The Swahili House

Hotels
8.3 (424 reviews)
Stone Town , Zanzibar City , TZ
+255 777 510 209

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Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
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Rooms were described with some comfort, but issues like outdated decor were mentioned.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!

Important information:

A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 424 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
M
Marion • couple • fr
10
Nous avons passé 3 nuits très agréables au sein de l’établissement, je recommande vivement
Pros:

Nous avons beaucoup aimé la propreté des chambres, le personnel est adorable et le rooftop offre une vue magnifique sur Stone Town.

Cons:

Rien nous avons tout aimé

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
C
Cornelia • solo_traveller • at
9
Pros:

Sleeping in the historic sultans palace in stone town was magnificent! The room was spaceous and elegantly furnished as well as prepared.
Also the restaurant on the top roof gave a great view of the city and had very good food and cocktails.

Cons:

The toilet is separated just by a wall and not in a separate room.
The muezzins are noisy but thats everywhere im stone town.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
M
Mehmet • couple • tr
8
Konaklamak için iyi , manzara çok güzel
Pros:

Tesis tam merkezde ara bir sokakta. Taksi kapı önüne kadar getiremiyor. Oda geniş ve temizdi. İçmek için su koymuşlar. Banyo temiz ve banyo malzemeleri vardı. Havlular çok temizdi. Kahvaltı ya beklemedik erken çıktık.Hava alanına 8 km kadar yakın. Üst katta dolar ile iş yapan bir restaurant var. Çalışanları çok cana yakınlar. Yemekler lezzetli ama porsiyonları az. Fiyatlar biraz pahalı.

Cons:

Tesisten taksi kiralaması hava alanı için 30 dolar biz kullanmadık. 11 dolara internetten bulduk. Belki biraz daha ucuza bulunabilirdi. Otelde bir koku yok temiz ancak otele yakın bölgelerde çok pis kokular var.

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
C
Camilla • solo_traveller • dk
9
Comfortable, good location and helpful staff
Pros:

The atmosphere was incredible. Like going back in time.
I like that it was right in the centre of Stone Town.
Such an incredible view from the rooftop and the staff was extremely helpful.

Cons:

It was a bit noise as it is placed right in the centre. And you can her people outside your room as it’s an old building.
Problems with the hot water and pressure in the shower - but that seems to be an issue all over Tanzania.

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
A
Arzu • family_with_children • fr
10
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
S
Scott • extended_group • us
8
Pros:

Terrace restaurant

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
J
Jonas • solo_traveller • se
10
Tiptop !
Pros:

Personalen 5 +. Deras enorma servicekänsla ,5 + Men framförallt Patricia 5 miljarder+. Om du är arbetsgivare så var väldigt mån om den kvinnan. Hon är fantastisk.Sen var rummen skitfina. Rooftopen skön. Har absolut inget att klaga på.

Cons:

Antagligen mitt fel, men nio gånger av tio så hittade jag inte trots Google Maps. Som tur är fanns det sköna människor som hjälpte mig.

2026-09-03 • via Nuitee
G
Gvidas • couple • lt
7
2026-09-03 • via Nuitee
A
Armin • solo_traveller • za
8
Amazing blessing in disguise
Pros:

I had a booking at another place that was falsely advertised, so I rebooked at Swahili House last minute late at night. The staff on shift were so friendly and helpful to welcome me and make sure the room is perfect for me. The room was very comfortable. The views from the rooftop, my word... the absolute highlight.

2026-09-03 • via Nuitee
H
hideaki • solo_traveller • jp
8
Pros:

Los empleados son muy atentos.
El desayuno está listo a tiempo, a las 7.
Es algo excepcional en Zanzíbar donde casi ningún hotel lo tiene listo puntualmente, por lo que a menudo perdía el desayuno por tener que a ir al trabajo.

Cons:

No hay wifi en las habitaciones. Debía ir al restaurante para navegar.
No había nevera en la habitación. Y una botella de cerveza costó un poco cara, 3.5 USD.

2026-09-01 • via Nuitee
B
Bhalla • solo_traveller • ke
8
IT WAS WORTH THE VISIT
Pros:

THE ROOF TOP AND THE WELCOMING SMILES AT THE RECEPTION

Cons:

THE FACT THAT INTERNET IS OLY AT THE RECEPTION AND ROOFTOP ONLY

2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
D
Deborah • couple • be
8
Pros:

All the staff of this hotel will make your stay a very great experience. Thank you to all of them.
They hotel is cosy with a Sanzibar charm that will make feel like home.

Cons:

Internet must be in the room

2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
M
Mélanie • couple • fr
7
Pros:

Hôtel en plein centre avec beaucoup de charme.
Personnel à l'accueil avec un excellent service (et parlant un très bon français).

Cons:

Très déçues car la "piscine" était vide et nous avions choisi cet hôtel pour celle ci.
La restauration pourrait être améliorée.

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
A
Ayshan • couple • tr
1
Don’t choose this place — you’ll regret it!
Pros:

I’ve probably stayed in hundreds of hotels, but I’ve never seen a bed this terrible. Honestly, sleeping on a rock would have been better — at least we would know it was a rock! What kind of bed is this? We stayed for two nights and ended up with such bad back pain that we had to rush to get a massage.

The breakfast was absolutely awful as well. There’s no phone in the room, not even a kettle. It feels like the hotel is stuck in another century. And check-out is at 10 a.m… Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to anyone.

The only good thing about this place is the staff. They are incredibly kind, positive, and always smiling.

2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
A
Axel • couple • fr
8
Hôtel au cœur de Stone Town
Pros:

Hôtel au cœur de Stone Town avec malheureusement beaucoup de bruit (lié à la ville et pas forcément à l’hôtel).
Pratique pour se rendre dans les points d’intérêts à pied
Le personnel souriant et accueillant.
Le rooftop permet d’avoir une vue sur la ville et sur le couché de soleil

Cons:

Chambre pas insonorisé (simple moustiquaire au fenêtre) et donc bruit de la ville toute la nuit

2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
T
Tsuyoshi • couple • jp
8
アクセスの良さと静かさは抜群。見晴らしも最高に落ち着ける地域で一番背の高いホテル❣️
Pros:

古いが素敵な部屋でした。ルーフトップのレストランは風が通り心地よく、タバコも吸えるし、景色も抜群❣️

スタッフがめちゃくちゃ優しい対応で、レストランのスタッフも楽しい会話で旅を盛り上げてくれた。

迷路のようなエリアで、ホテルに帰れるか心配だったが，慣れてくると、大変便利な立地。タクシーは入ってこれないが，迎えに来てくれるし、全く問題なし。

料理が美味くて、ここを選んで良かった(^O^)

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
G
Guillaume • solo_traveller • fr
8
Pros:

Le charme de l'hôtel.
Chambres spacieuses

Cons:

Service trop long au restaurant

2026-08-07 • via Nuitee
S
Sinje • couple • de
10
Pros:

Das Hotel ist wunderschön renoviert und landestypisch möbliert. Es liegt ideal in der Altstadt. Das Personal ist sehr nett und hilfsbereit. Das Restaurant auf der großen Dachterrasse gewährt einen spektakulären Blick über die Altstadt bis zum Hafen und serviert sehr leckeres Essen.

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
A
Anne • couple • fr
10
Très bien
Pros:

Emplacement

Cons:

Bruit extérieur

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
C
Caroline • solo_traveller • fr
9
Pros:

L'authenticité du lieu, la gentillesse du personnel, le roof top, la cuisine

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee