Zoi Retreat Hotel Zanzibar

Zoi is a wonderful boutique hotel, where each peace of furniture fits perfectly the needs and the eye. Its beautiful design is perfectly immersed in the lash green and white sand beaches views.
The employees are very polite and trained, they love to indulge. I loved the perfect mix of nationalities that were visiting and enjoying during our stay.
The beach is truly impressive- wide, white clean sand, possibility to walk and swim even at low tide, as anyway the sea is so warm it feels like a pool . The fact that it is facing East offers memorable sunrise views, and shaded hot afternoons.
Hotel pool is bog enough to be able to do laps.
Hotel offers turn down service which I wouldn’t expect with 4* hotel.
Restaurant is very popular and offers tasty treats. You must try crab soup- it felt truly pampering .
Being located here, one has easy access to Mnemba island snorkelling, dolphins tour (one is actually swimming with 20 dolphins by one’s side- I didn’t believe it!!) as well as visit the popular beaches on North west.

A beautiful place tropical garden well looked after, excellent food especially the dinners reception staff very good Nice (the receptionist) collected aloe Vera for my sun burn generally all the staff are very friendly, wonderful massage, enjoyed walking into the village and beach and to top it all we went on the early morning trip and swam with the dolphins 😀Thank you xx

Don’t be fooled by the glowing reviews. Lack of maintenance, poor hygiene, unfriendly staff (except at the bar) and worst breakfast we’ve ever had. This place needs care, not marketing.

The hotel is a 15 room cozy, quite, and warm space. Rooms were spacious and well kept. The staff cleans on daily basis…change sheets, pillows, towels and most importantly take into consideration all your remarks.
The hotel is directly located on a sandy white quite beach which felt more like a private one with sun beds.
The masai passed by trying to sell some hand made local stuff, but you can just ignore their offers by letting them know you’re not interested and they would leave. They were simply not annoying as we have expected them to be!
There’s also a nice pool with enough sun beds.
We took the half board offer and I have to say breakfast was good enough…not a buffet spread but a satisfying menue including a decent variety you can choose from. Ofcourse It can be enhanced but it was good enough and we surely enjoyed the daily local fruits offered every morning with the meal.
The Dinner Menu options on the other hand was excellent that we did not have to go elsewhere for a proper hot meal, we all enjoyed the different options offered every day.
As a family of four, we reserved a van each time we wanted to roam around the country to explore the famous or must see spots we had interest in. Some were 1.5-2 hours far but the drive was a chance to see more of the country and local people which we were interested to in as tourists.
The staff I have to say were very friendly and attentive. A big shout out to the receptionist Nice who was very helpful, the brilliant waiters Emcha and mousa who were always attentive and friendly.
I would also like to point out they have a lovely massage service done by the great ester.
Would we go back? Yes for sure!
Thanks for a great family experience.

We stayed at this lovely small retreat after a safari to relax before returning home . The staff was so friendly and provided great service. The room was clean and comfortable with AC and a nice big bathroom. The common area and pool were great to sit and read a book or play cards. The food was good so were the cocktails. They even let us keep one room to keep our things and relax in for a late check at no charge. Overall a great way to end an amazing trip. Oh and we love their cats

We had the ultimate end to our Tanzanian vacation.
The service was outstanding for our 4 day stay.
A special thanks to Miriam at reception for room organising and late checkout ,Ester our fabulous masseuse ,Asya for all our day to day queries.
So many smiling wait staff ,always at the ready.View,beach,pool,room, menu perfect.!
Our most sincere thanks.

We stayed 5 nights at Zoi Retreat in Matemwe at the end of July 2025, mainly for kitesurfing, and we definitely got what we came for: wind every day and an empty beach — just perfect if you're looking to ride solo! (but beware of sea urchins!). The location is superb: right on the beach, with a calm atmosphere and a lovely garden with mangroves. Massages were good and the guys working at the bar were always smiling, friendly and helpful.

But: Unfortunately, the hotel is currently far from what you’d expect of a 4-star property.
The new manager (since June 2025) is very responsive and clearly doing his best to improve things. We sincerely wish him success — but he still has a long way to go.

We stayed in the family room which was very dark (not a place where you want to spend too much time) and extremely humid and smelled of mold on arrival. They lack maintenance and proper airing, and housekeeping was inconsistent — only once in five days was our room properly cleaned (after we complained). Otherwise, it was mostly making the bed and a quick sweep.

Breakfast was a big disappointment: poor coffee, not-so-fresh fruits (cut with the same knife used for onions?), and yogurt that seemed off. Honestly, the worst breakfast we had during our stay in Zanzibar.

Overall, if your priority is simply a quiet beach and wind for kitesurfing, this place might still work for you. But if you are expecting a genuine 4-star experience, you will likely be disappointed. For us, it was the least impressive hotel of our stay in Zanzibar.

On a positive note: we ended up dining several times at a wonderful local restaurant just across the street, which truly enhanced our stay in Matemwe

We sincerely hope the manager succeeds in his plans to improve the property.

Until then, future guests may want to read both the positive and more critical reviews carefully to get a realistic picture.

