The Swahili House Hotel Zanzibar, Zanzibar ➤ Reviews, Rooms & Prices 2025

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About the Hotel

Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Offering a blend of traditional and modern design, The Swahili House is a 3-star Zanzibar hotel situated in the heart of the Old Town. Guests can enjoy a rooftop restaurant, a handcrafted villa ambiance, and family-friendly facilities.

Rooms & Amenities

The Swahili House features comfortable guestrooms with en-suite bathrooms equipped with hot and cold water, hair dryers, and complimentary toiletries. Classic Arabic arches and hand-carved teak accents enhance the traditional Zanzibari experience.

Dining & Nearby Options

Dining options include a rooftop restaurant that serves fresh seafood and Mediterranean tapas. Various authentic restaurants are located within a short walking distance, such as Coco de Mer and The Three Bees Restaurant.

Leisure & Activities

Leisure activities include arranging spice tours, visits to Jozani Forest, and excursions to Stone Town. Guests can explore local attractions such as Hamamni Persian Baths and Mercury House, located within proximity.

Services & Local Area

The Swahili House offers convenient access to public transportation, with bus stops within a 10-minute walk. Nearby attractions include Sultan's Palace and the Old Fort of Zanzibar, providing guests with ample sightseeing options.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Deluxe Room

Max:

2 persons

21 m²

Bed options:

2 Single beds

Shower

Bathtub

room details

Check Prices

Price and Room Availability Calendar

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Getting around

A list of all available modes of transport

City Center

Zanzibar1000 ft

Airports

Kisauni (ZNZ) 5.0 mi

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Delicious Breakfast!

“The breakfast spread was good, featuring an array of fresh and tasty fruits every morning that really set the tone for the day.” view full review

Stunning Rooftop View

“The rooftop terrace offered amazing views, especially at sunset, creating a serene and picturesque spot to unwind.” view full review

Cozy Ambiance

“The room was beautifully decorated, maintaining the charm of a 19th Century Swahili building, making every moment spent inside feel special.” view full review

Accessible Showers

“The 24-hour accessible showers were a great convenience, despite being slightly lukewarm, allowing for refreshing moments anytime.” view full review

General

Non-smoking rooms
Free Wi-Fi in public areas
No parking
Safe deposit box
VIP check-in/ -out
Concierge desk
No pets allowed
Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
Wheelchair access
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Elevator
Currency exchange
Fire extinguishers

Sports & Fitness

Diving
Snorkeling

Services

Paid airport shuttle
Room service
Housekeeping
Car rental
Laundry
Dry cleaning
Tours/Ticket assistance
Welcome drink
Happy hour

