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3-star hotels in Malindi

A shortlist of the 3-star hotels in Malindi, on Kenya's north coast in Kilifi County. It is for travellers who want a mid-range base for the Vasco da Gama Pillar, Malindi Marine National Park and the Gede ruins, chosen on guest rating and number of reviews.

15 hotels9 rated 4.5+4,092 guest reviews

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. Visitors come for the Vasco da Gama Pillar, which recalls the Portuguese navigator's visit in 1498, for Malindi Marine National Park, which protects the reef offshore, and for the ruins of Gede, a medieval Swahili town that lies south of Malindi near Watamu. Malindi Airport has domestic flights, and the town is also reached by road from Nairobi.

These 3-star hotels sit on several sides of the town. Sandies Tropical Village, Simba Wa Kale and Hotel Villa Malindi are on Casuarina Road or Casuarina Rd; Stephanie Ocean Resort is on Marine Park Road Malindi and Saffron Garden Malindi on Ngowe Road. Others stand further out: Ndoto Boutique Hotel, Kola Beach Resort and Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel are on Lamu Road around the Mambrui junction, while Turtle Bay Beach Club is on Mida Creek Road, Rock and Sea Resort at Mida Creek, Jumbo Watamu at Watamu Beach and Merry Crab Beach Hotel at 792 Madetini. The shortlist suits couples and families on a beach break, and business travellers who want to be near the town centre.

The shortlist

Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.

  1. Sandies Tropical Village

    ★★★4.51,059 reviews

    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 Village

  2. Stephanie Ocean Resort

    ★★★4.5786 reviews

    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 Resort

  3. Alawi Boutique Hotel

    ★★★4.780 reviews

    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 Hotel

  4. Ndoto Boutique Hotel

    ★★★4.941 reviews

    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 Hotel

  5. Blue Rooms

    ★★★4.5191 reviews

    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 Rooms

  6. Jumbo Watamu

    ★★★4.4463 reviews

    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 Watamu

  7. Simba Wa Kale

    ★★★4.837 reviews

    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 Kale

  8. Kola Beach Resort

    ★★★4.4268 reviews

    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 Resort

  9. Hotel Villa Malindi

    ★★★4.736 reviews

    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 Malindi

  10. Saffron Garden Malindi

    ★★★4.568 reviews

    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 Malindi

  11. Turtle Bay Beach Club

    ★★★4.3727 reviews

    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 Club

  12. Merry Crab Beach Hotel

    ★★★4.4118 reviews

    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 Hotel

  13. Chrystal Palace

    ★★★4.4118 reviews

    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 Palace

  14. Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel

    ★★★4.634 reviews

    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 Hotel

  15. Rock and Sea Resort

    ★★★4.466 reviews

    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

HotelClassGuest ratingReviews
Sandies Tropical Village★★★4.51,059
Stephanie Ocean Resort★★★4.5786
Alawi Boutique Hotel★★★4.780
Ndoto Boutique Hotel★★★4.941
Blue Rooms★★★4.5191
Jumbo Watamu★★★4.4463
Simba Wa Kale★★★4.837
Kola Beach Resort★★★4.4268
Hotel Villa Malindi★★★4.736
Saffron Garden Malindi★★★4.568
Turtle Bay Beach Club★★★4.3727
Merry Crab Beach Hotel★★★4.4118
Chrystal Palace★★★4.4118
Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel★★★4.634
Rock and Sea Resort★★★4.466

From each hotel's own listing on this site; a dash means it is not listed.

How to choose

Highest rated

Ndoto Boutique Hotel leads the list at 4.9 out of 5 from 41 reviews, followed by Simba Wa Kale at 4.8 from 37 and Alawi Boutique Hotel and Hotel Villa Malindi, both at 4.7. These are the picks if the guest score matters more to you than a long track record.

Ndoto Boutique Hotel · Simba Wa Kale · Alawi Boutique Hotel · Hotel Villa Malindi

Best known

Sandies Tropical Village has 1059 reviews at 4.5 out of 5, Stephanie Ocean Resort 786 at 4.5, Turtle Bay Beach Club 727 at 4.3 and Jumbo Watamu 463 at 4.4. Choose these when you want a hotel many guests have already rated.

Sandies Tropical Village · Stephanie Ocean Resort · Turtle Bay Beach Club · Jumbo Watamu

Along Lamu Road

Ndoto Boutique Hotel, Kola Beach Resort and Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel all stand on Lamu Road around the Mambrui junction. They rate between 4.4 and 4.9 out of 5 across 34 to 268 reviews, which makes them a set for travellers heading north of Malindi.

