Sirona Hotel, Nairobi

Good: The location in Westlands is central. The price is reasonable. The hot water works. The staff seem nice. Wifi is fast and free but only works in lounge. Bad: The general condition of the hotel feels old and run down. Sheets are so thin you can see patterns on the mattress, lightbulbs missing, peeling paint, old furniture looks worn and dirty in the lobby and lounge. It feels like it SHOULD be cute but there is no sense of upkeep or aesthetics. Not sure what they mean but "updated" in the summary unless it was written in 1985. No real security and doors are open even late at night when no one is at the desk. I arrived at 11:30pm and had to roam around looking for someone, I was up and out around 5:30am twice and nobody was at the desk, yet the front door is wide open all the time. The neighborhood is literally full of "working ladies" at night. Being Nairobi, you probably will be in a car anyway, but I would not walk around after dark near there. Short story: It's not terrible. If you are on a budget it's ok. But it's a shame because the building is classic and with a bit more attention to detail, minimal effort and a few thousand dollars it could be a lot nicer... And feel less like The Shining.

Internet didn't work, but used the club next door.

Very cosy hotel - it is oldschool, had few luxuries and isnt exactly uptodate - but its welcoming, the service is superbly friendly and the atmosphere is homely. Its a cheap stay near central Nairobi - do not expect luxury at this price - but if youre after a nice, cosy and friendly stay, Sirona is perfect.