Cowrie Shell Beach Apartments

Kenya , Mombasa
MOMBASA, Mombasa Malindi Highway
Show on Google | Map

50 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

01 May 2026

Fikru

Accommodation was good. However, apartments are poorly furnished with lots of wear and tear. Restaurant food was expensive and not fresh. No hot water at night.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jan 2026

david

All the staff were super nice and very accommodating

8/10

Excellent

09 Jan 2026

TING

Staff are courteous and helpful

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2025

Francis Anthony

I reslly enjoyed my stay , thank you all so much

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2025

Joseph

Everything was in order…services from the staff were awesome ! I loved my stay there

8/10

Excellent

27 Oct 2025

Gavril

I had 2 consecutive pre-paid reservations of 4-5 days each. The room I was given had no hot water. The front desk people knew that and yet they gave me another room only after 3 days and after I threatened to cancel the 2nd reservation. Otherwise the room is OK and the cleaning crew works hard. The food is so-so. You have to wait a lot. In the last days I discovered that the mexican food was better cooked than other menus. The property is squeezed on a very narrow plot and the pool is retardedly designed and not safe. It is also exposed to sun only between 11 am to 1 pm. The neighboring plots are terrible!
If I ever return to this place it will be because their rooms have a kitchenette. And only after the Malindi Road is done.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2025

hussein

Good place to stay

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jan 2025

Orinthal

The ambiance of the apartment eas made so nice by the wooden furniture. The worse thing was the quality if the dining service. The cooking was terrible and the servers were very slow. Also the many cats in the dining area was annoying. Otherwise it was fabulous, because everyone was very curtious.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

21 Dec 2024

William

A great place to stay and relax while having a beach just below. The have a great restaurant on site but prepare to wait as things are made to order. I had to wait to get soup for almost an hour. Otherwise, the property has a great and friendly staff. I surely recommend this location for a long or short stay.

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

14 Dec 2024

DirkJan

Beach side on the quiet far end. Still best value for money IMHO. Walking distance to decent food. Nice beach walk. Cold beers at Blue Coconut and the entertainment is entertaining after a few drinks

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

03 Dec 2024

Michelle

Affordable beach front stay

For such a large complex it never felt overcrowded.
The restaurant below has a great menu and live entertainment on set nights.
Staff were friendly and efficient.
Full size fridge and cooking facilities in room were good. Not the most modern or chic place, but very clean and affordable.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2024

Josephus

I will recommend this facility to anyone staying in the area.

8/10

Excellent

26 May 2024

James

The property administration was very helpful.

Business_and_leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Mar 2024

Judith

The proper is right on the beach. We love that. The swimming pool was very nice. Comfortable. The staff were helpful. Very pleasant people all around.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2023

Jay

Nice apts fully equipped. The towels and pillows are a little tired, but clean and great location. Expedia has 2 options, do not use c3 Cowrie as that's not thru the front desk. Also, breakfast is not included, restaurant is now separately owned. All units have AC and works good.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Oct 2022

Michael

Best value beach hotel in Mombasa

Great value apartments right on the beach. Rooms are spacious and comfortable and staff friendly

Self

10/10

Exceptional

31 Mar 2022

MR M

Great place to stay. Comfortable well equipped apartment, friendly efficient staff, beautiful beach.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

21 Oct 2021

Niels

The bed was very hard - aircon. did not work - furnitures were very cheap and uncomfi.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

15 Sep 2021

chris

Was a good stay service is good good lication

Business

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2021

Verified traveler

The refreshing coconut at check in was a pleasant surprise! The beach acces is also a plus

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

20 Feb 2020

Adam

Bed was aweful - Felt like I was sleeping on the floor, but with the matress springs poking me in the ribs. Worst sleeps I've had in a long time.
The studio apartment I was given was not in a great condition, A/C started to leak / Balcony door frames were coming of the wall and there was this weird smell in the studio flat.
Staff were polite, but that's apart it, mainly focused there attention on those who they thought would tip them more, then those who they thought would not - Got better service from security staff at the gate then from front of house staff. Certain staff need to improve on there personal hygiene as well, in terms of smell.
The beach apperently belong to the restaurant which isn't part of the hotel, so if you want a sunbed then you'll need to purchase a expensive meal or drink, irrelevant if your a guest of the hotel. So instead once you come into the beach take a right turn and walk for 5 minutes, you'll see a lot more nicer beachfront hotel cafes, which are worth the money, then this one.
During the night you can hear security opening and closing the gate - Security is very weak compared to other Kenyan hotels I've stayed at.
Would I come back and stay here agin? Never!
Was it worth the money I spent at this hotel? No.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

The property was fantastic, the stuff were so helpful and kind. I rily love the place and hoping to go back again in March. Very good place to relax, amazin.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

15 Dec 2019

Grace

The apartments felt like home away from home. I recommend especially for families with young children

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

Very quite place and clean.The staff were so kind and helpful.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

14 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

Some hiccups but the staff were responsive enough to sort them out quickly, one minor issue is that you do notice the age creeping in their in room amenities like a TV with lines across the picture and worn out key card that needed to be remagnetized twice to work, but all in all a decent accommodation on a modest budget, would give it 3.9 🌟 /5

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Aug 2019

Peter

Great place to stay and I will be back.

