Malindi Getaway: Relaxing on a Budget at the Kenyan Coast
We decided to take a long weekend and head to the coast—Malindi, to be exact. Our trip was split into two parts: two nights in Malindi, and then a few days further south. To keep things interesting, we gave ourselves two challenges: pack light (just two hiking backpacks) and keep our lodging under $40 a night. Spoiler alert: we nailed it! Some places were better than others, but we’ll save those stories for the next post.
Day 1: Heading to Malindi
We flew with Jambojet to Malindi, a quick 45-minute hop. We arrived in the evening, around 7 pm, and settled into our Airbnb, which was only a short walk from the ocean. It had everything we needed—a comfy bed, our own bathroom, a small kitchen, and a chill patio. After dropping off our bags, we grabbed a boda (motorcycle taxi) to a nearby Italian restaurant.
Dinner at Babby Marrow – Tasty but Quiet Our first stop for food was Babby Marrow, an Italian restaurant. Malindi’s got a big Italian community, so the seafood and pasta here are legit. The vibe was a little too quiet for us, though. We were one of just a few diners, and the music was…okay. But hey, Felipe got to enjoy his cigar and whisky, and I sipped on my wine while we unwound after the flight.
Sunrise and a Beach Walk One of the best things about staying longer in one place is having time to explore. There’s something special about watching the sun rise over the ocean, and we usually have the beach all to ourselves at that hour. Our plan for the morning was simple: watch the sunrise and take a long beach walk, heading toward the pier and stopping for coffee along the way.
Malindi Pier – A Local Hotspot The pier turned out to be a lively spot. Since it was a Kenyan holiday, the beach was packed with kids—some swimming, others playing football. We walked down a staircase at the end of the pier and waded through the water to shore, passing a couple of abandoned, rusted ships along the way. It gave the place a kind of eerie, post-apocalyptic vibe, but the kids' laughter balanced things out. On the way back, we stopped at The Morning Light Café for some much-needed coffee and a pastry. Definitely worth the visit!
Relaxing on the Beach The rest of the afternoon was pure beach bliss. We laid out, soaked up the sun, and Felipe enjoyed another cigar while we negotiated with a vendor for a fresh coconut. A perfect way to relax.
Dinner at Maasai Malindian Beach Restaurant
Later that evening, we stumbled across Maasai Malindian Beach Restaurant, and it was everything we wanted. Great music, a view of the ocean, and incredible prices. We had espresso, coffee, an appetizer, two whole fish, water, and dessert—all for $28 USD! We loved it so much that we came back for breakfast the next morning. Simple and delicious: hard-boiled eggs, chapati, beans in coconut sauce, and fruit with yogurt.
Off to Watamu After breakfast, we packed up and met our driver for the next leg of our trip—Watamu. It was a quick 45-minute drive, and we’re excited to share more of our adventures in part two of this series. Stay tuned!
