The Fashionable Frequent Flyers

A trip to Kenya isn’t complete until you visit the beautiful Kenyan coast. Diani Beach on the southern coast of Kenya is absolutely gorgeous. It is a popular tourist destination (both for domestic and international travelers) and there are several properties catering to all sorts of travelers. But, as y’all know, we’re luxury accommodation connoisseurs, and so we chose to stay at the Almanara Luxury Resort & Villas. We were there for four nights total, spending two nights on the resort side and two nights at the luxury villa Nadia! (Full disclosure: I have been to Diani Beach many times over the years and have stayed at many many properties). At the end of our stay, I can confidently say Almanara is Diani’s finest!

In this post, I’ll be writing about our first two nights at Almanara, which we spent at the Resort! Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Executive Chef Anthony, one of the property managers Nour, and the koi fish on the walkway into the lobby! The lobby was really beautiful, embodying (to the best of my estimation) Swahili, Moroccan, and Italian influences. This seemed to be the theme throughout the property as well. The lobby leads to a veranda that overlooks the stunning infinity pool. And the infinity pool overlooks the beach! Adjacent to the veranda is the dining area; boasting the perfect outdoor dining setting for all meals on the property! Serenity, Almanara is thy name! 

The rooms are beautiful and spacious, each of which had a balcony overlooking the pool. The balconies are also a perfect vantage point for monkey spotting — just make sure not to leave your balcony door open or you could find a mess upon returning to your room! It’s clear that guest satisfaction is a primary goal of the staff at Almanara—they pay attention to the little things, right down to the beautiful swan towel display welcoming you to the room. 

Oooh, let’s talk about the food! The food at Almanara was spectacular! The ingredients are fresh and purchased daily based on your individual order. Basically, this is how it works: upon arrival, your assigned waiter will take your orders for lunch and dinner depending on what you’d like. There’s a daily menu (but there’s no restriction to stick specifically to the options presented). You place your orders and your meals are prepared to your liking and are served at your time of choosing! And this process repeats for the days you remain at the property!  This is personalized service at its finest!

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about our lovely dinner at Sails restaurant on our second night at the resort. Sails is Almanara’s flagship restaurant, and this is where Anthony works his magic. First, the restaurant is on the beach, so you already know you’re in for a beautiful romantic setting! But the ambiance isn’t all you get! In addition to the perfect setting, you get an incredible seafood/Italian fusion culinary experience! We left the restaurant with full bellies and full hearts! We recommend making a reservation at this restaurant during your stay at the Almanara Luxury Resort. While it comes at an extra cost to your stay, it’s worth every penny!