Zanzibar hotels near Stone Town Beach

Pros: Absolutely everything! The fact that the manager was constantly around was fantastic. The staff, the accommodation, the facilities, the food, all exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended!

Pros: The hotel is the most luxurious hotel in Zanzibar. It is very comfortable and welcoming. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The food was very good, especially the breakfast which had a great variety. Choose this hotel if you want to visit Stone Town and Prison Island for a couple of days or if you are there for business.

Cons: The Spa could definitely be improved. The beach is an open beach so dont choose this hotel if you want a beach holiday.

Pros: Breakfast was a fantastic spread! Many thanks to the general manager Nicholas for going out of his way to make us so comfortable. The staff was fabulous looking after us.

Pros: Terrific hotel with wonderful pool, views, right on the beach, good food selection and quality, superb staff. A bit pricey for being right in stone town (and therefore not on the nicest beach), but a great place to stay for those who don't have time to get out to the further parts of the island

Pros: It’s historical significance, architecture, cleanliness, upkeep, good air conditioning and comfortable bed. The room was spacious. The staff were responsive to our needs and recommended things to do in the areas and arranged for it.

Cons: Electricity outages were common during our stay but only lasted a minute at a time. Our room did not have hot water.

Pros: Location

Cons: We were promised a bottle of sparkling wine in our room on arrival as it was our honeymoon but this was not provided. No big deal. The service at the bar / restaurant was worst I have ever experienced in a 5 star hotel. 15 minutes between providing the menu and taking our drinks order. Red wine was being kept on ice so it was served ice cold. Our food took ages to arrive and when it did arrive it did not come with any of our side orders. They had forgotten. Side orders were provided 20 minutes after we finished our main meal. The restaurant was not busy. That evening we rang reception to ask about the sparkling wine and were told they would call us back. No response. We inquired on our way out to dinner and were met with a shrug of the shoulders. When we returned from dinner we asked again and they said they would send it to our room immediately. Unless we inquired again, the hotel staff would have continued to simply ignore us. 1 hour later and it still had not arrived to room. We had to call reception again. The next day we asked for some change at the bar as we only had large notes. We were told no. We asked at the reception and again were told no. This is meant to be a $500/night 5 star hotel but yet they could not handle such a simple request. We had a drink that night in the bar and ordered two glasses of red wine. 6 times the waiter returned to our table to confirm the order. Eventually he advised that the wine was not available so we ordered different wine. Again the red wine was served ice cold despite the hotels website boasting of their prestigious sommeliers. The robes in the room were torn and there was blood on the moaquito net around the bed. Despite all of the above, it is a beautiful hotel in an excellent location with spectacular views. Sadly the service is poor or maybe we simply weren't important enough guests as staff seemed to swarm to certain guests. It may be the most expensive hotel in stone town but definitely not the best.

Pros: Thank you for the birthday surprise cake. It was much appreciated.

Cons: Bed making needs improvement. There needs to be two sheets (linen) a fitted and flat sheet

Pros: Amazing location, highly recommended if staying in stone town.

Pros: The staff were very good and took a lot of time to get to know us and make us feel comfortable, especially our 8 year old granddaughter. The room was very well appointed (junior suite) with loads of storage space. The food was a nice mix of local and international style and fairly priced. Fabulous sunsets over the sea from our balcony.

Cons: TV remote and bathroom scales needed batteries and obviously hadn’t been checked before new guests arrived. TV choice very limited. Small problem with lighting that wouldn’t switch off too, though this was rectified when reported. So just a few small niggly things that shouldn’t really happen at the price level.

Cons: The price is high for the rooms

Pros: The hotel is beautiful. We had an ocean view and kept the door open all night and it was simply stunning. We woke to the local women doing bootcamp on the beach in their hijabs and it was delightful. The management were exceptional and introduced themselves individually to us in case we needed anything. When we wanted to send some of our belongings back to Australia they were so helpful. We loved the pool area and after 2 weeks on safari, we adored this hotel. It gave us the refreshment we needed to travel on to Egypt.

