The Majlis Resort

The best thing about this place is the furniture and architecture resembling the old Arabic style that existed in this religion long ago. The food was terrible, marketing that they have different restaurants is laughable as they all have the same menu. The bread was always stale, burger was probably one of the worst I have had in a while. The staff was horribly trained. Took 20 mins to order water, some of the staff are quite rude (although most of the staff were kind and helpful—shoutout Mike for the bike ride. The bartenders were never attentive and when sat down at the restaurant they would avoid eye contact until we had to go up as ask what the deal was. I ordered a drink to the pool, and after an hour of waiting, I asked one of the waiters where it was, and they had forgotten. Despite the intense heat, not once did anyone ask us if we wanted water—had to ask ourselves, which sounds pretentious but this was marketed as a 5 star, so that is the bare minimum. At dinner, they moved us twice from our table to a table right next to the grill which smelled of smoke, saying there was another family that had booked the table we were originally sitting at (even though the receptionist said at the beginning that you do not need to book for any of the restaurants, which turned out to be false). Lo and behold, nobody ended up sitting at that table so we were moved for no reason. There were people smoking in the restaurant on New Year’s Eve, who were also quite rude and disrespectful of their surroundings. Probably friends or family of the owners, who I’ve heard from other reviews are horrible and racist people. Again, beautiful hotel, but I am never coming back.

A hidden gem in lamu County ...I would recommend the majlis paradise to all my friends..Good food, friendly and attentive waiters good service from waiter kariuki at Mediterranean restaurant kudos guys will be back soon...The rooms and room services were also 👌 nice

The service was absolutely great! They had just launched a new menu as well at the Mediterranean restaurant and the food was very flavourful! The infinity pool was a key highlight, great place to relax and enjoy a dip with a view of the sunset! Definitely going back!

We came here for the day to spend time on the beach. It was fantastic. The sand, vistas and general vibe of the place is superb. A special mention goes to Frederick, the charming gentleman/ pool and beach assistant. He had helped us the day prior to secure the chairs and was delightful during our time spent there. Our only regret was tipping him incorrectly due to our miscalculation of the exchange rate. You won’t be disappointed if you come here, can highly recommend.

Transfers from Lamu Airport to The Majlis are via boat as there are no roads on Manda Island. We considered this a bonus as you get to appreciate the beauty of the Lamu Archipelago and surrounding areas! The Majlis sits at one end of Manda Island, opposite the sand dunes of Shela, with a beautiful white sandy beach and a background of swaying palms. The hotel consists of traditional low level buildings scattered throughout the extensive gardens and includes 3 superb swimming pools. We had a adjoining rooms as we travelled with our daughter and these were spacious, well appointed and decorated with local art and artefacts. The beds were extremely comfortable with full mosquito nets at night. All of the staff were courteous, extremely friendly and looked after our every need. Special mention must go the Bonnie (Concierge), Florence (Reception), Enock (Pool Towels) and Freddie (Pool Bar) as they all went above & beyond to make our stay a memorable one. We arrived realising we'd left something important at home but Bonnie & Florence went out of their way to successfully solve the problem and for this we will be eternally grateful.....thanks again guys we really appreciated all of your support. Food served throughout the hotel restaurants was well prepared, well presented and very tasty but the menu was at times a little limited in the number of options. There are no negatives with The Majlis and its currently a hidden gem but we get the impression this part of East Africa is about to take off and The Majlis will rise *head & shoulders" above other local hotel offerings as tourism increases! As a family we are seasoned travellers and have experienced many wonderful hotels and destinations but The Majlis has gone to the top of our list! We will most certainly be coming back!

Here’s a more polished version of your review: The hotel is stunning and offers a wide range of amenities, making it easy to enjoy a full and relaxing stay without needing to venture out to Shela or Lamu Town. While the dining experience was enjoyable, I would love to see more variety in the restaurant menus. Incorporating Swahili dishes would not only add local flavor but also enhance the authenticity of the experience. During our stay, we dined at Peponi, where Swahili meals were available—something to consider for future menu expansions. Our room was spacious, comfortable, and consistently well-maintained, ensuring a restful stay. The staff across the hotel—from the Snack Bar to Ummi, Mediterraneo, and the pool—were incredibly warm, attentive, and helpful. A special thank you to Bonny, Oscar, and Edward, whose kindness and hospitality made our stay even more memorable. Overall, it was an amazing and unforgettable experience, and I would highly recommend this hotel!