bar
Shuttle bus service
Car hire
Taxi service
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Facial treatments
Massage
Steam room
Rooftop terrace
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Currency exchange
Shops
Butler service
Doorperson
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
Shoeshine
Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Room service
Safe
VIP room facilities
Minibar
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Smoking rooms available
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Historic Hotel
Classic
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Junction Of Kenyatta Avenue And Kimathi Street, Nairobi 00100 Kenya
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 100 out of 100
100
64 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
4.5
1,906 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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The Sarova Stanley garners acclaim for its prime location, with guests appreciating the surrounding conveniences and the added touch of luxury it brings to their stay. The hotel's historical allure and colonial bar receive special nods, immersing visitors in an ambiance of classic elegance.
While the range and quality of amenities, including the gym and dining options, are often celebrated, some guests have pointed out service inconsistencies. Nevertheless, the well-maintained rooms and commendable cleanliness contribute to the hotel's positive reputation, and the staff's warm and professional demeanor often makes for a memorable experience.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Historic
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Lavish
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Detailed Reviews
The Sarova Stanley Hotel located on Kenyatta Ave., provided my wife and I with a First Class Hotel experience, while celebrating our 13 year marriage anniversary in Kenya. The hotel is located in the heart of the city of Nairobi, which makes it the perfect starting point for any site seeing that you might want to do. In addition, the customer service that we received was the best that we’ve ever experienced throughout our world-wide travels. Upon arrival at the Sarova we were greeted by Head Concierge Steve Kinguli, who made our satisfaction his top priority. Likewise, the Hotel Manager Caroline was a gem, and she made sure that Tiger Lilies were placed in my suite, which are my wife’s favorite flowers. Similarly, we were impressed by the variety of tasty dishes that were offered at the hotel restaurants and we received excellent customer service from Cosmos, Cecil, and Bencin, while dining. Lastly, we always felt safe at the Sarova Stanley because of the well-trained security guards like Boni, and I cannot forget our trusty driver Alex who made sure that we arrived at our intended destinations on time and that we paid a fair price for all of our activities.
Thank you,
Tony -USA
Thank you,
Tony -USA
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Date of stay: December 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Business suites are nice.
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 Ken K, General Manager at Sarova Stanley
Responded 16 Jan 2020
Dear Guests We are excited to note that your 13th marriage anniversary with us was first class. We were honoured to be part of the celebrations and to know that ours was the best experience throughout your world-wide travels is indeed humbling. Once again thank you for sharing your experience and we all look forward to your next visit Asante Sana Ken Korir
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I have stayed here several times, I insist that it is easy to get things right on occasion, at Sarova Stanley they really do maintain the standard, the quality of this hotel is hard to find in Kenya, the staff are absolutely fantastic all the time, every time. The exchange bar is of the highest quality, yes its a little more expensive than some places, but if you require a 1st class service then you will clearly see where that extra few shillings is going. If you have a love for Thai food, then you are in for a treat, the restaurant is authentic and will will be offered a complimentary head and neck massage as you are waiting for your meal to be prepared. Security - given the perceived threat Have to say that the security team here are on top of their game, the chief security officer is a solid leader with vast experience in the industry, I always feel very safe at this hotel.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
Rooms
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.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
Sarova Stanley hotel has a good location, in the middle of downtown and a short car ride from sights such as the Nairobi National Museum and others. It is a comfortable hotel and the food is good. I reached the hotel to check in a day earlier than my booking made through Agoda. So reception asked me to cancel my booking through Agoda and make a fresh booking. I cancelled the booking by going online there and then, but was unable to make a fresh booking through Agoda for some reason. So I just took a room for the night directly with the hotel and paid with my credit card. But even though I received Agoda’s cancellation confirmation by email, the hotel did not refund me through Agoda for the cancellation, even though I did take a room with them directly for that night. This was sad and obviously if I am in Nairobi again I will give a second thought about staying here again, even though as I said, my one night stay was quite comfortable otherwise.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Location
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.
This is a hotel with a lot of history. I loved reading about the history and the people who stayed there.
We stayed overnight before returning to the UK. We got the room at a very low rate because of demand being so low because of the coronavirus and so many people not travelling.
I am normally not a 5 star hotel person. I prefer, medium, clean and basic hotels (just my preference). But, I have to say, the staff were so lovely. In fact, the staff made the place. Yes, the hotel is well located, is clean, has lots of services and all that but...it IS the staff that was the highlight. So friendly, so helpful, so kind ....really it was great.
Because of the virus issues the pool was closed and so was the gym. Also, because of how quiet it was only one restaurant was open. It was a shame really because I would have loved to have tried the Thai Restaurant...apparently it is excellent. But at least we got to eat at the Thorn Tree Cafe. The Tilapia pili pili I had was lovely.
We stayed overnight before returning to the UK. We got the room at a very low rate because of demand being so low because of the coronavirus and so many people not travelling.
I am normally not a 5 star hotel person. I prefer, medium, clean and basic hotels (just my preference). But, I have to say, the staff were so lovely. In fact, the staff made the place. Yes, the hotel is well located, is clean, has lots of services and all that but...it IS the staff that was the highlight. So friendly, so helpful, so kind ....really it was great.