Cons: The bar staff were so slow! Over an hour to get a Margherita at the pool is ridiculous and beers always arrived warm. However a local from Dar gave us a great tip - ask for an ice bucket with your beer and all will be fine.

Pros: Amazing experience.

Cons: Nothing

Pros: The staff was amazing and gracious. The gentleman who took our specific request ( don’t remember his name, it started with ‘M’ was so wonderful and helpful and Amina was also so gracious.

Cons: Nothing, we loved it.

Pros: Fantastic: room, bell man, staff, bar and breakfast!!!

Cons: Would Like to check out a bit later than 10.

Pros: Lovely service, old world charm, fantastic central location

Pros: The staff were amazing and friendly.

Cons: Nothing

Pros: Wonderful staff, the views, the character of this hotel a

Pros: The staff were very friendly and eager to help. However we were given some incorrecr information which completely derailed our plans for the final night.

Cons: The room we stayed in was poorly located and didn't catch any breeze and so was stiflingly hot and the a/c was glacial. A ceiling fan might be a possible option to ensure the rooms can stay cool. The bathroom was ridiculously small and in need of some upgrades to the fittings, particularly the taps and the showerhead which were encrusted with lime from the water. The sad little shower curtain was not a great look either. The breakfast has been the worst breakfast I have had at a supposedly 5* hotel. Both the hot and cold options were severely limited and underwhelming. The food was not particularly tasty either.

Pros: Serena Hotel was our first stop in Zanzibar on what has turned out to be one of the best trip of our lives. We spent two nights in stone town at the Serena Hotel. The hotel is really quite a heritage in stone town. Fantastically located, just a short walk from the old city. An excellent breakfast spread and really charming room which still has lots of classic touches that make it quite authentic. Tip: book a sun down dinner at the Emerson Spice which is a 10 min walk from the hotel! And book in advance to get the roof top/terrace!

Cons: There was a wedding on our last night and whilst it was quite entertaining to watch, I do wish the hotel had informed us as we could not go to bed until after 11pm when the wedding ended.

Pros: The service was impeccable and staff was very attentive to my needs. The buffet breakfast in AM was excellent. Wide variety of local cuisine with traditional breakfast with eggs, bacon and lots of other choices to choose from. My room was well taken care of especially with the room cleaning in AM and turn down was nice too. The room is scented with jasmine, windows shutters are closed and the mosquito net is covered around the bed. Needless, to say, I slept well. The AC and WiFi was reliable and the view from my room was beautiful.

Cons: I did not like how close the ocean is to the hotel. There is hardly any beach real estate left. The beach is very busy with locals so it isn’t as quiet as say the other side of the island. I ate once in the evening and ordered shrimp. It was tasty but the evening menu needs to be revamped. It’s too limited. I did sample a variety of desserts and this really needs to be worked on. For example, the mousse was too powdery and lacked consistency. The coffee bar isn’t inviting. It’s very sparse with limited cake menu that isn’t appealing. I did not order any hot drinks.

Pros: A hotel building with character, well maintained and clean. Staff very helpful and friendly.

Cons: Busy area close to port but only around 15 minutes walk to town centre.

Pros: The room was comfortable and a good size for me as a solo traveler. The staff were very helpful and friendly, and I was able to book several excursions through the reception desk. I also liked having the cafe available for meals, and the breakfast buffet upstairs.

Cons: The location was fine, but I would have liked to be slightly closer to the center of Stone Town.

Pros: The hotel was helpful storing our bags, offering a nice breakfast and booking for us a van to take us up Island. They also have some interesting fair trade wooden items for sale. The staff were friendly, helpful and courteous. The rooftop terrace was very delightful for breakfast. Air conditioning was essential due to the humidity.

Cons: We had no concerns.

