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4-star hotels in Malindi
A shortlist of 15 four-star hotels in Malindi and neighbouring Watamu, on Kenya's north coast in Kilifi County. Guest ratings run from 3.7 to 4.9 out of 5, so it suits couples, families and business travellers comparing the coast's four-star options.
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 hotels sit on both sides of that coast. Others stand on Golf Course Drive, Jacaranda Road, Turtle Bay Road, Watamu Coast Road, Mnarani Road and Mayungu Road Malindi, or are simply addressed to Malindi or to the Watamu National Marine Park. With 1309 reviews at Hemingways Watamu and 1060 at Sandies Coconut Village All Inclusive down to 21 at Kivulini Luxury Resort, the list covers couples' retreats, family beach resorts and quiet smaller stays.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
Hemingways Watamu
Malindi
Why stay hereHemingways Watamu is the most reviewed 4-star option on this Malindi shortlist, with 1309 guest reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5. Travellers who want a well-established address in Watamu and a strong record of guest satisfaction will find it the safest pick here. Its broad appeal suits couples and longer stays as much as shorter visits.
See Hemingways WatamuSandies Coconut Village All Inclusive
Casuarina Road
Why stay hereSandies Coconut Village All Inclusive sits on Casuarina Road and is one of the most reviewed hotels in this selection, with 1060 guest reviews and an average of 4.5 out of 5. The all-inclusive format suits guests who prefer to settle in and let the hotel handle the day. Couples and families comparing 4-star addresses along Casuarina Road can weigh it against its neighbours.
See Sandies Coconut Village All InclusiveLions Luxury Eco Resort & Spa
Golf Course Drive
Why stay hereLions Luxury Eco Resort & Spa has the fewest reviews of the rated hotels here, just 78, but they average 4.7 out of 5, the highest of any 4-star on this list alongside one other. Its position on Golf Course Drive places it away from the Casuarina Road cluster. It fits guests who value a spa and eco framing and are comfortable choosing a newer, less-reviewed property.
See Lions Luxury Eco Resort & SpaAfrican House Resort
Casuarina Road
Why stay hereAfrican House Resort shares Casuarina Road with several other hotels on this list, and its 170 reviews average 4.5 out of 5. The moderate review count suggests a smaller property than the large all-inclusive neighbours. It suits travellers who want a 4-star base on Casuarina Road without the scale of the biggest resorts, and who read guest feedback closely.
See African House ResortSandies Malindi Dream Garden
Casuarina Road
Why stay hereSandies Malindi Dream Garden is the third Sandies property on Casuarina Road in this selection, with 344 reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5. That is a mid-sized review base compared with its sister hotel nearby. It suits guests who want the Sandies formula on a smaller scale, and couples or friends who plan to spend their time between the beach and the Casuarina Road area.
See Sandies Malindi Dream GardenNyumba Ya Mbuyu
Malindi
Why stay hereNyumba Ya Mbuyu carries the highest guest rating on this shortlist, 4.9 out of 5, though it rests on only 26 reviews, so treat it as an early signal rather than a settled record. It is listed simply at Malindi, without a street address. It suits travellers willing to take a chance on a small, very highly rated property over the bigger names.
See Nyumba Ya MbuyuOra Resort Twiga Beach
Jacaranda Road 5757
Why stay hereOra Resort Twiga Beach on Jacaranda Road has 453 reviews averaging 4.2 out of 5, a solid volume of guest feedback for a 4-star in this area. That combination suits travellers who want a beach-side address on Jacaranda Road and prefer a hotel with a track record over an untested newcomer. Couples and families alike can use it as a straightforward base.
See Ora Resort Twiga BeachVillas Watamu Resort
Turtle Bay Road Plot 546
Why stay hereVillas Watamu Resort is reached via Turtle Bay Road, Plot 546, and holds a 4.3 out of 5 rating from 47 reviews. The villa format and low review count point to a smaller, quieter property than the large Casuarina Road resorts. It suits guests who want a Watamu base with more privacy and are happy to book on limited but positive feedback.
