The Swahili House

Hotels
8.3 (404 reviews)
Stone Town , Zanzibar City , tz

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Children allowed

Facilities

Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly service
Cons:
Limited breakfast options
Cleanliness issues noted

Categories

Cleanliness
7.84
Some reviews mention cleanliness positively, but significant issues affecting comfort were noted.
Service
9.31
General sentiment is positive; guests noted the staff's kindness and efficient service.
Location
9.35
Multiple reviews praise the hotel's excellent central location, making it easy to explore.
Room Quality
7.8
Rooms were described with some comfort, but issues like outdated decor were mentioned.
Amenities
7.33
Some amenities like the pool and Wi-Fi reception are below expectations.
Value for Money
9.29
Guests frequently commented on the good value for the price paid.
Food and Beverage
6.84
Breakfast options were noted to be limited and disappointing.
Overall Experience
8.61
Overall satisfaction was high, with specific highlights being location and service.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 04:13

Property Description

Charming Boutique Hotel in the Heart of Stone Town

Traditional Swahili Decor
Experience the charm of traditional Swahili style in our beautifully decorated rooms. Each room offers a comfortable stay with a fan and mosquito nets for a restful night's sleep.

Rooftop Dining and Relaxation
Indulge in fresh seafood and Mediterranean Tapas at our rooftop restaurant with stunning views. Unwind in the hot tub while overlooking the Indian Ocean, creating a truly memorable experience.

Convenient Location and Excursions
Located in the center of Stone Town, explore the bustling markets and nearby attractions easily. Let us arrange exciting excursions to Spice Tours, Jozani Forest, and more upon your request.

Book now to enjoy a unique stay at The Swahili House and create unforgettable memories!

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 09:30 AM
Airport code: ZNZ

Property Policies

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 3 years old to 12 years old stay for US$60 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    People 3 years old and over stay for US$60 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 404 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.84
Service: 9.31
Location: 9.35
Room Quality: 7.8
Amenities: 7.33
Value for Money: 9.29
Food and Beverage: 6.84
Overall Experience: 8.61
U
Uffe โ€ข extended_group โ€ข dk
7
2026-02-13 โ€ข via Nuitee
E
Endimion67 โ€ข family_with_children โ€ข fr
9
Very nice place to stay in stone town
Pros:

This is a very nice place with very nice and friendly staff. The room are really nice too, we love the style very traditional.

Cons:

The AC wasn't working very well in one of the three rooms but still enough to sleep properly. The restaurant was alright but the breakfast selection could improve. The fruits and juices are excellent and the cocktails too especiallywhen it's the main bartenderdoing them.

2026-01-25 โ€ข via Nuitee
D
David โ€ข couple โ€ข fr
8
2026-01-25 โ€ข via Nuitee
A
Alyssa โ€ข family_with_children โ€ข fr
10
Pros:

Lโ€™emplacement centrale รฉtait parfait, la literie super et le personnel aux petits soins. Notre chambre รฉtait spacieuse et trรจs propre. Je vous le recommande.

2026-01-24 โ€ข via Nuitee
J
John โ€ข family_with_children โ€ข pt
9
Pros:

Bedroom

Cons:

N/A

2026-01-21 โ€ข via Nuitee
A
ANDREW โ€ข couple โ€ข gb
8
This hotel served as a convenient base from which to explore old Stone Town.
Pros:

It is an original local Arab style house that has been improved for modern expectations, and is situated in the very heart of the old town.

Cons:

The Air Con. unit was very noisy.

2026-01-20 โ€ข via Nuitee
M
MAGALI โ€ข couple โ€ข fr
7
Bon emplacement mais petit dรฉjeuner dรฉcevant
Pros:

Lโ€™emplacement au cล“ur de la vieille ville.

Cons:

Petit dรฉjeuner pourrait รชtre mieux (peu de choix et peu qualitatif).

2026-01-19 โ€ข via Nuitee
S
Stuber โ€ข family_with_children โ€ข de
8
Pros:

Sehr nettes Personal, gutes Frรผhstรผck, saubere Zimmer und Restaurant.

