The 10 best Specialty lodgings in Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

May 15, 2023 Janette Largent

The Zanzibar Archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean 15 miles off the coast of Tanzania, is a breathtaking spot to escape from the world. You’ll enjoy clear, turquoise-blue water; shallow sandbars perfect for wading; and many small, nearly deserted islands virtually unvisited by tourists. Explore the World Heritage Site of Stone Town, Zanzibar City’s old quarter. Or just go beach to beach between tiny fishing villages—each one's better than the next.
Restaurants in Zanzibar Island

1. Blue Moon Resort

Shungi, Jambiani Tanzania
Excellent
87%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 94 reviews

Blue Moon Resort

Blue Moon Resort is not only a hotel but it is our big project in which we have put all our efforts, energy, heart and soul. Our priority is a tourist and our aim is to make his stay pleasant. The guests do not only want to sunbathe, to admire Indian ocean and tropical nature, to go on excursions but also they want to come back in clean and nice rooms, which are equipped with all necessary things, to feel comfortable and safe, to eat tasty food and to be serviced at a high level. The most important things for us are kitchen, cleanliness, hygiene, service, affable staff. And we are responsible for this. We wanted to introduce something new and modern, while remaining faithful to the classical rules of hospitality. You can make a wish or you can make it happen! Welcome to Blue Moon Resort!

Double booking, holiday ruined

Reviewed By HarryOscar

After booking a room with private pool at Blue Moon Resort a few months in advance (it was one of the only places which offered this in Zanzibar), we made the hour and a half drive from Stonetown. I had confirmed before leaving with them that we would be arriving. After a rough journey, we arrived to find that they could only offer us that room for 2 nights and then we would have to move to a normal room for the rest of the stay, but they would give us a free massage to apologise!!! Bear in mind that I had made it clear in advance that privacy was of the utmost importance, one of us is recovering from surgery and was not comfortable being in public wearing swimwear. The manager finally came out reluctantly and spoke to her busines partner, but there was absolutely NO chance they were going to give us the booked room for the stay. We made the point that we were already there, which gave them 3 days to find a solution for the other people, but it was a NO. My thinking is that they had booked the room for family or friends of the owners and put them ahead of paying and booked guests. This can be the only explanation. We left immediately and went to stay somewhere else, we asked for a full refund. Thank you owner of Blue Moon Resort for ruining our trip of a lifetime. Do not trust them!

2. Amaan Beach Bungalows

Nungwi Beach, Nungwi Tanzania
Excellent
30%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
21%
Poor
8%
Terrible
8%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 930 reviews

Amaan Beach Bungalows

Average only

Reviewed By Qatbelly

Bathrooms smell. Room smelled okay for day one, remaining days no. Termites present I think, saw evidence of that- their feces as well as the smell. They never sprayed for anything. Breakfast is very weak (cornflakes one day and chocolate Krispies on the alternate, repeat) but the coffee is decent. The menu for eating was very basic. I ate outside of the bungalows every day. Staff were okay on evening and day one and then their attitudes soured. Because I don’t eat there? Because I booked no trips ? I’m not sure. Everyone was watching everyone all the time - I made sure to keep my valuables with me.

3. Isla Bonita Zanzibar Beach Resort

Matemwe 73108 Tanzania
Excellent
89%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 83 reviews

Isla Bonita Zanzibar Beach Resort

Isla Bonita Zanzibar Beach Resort is located right on the Beach at Matemwe-Kilima Juu about 30 minutes drive from the airport or stone town. The hotel is overlooking the Mnemba Island. The resort has a restaurant that serves breakfast lunch and dinner. Many of the excursion in Zanzibar can be arranged through licensed tour operators.

It is a perfect place for people who appreciate peace and quiet and want to rest for a lot of money.

Reviewed By kazpio71

The hotel is situated in a peaceful and quiet place, right next to the beach. All windows overlooking the beach and ocean. Food very good, lots of fish and seafood. The service was fantastic and very helpful. I highly recommend it.Nice pool. The perfect place to organize birthdays, engagements and weddings. I highly, highly recommend this place.

