The Suite Life at Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa

I was on holiday a few weeks ago in Diani and yes, I am still in recovery mode. I have said this before and I will keep saying it, Diani has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I’m not the only one that thinks this as it has been voted so by eminent awards around the world. I stayed at Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa and it was a wonderful stay, which was no surprise as the hotel has been nominated and won awards for excellence.

At the beach at Diani Reef

About Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa

Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa is set on 30 acres of sheltered property on the Kenyan sea coast and features a modern design, a natural coral reef aesthetic and views of the pristine Diani Beach. In terms of accommodation, the hotel has Standard Garden & Sea Facing Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Junior Suites, Penthouse Suite and Presidential Suite.

The pool at Diani Reef

How do you get to Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa?

Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa is as the name suggests, in Diani. This is in the south coast of Kenya. You can get there by road, rail or air. If you choose to go by road, you can drive down or book a seat on a bus to Diani and the journey should take you anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. If you go by train, you will need to book a seat on the SGR and arrange transport to Diani from Miritini with either the hotel or on your own if you prefer. If you fly down, which is my preferred means, you’ll need to get a flight to Ukunda. Several airlines fly to Ukunda and I used Jambojet to Ukunda and Silverstone Air from Ukunda and both were pleasant flights.

Funny story, I sat next to Louis Rei of the group WSTRN on the flight to Diani and we ended up having a lovely chat. They were in Kenya to perform at a concert the weekend before and were heading to Diani for what I assumed was a vacation. It absolutely made my day!

Me with Louis Rei and Haile from WSTRN

Diani Reef is a little under 10 minutes from the airstrip by car. If you choose to take a tuk-tuk to the hotel, it’ll cost Ksh 300 but be advised that the hotel does not permit tuk-tuks inside and you’ll need to walk the rest of the way from the gate.

The Check-in Experience

Check-in took a little under 10 minutes and was pleasant. I was asked to take a seat at the hotel lobby and served a glass of fresh orange juice and handed a cold towel for my comfort. The staff were friendly and professional. It wasn’t my first time at Diani Reef, but I was still impressed by the service.

Funnier story, I bumped into Louis-Rey and Hailey of Wstrn and their entourage at the lobby. Turned out they would be staying at Diani Reef too in the Presidential Suite and I honestly couldn’t believe the odds!

The Junior Suite

I stayed in a Junior Suite which was just a flight of stairs up from the Coral Rock Café. The Junior Suite is 87m² of gorgeous luxury, featuring an open plan lounge, dining area, bedroom and bathroom. The décor is lovely with a coral aesthetic featuring sleek minimalist furniture. The lounge has 2 couches and a TV unit.

The lounge in the Junior Suite

A marble island with a complementary coffee and tea station and bottled water separates the lounge from the dining area that has a 4-seat dining table.

The Dining Area in the Junior Suite

I loved that there was a generous welcome fruit basket and dessert plate with cake and chocolate-covered strawberries on the table.

View from the Dining Area to the Lounge

The bedroom is spacious with a comfortable bed, a work desk and a closet with a full-length mirror exterior.

The bed in the Junior Suite

The bathroom is huge and features a jacuzzi tub.

Bathroom in the Junior Suite

There is a balcony as well with a table and 2 chairs and a lovely view of the pool.

I loved the mirrors on the closet and of course, the white bathrobes in the closet. I also appreciated that the hotel is generous with their toiletries and that they include a dental kit.

It was a hot August week, so I was grateful for the ample air conditioning. My last stay at the coast was not as comfortable because the AC was insufficient, and I sweated right through the bed sheets at night.

Even on vacation, I still need to get some work in, so I was over the moon that they had Wi-Fi all over the hotel, even on the beach!

You can watch my Instagram video tour of the Junior Suite here.

The Presidential Suite

I got a sneak peak of the Presidential Suite thanks to the lovely staff at Diani Reef and it’s modern, airy and stylish. The décor was made for me – flamingos, millennial pink, plush pillows and minimalist furniture.

Lounge 1 in the Presidential Suite

Lounge 2 in the Presidential Suite

It’s spacious without feeling too big or gaudy. It’s 228m² holding a separate lounge, dining area, a bar, open plan bedroom with a walk-in closet and a jacuzzi in the bathroom.

Bed in the Presidential Suite

Jacuzzi Tub in the Presidential Suite

The suite has a dedicated butler on request and private veranda with a breathtaking view of the Indian Ocean. It’s luxury for the stylish traveller.

You can watch my Instagram video tour of the Presidential Suite here and here. Yes, I had to do two videos because it was huge!

The Dining Experience

There are 3 restaurants at the hotel: Coral Rock Café that serves buffet style breakfast and dinner, Sake Oriental Restaurant that offers a fusion of Japanese Teppanyaki, Chinese & Indian cuisine and Fins Seafood Grill that serves seafood dishes. I had breakfast at the Coral Rock Café and the food was fresh with a good variety. I especially loved the waffles.

Breakfast waffle at Coral Rock Cafe

Lunches and dinners were at the Fins Seafood Grill because I came for seafood and it was fantastic. You can read my review here.

Views at Fins Seafood & Grill

Funniest story, while having lunch on day 1 at Fins Seafood & Grill, we spotted WSTRN shooting their Sharna music video on the beach right next to us!

Haile of WSTRN shooting the video for Sharna at Diani Reef

I didn’t have time to try out Sake Oriental Restaurant, but I will next time I am there.

Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa also has bars – Zebra Square Bar & Piano Lounge, an elegant bar ideal for drinks and cocktails and cigars and Dunes, a night spot and bar that features live music and dancing. I got to experience a little bit of both though and I can see myself spending a lot of time at Zebra Square Bar & Piano Lounge if I lived in Diani. I just love the privacy, coziness and the animal print aesthetics.

Zebra Square Bar & Piano Lounge

The Pool and Spa

A vacation at the coast is not complete without a dip in the pool. I unfortunately, don’t go swimming as much as I’d like to in Nairobi, but when at the coast I spend a lot of time in the water. It’s why I even bothered to braid my hair for the trip!

There are 2 pools – one that features a pool bar and is open to all and one near the spa that is closed to kids under 12 and is perfect for a quiet, relaxing swim.

Waiting for a drink at the pool bar

The Maya Spa is one of the finest spas in the country and has been featured in the Conde Nast Johansens Luxury Spas and won first runner’s-up in the Leading Wellness Retreat category in the Amarula Best Retreats in Africa among others. It’s easy to see why as it offers a variety of wellness treatments and experiences for the relaxation of the mind, body and soul. I didn’t have enough time to go to the spa because I spent too much time having lobsters and martinis. I plan to do so the next time I am there though. There’s also a gym and lots of activities at the hotel and they can help to organize excursions out to sea.

I was content to spend my time at the hotel and the beach and it was more than enough for me. Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa is a taste of luxury and should be on your list if you want to enjoy everything that Diani Beach has to offer.

To make your reservations, contact Diani Reef on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or on +254 709 481 000.

Happy holidaying!