Hakuna matata

My girlfriend and I loved it, this is absolutely the ideal combination: pristine location and helpful staff really willing to run the extra mile for their guests! Spacious, clean rooms, tranquility and great food - what else to ask for? Definitely recommended for couples, Zoi makes Zanzibar a unique experience.

amazing hospitality, unbeatable place to stay, I would prefer it again. quiet stay with the air of beautiful Zanzibar.Love

The location of Zoi Retreat Hotel is great, and the manager truly made a difference during my stay — he is incredibly kind, polite, and goes above and beyond to make guests feel at home. He really does everything he can for the customers.

Unfortunately, the rest of the experience fdidn’t match his effort. The hotel is not well-maintained, cleanliness was poor (even after a deep clean, there were spider webs), and the food and drinks are overpriced for what you get.If the hotel matched the manager’s level of care, it would be amazing — but for now, I can only give it 2 stars.

I had a wonderful stay! I can highly recommend to spend your honeymoon here- they really do go the extra mile!

The staff were absolutely amazing — so friendly, welcoming, and always ready to help with anything we needed. The service really made a big difference. The food was also fantastic — fresh, flavourful, and beautifully presented. Overall, an unforgettably romantic and memorable experience. Highly recommended!

Amazing experience, pure nature! We stayed in the hotel during August 2025 and we were very pleased with the hospitality. The food was great, the staff was always smiling and supportive! The location is idealistic for great vacation!

As the name suggests, Zoi Retreat is a true retreat from the stresses of daily life. The small, intimate size of the hotel creates a very peaceful vibe, and you really feel like you have your own slice of paradise. We loved that it was right on a quiet stretch of beach, perfect for long walks. The staff was incredibly kind and helpful, and they made sure we had everything we needed to fully relax. The food was outstanding, with great options at every meal. This is the perfect place to disconnect, recharge, and enjoy the beauty of Zanzibar

We spent 7 unforgettable days at Zoi Retreat and loved every moment. Wonderful people, fantastic management, delicious food, and a perfect location — this boutique gem truly ticks all the boxes!

The staff went above and beyond every day to make our stay special. From thoughtful touches to genuine smiles, nothing was ever too much trouble.

Only slight downside for a few days was a particularly fussy Italian family, the "I live in Dubai and I have travelled everywhere" kind of tourists, but that had nothing to do with the hotel. In fact, the resident cats handled them better than most humans could — with admirable patience! 🐾

Highly recommend and can’t wait to return!

Zoi Retreat Hotel is a true gem! From the warm welcome to the friendly, attentive staff, every moment felt special. The management is excellent, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The food was absolutely delicious, and the massages were pure relaxation. Best of all, the location is unbeatable—right on the beach with stunning views! Can't wait to go back!

Terrible experience. We were coming from a Safari, where anyone could imagine being on a total adventure where you have to adapt.... Instead, at the Safari, we were treated to 6-star standards (in a camp inside the parks), beyond belief. …
Trip typeHoliday · Family RoomsUnacceptable… Dirty, smelly, unpresentable, non-functional and very dangerous with exposed electrical wires, power drops in the lights, insects everywhere, endless dirt, dirty and always damp sheets and towels, a real disgrace.
Nearby activitiesNothing, just some bandits and fake Maasai in the beach who want to sell you objects or tours on boats you wouldn't let your worst enemy use.
Safetynon-existent, the main gate looks like the entrance to a construction site
WalkabilityOnly the beach obviously long walk with the fake Maasai e everywhere who constantly disturb for all day and the fake security guards sitting and watching without saying or do anything.
Food and drinksLet's leave it, it's better not to comment specifically. I'm Italian, I've been traveling the world all my life, very very adaptable, I live in the United Arab Emirates and I know very well what we're talking about, I'll just say that here everything is truly unacceptable. Food and drink. It's certainly not pleasant to find insects on your plates for example….
Noteworthy detailsEverything needs to be completely overhauled, the structure needs to be completely taken over by people who understand what it is and staff who are adequate for the service to be offered. Absolutely to be avoided even by the most adaptable if nothing change.!!!

Quite far to get to from Stonetown but a stunning location. It’s boutique hotel so not the facilities of a mega resort but the local friendly staff arranged a couple of excellent things for me and I really enjoyed the intimate atmosphere. Great food too with sea views. I also enjoyed a massaged in a small hut by the sea so could hear the surf.

Thank you so much! I spent really good days in this hotel, simply the staff is amazing, super friendly , always helpful, happy, attending our questions, the room and the decorations are so beautiful, the food and the drinks so delicious. I recommend this place 100%. Asante sana 🫶🏻🙏🏻

Charming boutique hotel with friendly staff and an idyllic setting. Don’t expect the size or facilities of a large chain but the reception desk were hugely accommodating, eg in arranging a snorkelling trip at short notice. Bedroom 10 with an ocean view was delightful. The food was fresh and varied. I enjoyed a massage in a hut by the sea and hanging out on the loungers.

Excellent spot to relax and wrap up our east Africa trip. The staff are fantastic and work hard to accommodate any request.
The food is incredible. We enjoyed every meal on property. The seafood pasta so good! We both ordered based on our server’s recommendation and thanked for suggesting.
I had the filet the night before and it was also very good. Grilled fish skewers for lunch, etc, etc. all delicious.
We both enjoyed 1-hour deep tissue massages. Esther was great and added to our relaxing experience.
Great visit, just what we needed, would highly recommend staying here.