The Champagne Bar - Sankara

The Champagne Bar, which is located on the 7th floor of the Sankara Hotel, is a place I was eager to visit once I got back to Nairobi. With all the hype surrounding it, I had to see and experience it for myself.
The actual bar area is stylish with its brown and gold tones but at the same time has a cosy feel due to the size and lighting. Anyway, we had reserved one of the tables by the bar. They are quite spacious and I think they could maybe fit about 10 people comfortably.

We made our orders from the extensive drinks menu. One can get drinks by the bottle here and they offer more than just champagne.The service was impeccable. Very attentive waiters who paid attention to every detail including presentation. Glasses were continually refilled, (which might not really be a good thing because you are then unable to keep track of how many glasses you have had :-))
I did not get a chance to sample any of the bar bitings from the menu as the kitchen was already closed. (how late were we???) so maybe next time. But, Albert did manage to get us some pineapple cubes dipped in chilli. That was yummy...loved it.

My only criticism however, would be that there is no music inside and we could barely hear the music playing outside. I think some nice piped music would be a good addittion. That being said, it is a good place to start the evening.

Liz



Me. Getting myself comfortable:-)



V and Albert



Swahili Beach bliss!!!

SWAHILI BEACH HOTEL

I love a good wedding. Even more so, a destination wedding. It’s even better when the couple in question gets it so right and books their wedding at a fabulous hotel. It is for this reason that five of us ended up staying at Swahili Beach Hotel.

Swahili Beach Hotel is one of the newest hotels along Diani beach, on Kenya’s south coast. Having heard some good buzz about it, we were only too eager to check it out. The hotel’s architecture is influenced by the Swahili culture and this is obvious right from the hotel’s gates which resembles a Lamu-style door (just that much bigger). One’s first impression once inside the hotel’s lobby is just how big and airy the space is. The walls are white-washed and they have maximized the use of natural light.  I was warmly received with a virgin dawa and escorted to my room.

The rooms also carry on with the Swahili-culture theme. My room was massive considering I had paid for a standard one. The piece de resistance was the huge four-poster bed, draped with mosquito netting along the sides. (Much better than the dubious nets that usually hang right above the beds in some other establishments). The ‘big-and-airy’ theme continues with the bathroom and main room only separated by a sliding door that remains open. There are two daybeds with the usual scattering of irrelevant cushions, and a wide verandah that overlooks the beach, the pools, or the hotel’s grounds depending on the location of your room. Wooden accents complete the interior décor with the rooms featuring extensively carved niches. As with most 5-star hotels, there is also a mini-bar (unusually unstocked), coffee-and-tea making facilities, an electronic safe, Wi-Fi, and a flat-screen TV. Although to be honest, if you have time to sit and watch telly, your holiday is sorely lacking. The hotel prides itself on being eco-friendly and as such, uses solar power to heat its water. Unfortunately, for those who like their showers steaming-hot, you have to leave the water running quite a long time before it gets warm.

The main restaurant, the Majlis, is where we had most of our meals-buffet style. Each day had a different menu planned. Being so close to the sea, the seafood was the freshest I’ve had in a while. Wisely enough, there were at least two omelette/pasta stations so there was never too long a queue for food. The highlight of each of my dinners was the wonderful [and complimentary] Swahili coffee served after dinner. The waiter insisted it had medicinal qualities as it had everything in it from cinnamon to ginger. Whether or not that was true, it tasted delicious. The restaurant’s walls are covered with black-and-white pictures depicting Swahili people and activity just in case you forget what the hotel’s main theme is. On each night there was different entertainment for the guests. Sadly, it was your typical “Mombasa holiday” entertainment. You know, different bands singing “Jambo bwana” dressed in various kitenge outfits. I’m only surprised we didn’t get to watch some acrobats.

Each evening we settled at the Baraza Bar, which is the main cocktail bar. With its plush sofas, it took more than human effort to not just curl up and have a nap. There is an extensive cocktail and wine list for one to make a selection from. The service is a bit on the slow side, though. Despite often being the only customers at the bar, it took a while to get our beverages served. It is wise to keep your own tab of what you’ve had to drink to avoid a mix-up with the waiters, which we experienced on our last night there. That said, the waiters were incredibly polite, seemed eager to please and closed shop once the last guest had retired for the night.

