(Posted 01st November 2023)
I occasionally take time for a weekend staycation somewhere in Kampala and this time my choice was the Emin Pasha Hotel and Spa. I do this to make up for the lack of travel otherwise, to check out old and new properties once again and enjoy a night or weekend away from my own little paradies at the shores of Lake Victoria.
Very sadly does TripAdvisor continue to avoid a ‘Good’ option between their rankings of ‘Average’ and ‘Very Good’ which is somewhat mindboggling, as it does not let a reviewer give a thumbs up to a good impression, when ‘Average’ is too little but ‘Very Good’ too much, because ‘Good’ it was, from the start to the end of my stay.
On arrival at the hotel was an entry security check carried out before I could proceed to the reception area. A staff member immediately turned up at the porch to take my overnight bag from the car. Check in at the reception was courteous, professional and swift, with my booking information well reflected on the check in form and after presenting an ID and signing it I was shown immediately to my room.
It turned out that I was given a room in the original wing of the hotel where I had stayed before too, but since then two more wings have been added, the most recent one only opened about a month ago with 16 rooms and two one bedroom apartments.
I had stayed at the Emin Pasha before, a long time ago, and memories came back when I stood on the balcony looking down into the well manicured garden and admired the trees which over the past 20 years have matured very well.
In fact I recall that in 2007 at the CHOGM Summit in Kampala, the then Prince of Wales, Prince Charles and now of course King Charles, and his entourage had booked the Emin Pasha exclusively for the duration of their stay, and this together with at the time excellent food and top notch service gave the Emin Pasha a competitive edge and saw it ranked as Kampala’s top boutique hotel. Back then I described the hotel as ‘When it is fit for the Prince it should be fit for you too‘.
At the time was the hotel managed by the owners, Jonathan and Pamela Wright, who quite some time later sold the hotel as they moved to other business ventures.
Earlier this year, the Emin Pasha was as many others closed during and immediately after the main Covid 19 pandemic, did the hotel then come under the management of CityBlue Hotels and now ranks in their sub brand CityBlue Hotel Collection – their top layer brand.
I checked out the bed on arrival in the room, which proved to be very comfortable, a really good mattress with a mattress top cover making it even more comfy to sleep on and two each softer and two harder pillows to allow for the right combination when sleeping.
A sofa set invites to sit down and read a bit and I did enjoy a cup of tea before venturing out. Coffee and tea making facilities are there, including a kettle but the mini fridge is empty unless a guest requires it to be stocked with drinks of his or her choice. Two mineral water bottles are also available, restocked every day, for guests free of charge.
The bathroom and WC were in seperate cabins off the main bedroom and a claw foot stand alone tub invited for a hot bath. A vanity kit is available, such as a tooth brush set, shampoo and body lotion, enough to get a guest going if she or he forgot such essentials at home.
The hotel offered me a relaxing atmosphere which was exactly what I was looking for and I spent some time outside in the garden, as well as on my balcony, having a drink before getting ready for dinner.
The Emin Pasha remains an oasis of peace and tranquility in the bustling Nakasero suburb of Kampala and especially the extensive garden offers quiet corners to sit down, read a book or just take in the sound of birds.
Dinner service saw first a drink order taken before then taking the meal choice, which one night was Fillet of Tilapia and the other night a Fillet Steak. The presentation of both dishes, as well as of the starters, was certainly creative and above average, and accordingly much appreciated!
As starter I opted for the fish cakes, crisp, tasty and setting the mood for the main course.
A new wing, the second addition since the hotel opened early in the century, was put up adjoining the swimming pool and fits well into the overall layout of the hotel and the gardens. With the added 18 rooms the hotel is now surely able to accommodate larger groups and more clients which will no doubt benefit their business.
For breakfast before departure I opted first for coffee, toast and marmalade, which were served in good time before placing my egg order, and as may be expected, for an Egg Benedict.
I know this is a notoriously difficult dish to prepare – having written plenty of articles and reviews about Egg Benedict.
The dish rested on a slice of toasted bread, making up for the lack of an English Muffin, then a layer of spinach and the eggs topped with a very very generous amount of Sauce Hollandaise.
My conversation with the breakfast cook shall in the spirit of friendly relations remain between him and myself – enough said!
Check out again was swift, courteous and without any issues and soon I was on the way home again, with another staycation experience under my belt.
Overall a good choice for a weekend staycation and I am sure to go back to try out the new rooms or perhaps even one of the apartments. I will do that when the recently appointed new General Manager has stamped his authority on the hotel and implemented the range of measures he plans to roll out, as we discussed when he joined me after dinner for a long chat.
I am looking forward to that, very much!