Because of the virus issues the pool was closed and so was the gym. Also, because of how quiet it was only one restaurant was open. It was a shame really because I would have loved to have tried the Thai Restaurant...apparently it is excellent. But at least we got to eat at the Thorn Tree Cafe. The Tilapia pili pili I had was lovely.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
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.
We had a 5 week trip to Africa planned for July and August. I had booked most of the trip in 2019 including our first 2 nights of the trip in Nairobi at the Sarova Stanley. I had booked this hotel and a Hilton property in Zanzibar through Direct Buy Travel. Direct Buy Travel has a no refund policy for most of their bookings but when I booked this in September 2019 who was thinking we would have a global pandemic in 2020! Very disappointed, we decided in March that things were too uncertain and unsafe and it would be best to postpone the trip to 2021.
I had booked hotels, tours, excursion, plane tickets for this trip, some of which were non refundable in normal circumstances. I have received refunds and credits from all but one airline and this hotel. The Hilton property in Zanzibar refunded me no questions asked even though it was non refundable.
I spent hours on the phone with Direct Buy Travel trying to get a refund or credit for reservation with Sarova Stanley. They were unresponsive to Direct Buy Travel and I never did receive a refund. I fully understand non refund policies but given that we are in a global pandemic and that Kenya had a ban on international flights I would have thought that some flexibility was in order. Nope!
So in summary you can take my review for what it is, a bit of a rant but just maybe there is a grain of truth to my situation and this hotel is not ethical and you should look elsewhere to stay in Nairobi
Kevin Whelan
July 2020
I had booked hotels, tours, excursion, plane tickets for this trip, some of which were non refundable in normal circumstances. I have received refunds and credits from all but one airline and this hotel. The Hilton property in Zanzibar refunded me no questions asked even though it was non refundable.
I spent hours on the phone with Direct Buy Travel trying to get a refund or credit for reservation with Sarova Stanley. They were unresponsive to Direct Buy Travel and I never did receive a refund. I fully understand non refund policies but given that we are in a global pandemic and that Kenya had a ban on international flights I would have thought that some flexibility was in order. Nope!
So in summary you can take my review for what it is, a bit of a rant but just maybe there is a grain of truth to my situation and this hotel is not ethical and you should look elsewhere to stay in Nairobi
Kevin Whelan
July 2020
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Date of stay: July 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 Ken Korir , General Manager at Sarova Stanley
Responded 5 Oct 2020
Dear Kevin Whelan, Thank you for taking the time out to share your review. We are sorry to note your feedback regarding your credit request owing to the unforeseen circumstances that we find ourselves in. We wish to inform you that we are yet to receive the refund or credit request from your booking agent. We will be happy to follow through and assist in any way so that the matter is amicably resolved. Kindly do not hesitate to reach me directly on ken.korir@sarovahotels.com. Looking forward to hearing back from you. Kind regards, Ken Korir
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Genuine friendly and professional service is at every turn in this beautiful hotel. We stayed 4 nights enjoying the sites of Nairobi. It was a safe and luxurious haven for a reasonable price. I commend the staff like Alice in the breakfast area who ordered me a special early breakfast when I had to leave for an early hike. And like Concierge Steve who went out of his way with advice and so many special tasks, and found us an escort when we wanted to walk to dinner one night. And Concierge Fregustus (sp?) who helped us solve a problem one morning. All the staff worked hard and smiled and were helpful. The room was comfortable and elegant, with a working hair dryer, stocked fridge where we could add some of our own items, quiet, with comfortable bed and working air conditioner. The breakfast was first class with everything anyone could desire. I have stayed at the Stanley before, a Nairobi classic that never lets you down.
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Review collected in partnership with this attraction
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled 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 Ken K, General Manager at Sarova Stanley
Responded 16 Jan 2020
Dear Guests Thank you so much for taking time to share your experience with us. I am glad to note that overall you had a genuinely friendly and professional service We all look forward to your next visit Asante sana Ken Korir
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is a gem and very serene for business travelers. It is located in heart of the city making it easy to access facilities not to mention the double glazed windows making the rooms very silent. The staff are very friendly, smiling, always happy to help most especially Boniface from the customer care who gave us a very warm first impression and was very helpful throughout our stay. Kudos!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled 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 Ken K, General Manager at Sarova Stanley
Responded 29 Jan 2020
Dear Guest Thank for taking time to write and share you experience with us We are delighted to note that you enjoyed all attributes of your Sarova Stanley experience in particular the friendly, happy and smiling staff. I am pleased to note and share your kind notes of commendation particularly to Boniface Asante Sana and we look forward to your next visit Ken Korir
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Loved all of the staff at this hotel, from the reservation and concierge staff to the restaurant/bar and valet team. So friendly and so helpful. Lots of smiles and greetings, plus they really helped us with our Swahili. :) The hotel is the oldest in the city with an antique grandeur, so it’s not new and polished. We also had a couple of issues in the room like a backed up sink, a loud a/c and a broken tv remote. There are a few restaurants and lounges within walking distance, but there is not a lot of nightlife in the immediate area since it is considered a business district. It’s less than a $7 Uber or taxi ride from Westlands though, so it’s not too far away. I did love the upstairs bar though. If you can stay over on a Friday, do so. The hotel hosts a traditional Kenyan breakfast, which is great if you want to try things like bhajia, mahamri & kaimati, along with fresh coconuts at the end of the meal. A highlight!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled 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 Ken K, General Manager at Sarova Stanley
Responded 22 Jan 2020
Dear Guest We are delighted that overall you enjoyed your stay with us - and that we were able to teach you some Swahili. Asante sana na tutaonana tena baadaye Ken Korir
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Stanley being one of the oldest hotels in Kenya, retains the old style wood décor and atmosphere. One of the hotel biggest attractions is the legendary thorn-tree café which serve good food both local and international. Also available is a heated roof-top swimming pool and bar and a well equipped Gym. The rooms are spacious though very old fashioned and lack some modern connections like USB ports. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Don't listen to warning not to go out of Hotel, during day time, it is very safe, so you can go out to some local restaurants and the tourist market. We didn't chance doing that after dark. We found that the most efficient way to travel longer distance within Nairobi is Uber (much cheaper than the hotel taxi service).
