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Hemingways Watamu

4.5 star property

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2 outdoor pools, pool umbrellas, pool loungers
Penthouse, 4 Bedrooms, Ocean View | Balcony view
Bar (on property)
2 outdoor pools, pool umbrellas, pool loungers
Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Watamu, Watamu, Kilifi County, 80202
  • Place, Watamu Beach
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Prawn Lake
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Malindi Beach
    ‪32 min drive‬
  • Airport, Malindi (MYD)
    ‪28 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Deluxe Double Room, Ocean View

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Double Room, Ocean View

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 40 sq m
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Single Room, Ocean View

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Single Room, Ocean View

  • 40 sq m
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 King Bed OR 1 Single Bed

View all photos for Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • 150 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Ocean View

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Ocean View

  • 240 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Standard Double Room, Ocean View

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Standard Double Room, Ocean View

  • 40 sq m
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Penthouse, 4 Bedrooms, Ocean View

Penthouse, 4 Bedrooms, Ocean View | Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Penthouse, 4 Bedrooms, Ocean View

  • 400 sq m
  • 4 bedrooms
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 8
  • 2 Double Beds and 4 Single Beds

View all photos for Standard Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Ocean View

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Standard Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Ocean View

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 200 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Single Beds

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About this property

Hemingways Watamu

Luxury hotel on the beach, with 2 outdoor pools
Spend the day catching some rays at the beach, relaxing by one of Hemingways Watamu's 2 outdoor swimming pools or pampering yourself at the full-service spa.
Hemingways Watamu offers 60 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and a safe. Rooms open to balconies. Beds feature premium bedding. Televisions come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include a shower, bathrobes, slippers and complimentary toiletries.

Guests can surf the web using complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and telephones. Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and a hairdryer. Housekeeping is offered on a daily basis and an iron/ironing board can be requested.

2 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a children's pool. Other recreational amenities include a fitness centre.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or nearby; fees may apply.

Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa. Services include facials, body wraps, body scrubs and body treatments.
During your stay at Hemingways Watamu, you're just a quick walk from Watamu Beach. Features include free WiFi in public areas and free self-parking, plus 2 outdoor pools.
  • Free WiFi
  • Free self-parking
  • Grab something to eat at the restaurant or stop for a drink at the bar/lounge
  • Take a swim in the 2 outdoor pools
  • Treat yourself to body treatments, facials or manicures and pedicures at the spa
  • Services include babysitting, dry cleaning/laundry and a concierge
  • On-site recreation includes a gym
  • Steps from Watamu Beach and a 3-minute drive from Prawn Lake
  • Airport shuttle service available for a fee
Hemingways Watamu offers its guests a full-service spa, 2 outdoor swimming pools, a fitness centre, and a children's pool. There's a restaurant on site, as well as a snack bar/deli. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. WiFi is free in public spaces.

A business centre and a meeting room are available. Spa services, a terrace, and gift shops/newsstands are also featured at the luxury Hemingways Watamu. An airport shuttle (available 24 hours) is available for a fee. Self parking is free.

This 4.5-star Watamu hotel is smoke free.

On-site venue – This restaurant specialises in local and international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
On-site venue No. 2 – This restaurant specialises in local and international cuisine and serves lunch and dinner.
24-hour room service is available.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 24-hour return airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • Fishing
  • Full-service spa
  • Gym
  • Scuba diving

Family friendly

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Babysitting (surcharge)
  • Children's pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Snack bar/deli
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Hair salon
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • Business centre
  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • On the beach
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Body scrubs
  • Body wraps
  • Facials
  • Manicures/pedicures
  • Massage

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Grab bar near toilet
  • Lift

More

  • Banquet hall
  • Mosquito nets
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 32-inch TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; check-in end time: midnight
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 24 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 5:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • Pets and service animals are not allowed at Hemingways Watamu

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! One child 5 years old or younger stays free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 20.00 per person (one way)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Hemingways Watamu offers transfers from the airport (fees may apply). Please contact the property on the number on the booking confirmation 24 hours prior to arrival with your arrival details. To arrange for check-in, guests must contact the property at least 24 hours prior to arrival using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests arriving after 5:00 PM must make advance arrangements by contacting the property using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in information. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.

