Boutique Hotel Matlai

Only 6 rooms in 2 separate houses in this unique resort so book early!Gorgeous room with huge bathroom including freestanding soaking tub, with a menu of bath salts to select. Beautiful ocean  views and large pool. What sets it apart are the  bespoke experiences they offer and the professional and personalized service provided by the staff, including your private butler (thank you Tito!) that was always available with a call from the cell phone provided when you check in.  Where else can you have a candlelight dinner and watch a movie in your own private outdoor amphitheater while lounging under a blanket with popcorn! A must-do!! We also highly recommend the private romantic dinner on the beach. A magical experience with candles and lanterns and crystal glasses! One of our favorite amenities provided was the choice to eat where you wanted,  and when you wanted.  You could wake up and have breakfast on your terrace in your bathrobe! The food was fresh, beautifully presented, and every course was amazing! We tried many items on the menu and even created a few of our own in consultation with the chef. A big thank you to Tim the manager and creator of this very special place!!

Stayed for 5nts in the kidosho villa, we booked the 2 rooms for our group (2 couples). The decor is beautiful, villa incredibly spacious, bathroom luxurious and infinity pool absolutely stunning. The villa has everything you could need for a luxury stay including multiple private sun lounging areas. Our butler Tito was so attentive and made our stay extra special. The beach was beautiful and sea turquoise. Finally the food was sublime and we especially enjoyed the Vietnamese menu.

We chose Hotel Matlai as a place to relax and unwind after a 2 week safari and it was absolutely perfect. It was unexpectedly luxurious with a beautifully appointed large bedroom with a huge comfortable bed, lots of wardrobe space for unpacking, comfortable seating and a private terrace where our breakfast was served each day. The bathroom had twin basins, a free standing bathtub and an excellent shower with lots of hot water. The hotel has extensive landscaped grounds with plenty of hidden spots to sit and relax. Each of the villas (we stayed in the one with four bedrooms) has it's own pool and it's a few steps down to the beach. Excellent restaurant and delicious food. The staff are amazing - consistently friendly, helpful with nothing being too much trouble. The butler service is outstanding - and puts Hotel Matlai into a class of it's own. There is a great spa centre on site with excellent massage service. Tim (one of the owners) took the time to come and meet us and was always available for any queries. We had a wonderful 4 days and would not hesitate to go back.

We had a wonderful, relaxing break at Matlai. The entire team were courteous, accommodating and professional throughout our stay. On our first morning, the owner made a special effort to locate us, and extend their welcome. This personal touch was very much appreciated. The butlers were all efficient and effective, and refreshingly not overly-deferential. I very rarely mention names when submitting reviews, but it’s fitting to single-out Hashim, who did an amazing job at being our first point of contact. He listens, makes assurances that are always followed-through effectively, has an eye for detail as well as a broad vision, and is affable, authoritative, and highly professional: A great asset to the butler team, and to the wider operation. Dinner was served in a variety of locations around the property, ranging from our room’s terrace, to the restaurant’s beach terrace, including several secluded places in and around the gardens. The service was impeccable, and I very much appreciate the chef’s efforts in being aware of, remembering and accommodating my dietary requests throughout our stay. It was a team effort–and was much appreciated. The Housekeeping team were fabulous and worked really hard. They were around when it was convenient for us, and didn’t disturb us when we needed to rest. If we happened to be on our terrace while they were cleaning the room, they were discreet, and always kind and courteous. The best! It was also fun to have a ‘room fragrance menu’, and to enjoy the varied, daily ‘bedspread art’. It was no surprise that the gardeners and gatekeepers were also really courteous. I’m not keen on massages, but the one I had at the spa at Matlai was the best I’ve ever had. My wife, who loves massages, confirmed that in her view, the masseuse was excellent. The spa is located in the gardens, and has wonderful, relaxing views. The soundscape at Matlai is memorable: A loop of silence followed by the sound of powerful waves, followed by silence … The (very efficient) air-conditioning in our room was quiet, and the minibar compressor was perfectly silent (hurrah)! ... and: No. Screaming. Kids. As many reviews have mentioned, the changing views are breathtaking. The room was spacious and the bed and other furnishings were very comfortable. We had one of the smaller bathrooms, but there was still plenty of room for a tub, a double basin with plenty of counter space, and a shower. The rain shower itself was in a wetroom with a toilet. After having used the shower, we’d sometimes get our feet wet if we needed to get to the toilet–but the bathmats were changed regularly, and it wasn’t a big deal. Splitting hairs (so to speak), it would have been good if the hairdryer cable had been longer. The bed had shelves attached on either side in place of nightstands. These were neat, but rather small. It would have been useful to have compact bedside tables instead, ideally with accessible power sockets. Breakfast was excellent, and served in

Very nice and cozy place on the beach of Michamvi. The tide phenomenon is clearly visible and it’s a unique spectacle. The restaurant is well stocked, as is the bar. The manager, Yemen, was very professional, kind, and friendly in welcoming us. She gave us lots of useful advice. Highly recommended!

Matlai is a true Swahili dream. There’s something incredibly special about the place: it’s elegant and intimate, and full of quiet beauty. The warmth of the team made it feel like a home away from home, and the food was absolutely outstanding. I spent an hour just wandering the gardens, but the villa was so comfortable and beautifully thought through that I didn’t want to leave it at all. The private spa was a treat and we spent hours there. I’m already hoping to come back. It stays with you, this place.