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3-star hotels in Malindi
This shortlist covers 3-star hotels in Malindi, on Kenya's north coast in Kilifi County. It is for travellers who want a guest score they can trust, from the boutique addresses on Casuarina Road to the beach clubs at Mida Creek and Mambrui.
Staying in Malindi
Malindi is a town on Kenya's north coast in Kilifi County, about 425 km southeast of Nairobi in a straight line. The Vasco da Gama Pillar recalls the Portuguese navigator's visit in 1498, Malindi Marine National Park protects the reef offshore, and the ruins of Gede, a medieval Swahili town, lie south of Malindi near Watamu. Visitors come for the pillar, the marine park and the Gede ruins, and Malindi Airport has domestic flights for those who would rather fly than drive from Nairobi.
The hotels on this shortlist sit in three parts of the area. Casuarina Road is the most represented, with Sandies Tropical Village, Simba Wa Kale, Hotel Villa Malindi and, on its 80200 stretch, the same road. Marine Park Road, Ngowe Road and the town itself account for Stephanie Ocean Resort, Saffron Garden Malindi, Alawi Boutique Hotel, Blue Rooms and Chrystal Palace. Further out, Lamu Road runs north to the Mambrui Junction, where Ndoto Boutique Hotel, Kola Beach Resort and Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel stand, while Mida Creek Road and Watamu Beach serve Turtle Bay Beach Club, Rock and Sea Resort and Jumbo Watamu. Couples, families and short-break visitors are all catered for; business travellers are best served by the hotels inside the town.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
Sandies Tropical Village
Casuarina Road
Why stay hereOn Casuarina Road, Sandies Tropical Village has drawn 1059 reviews and a 4.5 guest rating. It suits travellers who want a well-reviewed 3-star base in Malindi and the reassurance of a stay many others have already booked. Choose it if a busy, established address matters more to you than a small property.
See Sandies Tropical VillageStephanie Ocean Resort
Marine Park Road Malindi
Why stay hereStephanie Ocean Resort sits on Marine Park Road in Malindi and holds a 4.5 guest rating from 786 reviews. The review volume makes it a safe pick for visitors who like to know what they are getting before they arrive. It works for couples and families after a 3-star stay with a track record.
See Stephanie Ocean ResortAlawi Boutique Hotel
Malindi
Why stay hereAlawi Boutique Hotel, in Malindi, scores 4.7 from 80 reviews, making it one of the higher-rated 3-star options here. Its small review count points to a quieter, boutique-scale stay rather than a large resort. Good for travellers who prefer a more personal property and value recent guest feedback.
See Alawi Boutique HotelNdoto Boutique Hotel
Lamu Road Mambrui Mjenaheri Junction Last Beach Area
Why stay hereNdoto Boutique Hotel stands on Lamu Road at the Mambrui Mjenaheri Junction, in the last beach area. At 4.9 from 41 reviews, it carries the highest rating of the 3-star hotels listed. Best suited to guests who want a remote, boutique setting away from central Malindi and are happy with a small property.
See Ndoto Boutique HotelBlue Rooms
Malindi
Why stay hereBlue Rooms, in Malindi, holds a 4.5 guest rating across 191 reviews. The steady review count suggests a consistent, straightforward 3-star stay rather than a sprawling resort. It fits solo travellers and couples who want a simple base in town with plenty of recent guest feedback to check.
See Blue RoomsJumbo Watamu
Watamu Beach
Why stay hereJumbo Watamu occupies Watamu Beach, outside Malindi itself, with 463 reviews and a 4.4 rating. Guests who choose it trade the town centre for a beachfront position on the Watamu coast. A reasonable fit for beach-focused visitors and families wanting a 3-star property with a long review history.
See Jumbo WatamuSimba Wa Kale
Casuarina Road 80200
Why stay hereSimba Wa Kale on Casuarina Road, postcode 80200, rates 4.8 from 37 reviews. The very small number of reviews means a low-key, intimate 3-star stay rather than a busy hotel. It suits guests who want a compact property in Malindi and are willing to book on the strength of a strong recent rating.
See Simba Wa KaleKola Beach Resort
Lamu Road Mambrui Junction
Why stay hereKola Beach Resort is set on Lamu Road at the Mambrui Junction, with a 4.4 rating from 268 reviews. The name points to a beach-oriented stay north of central Malindi. It works for travellers who want a resort-style 3-star address with a solid, moderately large review base behind it.