We should mention

  • One child aged 5 years old or younger stays free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Pets and service animals are not allowed on site.

Property is also known as

Hemingways Watamu Hotel
Hemingways Hotel
Hemingways Watamu Hotel
Hemingways Watamu Watamu
Hemingways Watamu Hotel Watamu

Hemingways Watamu Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 58 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 58 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 58 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 58 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Albert

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Watamu With Friends

This was a very good hotel giving value for the money
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joozer, Oakville

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic staff and beautiful views of the ocean
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peenal

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Caroline

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely to stay at Hemingways! As beautiful as ever. Staff and facilities first class!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Esther

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adrian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

Luke

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
A very good hotel which has prime location on the beautiful Watamu beach. Food is amazing for both breakfast and dinner, you won't go hungry. But leaves a lot to be desired for a 5* hotel. For some reason water is rationed to a few small bottles of water in the room, y
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Rajay

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Faith Nthenya

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

eve

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hemingways Watamu was just what we were looking for in terms of somewhere to relax and rest after an injury and work. Watamu itself is a bit less interesting in the off season (I.e. most restaurants are closed, as are many of the gear shops), but it’s still lovely if not a tad bit windy. Staff were amazing! Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Margaret

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Poonam

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent property on the beach. All rooms are ocean facing. Perfect for a romantic getaway or adult friends
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed in a 2 bed apartment which was well appointed and extremely spacious with a huge balcony (sadly not much sun as facing east) but overlooking the Indian Ocean. The bathrooms were good though beginning to look a little tired otherwise the apartment was fabulous. Plenty of bottled water provided each day and milk, tea and coffee (instant only). Substantial breakfast with plenty of options provided each morning. Lovely little coffee shop selling variety of cakes and muffins, coffee etc and range of smoothies. Hemingways bar fabulous spot for sundowner. Main restaurant was offering a buffet every night we were there but also à la carte, which in our opinion was the better option - and less expensive if you don’t have a huge appetite (buffet was ksh4,500 pp vs eg 3800 for huge freshly grilled king prawns and accompaniments or 1800 for delicious freshly cooked catch of the day). The pools were very clean (one main, one child’s and one quiet pool) and the pool staff attentive. There isn’t a beach to sit on though you can access beach to walk along. Gardens were delightful and well kept. All the staff we dealt with were charming and friendly and made us very welcome. We stayed in July and it was extremely windy (though I liked this as humidity reduced) and a lot of seaweed on the beach. We also used the gym which was well appointed, good a/c and I was allowed to borrow a yoga mat for my stay so I could do yoga on the peace of my balcony overlooking the ocean: nameste!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

John

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bo Ra

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Could be better

Upon arrival the staff at the reception just watched as we struggled with our luggage. Their welcome was quite cold. Had requested for rooms close to each other but was given given separate rooms and only informed there weren’t close rooms together ones we got to the rooms. Service at the restaurant was quite slow and the staff seemed confused with no coordination. Only one guy think the manager/supervisor seemed to try but you could clearly see he was overwhelmed. Overall, we expected much more from a hotel like Hemmingways. Standards were quite low and definitely not value for the amount charged.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022

2/10 Terrible

Kosi, Marrakech

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Terrible food, terrible service, annoying inefficient staff that has no sense of customer service. The only thing going for it, the rooms are clean and shower is good. 5 star hotel, very far from it.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Hua

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

We wish you could do better

I think I would rate it 6 out of 10; 1, The Spa session was really BAD, no music, no green tea, no underware, the Lady who was massaging my husband was not very professional to say the least; 2, the house keeping service was not up to the normal standard, cups not washed, tissues not filled up; 3, Very minimum Seafood served and yet we are next to the sea.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

JEANETTE MARIE

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The staff were helpful and pleasant all the time. The hotel was right at the beach and the food was excellent
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Yasin Samatar

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel property with lots of amenities and access to the beach! Enjoyed our stay and highly recommended!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022