Pros: Was in Zanzibar for Sauti za Busara and can really recommend this hotel. Breakfast is simple, but good, location was perfect for me (close to most things) and LOVED the airconditioning in the rooms. The staff was extremely helpful. Would like to give a big shoutout to Nourah. He helped me a lot when my phone got stolen and managed to get the police report for me, even after I had left Zanzibar! Haven't had such incredible staff in a hotel in a long time. Cannot express my gratitude enough, to him and all the other staff that helped me out! Would definitely go back if I was visiting Stone Town again.

Cons: Noisy traffic outside. But do think many other hotels will have the same problem, as that is just the case whenever you are staying in a city. Didn't bother me too much.

Pros: The Hotel had spacious rooms with beautiful decor. The rooftop deck was also great. The hotel is located near the port and you can explore the whole of Stone Town without having to grab a taxi. This was really a special place and I would recommend it to anyone.

Pros: kind staff, clean and good location.

Pros: The hotel is top-notch. As the hotel is run partly by Dutch people, it has a good feel for European values and standards. Also the food is excellent!

Cons: The only downside is the location near the port. It is convenient if you travel by ferry (you can walk it in 5 minutes), but it is not the best neighborhood in town. But don't let that put you off. I will still recommend this hotel!

Pros: Friendly and helpful staff. Lovely breakfasts. Very clean. Convenient for ferry. Loved the locally made fragranced soaps, and room was very comfortable.

Cons: My room was a bit noisy from taxi office next to hotel playing same announcement over and over. Quiet at night though. Also not really central for enjoying best bits of Stone town - was about 15 minutes walk...but I like walking so not a problem for me.

Pros: Very good breakfast and nice staff.

Pros: Great location!

Pros: Nora and the staff were very nice and welcoming. The breakfast was great! We did a prison island tour to see the giant turtles, and I HIGHLY recommend it! The giant turtles are honestly worth the trip to Zanzibar alien :)

Pros: Very kind staff, location, quality

Cons: -

Pros: Staff were absolutely amazing. The hotel is an amazing Oasis in the hustle and bustle of a busy town. The room was very comfortable and well appointed with beautiful authentic furniture. The restaurant views are beautiful and service was outstanding.

Cons: We were surprised by the location - no road frontage and accessed down a few narrow alleys - so a bit difficult to find, but of course this can't be changed. Perhaps notice of the off-road location on the booking confirmation, better signage and make the access to the hotel more inviting and attractive?

Pros: Location The best close to main attractions in Stone Town Delicious breakfast in room safe Good Wiifi Confortable room gym OKF friendly helpful staff Beautiful deco

Pros: Nice rooms

Cons: No proper view which is not stated in site

Cons: Location of Hotel in too Inside.. We had to look for it after being 5Star Hotel.. They have to keep Big SIGN FOR GUIDANCE.. AND TOO SMALL ROOMS NOT WORTH OF AMOUNT CHARGED..

Pros: The service in the restaurant was great, staff went out of their way. Great choices for dinner and high quality.

Cons: The service in the restaurant was great, however there was little choice and food was often like warm.

Pros: Great breakfast. Food really fresh and plenty of options. Bed really comfortable, slept well in the aircon. Great location, easy to walk around Stone Town

Pros: Great location. Great staff. Clean. Comfortable. Good food. Great WiFi.

Pros: Cooperative and friendly staff especially Mr Yahia

Pros: Though small, the bed was very comfortable and it had lots of closet space. It was great to have a TV, an iron, blow dryer, soaps, lotion, etc. The artwork was also stunning

Cons: It was nice, but too small—even for one person

Pros: Big clean comfortable beds, spacious room, great wifi, fridge in the room, excellent tv reception with lots of channels

Cons: We didn't have hot water the first day. They fixed it the second, but the water pressure wasn't very good- I don't have thick hair and it took awhile to rinse the shampoo out... It's set back a ways from road so you need help with your bags an the food in the restaurant is limited and prices are high. Better breakfast at the Serena

Pros: Perfect place

Cons: Nothing

Pros: Everything. Historic hotel in beautiful setting, lovely pool and beach.