The beach bar-cum-Italian restaurant, Baharini, has been fitted out completely in reclaimed dhow wood furniture. The sitting area extends to the beach where the sofas have been converted from local canoes and are laden with soft, white cushions. It was at Baharini where we had our run-in with what Nairobians refer to as “coasto culture”. The waiters were slow and looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there. One Thomas, in particular, made our night when he audibly sighed at having to walk up to the pool bar to fetch a particular drink. But, when in Mombasa… All the same, it is the perfect place to kick off your shoes, dig your toes into the sand, and enjoy the night’s ocean breeze.

The Champagne and Oyster Bar is the hotel’s a la carte seafood restaurant raised 40 feet above the beach. There is a dark-wood long bar where a range of champagnes are available and one can sample local fresh oysters. There is a daily ‘catch-of-the-day’ and brilliant views of the ocean.

The best feature of the hotel has to be the swimming pools. Starting right at the reception area, there are several infinity pools going all the way down close to the beach. There are several lounges set out for guests and attentive pool attendants. Next to the main pool is a swim-up bar where afternoon tea is served every evening.

A wide range of water-sport activities are on offer by the hotel. If the prices are too steep, as they are wont to, there are a number of beach boys who can organize the same sports at negotiable prices. For those so inclined, there is also a spa which offers various treatments using top-of-the-range products. A children’s club is also on hand to entertain the kiddies and baby-sitting services are offered at no extra charge.

All in all, my friends and I had a wonderfully relaxing holiday at Swahili Beach. It’s a beautifully designed hotel and though the service was sometimes lacking, it’s clear that all the staff are out to ensure their guests enjoy themselves. I figure if people leave your establishment on the verge of depression, you must have done something right.

Sugarcoat nail & beauty spa

This spa is located on Argwings Kodhek road, in Starwood apartments. It's a wonderful little gem which has been tastefully done. You can tell that a lot of thought about the customers experience was put into this place. There is a separate section for those getting pedicures, another section for those getting manicures and separate rooms for massage. There is a light, airy, fresh feel when you walk in because of the use of the white sheer curtains and use of white leather seats and pedicure wash stations. Looks very glam. Reminded me of the spas in Dubai.As they prepare to get your manicure or pedicure done,a drink is offered. Of course we chose to have some wine but they do offer some non alcoholic choices on the house. The ladies are quite friendly and even give suggestions to people like my friend that can't make up their minds. She chose to do the shutter nail polish which looked really cool. I had to be plain Jane here and choose a nice red because of work. They also do jellish, which is preferable in the long run as it lasts about 2-3 weeks without chipping. Gotta love it:-) The girls doing our nails were appropriately chatty..they knew when conversation was directed at them and when it wasn't. You know how annoying it is to have someone that just won't keep quiet or just feels the need to add their 2 cents worth of opinion?? That is a huge pet peeve of mine. My friend and I felt quite comfortable with them. Nails were well done with a hand massage to boot and the prices were completely cost effective. You get your money's worth.It cost me about ksh700 for a manicure. Will make sure I go back for the massage that is also offered and tell you all about it. So if you are looking for a place to do your nails, that offers impeccable service, this is a good choice.

