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Hemingways Watamu

4.5 star property

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2 outdoor pools, pool umbrellas, sun loungers
2 outdoor pools, pool umbrellas, sun loungers
Penthouse, 4 Bedrooms, Ocean View | Balcony view
Boating
Boating

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Pool
  • Gym
  • Spa
  • Room service
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

Map
Watamu, Watamu, Kilifi County, 80202
  • Watamu Beach
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Prawn Lake
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Mida Creek
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Malindi (MYD)
    ‪27 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

  • 431 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Standard Double Room, Ocean View

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Standard Double Room, Ocean View

  • 431 sq ft
  • 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

  • 431 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 King Bed OR 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Standard Single Room, Ocean View

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Standard Single Room, Ocean View

  • 431 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

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

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Ocean View

  • 2583 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

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

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Standard Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Ocean View

  • 2153 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

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

  • 4306 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 8
  • 2 Double Beds and 4 Twin Beds

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

Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View

  • 1615 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

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About this property

Hemingways Watamu

4.5-star Watamu hotel close to Watamu Beach
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 safes. Rooms open to balconies. Beds feature premium bedding. Televisions come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include showers, bathrobes, slippers, and complimentary toiletries.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.

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

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.
Hemingways Watamu features a full-service spa, 2 outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, and a children's pool. The hotel offers a restaurant and a snack bar/deli. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access.

This 4.5-star property offers access to a business center and a meeting room. This luxury hotel also offers spa services, a terrace, and gift shops/newsstands. For a surcharge, an airport shuttle (available 24 hours) is offered to guests. Complimentary self parking is available on site.

Hemingways Watamu is a smoke-free property.

Onsite venue - This restaurant specializes in local and international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Onsite venue #2 - This restaurant specializes in local and international cuisine and serves lunch and dinner.
24-hour room service is available.

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

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

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 center
  • 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.
  • Elevator
  • Grab bar near toilet

More

  • Banquet hall
  • Mosquito nets
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • 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

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
1 child, up to the age of 5 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

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

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

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

We should mention

No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

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. 33 out of 46 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 46 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 46 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 46 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 46 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

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

Traveled 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

Traveled 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 traveler

Traveled 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

Traveled 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

Traveled 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 traveler

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

8/10 Good

michael

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The rooms were clean and had comfortable beds obviously newly renovated. The hotel had very little atmosphere. The lighting was terrible and the layout of the restaurant and bars was poorly conceived. Most people that we spoke to went the the hotel next door to eat. The menu design is badly done as we couldn't see half the dishes on it and didn't realise how comprehensive it was. When we did eat there it was good but you didn't want to eat there in the evening. The bar was also the same . you would expect Hemmingway to be a feature in the hotel but it wasn't.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nancy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stunning property and location! Even more impressive was the attentiveness of the staff and their outstanding hospitality. Every need was anticipated and met with a smile.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Eleanor

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent I would definitely go back
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I like how beautiful planned the aesthetics are, it’s a very modern hotel with good finish and the shower gel smells divine. The food is so good and the staff are fantastic. We had an early morning Tsavo east tour so we requested for breakfast at 6am; they had it packed and waiting for us by then. Lovely hote
Stayed 1 night in May 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly, welcoming and helpful staff.Every room has an ocean view.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Njeri

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2020