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Reviews of The Ad Lib Executive lodge

lilongwe, Area 9, Mthutama drive plot # 9/67, Lilongwe, Malawi

#7 of 11 B&Bs and inns in Lilongwe

Guests' Choice

Review Score

Based on 63 B&B reviews

7.3

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    7.6

  • Comfort

    7.3

  • Location

    8.1

  • Facilities

    7.2

  • Staff

    9.1

  • Value for money

    7.5

  • Free Wifi

    8.0

Verified guest reviews from real Bookers

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Showing 1 - 25

  • Reviewed: February 26, 2025

    7.0
    The good place to stay. Great staff!
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    I initially had difficulties contacting the lodge. The lodge phone number and the website were not working. The TV in the room was not work and the pool was dirty.

    The lodge was fairly decent and the staff was great!

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: October 23, 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Large Double Room
    • Stayed 4 nights

    The mosquito net had holes (though quickly fixable), most likely because it too close to the ceiling fan.

    A homey place, clean and tidy, with comfortable bed and lovely colonial architecture. The garden around the rooms gives a nice cottage atmosphere. Caring staff.

    Stayed in October 2024

  • Reviewed: October 7, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    We feel like at home! Nice garden and the food is good!

    Stayed in October 2024

  • Reviewed: August 10, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Travelers with friends
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Nice accommodation given the standards in Malawi. The personnel is friendly, the utilities sufficient. There was a 2-hours blackout during our only night but that's a normal thing in Malawi. There is also a huge breakfast but I recommend to tell the personnel what exactly do you want, otherwise you will be given e.g. a huge, not very breakfast friendly sausage.

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: May 24, 2024

    7.0
    Nice stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Booked a room with a pool view and didn’t get a pool view. Also didn’t have tea/coffee making facilities as was on the booking .

    Room was beautiful, breakfast was good and staff were nice . Also enjoyed a tasty evening meal .

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: April 15, 2024

    8.0
    Overall, it was a good stay (one night) and the staff were friendly.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    May need to include mosquito nets as there were a few mosquitoes in my room

    Excellent food and very friendly staff!!

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: March 23, 2024

    8.0
    Safe accommodation in spacious garden area with professional and kind staff!
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    Safe neighborhood, professional and kind welcome at reception, spacious, nice room, we specifically were fond of the help of Stella supporting us with our needs regarding our continuing trip (money exchange, transport to Lake Malawi;

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: January 24, 2024

    8.0
    I'll be back
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    Tidiness of the premises. Black outs - to no fault of the hotel but of Escom.

    Nice hosts, authentic place. Good food.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: November 13, 2023

    8.0
    While not perfect, I would definitely stay here again.
    • Business trip
    • Group
    • Large Double Room
    • Stayed 7 nights

    The water was turned off (district-wide) not just at the hotel several times during my week's stay. Furthermore there were several times I couldn't get hot water. I realize now I should have asked them and confirmed the hot was available, but they could have made this clearer with signs in the rooms to this effect. The mosquito nets need to be replaced. they are currently NOT large enough to cover the larger bed in my room nor touch the floor.

    The Chef is amazing. The staff is incredibly warm and friendly and helpful. The gardens were beautiful. Locals frequently come here for dinner and to swim in the pool.

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: September 18, 2023

    6.0
    The staff was really nice and it was a good value for the purpose of our stay for one night.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Large Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    It was mostly clean, but it was very evident that the toilet had not been cleaned, so it causes doubt as to what else hadn’t been cleaned.

    The location was good as it was close to a meeting point for our group trip.

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: September 18, 2023

    7.0
    I enjoyed my stay but if I could have had a swim would have been better😀
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    I think for the price it was good but it was a little run down.

    The swimming pool attracted me but on my day there was a birthday party and no room in the pool. Just the wrong day I guess.

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: September 3, 2023

    7.0
    It is good for an over stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    In the restaurant, the chicken was not eatable. It is a shame, that the man in the kitchen can not cook.

    The spacious room with patio. There are a lot of paintings on the wall and there was also an art gallary.

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: August 14, 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Travelers with friends
    • Twin Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    It is too expensive for what you get. The rooms and the common area were not clean. We wanted to get breakfast to go for our trip which didn't work out as discussed before.

