The Best Hotels to Book in Diani Beach, Kenya

Dive into Swahili Beach Resort’s outdoor infinity pool – stepping down towards the Indian Ocean, it’s one of the most impressive in Kenya. This sophisticated resort’s primary architectural influence is Arabic: delicate relief carving and filigree star patterns merge with Swahili sensibilities in the airy rooms, with sculpted niches and elegant wooden furniture. Palm trees line the pathways between four restaurants, with Kenyan-Indian fusion and pan-Asian options. Dim sum by the pool, anyone?

At one of the larger resorts in Diani Beach, you’ll find plenty of variety, with a pool bar, beachfront restaurant serving Mediterranean dishes and seafood, and a suave pan-Asian restaurant for sophisticated teppanyaki tables. Camel rides along the beach are a popular activity, while the games room with a kids’ play area offers plenty for families to do. Bright and breezy rooms feature cooling tiled floors and natural materials such as wood and rattan.

With the glittering ocean on one side and an 18-hole golf course on the other, few hotels can compete with the range of amenities at this whitewashed property. You’ll enjoy the sea breeze in colourful rooms with private balconies and warm honey-and-wood-toned furnishings, contrasting with a blue, oceanic motif. For even more seclusion, the main suites are standalone villas with a private pool area. Sip sundowners at the Coral Beach Bar with your toes dipped in the soft sand.

Lanterns dotted around the outdoor pool create a cosy atmosphere at night. Sip a dawa cocktail – honey, lime, white sugar, ice and vodka – under the silhouettes of lofty palms. Combine these elements with the minimalist facade, and you get a sense of harmony a few blocks from the sea (take a free tuk-tuk ride if you don’t fancy the sandy stroll). Instead of direct beach access, you have extra-spacious rooms decorated with East African art and wooden furniture, handmade on site.

The terracotta-roofed villas at this budget-friendly seafront option are set at angles around a long outdoor pool. Each one is divided into individual rooms lined with an inviting blend of simple furniture and animal-print curtains and cushions. You can also rent a villa in its entirety, with two- and three-bedroom options available for larger groups. After a day on the beach, tuck into freshly grilled meat and fish at one of the welcoming restaurants, or cook your own in the villa kitchen.

Unlike many other hotels in the area, this villa-style property retains a small-hotel vibe, with only ten guest rooms. All have carved wooden bed frames, and each has its own curated design, drawing from local culture and nature. Admire the ocean or garden from your private balcony or terrace before sampling fresh seafood under a gazebo on the beach. There’s even a turtle hatchery on site, with green and hawksbill species both favouring this area for nesting.

Cabins at this secluded oceanfront resort are spread thinly across the forested coastline for maximum privacy. The gently shelving white sand beach gives way to turquoise water, which conceals the rich aquatic world of Diani Chale Marine National Reserve and Park beneath the waves. Light-filled rooms with half-timbered ceilings and hand-carved furniture are draped in fine lace curtains and mosquito nets. Love fish? Try the grilled snapper and salad.