4. Residence Gadea Zanzibar

Jambiani Tanzania
Excellent
97%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 36 reviews

Residence Gadea Zanzibar

Residence Gadea Zanzibar is a small residence consisting of 5 apartment,4 rooms and 1 brand new restaurant decorated with cascading tropical plants, with swimming pool for exclusive use.Located in the heart of the villag, to enjoy your holiday in freedom.

Beautifully designed apartments

Reviewed By laura_kuenzler

Beuatifully designed rooms with or without kitchen available. Bathroom and kitchen are small but just fine. If you want to enjoy Paje on budget, this is a very nice option! There is also a restaurant within the residence. If you love italian food, you should defenately give it a try.

5. Simba Apartments Hotel And Restaurant

Main Street South East Coast Zanzibar, Bwejuu Tanzania
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 8 reviews

Simba Apartments Hotel And Restaurant

Every apartment with: • 2 bedrooms (4 beds) • living room (2 beds) • bath room • kitchen corner • private terrace to the swimming pool • AC, TV, WiFi, warm water, fridge, room safe Our six apartments offer all comfort (AC, warm water, WiFi, TV, fridge, room-safe) including full hotel-service and laundry-service (on demand). Simba Apartment Hotel is perfect for couples, two couples, families, groups or friends traveling together. Each apartment has two bedrooms, a living room with a kitchen corner (that can be fully equipped on request), a bathroom and a private terrace. The slaps in the living-room have exactly the size of two 3x6-feet-matresses so that up to six persons can sleep in one apartment. In the middle of the apartments there's a nice swimming-pool. Individual full English breakfasts are included in the prices and served on your private terrace. IMPORTANT We are only two minutes sandwalk from the beach where you have access to a nice partner-hotel and can use sunbeds, swimming-pool and the facilities without any extra-charge. We speak German, Italian, English, French, Spanish and the local Swahili. Our concept was to offer apartments with the full-service of hotel. This is mostly unique on the island. It’s perfect for families or groups such as Vespa-drivers and others. Our apartments provide all European 4-star-standards. The apartments are surrounding a lovely swimming-pool where you will enjoy a lot of cosy privacy. Our restaurant and bar are built towards the mainroad so that you will not only meet tourists, but also locals and residents. For all of them we are one of the hotspots on the coast for best international and local food as well as a place to meet, chill and be merry. Every then and when we organize early-evening live concerts with local Swahili bands on our little stage. Other hotels don’t even give access to locals – we like them and want them to be part of our daily life. At Simba Apartment Hotel you will explore Zanzibar in an authentic and unforgettable way. We buy local fruit, veggies and meat, get our fish and seafood daily directly from the local fishermen and try wherever to avoid plastic. We are running our hotel as sustainable as possible. Welcome in paradise.

Home made Lasagne!

Reviewed By axuk2020

Fresh and tasty food. A very welcoming experience! Clean rooms and comfortable sunbeds by the pool! Karaoke is the all time favorite where you meet up with friends and live music on Saturdays! F1 also on sundays with good screen and sound system!

6. B4 Beach Club

Paje Beach, Paje Tanzania
Excellent
49%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
11%
Terrible
20%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 35 reviews

B4 Beach Club

Aggressive and racist security staff- distressinf experience, I would not return again

Reviewed By KRX88

Scary and upsetting experience. Having lunch with a friend and my partner (who is black) joins two of us after lunch and within 10 minutes security comes over and starts yelling he is a beach boy and has to leave and stop bothering us. I intervene that this is my partner and this is totally unacceptable behaviour only for me and my friend to be yelled at and another security to come over and to yell in our faces and try to square up to my partner and yell at him he has to leave. After trying to stop security my friend went to get the owner all the while the Security guard is yelling for my partner to come over there so he can beat him. It only stopped when the owner came to get him. After a long time the owner came to apologise for the situation and gave us the bill for free but I would be so scared to return and can't believe the security is still working there after that behaviour. The bar manager did nothing about the situation and didn't seem to think there was an issue. Other reviews show this is not the first time this has happened - treating black people this way is completely unacceptable and this needs to be dealt with, my partner, my friend and I were distraught by this as we were just trying to have lunch and relax. We have been there a few times before and spent our money there but I do not think we will choose to return, very upsetting experience.

