Djibouti Kempinski Palace

Djibouti , Djibouti
Djibouti, Ilot Du Heron, 1 5
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50 reviews shown

4/10

Poor

06 Feb 2026

Daniel

On my first nite i ordered room service and was food poisoned. I was sick for thirty six hours and had to inform mgmt. they were concerned and attended to me but did not offer to comp the extra night i had to spend there…and i had to ask they take the cost of the deadly meal from my bill. Filaan, Aisha and Mustaffa were very polite and hepful, but i wil not stay again, as i do t trust their kitchen oractices

Self

10/10

Exceptional

14 Oct 2025

Keith

Over all the Kempinski in Djibouti Africa is the best hotel that will fit personal creature conforts. Excellent staff,food and location for all.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Sep 2025

Deborah

Excellent trilingual staff, great breakfast buffet, stunning location on the turquoise sea. Pizza also excellent. Interior design a bit dark and dated.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

15 Aug 2025

Keith

The Kempinski Hotel Djibouti is the BEST hotel for every confort one would need. The staff are simply WONDERFUL, the food is WONDERFUL and the area is absolutely Magnificient.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jul 2025

Keith

If you are looking for a Wonderful place to go in Djibouti Africa that will give you the conforts of home, The Kimpinski Hotel will give you that confort.

10/10

Exceptional

31 May 2025

margaret

I would recommend to anyone. Perfect fof single, business, or family travel. There is something for everyone and the staff is so wonderful.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

13 May 2025

Keith

Excellent location and rooms, Excellent food, Excellent staff. Wonderful area to get away and relax.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

03 May 2025

Saharia-Hibo

Not what it used to be

We appreciated our stay. The variety and quality of meals were good. However, the prices were somewhat over the top..$15 americano coffee and $9 croissant was shocking.
We have stayed in this hotel 4 years back but now the state of the place has degraded, paint peeling outside, garden rooms not well garnished and not even cleaned on a dialy basis.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2024

Mohammed

Good location and Kind staff

Business Friends

8/10

Excellent

18 Jul 2024

Keith

Over all \"WONDERFUL\"

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Apr 2024

Michael

Beautiful Hotel and the staff is superb! Stayed 2 nights fully relaxing.
I will definitely be back again! Highly recommended!

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

12 Mar 2024

Idil

All great

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jan 2024

Andrew

Second stay in a month with work and always a pleasure to come back here.

Breakfast is amazing especially the omlette

Business

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jul 2023

Shawn

They have a wonderful property

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2023

Abshir

Very good Hotel everything was going well even that my flight has been delayed for around two hours and their transport representative was waiting for me

Business Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2023

Martin

I loved the possibility to walk along the jetty where we can enjoy the breeze and beautiful sunsets. The seafood restaurant with Yemeni specialities and the Italian restaurant were great options while the buffet was very convenient. The ability to organize excursions with the assistance of the concierge was much appreciated.

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

06 Mar 2023

Charles

Would never stay here again. Over charged me for no reason for everything

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

05 Sep 2022

Jorge

The wash sink and shower clogged up several times.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Feb 2022

Vincent

A gorgeous Arabic-influenced palace, with spa services and nice pools facing the sea, supported by friendly and attentive staff.
Overall still overpriced for what it offers. The Italian restaurant is great but the other main one was under renovation; great international tv channel selection; would have enjoyed a morning newspaper and a room service menu in the room. On the way to become a 5 star hotel for sure, but except the price, not there yet. It surely will be with time. Overall a very pleasant and memorable stay, but a notch too expensive.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

02 Aug 2021

Verified traveler

Rooms were big and nice.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

20 Aug 2020

Verified traveler

I was like the swimming pool and gym
But I don't like without sauna and steam
Which was not there

8/10

Excellent

17 Mar 2020

The property has quite a few amenities that are easy to access and enjoy. However to enjoy them all it maybe a little too expensive.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2020

Yusuf

See view it was great as well food condition also was amazing

Business

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jan 2020

Rob_Nour

The hotel is beautiful and very clean. The staff is incredibly friendly and wonderfully trained to anticipate your needs. I travel often and this is one of the best hotel experiences I've ever had. Definitely coming back soon. Thumbs up to Harid daytime front desk attended and Kaslias \"nightshift front desk attended.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Dec 2019

Joseph

Very good hotel - but needs to do it's bit!