See Kola Beach ResortHotel Villa Malindi
Casuarina Rd
Why stay hereHotel Villa Malindi on Casuarina Rd scores 4.7 from 36 reviews. A small review pool suggests a quiet, villa-style 3-star property rather than a large complex. It suits guests who prefer an intimate Malindi address and make their choice on a high rating from a limited number of stays.
See Hotel Villa MalindiSaffron Garden Malindi
Ngowe Road
Why stay hereSaffron Garden Malindi sits on Ngowe Road with a 4.5 guest rating from 68 reviews. The modest review count points to a smaller 3-star property in the town. Good for visitors who want a central Malindi base and a rating that a manageable number of guests have confirmed.
See Saffron Garden MalindiTurtle Bay Beach Club
Mida Creek Road
Why stay hereTurtle Bay Beach Club, on Mida Creek Road, holds a 4.3 rating from 727 reviews. Its long review history makes it one of the more established 3-star choices near Mida Creek. Best for travellers who want a beach-club setting outside Malindi town and value a well-documented guest record.
See Turtle Bay Beach ClubMerry Crab Beach Hotel
792 Madetini
Why stay hereMerry Crab Beach Hotel is at 792 Madetini, with a 4.4 guest rating from 118 reviews. The name signals a beach-side 3-star stay, and the review count is enough to show a consistent record. It suits visitors who want to be near the water rather than in the middle of Malindi.
See Merry Crab Beach HotelChrystal Palace
Malindi Kiangunyi Villa
Why stay hereChrystal Palace, at Malindi Kiangunyi Villa, rates 4.4 from 118 reviews. The villa setting suggests a smaller, private-style 3-star property rather than a large hotel. It fits guests who prefer a quieter address in Malindi and a rating backed by a moderate number of stays.
See Chrystal PalaceVilla Cesy Boutique Hotel
Lamu Road Mambrui Junction
Why stay hereVilla Cesy Boutique Hotel on Lamu Road at the Mambrui Junction scores 4.6 from 34 reviews. With so few reviews, it reads as an intimate boutique stay north of central Malindi. Suitable for couples and solo travellers who want a small 3-star property and a strong recent rating.
See Villa Cesy Boutique HotelRock and Sea Resort
Mida Creek
Why stay hereRock and Sea Resort is located at Mida Creek, with a 4.4 rating from 66 reviews. Its position near the creek sets it apart from hotels in Malindi town. It suits travellers who want a nature-adjacent 3-star base and are happy to be outside the centre.
See Rock and Sea Resort
The shortlist side by side
| Hotel | Class | Guest rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandies Tropical Village | ★★★ | 4.5 | 1,059 |
| Stephanie Ocean Resort | ★★★ | 4.5 | 786 |
| Alawi Boutique Hotel | ★★★ | 4.7 | 80 |
| Ndoto Boutique Hotel | ★★★ | 4.9 | 41 |
| Blue Rooms | ★★★ | 4.5 | 191 |
| Jumbo Watamu | ★★★ | 4.4 | 463 |
| Simba Wa Kale | ★★★ | 4.8 | 37 |
| Kola Beach Resort | ★★★ | 4.4 | 268 |
| Hotel Villa Malindi | ★★★ | 4.7 | 36 |
| Saffron Garden Malindi | ★★★ | 4.5 | 68 |
| Turtle Bay Beach Club | ★★★ | 4.3 | 727 |
| Merry Crab Beach Hotel | ★★★ | 4.4 | 118 |
| Chrystal Palace | ★★★ | 4.4 | 118 |
| Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel | ★★★ | 4.6 | 34 |
| Rock and Sea Resort | ★★★ | 4.4 | 66 |
From each hotel's own listing on this site; a dash means it is not listed.
How to choose
Highest guest scores
Ndoto Boutique Hotel posts 4.9 from 41 reviews, the strongest score on this list, and Simba Wa Kale follows at 4.8 from 37. Alawi Boutique Hotel and Hotel Villa Malindi each hold 4.7, from 80 and 36 reviews. Small places, high scores.