Cons: Nothing

Pros: Location and staff

Pros: Location is central. Can go to Prison island from the beach behind by boat. Old style hotel but fairly well maintained. You will like it if you like antique stuff.

Pros: Great location, lovely hotel and facilities.

Cons: A little disappointed that this is an alcohol free hotel.

Pros: The hotel has plenty of historical character and occupies a prime location overlooking the sea. The views are beautfiul and you can walk straight out of the restarant onto the beach. Rooms and bathrooms are clean. Air conditioning is more than adequate. Staff are polite and helpful; when I wanted to change the table in my room, so that it was more comfortable to sit at and do some work, the manager organised the task immediately.

Cons: You are very much paying for the history and the location. If you should like gourmet food and elaborate facilities (for example, a spa or business centre), this isn't the place for you.

Pros: Good internet and nice pool. We stayed in the Annex building and it is 300 meters away. Great breakfast with a nice view

Cons: The price is way to high for Tanzania. You get similar located hotels with similar service in Europe near beaches. At least 20-50% overpriced.

Pros: Rahim, one of the staff, was EXTREMELY nice and helpful and friendly. He even gave me his personal number and asked to call him with any problems. He assisted with our transfer to Nungwi and even on the way back, even though we were not staying in his hotel any more, he offered to help with arranging the ride back. The hotel location is great, right on the beach front with a chill pool and great breakfast.

Cons: Nothing major comes to mind.

Pros: Everything

Cons: Nothing

Pros: We enjoyed staying at Temba, staff was very helpfull and experieced something special of the culture. Special location!

Cons: The fact that there was no alchoholic drinks served at the hotel. In the time we were there, a few travellers complained about this fact. This Hotel cater for tourists and must commit with their needs.

Pros: I liked everything. It was absolutely value for money and i will commend it to my friends. Breakfast could have homemade marmalade instead of the plastic one. We had handmade passion fruit the first day that we paid for our breakfast but after as was included in the room price was replaced.

Cons: The only comment here is that after i checked out i ve been asked to give $4 for Government fees. But it was never mentioned before or at the price breakdown.

Pros: Very good restaurant Location Room design

Cons: Beds could be harder

Pros: Nice building and location.

Cons: The room had a strong smell of mould. It was advertised as 33 m² but was not more than 11 m². There was barely room to get into the bed on either side of the single bed. The room was advertised as having a double bed. Since my night there, I have had a persistent chronic cough.

Pros: Hospitality ..freindly staff

Cons: Nothing ..

Pros: Location and facilities. Good value for money.

Cons: Breakfasr can have improvment

Pros: Good Restaurant.

Cons: No seating area, lobby.

Pros: The hotel was in a convenient and quiet location, within walking distance to beachfront, restaurants and attractions. The staff are amazing, so friendly and helpful. The room was big, spacious and the bed was comfy. The food in the restaurant was also great. Try the Crab soup.

Cons: Nothing I can think of.

Pros: Hotel was well located and staff extremely helpful. Rooms were spacious and well equipped.

Cons: The hotel website indicates it has a 24 hour reception, however, when we arrived at about 3.45 am, following an early flight the security guards were unable to rouse any Reception staff for about 45 mins, nor did anyone inform us what was happening. Once someone arrived we were luckily able to check into our rooms early so they redeemed themselves!

Pros: Both modern and oldSwahili style

Cons: Hard beds , none of the TV channels worked

Pros: The property is very well situated if you want to explore Stonetown. It allowed us to go out and come back for a short rest before going out again. It’s right behind the very expensive hotels on the foreshore but that was fine. It’s a delightful old building and the room we were in was large and very nicely fitted out.

Cons: Nothing. I would really recommend it to travellers looking for good value but not wanting to spend top dollar.

Pros: Helpful and friendly staff who were always willing to assist. The room was spacious and more importantly a firm bed!