2026-01-14 โ€ข via Nuitee
G
Giancarlo โ€ข family_with_children โ€ข it
9
Pros:

Il personale gentilissimo!
Camere ariose e spaziose e molto pulite.
Posizione centrale, bella terrazza!
Sul ristorante c'รจ margine di miglioramento!
Molto consigliato

2026-01-13 โ€ข via Nuitee
I
Isabella โ€ข family_with_children โ€ข gb
10
2026-01-08 โ€ข via Nuitee
J
Jasmin โ€ข solo_traveller โ€ข de
10
2026-01-05 โ€ข via Nuitee
O
OSNAT โ€ข solo_traveller โ€ข il
8
ื‘ืกืš ื”ื›ืœ ืžื™ ืฉืœื ืžืคืจื™ืข ืœื• ืงืจื™ืื•ืช ื‘ืžื’ืคื•ืŸ ืžื”ืžืกื’ื“ื™ื ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœื”ื ื•ืช ื•ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืจืฆื•ืŸ ื‘ืžืœื•ืŸ ื”ื–ื”.
Pros:

ื”ืฆื•ื•ืช ืžืงืกื™ื ื•ื ืขื ื” ืœื›ืœ ื”ื‘ืงืฉื•ืช. ื”ืžื™ืงื•ื ืžืจื›ื–ื™ ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ. ื”ืขื™ืฆื•ื‘ ืฉืœ ื”ืžืœื•ืŸ ื•ื”ื—ื“ืจื™ื ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ ื•ื ืขื™ื. ื”ืื•ื•ื™ืจ ื•ื”ื ื•ืฃ ืžืงื•ืžืช ื”ื’ื’ ืฉื‘ื” ื ืžืฆืืช ื”ืžืกืขื“ื” ืžื•ืฉืœืžื™ื. ืžื ื”ืœ ื”ืžืœื•ืŸ, ืื“ื ื ืขื™ื, ื—ื ื•ืขื•ื–ืจ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉืฆืจื™ืš. ื”ืื•ื›ืœ ื‘ืžืกืขื“ื” ื˜ืขื™ื. ื–ืจื ื”ืžื™ื ืžืฆื•ื™ื™ืŸ, ืžื™ื ื—ืžื™ื ื‘ืฉืคืข ื•ืžื–ื’ืŸ ืžืฆื•ื™ื™ืŸ ื‘ื—ื“ืจื™ื.

Cons:

ืืช ื”ืžืœื•ืŸ ืžืงื™ืคื™ื ืžืกื’ื“ื™ื ื•ืœื›ืŸ 5 ืคืขืžื™ื ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฉื•ืžืขื™ื ื—ื–ืง ืืช ืงืจื™ืื•ืช ื”ืžื•ืื–ื™ืŸ ื›ื•ืœืœ ื‘ 4:00 ื‘ื‘ื•ืงืจ. ื”ืžื—ื™ืจื™ื ื‘ืžืกืขื“ื” ืฉืœ ื”ืžืœื•ืŸ ืžืื•ื“ ื™ืงืจื™ื.

2026-01-04 โ€ข via Nuitee
M
Monika โ€ข family_with_children โ€ข de
8
Pros:

Die Lage ist optimal, man kann alle Sehenswรผrdigkeiten von dort erkunden, ist aber trotzdem nicht mittendrin.

Cons:

Vielleicht sollte die Bezeichnung "Pool" eine andere Beschreibung bekommen oder gestrichen werden.

2026-01-03 โ€ข via Nuitee
C
Christina โ€ข family_with_children โ€ข de
5
2025-12-14 โ€ข via Nuitee
A
Aiste โ€ข family_with_children โ€ข lt
8
Var veldig kjekk personale og service
Pros:

Mennesker og service

Cons:

alt var bra for valuta ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

2025-12-01 โ€ข via Nuitee
K
Klara Papp โ€ข extended_group โ€ข hu
10
Charming.
Pros:

We enjoyed every minute of our stay! It is in a great location, stylish building, amazing view from the roof. But above all, amazing kindness and hospitality. They fulfilled all our wishes, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Cons:

none

2025-10-30 โ€ข via Nuitee
I
Ingrid โ€ข solo_traveller โ€ข de
8
sehr passabler angenehmer Aufenthalt in bester Lage mit toller Dachterrasse und gutem Preis-Leistungsverhรคltnis
Pros:

am besten war die Lage und ich hatte als Einzelperson ein Doppelzimmer mit viel Platz

Cons:

das Zimmer hatte keinen Balkon, aber das ist in dieser Preisklasse nicht zu erwarten

2025-10-25 โ€ข via Nuitee
M
Martin โ€ข solo_traveller โ€ข gb
10
Perfect location for sexy
Pros:

Authentic building very central lovely rooftop terrace

2025-10-19 โ€ข via Nuitee
G
Gilles โ€ข couple โ€ข fr
10
Pros:

Le charme surannรฉ de cet ancien hรดtel particulier du sultan d'Oman.
La vue depuis le rooftop.
Le personnel aux petits soins.
La localisation trรจs centrale.

Cons:

Manque le wi-fi dans la chambre.
Un safe aurait รฉtรฉ apprรฉciรฉ.

2025-10-14 โ€ข via Nuitee
T
Torkel Naustvik โ€ข couple โ€ข no
5
Pros:

Takterrassen

Cons:

Gammelmodig. 1940 standard pรฅ rom og bad. Heisen var treug

2025-10-12 โ€ข via Nuitee