Eleven Pearl Boutique Hotel & Spa

Eleven Pearl's beach club has a lovely, small sunbed area on what I think is the best part of Diani beach. A bed costs 1200 KSH for the day, with 1000 redeemable on food and drinks. That covered my delicious mango milkshakes each day. The food was very good, freshly made, and there was plenty of choice. There's a secured beach and sunbed area, plus a restaurant and bar. Towels are provided, and there are clean toilets and an outdoor shower. The WiFi was very good overall. The beach and turquoise water are breathtaking. Kite surfers can be annoying. Beach sellers aren't allowed onto the Eleven Pearl grounds, but they're all along the rest of the beach and can be a nuisance. I found them manipulative and tiresome, so eventually I just walked past and ignored them. Security keeps them off the grounds. There are camels on the beach. Please don't ride them. Seeing them tethered together in the heat, with tourists climbing on, was truly appalling and raises serious animal welfare concerns. Service was hit and miss. It would help if staff checked in now and then to see whether guests wanted a drink or food. There's a tip box at reception, and it's always nice to tip people who go out of their way. Asha at reception was outstanding, a manager in the making, I hope she goes far. Special thanks to Nuru, who always served with a genuine smile and was eager to help. The boys could be a little lazy and nonchalant by comparison. I highly recommend Eleven Pearl as a beach club. The food is great, and the little sunbed area is perfect. I didn't stay at the hotel, so I can't comment on that, though the cabins looked cute.

The hotel's location is amazing, but the service was pathetic. We ordered drinks when we arrived because it was so hot, and they took over an hour to come. At first we assumed the restaurant was busy and let it go. But around 4:30 pm, when it wasn't crowded, we ordered food and waited until 5:45 pm. It was undercooked, too. I'm extremely disappointed.

The team always makes me feel valued and looked after, even when I just walk in as a regular customer. They're so warm, and the food is amazing. It's the kind that has you making sounds while you eat. I've never had a meal there and thought it needed something. It really slaps. I live in Diani and spend most of my beach days here, so I'm a repeat client at 11 Pearl. Sundays also have a really nice live band. I'll keep vouching for them. I pay full price, so I promise this isn't sponsored.

The rooms were clean and getting to the beach and sea was easy. Breakfast was good, with a different offering each morning. The pool is at the back and wasn't that nice, and the service was a bit disappointing.