Name: The Swahili House
Address: Stone Town, Zanzibar, Mjini Magharibi Region
Price range: US$90+

The Swahili House Hotel Zanzibar Interior photo

The Swahili House Hotel Zanzibar Exterior photo

Key details

Property Overview

Stone Town, Zanzibar

Close to Stone Town Beach

Great

8.3

8.5

/10

3.9

4.2

Guests love staying at The Swahili House

rooftop views

historic building

lovely decor

good food

spacious rooms

"Amazing building, big room."

Hannah from United Kingdom

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"Excellent location, authentic and historic building, very friendly and helpful staff, amazing rooftop terrace with panoramic view."

Csaba from Hungary

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"This is a very unique experience as the building is so historic."

Lauren from United Kingdom

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"Great service (special thanks to Mwinyi at the reception, who helped with great advice), beautiful building and decorations, comfortable rooms, amazing view from the rooftop, location in the midst of a labyrinth was lovely."

Patrick from Kenya

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"The roof top is very nice, with a view of all the city."

MelW1970 from Chile

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Boutique hotel in Stone Town, Zanzibar, with a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Indian Ocean

Location & Setting

The Swahili House is a boutique hotel situated in the centre of Stone Town. The property is a refurbished 5-storey Indian Merchant House built around a courtyard. The hotel is within walking distance of the Hamamni Persian Baths, the Old Fort of Zanzibar, and Stone Town Beach.

Rooms & Amenities

Rooms at the Swahili House are decorated in traditional Swahili style. Each room has a private bathroom with a bath or shower, air conditioning, and mosquito nets. The hotel offers family rooms and has a lift for access between floors.

Dining & Rooftop Terrace

The restaurant on the rooftop terrace serves fresh seafood and Mediterranean Tapas. The bar offers a selection of wines, international spirits, and cocktails, with a daily happy hour. A hot tub is available on the rooftop terrace, overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Guest Services

The hotel provides an airport shuttle service to Zanzibar airport, a 15-minute drive away. A 24-hour reception desk accommodates late arrivals and offers luggage storage. Additional services include a concierge, currency exchange, laundry, ironing, and babysitting.

Cultural Activities & Experiences

The tour desk can organize guided walking tours of Stone Town for guests. Spice Tours to local plantations and visits to the Jozani Forest are available through the hotel. Board games and puzzles are available for guest use.

Highlights

Location: Centre of Stone Town, 15 min from Zanzibar airport

Rooms: Traditional Swahili style with private bathrooms

Dining: Rooftop restaurant with fresh seafood and tapas

Services: 24-hour reception and airport shuttle

Activities: Spice Tours and guided Stone Town walks

Family: Babysitting services and board games

Must-do experiences

Savor a Zanzibar pizza at Forodhani Night Market after sunset.
Visit the historic Stone Town, a UNESCO site rich in culture.
Explore the spice farms for a fragrant and flavorful insight.
Relax at Nungwi Beach and watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean.
Discover the Jozani Forest for a chance to see rare red colobus monkeys.

Location: Perfect

9.2/10Review score

See this property's location on the map

Highlights from guests

DiningRooftop Views

Breakfast on the rooftop was a treat with amazing views over the old town. The seafood dinners were excellent.

Alex from United States

Review on

Room FeaturesSpacious Charm

The rooms were incredibly spacious and offered an authentic, historic feel. Air conditioning worked well.

Chloe from United Kingdom

Review on

Spa & LeisureCocktail Haven

The rooftop bar offered delicious cocktails with a great atmosphere and stunning city views.

Ben from Canada

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BathroomAuthentic Feel

The bathroom was huge and very authentic, matching the historic charm of the room.

Maya from Australia

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Pick the room type that suits your Zanzibar stay

The Swahili House offers double, family and suite rooms, each including breakfast, free cancellation and special rates for travelers exploring Zanzibar.

Deluxe Double or Twin Room

2 persons

21 m²

2 Single beds / 1 Double bed

Air conditioning

Bathtub

room details

Room Rates & Availability Calendar

See live prices and availability for your selected dates!

Amenities

The Swahili House provides amenities designed for a relaxed stay and memorable experiences on the island.