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Date of stay: August 2022
Value
Rooms
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 Duncun Mwangi, Other at Sarova Stanley
Responded 13 Sept 2022
Dear Guest, Thank you for your support and for making Sarova Stanley your preferred hospitality partner and for the time spared to share your experience with us. We are delighted to learn that you enjoyed every guest touch point, the rich heritage of the hotel and the food, the heated swimming pool, the bar and the fully equipped gym and the spacious rooms. We have taken note of the need for increased USB port and wish to assure you that plans are underway to enhance the product on this lines. We agree with you, Nairobi is like any global big city. We look forward to hosting you again in the near future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
,. I stayed at the Stanley Nairobi Kenys November 22 , the club are well recommened 401to5 up to 7TH floor all face Kenyatta Avenue , in the central business district with views going up to Westlands . Club rooms spacious with king beds perfectly decorated , if you stay inthe club rooms you get access which is only a few years old on 8th floor were you can have breakfast and from 6to 8pm there are a selectionof free drinks , wines and sprits plus bits in peace and quiet . The lounge is staffed by a very professional team . i would like to mention the team by name ,Emily , Bensom , and Collins . a standard you will find hard to beet .
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Date of stay: November 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â 604 room good club room .
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 Duncun Mwangi, Other at Sarova Stanley
Responded 19 Dec 2022
Dear Guest, Thank you for your support and patronage of Sarova Stanley and for sharing your experience with us. We are delighted to note that you enjoyed our club rooms and the 1902 Lounge which comes with it. We agree with you that our associates are one of our biggest asset and in this regards to take pride and honor in acknowledging and recognizing; Emily, Benson and Collins for standing out through quality service delivery during your recent time with us. We celebrate them. Thank you for your vote of confidence in our services. It is our wish that you will have a merry festive season; and a prosperous new year, during which we look forward to the honor of hosting you again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel was very low on occupancy when we traveled late April and early May. Was told that high season begins October when the animal migration begins .
I can’t honestly say. It might be worth contacting the hotel directly. Judging by the high Islamic percentage of the population in Nairobi, it is highly possible.
I'm very surprise, I didn't have any problem with the hotel, and they gave me an answer very quick
"The pool in Nairobi was nice and warm only thing is the tile floor around the pool is extremely slippery when wet and should be changed."Read full review
"In the evening don’t go the busstation area but the area around the hotel is very safe."Read full review
" If you step in cbd outside functions sarova Stanley is the best for this the food could not run out the service was Excellent"Read full review
"sarova stanley a place to be near to all stages for conferencing ,holiday lunches and dinner at reasonable prices"Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
â‚ą14,458 - â‚ą19,046 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sarova stanley hotel nairobi, sarova stanley nairobi
LOCATION
KenyaNairobiNairobi Central Business District
NUMBER OF ROOMS
214
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Sarova Stanley
Which popular attractions are close to Sarova Stanley?
Nearby attractions include National Archives (0.3 km), American Embassy Memorial Garden (0.4 km), and ECOVIBE MILLENNIALS SAFARIS (0.05 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Sarova Stanley?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a rooftop bar, free wifi, and free breakfast.
Which room amenities are available at Sarova Stanley?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Sarova Stanley?
Guests can enjoy a rooftop bar, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Is parking available at Sarova Stanley?
Yes, free parking, secured parking, and valet parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Sarova Stanley?
Conveniently located restaurants include Café AMKA, Thai Chi Restaurant - The Stanley Hotel, and Thorn Tree Cafe.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Sarova Stanley?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness centre, and fitness classes during their stay.
Does Sarova Stanley have airport transportation?
Yes, Sarova Stanley offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Sarova Stanley located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 1.0 km away from the centre of Nairobi.
Are any cleaning services offered at Sarova Stanley?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Sarova Stanley offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business centre, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.