Ndoto Boutique Hotel · Kola Beach Resort · Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel

Small and quiet

Alawi Boutique Hotel, Blue Rooms, Saffron Garden Malindi and Merry Crab Beach Hotel each carry between 68 and 191 reviews, from 4.4 to 4.7 out of 5. They are for travellers who prefer a smaller address on Ngowe Road, in Malindi or at 792 Madetini.

Alawi Boutique Hotel · Blue Rooms · Saffron Garden Malindi · Merry Crab Beach Hotel

Where to stay in Malindi

Casuarina Road

Casuarina Road is named by Sandies Tropical Village, Simba Wa Kale and Hotel Villa Malindi, three hotels rating 4.5 to 4.8 out of 5. From there you are in the Malindi area, within reach of the town's sights: the Vasco da Gama Pillar and Malindi Marine National Park.

Our picks here: Sandies Tropical Village · Simba Wa Kale

Lamu Road

Lamu Road runs north towards Mambrui, and three hotels sit on it around the Mambrui junction: Ndoto Boutique Hotel, Kola Beach Resort and Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel. The stretch is away from the town centre, on the side of Malindi that also leads south towards the Gede ruins near Watamu.

Our picks here: Ndoto Boutique Hotel · Kola Beach Resort · Villa Cesy Boutique Hotel

Mida Creek

Mida Creek Road and Mida Creek name the addresses of Turtle Bay Beach Club and Rock and Sea Resort, both 4.3 to 4.4 out of 5. The creek sits south of Malindi towards Watamu, the same side as the medieval Swahili ruins of Gede.

Our picks here: Turtle Bay Beach Club · Rock and Sea Resort

Plan your stay

Getting there and around

Malindi lies about 425 km southeast of Nairobi in a straight line. Malindi Airport has domestic flights, and the town is also reached by road from Nairobi, so visitors can fly or drive. Once you are in Malindi, the hotels on this list are spread across Casuarina Road, Marine Park Road, Ngowe Road, Lamu Road towards the Mambrui junction, Mida Creek Road and Watamu Beach, so plan on road transfers between them and the sights.

When to go

The site gives no season for Malindi, so there is no month to recommend from its own text. What it does say is that visitors come to see the Vasco da Gama Pillar, Malindi Marine National Park and the Gede ruins, and that they reach the town either by domestic flight into Malindi Airport or by road from Nairobi. Time your trip around those sights and around how you intend to arrive.

Things to do near Malindi

Questions, answered

Which of these hotels has the highest guest rating?

Ndoto Boutique Hotel, on Lamu Road at the Mambrui Mjenaheri junction, has 4.9 out of 5 from 41 reviews. Simba Wa Kale follows at 4.8 from 37 reviews on Casuarina Road, then Alawi Boutique Hotel and Hotel Villa Malindi, both 4.7.

Which hotels are closest to the centre of Malindi?

Alawi Boutique Hotel, Blue Rooms and Chrystal Palace give Malindi as their address. Stephanie Ocean Resort is on Marine Park Road Malindi and Saffron Garden Malindi on Ngowe Road, both in the town. The Lamu Road and Mida Creek hotels lie further out.

Which are the best options for families?

Turtle Bay Beach Club and Jumbo Watamu, at 4.3 and 4.4 from 727 and 463 reviews, are further out.

Do any of these hotels have a pool or a spa?

The hotel records for this shortlist do not list facilities, so no pool or spa can be confirmed for any of them. The pages for each hotel are built from the booking supplier's record; check there for what is available before you book.

Is parking or breakfast included at any of these hotels?

No facilities are recorded for the 3-star hotels on this list, so parking and breakfast cannot be confirmed from the data. Availability is checked live for your dates, and each hotel page is built from the booking supplier's record.

Are pets allowed at these hotels?

The data behind this shortlist does not record facilities, so pet policies are not stated for any of the 3-star hotels in Malindi. Look at the individual hotel page, which is built from the booking supplier's record, for the conditions that apply.

Which hotels are near the beach or the marine park?

Malindi Marine National Park protects the reef offshore. Stephanie Ocean Resort is on Marine Park Road Malindi, Turtle Bay Beach Club is on Mida Creek Road, Rock and Sea Resort at Mida Creek, Jumbo Watamu at Watamu Beach and Merry Crab Beach Hotel at 792 Madetini.

What can I see while staying in Malindi?

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. The hotels here put you within reach of all three.

Hotels near landmarks

The nearest hotels to the landmarks in and around Malindi

More ways to stay in Malindi