See Villas Watamu ResortAquarius Club International Resort
Watamu Coast Road
Why stay hereAquarius Club International Resort on Watamu Coast Road has 689 reviews averaging 4.1 out of 5, one of the larger review bases among these 4-star hotels. Guests who want plenty of prior guest experience to draw on, in the Watamu coast area, will find it useful for comparison. Its international resort style suits travellers who like a full-service setup.
See Aquarius Club International ResortLily Palm Resort
Watamu National Marine Park
Why stay hereLily Palm Resort is listed within the Watamu National Marine Park, and its 543 reviews average 3.9 out of 5. That is among the lower ratings on this shortlist, so it repays reading the guest comments before booking. It suits travellers who specifically want a base inside the marine park area and who weigh location heavily against rating.
See Lily Palm ResortSun Palm Beach Resort
Jacaranda Road
Why stay hereSun Palm Beach Resort on Jacaranda Road has only 46 reviews, averaging 3.9 out of 5, so the picture is thin and mixed. It sits on the same road as another hotel in this selection. It is best suited to guests who want a Jacaranda Road beach base and are willing to accept limited guest feedback as part of the decision.
See Sun Palm Beach ResortKivulini Luxury Resort
Mayungu Road Malindi 80200
Why stay hereKivulini Luxury Resort on Mayungu Road, Malindi 80200, has 21 reviews averaging 3.7 out of 5, the lowest rating on this shortlist. With so few reviews, the score is a weak guide either way. It suits travellers drawn to the Mayungu Road area who are prepared to treat the guest rating lightly and check recent comments themselves.
See Kivulini Luxury ResortScorpio Villas
Mnarani Road
Why stay hereScorpio Villas on Mnarani Road is a 4-star entry with no guest rating or review count in this data, so there is no guest feedback to weigh. It suits travellers who want a villa-style address on Mnarani Road and are willing to judge the property on its 4-star classification alone, comparing it directly with the rated hotels nearby.
See Scorpio VillasKenyan House Malindi
Malindi
Why stay hereKenyan House Malindi is listed at Malindi with a 4-star classification but no guest rating or review count in this data. That means no guest feedback to compare against the rated hotels on this page. It suits travellers who prefer a house-style stay in Malindi and are comfortable booking without a published guest score.
See Kenyan House MalindiEden House Cottages
Mahogany Road
Why stay hereEden House Cottages on Mahogany Road is a 4-star property with no guest rating or reviews given here, so it cannot be ranked against the rated hotels on this list. The cottage format suggests a different feel from the larger resorts. It suits guests who want a cottage stay on Mahogany Road and will assess it on classification and location alone.
See Eden House Cottages
The shortlist side by side
| Hotel | Class | Guest rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemingways Watamu | ★★★★ | 4.6 | 1,309 |
| Sandies Coconut Village All Inclusive | ★★★★ | 4.5 | 1,060 |
| Lions Luxury Eco Resort & Spa | ★★★★ | 4.7 | 78 |
| African House Resort | ★★★★ | 4.5 | 170 |
| Sandies Malindi Dream Garden | ★★★★ | 4.4 | 344 |
| Nyumba Ya Mbuyu | ★★★★ | 4.9 | 26 |
| Ora Resort Twiga Beach | ★★★★ | 4.2 | 453 |
| Villas Watamu Resort | ★★★★ | 4.3 | 47 |
| Aquarius Club International Resort | ★★★★ | 4.1 | 689 |
| Lily Palm Resort | ★★★★ | 3.9 | 543 |
| Sun Palm Beach Resort | ★★★★ | 3.9 | 46 |
| Kivulini Luxury Resort | ★★★★ | 3.7 | 21 |
| Scorpio Villas | ★★★★ | – | – |
| Kenyan House Malindi | ★★★★ | – | – |
| Eden House Cottages | ★★★★ | – | – |
From each hotel's own listing on this site; a dash means it is not listed.
