Background
This hotel opened in November last year. African Sun is a Zimbabwe-based hospitality management company with the majority of its hotels, resorts and casinos located in Zimbabwe, whilst it also has properties in Nigeria.
Where is it?
African Sun Amber Residence is located in an upper class residential area in the state capital of Lagos – Ikeja GRA (Government Reserved Area). It is 15 minutes’ drive from the local domestic airport and 20 minutes’ drive from Murtala Muhammed International Airport. It is securely located within a vibrant GRA, which has a great variety of restaurants, bars and shops, and offers numerous night life options.
Rooms & Facilities
The hotel has 69 rooms, made up of 39 standard, 27 deluxe and one executive deluxe, along with two suites. My deluxe suite was warm and spacious, with a walk-in closet. It featured a queen-size bed with plush pillow-top mattress and monogrammed linen, and a comfortable work desk with complimentary 24-hour Wi-Fi access. The room was tastefully furnished with basic amenities – I particularly liked the décor and use of lighting, which added a certain glamour to the room. Also impressive was the rain shower in the en-suite bathroom. Other standard features included air-conditioning, 24-hour room service, a 42-inch LCD TV with selected satellite TV channels, beverage tray set, iron and ironing board, and a digital safe.
Restaurants & Bars
Located in the right corner of the lobby is the Wings restaurant, which seats up to 60 people. A buffet menu of intercontinental and local dishes is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. An à la carte menu is also available on request – I went for that option via room service, and decided to try the spaghetti bolognaise. Unfortunately, it took about 30 minutes to arrive, but I did receive a number of calls apologizing for the slow delivery. Whilst the meal itself was fine, it wasn’t the best spaghetti bolognaise I’ve ever tasted. Also available on request are vegetarian meals and Indian cuisine. The hotel has two bars – the Platinum Bar and the Pool Bar. The Platinum Bar serves a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and its seating consists of two and three-seater couches and chairs, suitable for client meetings or casual drinks. Both bars are open for private parties and meetings.
Business & Meeting Facilities
African Sun Amber Residence has a boardroom and a conference room. The conference room seats 175 people theatre-style, while the boardroom seats 20 people comfortably. Both meeting areas come with complimentary flip chart, electronic white board, PA system and an overhead projector (at a fee and on request). And just in case you have a problem with your laptop and need to attend to business matters via the Internet, there is a business centre which is always open to guests.
Leisure Facilities
There is a modest fitness centre open daily from 06h00. It is fitted with basic cardio-vascular exercise machines. Also available is a swimming pool, which also has a large relaxation area, to go with the nearby Pool Bar. The hotel also offers local tours to tourist sites in Lagos, such as the Lagos Museum Centre, Ikeja shopping sites and the national stadium, which is about 30 minutes’ drive from the hotel. Additional facilities include a 40-bay car park
Verdict
A great option for the business traveller and a nice alternative to the large group of hotels on Victoria Island. Despite my room service experience, the rest of the service I observed was good, the hotel has tight security and the accommodation is comfortable – a simple approach to hoteling, which I like. An additional advantage is its proximity to the airport, taking into account the legendary and unpredictable Lagos traffic, whilst the hotel’s complimentary airport transfer for guests is a real bonus.
Morisola Obisesan
Contact
Address: 16 Esugbayi Street, off Obadosunmu Street
Tel: +234 705 140 4365
Email: reservations@amberresidenceng.com
Web: www.amberresidenceng.com