Delightful apartments with full range of services. Slight hiccup with power failure and staff were totally accommodating until failure was fixed. Great swimming pool and right on the beach. Very pleasant and clean environment
Very accommodating when we wanted extra days and an extra child to stay.
Only downside was that the lifts sometimes didn't work but gave me extra exercise by using the stairs so that was a bonus. And the boys loved the gym.
Highly recommended and I will definitely be back.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Great customer service
Cleanliness
Security consciousness

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jun 2019

Margaret

Fantastic, marvellous, fabulous

It was amazing i realy enjoyed

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

05 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Overall a very mediocre property and experience. W-fi was extremely poor throughout our stay, which was compounded by the fact that I also could not get mobile phone/internet at the location either. Service/management was very slow to respond to even basic requests, for instance to fix the non-function in-room safe (which was never corrected). The property itself was very loud from early morning until sunset, with many families and children in the crowded, somewhat dingy pool area. Rates appear to be substantially inflated during the holiday season, despite no improvements (or possibly even depreciations) in the quality of facilities and services offered. I would not stay again.

Partner

2/10

Poor

31 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

I could not check in till 6 o'clock, with out eny good reason. Only that there cleaning

8/10

Excellent

01 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Ok property for the value. Great location. Close to everything. Great staff.

6/10

Pleasant

26 Aug 2018

Ron

Place is nice though it is showIng it’s age. Right on a private beach. Biggest issue was staff were always very quick to say they would help and were on the way but then would take follow up call after another to get any assistance.

6/10

Pleasant

06 Aug 2018

Kareem

Staff was okay, but room services doesn't like to change sheets and towels daily. Microwave didn't work, but they replaced it.

10/10

Exceptional

02 Aug 2018

Jacob

Cowrie shell gave us the best experience. The locals were tge best you can get. The white sands and all.

2/10

Poor

04 Feb 2018

Adem

The horrible apartment and a lying staff

This place deserves 1 star and not 5 star. It is a disgrace you advertise it as 5 star!! Horrible place

Family

2/10

Poor

03 Jan 2018

Rayana

Not five star quality.

Checked into a two bedroom at midnight.
Master bedroom had no sheets, pillow cases or covers. Has to stay up until 2:30 waiting for the bedding to arrive.
Hotel was noisy. Guests slamming doors and shouting and running in the corridors late at night.
We checked out first thing in the morning.
Sheets were discoloured.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

31 Dec 2017

Mukhtar

Great family spot

Great service and well maintained property overall. New and modern fixtures and finishes provided in the rooms.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

Nice hotel apartment close to beach

Very friendly staff, close proximity to beach, great bar, comfortable accommodation

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jul 2017

Faith

Great view of the Beach

My experience at Cowrie shell beach apartments was awesome despite the few hiccups at first. The receptionists were responsive and their Wi-Fi was strong, never had any challenge with the signal the whole time I was there

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2017

Verified traveler

Very well maintained rooms, Kitchen is well equipped. We really enjoyed our stay in this apart hotel. The staff are very courteous and helpful. I will highly recommend this hotel - it is also quite close to the Marine Reserve.

Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Feb 2017

Verified traveler

Good Value for Money

The hotel is a good budget option on the southern end of Bamburi beach. The rooms are clean, functional and comfortable. Main downside is that they are built around either the pool or the entrance driveway and thus overlook each other.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Feb 2017

Derek

Amazing place to stay! Very clean and comfortable! Great staff and good restaurants not too far!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jan 2017

Matt

Excellent Apartment for temporary stay

Excellent and peaceful, Price factor is also great.

8/10

Excellent

20 Nov 2016

Ron Wooten

On the beach.

Rooms are good. Biggest problems is because it is an apartment,
They don't have a shop to buy small essential things you forget sometimes. Other than that a wonderful inexpensive place to stay.

8/10

Excellent

11 Jul 2016

Chandra

Friendly excellent staff and service

Due to delay flight we reached 2 hrs late. we were tired but welcome with Coconut drinks.Check in was done in short time . We were moved to our room. My wife was not well and travel sickness but they look after us well .we received prompt taxi for evening meal.

Family

8/10

Excellent

30 Dec 2015

SHARRON

Beautiful hotel with a BIG BUT!!!!!

It is a beautiful hotel in a beautiful setting and wonderful employees but that is where it stops. After 2 days of flying from CA my room had -0- water and -0- air conditioning. The water came the 2nd day in the afternoon but sporadic and rarely any hot water. We lost the water again 2 days later IF the wifi worked you had to go to public areas or on the balcony. The TV had very few channels and the picture was so snowy you could not see the picture. The toilet would not flush 1/2 the time. The bed is hard as a rock. No bathroom ameniities. The air conditioning started working on the 3rd day. I called or went down to reception probably 100 times and could not get another room as I was told they were fully booked but that did not appear to be the case. It is such a shame that this hotel has so much going for it and lacks the major things you need. It is a good thing that the employees were all so friendly telling me we will send someone. Too bad they were not able to be able to deliver these promises

Partner

2/10

Poor

30 Dec 2015

Stavros

Poor value for money!

You really do not want to know!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 Nov 2015

Amir

Good place for long stays

Good place for long stays, not a so great restaurant , but they provide you with free transport to main shopping center.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Aug 2015

Verified traveler

Enjoy this stay.

The Cowrie Shell was so relaxing and enjoyable for us. We have done the whole Hotel with meals etc...but always get tired is the food in a few days. Doing this was nice as we had our own breakfast and snacks on the Beach and got to go to restaurants at night.
The access to the Beach and the Beach is as nice as any in Nyali. No corral to cut your feet on and nice swimming. The beach is great to walk on as well. Only complaint was Mattress was a bit hard and durning shower the water pressure was good but fluxated between hot and cold sometimes.

10/10

Exceptional

02 Aug 2015

ishmail

MOMBASA TRIP

It was simply excellent hotel,my stay was every thing I expected and more.
I would recommend this hotel to my friends and family.
Good job especially the staff
Many thanks