A very good hotel - although the price (as everything in Djibouti) is ridiculous. The hotel didn't arrange a pick-up from the airport, even though I had requested - and despite their being Kempinski cars, they refused to take me - but other than that, the stay was great. Very comfortable bed, in a well furnished and clean room. Food quality was very good - and staff were very friendly. (Although the expectation that you tip high for everything is annoying)
The only thing I'd say - is that in a country with plastic waste everywhere, Kempinski really should be doing more. Plastic straws, plastic stirrers, plastic in the bathroom - it's nearly 2020 and you're using 2000 ideas. A few healthier menu options, without meat would be nice too.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

01 Nov 2019

Secure, clean, nice pool & bar. Nicely appointed rooms. Comfortable bed. Excellent even for western standards.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2019

Brian

Perfect

Taking a weekend break from work.....great time!

Friends

2/10

Poor

02 May 2019

Verified traveler

Crow-infested Kempinski

Absolutely filthy property considering this is not a cheap hotel. Crows and bird poop everywhere. The lawn by the pool was brown and covered with trash (as was the private beach). Unacceptable given the price to stay there. On the bright side, the service and hotel staff--especially the managers--were super nice. The food onsite was pricey but very good.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

24 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Best meal in Africa!

Wow, They treated us so well! We loved the day trip to Lac Assal; just the right combination of a little adventure with a chance to see the lowest spot in Africa which is stunningly beautiful. We stayed two nights should have stayed three. Definitely enjoy the Yemeni bread and fish at the Bankoule restaurant right on the beach in the hotel. Absolutely fabulous.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Charging $52 each way for an airport transfer is a rip off. The check in policy is also geared to people on expenses who dont care about cost. On the surface this hotel looks good. Scratch under the surface however and everything is substantially overpriced.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Oct 2018

Autumn

Lovely oasis.

Amazing beds, literally like lying on a cloud! The food was okay, not great especially the Italian restaurant. Great breakfast though and the pool overlooks the ocean. Everything is expensive in Djibouti, but this is worth the best money for value in Djibouti.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

18 Jun 2018

Verified traveler

It is obvious that the hotel was something special however, it has clear signs of decline.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Apr 2018

Verified traveler

Beautiful hotel

Beautiul hotel with excellent service but definitely pricey.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jan 2018

matthew

Best place to stay in Djibouti

Nice hotel, great location by beach, good restaurants and fantastic service. Really enjoyed my time there - relaxing by the pool. Concierge Thiam can arrange anything - really helpful. Not cheap, either rooms or food, but worth it.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Sep 2017

Verified traveler

A surreal place in an even more surreal country

Yes the hotel and everything in it are overpriced and out of place. But whatever your reason is for being in this country, the odds are so are you.

4/10

Poor

08 May 2017

Emad

very expensive, arm twisting you

This is the third time I stay in this hotel. this time I spent 3 nights. The hotel is by far the only decent hotel in Djibouti; however, it is rediculously expensive. they also dont have early check-in and I arrived at 8 am in the morning after I had been travelling on boat throughout the night. The receptionist was unable to accomodate me, and had the audacity to tell me that I would pay an extra night if she checked me now. I had to wait untill 1 pm before my room was ready to be able to check in. I endured this treatment although I am a member of the Kempinski discovery club, and should have received priority !

the amenities and facilities of the hotel are very good, but the staff are very slow in responding to your requests. waiters are terribly slow, specifically at the Spa pool area. I had to wait for 30 minutes to receive a beer. I also ordered my food and took a long nap before the food arrived !!

i have decided not to use this hotel again, this is a very expensive hotel that over charges for everything.