How to choose
For families
Sandies Coconut Village All Inclusive and Sandies Malindi Dream Garden are both on Casuarina Road and carry 1060 and 344 reviews at 4.5 and 4.4 out of 5, so families land somewhere well tried. Aquarius Club International Resort on Watamu Coast Road has 689 reviews at 4.1.
Sandies Coconut Village All Inclusive · Sandies Malindi Dream Garden · Aquarius Club International Resort
Best guest ratings
Nyumba Ya Mbuyu in Malindi scores 4.9 out of 5 from 26 reviews, the highest on this list. Lions Luxury Eco Resort & Spa on Golf Course Drive follows at 4.7 from 78 reviews, and Hemingways Watamu at 4.6 from 1309 reviews, where the large review count backs the score.
Nyumba Ya Mbuyu · Lions Luxury Eco Resort & Spa · Hemingways Watamu
Quiet, small stays
Review counts here are low, which suits travellers who prefer small places: Kivulini Luxury Resort on Mayungu Road Malindi with 21 reviews, Villas Watamu Resort on Turtle Bay Road with 47, African House Resort on Casuarina Road with 170 at 4.5. All four-star, all away from the biggest resorts.
Kivulini Luxury Resort · Villas Watamu Resort · African House Resort
Near the marine park and Watamu
Lily Palm Resort is addressed to the Watamu National Marine Park itself, with 543 reviews at 3.9. Aquarius Club International Resort on Watamu Coast Road has 689 reviews, and Hemingways Watamu 1309.
Lily Palm Resort · Aquarius Club International Resort · Hemingways Watamu
Plan your stay
Getting there and around
Malindi Airport has domestic flights, so flying in is one option. The town is also reached by road from Nairobi; by straight line it lies about 425 km southeast of Nairobi, in Kilifi County on Kenya's north coast. Visitors can fly or drive. Stays in the centre are searched and booked through IMPT, the booking partner behind this site, and every quarter page links to the places to stay on its own streets, which helps once you are in town.
Things to do near Malindi
Questions, answered
Which of these hotels has the best guest rating?
Nyumba Ya Mbuyu in Malindi, at 4.9 out of 5 from 26 reviews. Lions Luxury Eco Resort & Spa on Golf Course Drive is next at 4.7 from 78 reviews, then Hemingways Watamu at 4.6 from 1309 reviews, the largest review count on the list.
Which hotels suit families?
Aquarius Club International Resort on Watamu Coast Road, 4.1 from 689 reviews, is the third well-reviewed option.
Which hotel is closest to Malindi Marine National Park?
Lily Palm Resort is addressed to the Watamu National Marine Park, the reef area south of Malindi near Watamu, and scores 3.9 out of 5 from 543 reviews. Hemingways Watamu, Aquarius Club International Resort and Villas Watamu Resort are also on the Watamu side of the coast.
Are any of these hotels in Watamu rather than Malindi?
Yes. Hemingways Watamu, Villas Watamu Resort on Turtle Bay Road, Aquarius Club International Resort on Watamu Coast Road and Lily Palm Resort in the Watamu National Marine Park all give Watamu addresses, south of Malindi near the Gede ruins.
Which hotels have the most reviews?
Hemingways Watamu leads with 1309 reviews at 4.6 out of 5, followed by Sandies Coconut Village All Inclusive with 1060 at 4.5 and Aquarius Club International Resort with 689 at 4.1. Lily Palm Resort has 543 at 3.9.
Which hotels are on Casuarina Road?
All are four-star.
Which smaller hotels have the fewest reviews?
Kivulini Luxury Resort on Mayungu Road Malindi has 21 reviews at 3.7 out of 5 and Nyumba Ya Mbuyu 26 at 4.9. Villas Watamu Resort on Turtle Bay Road has 47 at 4.3, Sun Palm Beach Resort on Jacaranda Road 46 at 3.9.