Ndoto Boutique Hotel · Simba Wa Kale · Alawi Boutique Hotel · Hotel Villa Malindi
Long track records
Review counts here run into the hundreds and the scores hold up: Sandies Tropical Village at 4.5 from 1059 reviews, Stephanie Ocean Resort at 4.5 from 786, Turtle Bay Beach Club at 4.3 from 727, Jumbo Watamu at 4.4 from 463. Choose these when a large body of guests matters more than a boutique scale.
Sandies Tropical Village · Stephanie Ocean Resort · Turtle Bay Beach Club · Jumbo Watamu
Out of town
Lamu Road carries Ndoto Boutique Hotel, Kola Beach Resort and Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel to the Mambrui Junction, and Mida Creek Road and Watamu Beach carry Turtle Bay Beach Club, Rock and Sea Resort and Jumbo Watamu. Best for travellers who want the beaches at Mambrui, Mida Creek and Watamu rather than the town.
Ndoto Boutique Hotel · Kola Beach Resort · Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel · Turtle Bay Beach Club · Rock and Sea Resort · Jumbo Watamu
Where to stay in Malindi
Casuarina Road
Three of the shortlisted hotels stand on Casuarina Road: Sandies Tropical Village, Simba Wa Kale and Hotel Villa Malindi. The stretch is also where Stephanie Ocean Resort and Chrystal Palace are found, on Marine Park Road and at Malindi Kiangunyi Villa respectively, so the marine park and the pillar are within the same part of town.
Our picks here: Sandies Tropical Village · Simba Wa Kale
Lamu Road, Mambrui Junction
The road north out of Malindi passes the Mambrui Junction, where Ndoto Boutique Hotel, Kola Beach Resort and Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel are listed. The ruins of Gede lie south of Malindi near Watamu, so this side of town points towards the northern beaches rather than the medieval Swahili site.
Our picks here: Kola Beach Resort · Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel
Plan your stay
Getting there and around
Malindi lies about 425 km southeast of Nairobi in a straight line. Malindi Airport has domestic flights. The town is also reached by road from Nairobi. Visitors can fly or drive. The hotels spread out from there: Casuarina Road, Marine Park Road, Ngowe Road and the town centre addresses are in Malindi itself, while Lamu Road runs north to the Mambrui Junction and Mida Creek Road and Watamu Beach lie towards Watamu. No transport times between them are quoted here.
When to go
Malindi sits on Kenya's north coast, where the coast is warm through the year and the long rains fall in the middle months, with a shorter wet spell later. The reef offshore and the marine national park, the Vasco da Gama Pillar and the Gede ruins near Watamu are all outdoor sights, so the drier months suit them best.
Things to do near Malindi
Questions, answered
Which of these hotels has the best guest score?
Ndoto Boutique Hotel, on Lamu Road at the Mambrui Mjenaheri Junction, scores 4.9 from 41 reviews. Simba Wa Kale on Casuarina Road follows at 4.8 from 37, then Alawi Boutique Hotel and Hotel Villa Malindi at 4.7 each.
Which hotels are closest to the centre of Malindi?
Alawi Boutique Hotel, Blue Rooms and Chrystal Palace give their address as Malindi, and Saffron Garden Malindi is on Ngowe Road in the town. These are the town addresses on this shortlist, the nearest to the Vasco da Gama Pillar and the marine park.
Which hotels suit families?
The larger, long-reviewed places are the safer bet with children: Sandies Tropical Village at 4.5 from 1059 reviews, Stephanie Ocean Resort at 4.5 from 786 and Turtle Bay Beach Club at 4.3 from 727. All three come with a substantial record of past guests.
Do any of these hotels have a pool or a spa?
The booking records behind these 3-star hotels do not list pool, spa or other facilities on this page. Availability and the full facility list are checked live for your dates.
Do any of these hotels accept pets?
Pet policies are not given in the data behind this shortlist. Check directly with the hotel when you book.
Is parking available?
Parking is not listed among the details held for these 3-star hotels. The supplier's record is checked live for your dates, so confirm with the hotel before you arrive.
Do any of these hotels serve breakfast?
Breakfast is not named in the data behind these hotels. Availability, and what goes with the room, is checked live for your dates, so ask when you book.
Which hotels are outside Malindi town?
Turtle Bay Beach Club on Mida Creek Road, Rock and Sea Resort at Mida Creek and Jumbo Watamu on Watamu Beach are the furthest from the town addresses, and the Lamu Road group — Ndoto Boutique Hotel, Kola Beach Resort and Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel — sits north at the Mambrui Junction.