Zanzibar Palace Hotel

I travel a lot and stay in many beautiful places but the Zanzibar Palace hotel is exceptional on every level. The rooms are gorgeous (I stayed in Sultana with a balcony and big bathtub), the staff are incredibly helpful, the food is delicious (I absolutely adored the passion and avocado juice and drank a lot of it!). The location is also exceptional…in the heart of Stone Town just 5 mins walk from the sea and 30 mins drive from the airport. Normally when I go to places again I like to try somewhere different but I will 100% be returning to this place! Thank you to Daniela and her brilliant team 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

There was nothing I didn’t like.

I loved the history and authenticity of the building. The chef was fantastic and the meals really enjoyable. Breakfast was plentiful and tasty. The staff team are incredibly helpful, friendly and hospitable 😊 the rooms are unique and interesting

Because the building is very old there are not proper closing windows so you can expect noise from outside and will be woken during the night and early morning at various times. However, if you can enjoy the sounds of part of the history and current situation of a very old and unique property, I feel the positives hugely outweigh the noise from outside.

We really enjoyed our stay at Zanzibar Palace Hotel. It was perfectly located for exploring Stone Town and felt very safe. It was also walking distance to the port/beach. The staff were really friendly and helpful and the room was lovely and comfortable, with a simple but tasty breakfast available every morning. Would happily stay again.

We were not made aware that there was soya milk available at breakfast, but this feedback was readily taken on board by the team. Also important to be aware that there is no lift so it may be tricky for guests with mobility issues.

Loved this historic property including the raised beds. It’s serene inside with great antique furniture. The bathrooms are very generous in size. The staff are really friendly and help with anything you need. We had the rooftop suite which had a rooftop seating area and bathroom. We liked looking out on the rooftops. There are five flights of stairs to get there though.

Not much. Porters will help with luggage up stairs and to your van if the car delivering you is too large. Ring ahead.

The owner was extremely helpful anf friendly . She willingly arranged some trips for us and ordered a taxi to take us to another part of Zanzibar. All the other staff were also very friendly and helpful. The room was very nice and a good touch were the mosquito nets around the bed even though we didn't appear to notice any of them. The shower was good with plenty of hot water. The breakfast was also a very good buffet with also a hot option of sausage, beans etc. The location of the hotel was in an excellent position for exploring Stonetown.

Everthing was fine.

We liked everything about this hotel. A perfect stay over New Year in Stone Town. Great location, easy to find (which is a bonus in Stone Town!), beautiful decor, great breakfast, happy staff, helpful with trip advice and taxis... liked some of the sustainable initiatives too. We had a wonderful stay and would definitely head back there if ever in Stone Town again.

The only niggle, like with most places in Tz, is the need for small plastic bottles for drinking water. I know that's a tough nut to crack but hopefully one day in the not too distant future then this place really would be perfect.

The location was great. You can be at the ferry in minutes with walking. The staff was wonderful. Very friendly and accommodating. You get the kind of service that you can only get in small hotels. The breakfast was a mix of cold buffet items and then orders of side items. I ordered a bacon and cheese omelet and French toast. The omelet was nice but I didn't get the french toast. I don't know if that wasn't heard or it came late and I had to leave.

I saw some spiderwebs, so I haven't given top marks for cleanliness. There are a lot of levels in the top suite and it was easy to trip. Also, there was a window in the sitting area which meant that there was an open window between the bedroom and the bathroom. I could have closed the curtains but I kept forgetting that I was exposed.

Daniela, the owner and director, deserves this superior rating because of her sincere mastery of hospitality. She is to be seen around daily, and the staff are very well prepared to make your stay memorable. From the cheerfully given early check-in to making local calls to recommending a sunset rooftop lounge, every whim was fulfilled. The location permits delightful walks to the waterside, Darajani Market, Forodhani Park (each evening where locals come out en masse), and all the sights of the city center. The room was spacious and clean with every amenity. We long to return soon!

Loved the antique and cosy décor of the room and the host friendliness of Daniella. When we arrived we received a warm welcome from the host. I was impressed by the room especially the bath and the balcony. The price was very reasonable and the place was very clean. I liked that the hotel is not right by the harbour so it wasn't noisy at night but it is still very close to the harbour, about 5mins walk. Walking up and down the stairs to get to the room was a bit tricky with baby but that was not negative. I didn't mind a bit of exercise.

An elevator to get to the top rooms would really be helpful.

I love the property because it has the authentic feel of Zanzibar. It is not the same as any other hotels. The staff was amazing, they went above and beyond. Daniela, (the owner)Jamila, Lulu and the other staff whose names I didn’t get were very helpful. Many stairs but that’s part of the appeal of the unique building.if you have any knee issue ask for a lower level room.

I did not have any dislikes but it has a stairs as I mentioned