Dining

In-room breakfast
Restaurant
Bar/ Lounge area
Special diet menus

Business

Fax/Photocopying

Children

Babysitting/Child services
Board games
Children's menu

Spa & Leisure

Rooftop pool
Plunge pool
Sun loungers
Sun terrace

Room features

Air conditioning
Terrace
Garden furniture
Ironing facilities

Bathroom

Free toiletries

Location

Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Map view

Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

City landmarks

Benjamin Mkapa Rd

The Peace Memorial Museum

3500 ft

Gallery

Hellen Art Gallery

2700 ft

Kizimkazi Mosque

5300 ft

Nearby

Mizingani Rd

Old Dispensary

1700 ft

Museums

House of Wonders

1700 ft

Museums

Old Fort of Zanzibar

1700 ft

Historic Site

Stone Town

1700 ft

Museums

Sultan's Palace

1700 ft

Hamamni St

Hamamni Persian Baths

1700 ft

Market

Darajani Market

1700 ft

Kenyatta Road

Mercury House

1700 ft

Church

Christ Church Cathedral

1100 ft

Parks

Forodhani Park

1700 ft

Church

Old Slave Market

1700 ft

Marahubi Palace

200 ft

Gallery

Hurumzi Henna Art Gallery

500 ft

Princess Salme Museum at Emerson on Hurumzi

700 ft

Gallery

The Beautiful Eyes

700 ft

Hamamni Street

Cultural Arts Centre Zanzibar

700 ft

Kelele Square

1700 ft

Cathedral St

St Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral

1700 ft

Kiponda

1700 ft

Hurumzi St

Shree Shiv Shakti Temple

500 ft

Jamatini Rd

Malindi Mosque

900 ft

Church

Christ Church

600 ft

P.O.Box 1844,Zanzibar Tanzania Stonetown Zanzibar

Imani Zuberi

200 ft

Vikokotoni

1100 ft

Zanzibar

Friday Mosque

900 ft

Hurumzi Street

1700 ft

Tharia St

Slave Chambers

1700 ft

Restaurants

Cafe Turquoise

200 ft

Shangani 91

Lukmaan Restaurant

1200 ft

New Mkunazini Rd The Mkunazini Baobab Tree

Ma Shaa Allah Cafe

1200 ft

Mkunazini Street Stone Town

Forodhani Gardens

1800 ft

Restaurant

Meeting Point Cafe

2000 ft

Forodani Gardens

Funky Monkey

2000 ft

Gizenga Street 159

Mama Mia

2000 ft

Mizingani Road Forodhani

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

78%

liked the hotel and would stay again

Friendly staff

Great location

No windows

Mold issues

7.8/10

Very good

Rooms

7.8

Location

8.2

Service

8.8

Dining

7.0

David

United States of America, May 2024

7.4/10

I stayed at the hotel in Stone Town, and it was a unique experience. The rooms had traditional Swahili features and a very interesting bathroom decoration, offering a decent size for a comfortable stay. The service exceeded my expectations with friendly and helpful staff. The location was great, authentic to its historical roots, though it took me a bit to navigate around. The dining had its ups and downs but ended on a positive note. The facilities were good overall, adding to a pleasant stay.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were decently-sized and had traditional Swahili features with a very interesting bathroom decoration.

Service

9.0

The service was friendly and helpful, exceeding my expectations.

Location

7.0

The location in Stone Town was good, though I needed some time to get accustomed to it but found an authentic feel.

Dining

6.0

The dining experience had its challenges, but the efforts showed improvement.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities were satisfactory and contributed to a comfortable stay.

Edward

United States of America, March 2024

8.0/10

I absolutely loved my stay at this hotel! The location is superb, with easy access to explore the city on foot. The rooms were spacious, clean, and situated in an interesting building that added to the experience. While the amenities were basic, the convenience and cleanliness made up for it.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were spacious and clean, located in an interesting hotel building.

Service

9.0

The service was exceptional, with staff being accommodating, friendly, and genuinely welcoming.

Location

9.0

The hotel's location made it easy to walk everywhere, enhancing the overall experience.

Dining

7.0

The dining experience was simple but satisfying, with good quality food and a wonderfully endless cup of coffee.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities met my needs, though they were limited. The view of the city was fantastic and the drinks were great.

Irving

United States of America, February 2024

8.2/10

My stay at the hotel was truly enjoyable. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, adorned with traditional Swahili features, albeit with an odd-smelling anti-insect spray. The service was exceptional, with staff members being very accommodating and friendly. The location was perfect for exploring Stone Town, just a short walk from the ferry terminal. The dining experience was basic but satisfactory. Overall, a great value for money.

Rooms

8.0

I found the rooms to be spacious and comfortable, showcasing traditional Swahili decor. The only downside was the strong smell of the anti-insect spray.

Service

9.0

The service was top-notch, with incredibly friendly and helpful staff members.

Location

9.0

The hotel's location was ideal for exploring Stone Town, close to the ferry terminal and within easy reach of markets and souks.

Dining

7.0

The dining options were basic but adequate for my needs.

Facilities

8.0

The facilities were good and met my needs during my stay.

Arthur

United States of America, November 2023

7.6/10

The hotel room was spacious and clean with the nice fragrance, providing comfortable accommodation. However, it lacked windows, and there was some mold present. The service was exceptionally friendly, helpful, and accommodating, ensuring a top-notch experience. The location was convenient with a great view from the restaurant, but it was noisy at night. The dining experience was simple but satisfactory, except for the weak WiFi connection. Overall, the facilities were adequate, offering a decent value for money.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were spacious, clean, and had a nice fragrance. However, they unfortunately lacked windows and had some mold present.

Service

9.0

The service was exceptional, with friendly and accommodating staff.

Location

7.0

The location was convenient with a beautiful view from the restaurant, but it was noisy at night.

Dining

7.0

The dining experience was fine, with simple but good options. The only downside was the bad WiFi connection.

Facilities

7.0

The hotel offered adequate facilities, meeting basic needs.

John

United States of America, October 2023

7.8/10

I had a mixed experience at the hotel. The rooms, unfortunately without windows, were clean but had a lingering scent of a nice fragrance. It was good to find a double and a single bed in the room. Mosquito repellent spray was a thoughtful touch but needed regularly to combat the mold.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms were clean and included both a double and a single bed, but without windows and required regular mosquito spraying. The pleasant fragrance was a nice touch.

Service

8.0

The service, overall friendly, was best exemplified by the general manager who was always polite and welcoming. However, some staff members were a bit odd and not as friendly.

Location

9.0

The hotel's location was great, right in Stone Town where you could easily lose yourself in its charm. It's close to the highly recommended coffee house for coffee enthusiasts, and Google Maps is handy to navigate the winding streets.

Dining

8.0

The dining experience was pleasant with lots of delicious fruit daily. Although the offerings were good, creative salads added a nice touch.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities were adequate, but not exceptional.

Friendly staff

No windows