6/10

Pleasant

21 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

Disappointed

Upon checking the room was not ready, check in was suppose to be at 3pm. I arrived at 4.30pm and was told to wait 30 minutes as they were fully booked. The room was paid for in advance. Italian restaurant was very disappointing,
Pasta undercooked, not worth the price at all, but no other choice too.

8/10

Excellent

14 Oct 2016

KRISHNAMOORTHY

Extremely expensive but comfortable.

Extremely expensive property , the same standard and facilities elsewhere could be had for about 60% of the cost, Gym was under some renovation and the cleaniness of the machines was bad with no cleaning at all. As a vegetarian not a great place to stay with very little choice or practically nothing to choose.

6/10

Pleasant

10 Apr 2016

Hanna

Lovely hotel with great restaurant

Lovely hotel. Concierge is efficient and very helpful. Room service is extremely slow. Buffet breakfast ok but omelette maker needs to be replaced. Spa is lovely with so many treatments on offer. Italian restaurant must be the best restaurant in town. The harbour has a strong odour which you are often aware of when outside. Room very comfortable and the dreamiest beds with the loveliest soft linen. Friendly and efficient staff.

8/10

Excellent

13 Mar 2016

Mohamed

Nice

Nice hotel and friendly staff.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2016

AMJED

Best place

Very comfortable hotel

8/10

Excellent

20 Feb 2016

Verified traveler

It is a safe , comfortable and quite place

The hotel security staff and services were appealing

6/10

Pleasant

14 Feb 2016

swr

best hotel in Djibouti......but.....

I have used Kempinski hotels in other parts of the world, this one is definitely the best hotel in Djibouti and an island of relative peace, calm and luxury. But for the very high price of a room it is a little rough around the edges, a few of the staff seemed to be more interested in their cell phones then the clients, power cuts, average bar food. However I was given a late check out easily and the cleaning staff were great. If you need a break this is the place to go, but in my opinion it is overpriced.

8/10

Excellent

29 Jan 2016

Verified traveler

It is forth for me.The hotel is very nice in this area or best one. Staff is very kindly and philanthropic.

8/10

Excellent

14 Nov 2015

Verified traveler

Very nice hotel, too expensive

Overnight in Djibouti for a business trip -- managed to make it into town for dinner.

8/10

Excellent

26 Sep 2015

Verified traveler

not a real Kempinski

Not up to 5 star status, plain jane, little atmosphere, and amenities. Nice pool, decent gym, and bed was very comfortable. Was not worth the money... heard Sheraton is better and value.

8/10

Excellent

23 Sep 2015

Wing Sheung

Average is good

4/10

Poor

22 Jul 2015

Verified traveler

Police that was guarding the hotel was RUDE!

Taxis aren't allowed to drive you to the front of the hotel you have to stop at the gate an walk to the front of the hotel. Security can be rude to guest that aren't professionally dressed. They won't give a refund on canceled or changed reservations. There is a dead bird in front of the hotel fountain. The rooms are over.... overly priced. It's the ONLY descent hotel in Djibouti...

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2015

Sameer

need more time

I had very little time to use all the facilities because of the nature of the business the services and the quality of the staff where very friendly always smiling hope to spend more time in the next visit

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2015

Verified traveler

The Kempinski is a wonderful Oasis

The Kempinski is a wonderful Oasis of European quality in this small desert country. If you are going to Djibouti for the first time or if you are a frequent traveler to the area, the Kempinski provides all of the comforts of a western hotel in a beautiful package in the challenging temperatures and conditions of Djibouti. The restaurants are excellent and represent a wide variety of dining choices. The rooms are comfortable and plush. The grounds beautiful and secure. The health club and pools are excellent.