    The location is good, the beds are comfortable

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: August 4, 2023

    6.0
    I enjoyed my stay
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Large Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The lodge should consider having ONLY white towels and not any other colour.

    The staff were friendly and always willing to help

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: August 1, 2023

    7.0
    Lovely quiet retreat, facilities could do with some work
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    - Shared bathroom leaves a little to be desired (no toilet seat, often no toilet paper, no hand towel). There is also only one shared bathroom which wasn’t an issue for me as the lodge didn’t seem to be full, but could be an issue if it is busy. - The sliding door to my room was quite stiff and difficult to open at times, and needs the handle fixing back onto the door! Found it needed lifting to move it. - Would be good to have hooks in the room to hang up towels, swimsuits etc. - Pool is absolutely freezing this time of year! Has some debris (sand, leaves) in it, but it was still nice to go for a swim. - The sun loungers spend most of the day under the shade of the trees so you’ll need to move one if you want to sunbathe. - Only one working bulb in my room, so it was quite dark at times. - Pillows were pretty lumpy and uncomfortable.

    - The best thing about this hotel is the staff - they are absolutely fantastic. Went out of their way to make vegetarian meals for me as the menu doesn’t have many veggie options, and were really kind throughout my stay. - Location is great, within walking distance of a market selling souvenirs and some nice restaurants. - The food is really good and the prices are reasonable, but make sure to warn them in advance if you have any dietary requirements! - Pool area is great, it feels like a lovely retreat from the chaos of the city, with lots of green and even some chickens roaming about. - Rooms are furnished with blankets, a ceiling fan and mosquito nets.

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: July 30, 2023

    6.0
    Place needs some maintenance
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Twin Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The shower had no hot water and no door. In the morning there was no water either. They said (claimed?) this was in the whole neighbourhood, so not their fault.

    Joseph, the manager help us with the bus we were going to take. He also tried to fix, less succesful, the shower.

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: July 23, 2023

    6.0
    Ok stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    As other people have said in previous reviews there’s no hot water or wifi. I’m sure these things could be fixed easily so it’s a shame that they aren’t being.

    Large room and comfortable bed. Friendly staff and nice breakfast.

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: July 10, 2023

    7.0
    nice and convenient place
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    When asking for dinner I received the menu even if only 3 options were available and I was not asked what I wanted for breakfast. However I received a complete breakfast which once good. It is totally fine if there is a limited amount of choices but It would be nice to know it.

    I stayed only for one night because I had a short transit in Lilongwe. The rooms are spacious and clean. The staff is available to help if needed. The lodge includes a nice garden and outside space. The food was good quality/price.

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: June 20, 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    quite expensive for what you get - a lot of things in the room are broken, for example pipes in the bathroom are leaking, door to the bathroom is not working, lights are not working.

    clean, friendly and helpful staff, food was good. Good location and nice garden.

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: June 17, 2023

    7.0
    Nice accomodation with minor issues
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    My toilet was leaking a bit onto the bathroom tiles and instead of the pool view one could directly see into my room from the dining area. I had to keep the curtains shut all day.

    The breakfast und the restaurant are very good. There is good coffee in the morning and I can recommend the Chambo fish for dinner. I liked the location and the pool. The staff is very friendly and attentive.

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: June 6, 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 6 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The food options were fairly limited. They could do some cleaning of the rooms during the stay.

    The staff is very friendly. Garden is very nice. And the lodge hosted a Saturday night gig with good music.

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: May 29, 2023

    7.0
    Good value for money
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Large Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The bathtub did not have a proper stop, so we could not use it because the water kept running out of the tub.

    Big beds and nice view of the garden with big doors. Big bathroom and own fridge amd waterboiler

    Stayed in May 2023

  • Reviewed: May 2, 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    no water ,but not sure if local issue,as I was not informed .It was available the next morning though. Would have loved a kettle in my room for tea.

    breakfast lovely ,all really well done location good ,central and! quiet at night It felt like a safe place,also closes gates at 9pm.

    Stayed in April 2023

  • Reviewed: May 16, 2022

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Travelers with friends
    • Twin Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The room needed to be smartened up. Curtains don't close properly, only got cold water in the bathroom and the shower didn't drain properly.

    Lovely garden and friendly staff in a good location.

    Stayed in May 2022

Showing 1 - 25

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