Facilities: Great

8.1/10Review score

General

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

Sports & Fitness

Diving
Snorkelling

Services

Paid airport shuttle
Room service
Housekeeping
Car hire
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

See Where The Swahili House Is Located

Stone Town, Zanzibar

Map view

City landmarks

Landmark

The Peace Memorial Museum

1.04 km

Gallery

Hellen Art Gallery

820 m

Nearby

Mizingani Rd

Old Dispensary

490 m

Museum

House of Wonders

490 m

Museum

Old Fort of Zanzibar

490 m

Historic Site

Stone Town

490 m

Museum

Sultan's Palace

490 m

Hamamni St

Hamamni Persian Baths

490 m

Market

Darajani Market

490 m

Church

Old Slave Market

490 m

Kenyatta Road

Mercury House

490 m

Church

Christ Church Cathedral

310 m

Park

Forodhani Park

490 m

Jamatini Rd

Malindi Mosque

310 m

200 Hurumzi Street

The Zanzibar Curio shop

490 m

Marahubi Palace

50 m

Gallery

Hurumzi Henna Art Gallery

140 m

Princess Salme Museum at Emerson on Hurumzi

200 m

Restaurants

Cafe Turquoise

50 m

Shangani 91

Lukmaan Restaurant

340 m

New Mkunazini Rd The Mkunazini Baobab Tree

Ma Shaa Allah Cafe

340 m

Mkunazini Street Stone Town

Forodhani Gardens

530 m

Restaurant

Meeting Point Cafe

580 m

Forodani Gardens

Krishna Food House

600 m

Mizingani Road

Mama Mia

600 m

Mizingani Road Forodhani

Explore Zanzibar

Explore Stone Town

Old Fort of Zanzibar

6 minutes' walk

Historic fortress featuring local art and crafts. Regular exhibitions highlight Zanzibar's culture and heritage.

House of Wonders

6 minutes' walk

Cultural museum showcasing Zanzibar's history. Unique exhibits on Swahili architecture and the island's maritime past.

Hellen Art Gallery

10 minutes' walk

Art gallery featuring local artists and craftspeople. A great spot to appreciate and purchase unique Zanzibari art.

Sultan's Palace

6 minutes' walk

Former residence of the Sultan. The palace offers insight into the royal lifestyle of Zanzibar's past rulers.

Snorkeling at Astaztour

8 minutes' walk

Exciting snorkeling adventures with vibrant marine life. Rentals and guided tours available for all skill levels.

Horse Riding at Maisha Mazuri Club

10-minute drive

Relaxing horseback rides through scenic landscapes. Perfect for families and couples to enjoy nature together.

Visits to Forodhani Gardens

7 minutes' walk

Family-friendly night market with local street food. A lively atmosphere makes it perfect for evening entertainment.

Cafe Turquoise

1 minute' walk

Cozy café serving fusion dishes with local flavors. Known for its delicious coffee and vibrant atmosphere.

Lukmaan Restaurant

5 minutes' walk

Casual spot for traditional Zanzibari dishes. Famous for hearty portions and vegetarian-friendly options.

Meeting Point Cafe

7 minutes' walk

Casual dining venue with local seafood specialties. A relaxing spot to savor fresh flavors and generous servings.

Forodhani Night Market

7 minutes' walk

Vibrant evening market with street food and live music. Ideal for families and those seeking local experiences.

Zanzibar Coffee House

5 minutes' walk

Charming spot featuring live music events. Perfect for a relaxed evening with Kalimba performances and good company.

Transportation options

City Centre
Zanzibar 4 min · 300 m
Airports
Kisauni (ZNZ) 12 min · 8 km
Julius Nyerere (DAR) 120 min · 79.4 km

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Property information and rules

Check-in

from 12:00-23:59

Check-out

from 01:00-09:00

Internet

Wireless internet is available in public areas for free.

Breakfast

A full breakfast is served at the price of USD 10.0 per person.

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

Languages

Dutch, Swahili

Number of floors:

Guest Reviews & Ratings

Read authentic guest reviews sharing their experience at The Swahili House.

Cleanliness

8.5/10

Comfort

8.7/10

Facilities

8.1/10

Free Wi-Fi

5.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Staff

9.2/10

Value for money

8.3/10

Pros

Central location

Rooftop views

Helpful staff

Historic building

Good breakfast

Cons

Room noise

Inconsistent WiFi

Payment issues

No reviews yet on our siteUnfortunately, our guests have not yet left any reviews for this hotel, but you can read reviews from Booking.com.

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The Swahili House – Stay in Zanzibar, Zanzibar

Property Overview

Guests love staying at The Swahili House

Location & Setting

Rooms & Amenities

Dining & Rooftop Terrace

Guest Services

Cultural Activities & Experiences

Highlights

Must-do experiences

Pick the room type that suits your Zanzibar stay

Room Rates & Availability Calendar

Amenities

General

Sports & Fitness

Services

Dining

Business

Children

Spa & Leisure

Room features

Bathroom

See Where The Swahili House Is Located

Guest Reviews & Ratings

Next best alternative