The Moonflower Restaurant - Palacina

So I decided to catch up with an old friend for dinner at this restaurant. It was my second time here and after my first experience I was excited to go here and see if it was still as good as before. For those of you that have not been here, it is a beautiful, cozy restaurant with shades of brown and dimly lit giving it a romantic-esque kind of feeling for all you lovebirds. There is a lounge area which has some comfy sofas and then your main dining area outside. The waiter welcomed us and let us choose our own table. It wasn't busy at all so we had a choice to seat wherever we wanted. He then disappeared, don't know where exactly he went...so after about 7minutes....yes I counted, I called on one of them to at least offer us menus instead of just standing there. I ordered the grilled red snapper with seasonal vegetables and my friend order the avocado mix salad. I then asked if I could taste one of the wines being offered and was met with a blank stare.. I think the waiters exact words were, madam it is sweet,you can't taste it. I serve wines so I know I can taste and I fought for that right. He reluctantly zoomed away from our table mumbling something to the effect that he would see whether it was possible. He then came back with a glass that had a drop of the wine I had requested. Lol!!! Now for those of you who don't know me, i am a flight attendant so I know how wines are supposed to be served. Quick lesson, you present the wine to the customer, he feigns to read and take in the info on the label. After approval that it is the said wine that he/she ordered, you pour a little in the glass for them to taste it. After they taste it and approve...you fill the glass up and they drink up. Lesson over...so for this guy to just bring me the glass...surely!!!he could have spat in it for all I know. So of course me and my dramatic self declined the wine and just ordered something else. As for the food, the grilled snapper was a tad salty but tasted really good so thank God for that and my friend enjoyed the avocado dish he was having so they get a 7/10, because as good as it tasted, the veggies were kind of a joke..for those prices I need to see more than just 5pieces of whatever veggies those were. At around 11:30 our bill was brought as they wanted to close up so it was hint hint...leave already. I like that restaurant though and would definitely go back there.

Lake Naivasha Country Club

So I had the chance to come to back home and spend the weekend with the family in Naivasha. There is a wide choice of places to stay in but chose to stay at Lake Naivasha Country Club. A warm welcome awaits you when you get there. Men in Maasai attire assist you with your bags, offer a warm towel(it was cold), and a welcome drink. The check in staff were polite and efficient. We were led to our rooms and Maasai guy went ahead to explain all the amenities available. The rooms are spacious and nice. I'm a bathroom obsessed person so it was pretty standard for me but no complaints. Outside you have beautiful lush grounds...so green and so much space. It is absolutely beautiful and serene and just makes you want to sit, have a drink, relax and take it all in. It is especially great for kids as they have room to run around, and there was a bouncing castle to jump around in. The swings though I found a bit suspect, as they are the exact same swings I swung in when I was a child....for goodness sake, I think they could so do with a change...how expensive are they? Anyway, I digress.... My son loved it, so that's what counts. Being a busy weekend, the club was quite full so extra room had to be made for guests to dine in. However, sitting there definitely made you feel like you got the short end of the stick and like you were missing something. The adjacent main dining area definitely had a better ambiance, was well lit and quite cozy. The food though was not a wide selection but your basic buffet with soup and salad station, main course and grill station and dessert....although the dessert was always over when I walked by..hmmmmmm!!!how early does one have to go for dinner??anyhow...the food was okay..yes okay because it was your basic nothing special kind of food. Only the steak at the grill station was worth a second trip. It was seasoned perfectly and was tender. That evening also turned out to be one of the guests birthday and the staff of course sung the happy birthday song...why I'm I mentioning this when it always happens???coz I have never seen staff so excited to do it. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves, jumping up and down... Really nice I thought. Breakfast was a whole other matter. Goodness...Good ideas very poorly executed. First of all breakfast closes at 9am...why?????it's a holiday not work...for us late sleepers, it's a rush before they close. So anyway, the food is displayed well, with 3 live cooking stations. One for the eggs, one for pancakes and one for bacon and sausages. That's where the disaster began and it was downhill from there. It was the start of a frustrating cold breakfast which showcased an inept staff that were clearly overwhelmed by a full house. The so called chefs had a hard time keeping up with the demands for the orders. They were slow, confused and seemed like amateurs. So 20 minutes waiting in line for an omelet is seriously unacceptable, and to get it poorly done....surely!!!isn't an egg the basic thing you should be able to cook as a chef?? Then I had to wait for the bacon and sausage...by the time I got to my table it was all cold. As for the pancake station, it did not work, which makes me wonder why it was even set up in the first place. The waiters??? Running around confused, giving coffee instead of tea, clearly clearly overwhelmed. It was clearly a disappointing breakfast experience. We got back to the rooms and they had already been tidied up, all my stuff folded away neatly. So that was nice to come back to. That being said, aside from the breakfast, it was a pleasant experience. Would I go back there?probably not...but I am sure with less guests they would do a better job.