7. Spacious Dream House Paje

Paje 3819 Tanzania
Excellent
80%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
20%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 5 reviews

Spacious Dream House Paje

Spacious dream house, Paje, Zanzibar

Reviewed By crmanahl

This place is a scam. I had booked 2 nights from yesterday (1st to 3rd January 2022). When I arrived I was told the previous owner has died and the place is no longer operating as a guesthouse. I didn’t get access to the building but I saw from the gate that it’s clearly the place in the picture shown on hotels.com

8. AMESbungalows

Nungwi Uchejua, Nungwi Tanzania
Excellent
50%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2 reviews

AMESbungalows

Рядом с отличным пляжем Нунгви

Reviewed By Анна П

Очень дружелюбный персонал, близко к пляжу - это самое большое преимущество. Вкусный завтрак, но одно и тоже каждый день: фрукты, блин, омлет. Горячая вода всегда без перебоев. На территории отеля Wi-Fi. В нашем номере небыло кондиционера, Wi-Fi в нашем номере не работал, приходилось ходить на ресепшн. Поселили нас в самом дальнем номере около хозяйственного блока, они там стирали и сушили белье. Попросила поменять номер, но мне отказали, сказали нет свободных номеров нет. Через 2 дня 2 соседних номера освободились, но нас не переселили. Убираются редко, даже если оставишь ключи на ресепшн. А в целом нормально, но можно взять чуть дороже отель по-соседству, но более клевый.

9. Red Sun Hotel

Kokoni Street, Stone Town, Zanzibar City Tanzania
Excellent
67%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3 reviews

Red Sun Hotel

A boutique hotel located in the heart of world heritage, we offers dedicated service in a truly Swahili style. Our historical guest house itself stands elegantly for over 82 years, being one of the representative ancient stone buildings which witness each sparkling milestone of stone town.

A big disappointment

Reviewed By traveler69882015

We'd planned to spend two nights at this hotel in Stonetown. Check-in was stated to be 11am, but we arrived closer to 1pm and were told our room would be ready in 1 hour. We came back about 3 hours later and were told our room still wasn't ready. The staff scrambled and argued among themselves a bit and around 5pm we were shown to our room. It was a converted broom closet that was filled by the bed, with no room for us or our suitcases. It smelled and was stifling hot. The attendant tried to get the fan and A\C working with no luck. The room had one double bed, but we had paid for two doubles in a larger room. They manager said they were full up and someone else had our room. We refused to stay in the closet and held our ground. The manager then told us the guy in our room was supposed to check out that morning but they didn't know where he was at and he didn't pay for another night. We suggested they kick him out and they did...putting his stuff in the broom closet. They tried to whisk us into the new room without cleaning it. They lied and said they did, even though my wife was there watching. She had to clean the bathroom herself. It was about 6pm and we decided to stay instead on moving on, but made arrangements to bail out of the 2nd night. Hotels.com compensated us for our loss. The hotel is very old, in a dumpy part of the city center. The rooftop restaurant offered a nice view over the city, if you can walk the 5 flights of stairs. The included breakfast was surprisingly good.

10. Coconut Tree Village Beach Resort

Off Marumbi Road, Marumbi Tanzania
Excellent
50%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
17%
Terrible
17%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 6 reviews

Coconut Tree Village Beach Resort

Coconut Tree Village Features a private beach area, kids playground and lush garden, the resort is located in fisherman’s village of Marumbi, situated between chwaka and uroa. Stone Town, Bait Al AJaib Museum and spice market is 25 km away. All guests’ rooms offer a balcony, food, tea and coffee facilities, a seating area, private bathroom. Ideal for conferences, Couples, and Solo travelers.

False advertising

Reviewed By sebastiant163

I am a tour operator in Canada. I have traveled to 150 countries around the world and I've seen everything from the best to the worst. However, Coconut tree village "resort" is in a totally new class of treacherous, misleading advertising. The photos on any platform that refer to this ruin are false, nothing as in the reality. There is no beach, the pool is green of dirt and algae and the rooms are full of cockroaches and mold. I booked 6 nights, paid in advance, and left after 10 minutes of arrival. I strongly recomnend that no one waste their money and time with this horrible business.

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