Retro

Hotels
6.9 (329 reviews)
Victoria Street, Vuga Road , Zanzibar City , tz

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Family rooms
Garden
Laundry
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good location
Value for money
Good breakfast
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Room quality concerns
Staff could be more welcoming

Categories

Cleanliness
4.65
Several reviews indicate issues with cleanliness, such as unpleasant smells, dirty pillows, and general neglect.
Service
7.65
Positive sentiments regarding the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, making the service experience favorable.
Location
7.65
While the location was generally praised, there were some concerns about safety when walking at night.
Room Quality
5.65
Mixed sentiments about room quality with mentions of humidity and issues with the bathroom.
Amenities
6.65
Amenities were considered basic but acceptable for the pricing, with certain positive notes on the air conditioning.
Value for Money
8.65
Multiple reviews highlight good value for the price received, particularly for budget travelers.
Food and Beverage
7.65
The breakfast received positive remarks for quality and variety, contributing to a good dining experience.
Overall Experience
6.65
The overall experience balances positives and negatives but leans positively due to value, location, and food.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 04:43

Property Description

City Views and Convenient Location
Enjoy stunning views of Zanzibar City at Retro, located just 500 meters from Stone Town Beach.

Comfortable Rooms and Dining Options
Relax in air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi and unwind in a garden setting. Indulge in African and international cuisine at the on-site restaurant offering vegetarian and halal options.

Nearby Attractions and Services
Explore Peace Memorial Museum, Hamamni Persian Baths, and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral, all located close to the hotel. Benefit from airport transfers and a bicycle rental service for convenient travel.

Book your stay at Retro now for a memorable experience in Zanzibar City!

Important information:

A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:30 PM

Property Policies

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is needed).

  • Internet

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

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

Location

Guest Reviews

6.9
Based on 329 reviews
Cleanliness: 4.65
Service: 7.65
Location: 7.65
Room Quality: 5.65
Amenities: 6.65
Value for Money: 8.65
Food and Beverage: 7.65
Overall Experience: 6.65
J
Jonathan • couple • de
10
Pros:

The place is amazing, near to everything. Good breakfast

2026-07-21 • via Nuitee
T
Tazim • extended_group • gb
8
Basic accommodation which suited our needs for one night.
Pros:

A/c was working. Cheap basic accommodation which suited our purpose. We booked 3 rooms. Bit rundown and needs TLC but was clean. Breakfast was good and was in the next building. No WiFi in main building apart from the restaurant only. Overall ok and would recommend if looking for a cheap stay.

Cons:

Shower room got flooded by the morning as was a leak under the sink. Got fixed when informed.

2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
I
Iris • solo_traveller • de
7
2026-07-11 • via Nuitee
J
JEAN • solo_traveller • fr
6
Pros:

J'ai aimé l'emplacement et l'architecture des lieux . Beau mobilier.
Le petit déjeuner est délicieux , ainsi que le personnel très disponible.

Cons:

Les équipements paraissent vieux, c'est dommage.
Le débit d'eau est insuffisant.

2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
R
Rabelani • solo_traveller • za
6
Pros:

Breakfast and friendly staff

Cons:

Wifi not working in the rooms ,you have to go out to access it

2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
S
Sphie • solo_traveller • zw
6
Pros:

The breakfast was awesome. The caretaker David was simply the best . The room was clean.

Cons:

The bed in room 12 was uncomfortable and there was no hot water. The cold water was just a trickle. I don't know whether it was a pumping issue but water is important because we had a hard time in bathing. Linen is worn out and the mosquito net has tears

2026-06-24 • via Nuitee
B
Benedicte • solo_traveller • fr
5
Correct pour un court séjour
Pros:

Nous avions 2 chambres, celle pour 2 était bien, ventilateur de plafond, salle de bain correct, moustiquaire. Tres bon petit déjeuner servi dans l'hotel à côté. Belle maison ancienne, décoration originale, le propriétaire est musicien. Bien placé, nous avons tout fait à pied. Nous avons pu laisser nos sacs à midi pour continuer nos visites. Pour 1 nuit ou 2, vu le prix, c'est correct.

Cons:

La chambre pour 3 avait un probleme d'eau: coupure d'eau le soir, plus de chasse d'eau le lendemain et on pataugeait dans l'eau le matin.
Les moustiquaires sont recousues et en mauvais état, tout comme les fenêtres.

2026-06-23 • via Nuitee
C
Claudine • solo_traveller • rw
7
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
M
Miglena • couple • bg
10
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
M
Miglena • couple • bg
10
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
V
Van den Berg • solo_traveller • nl
8
Goed
Pros:

De locatie

Cons:

Koude douche

2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
F
Fiona • solo_traveller • ug
1
Pros:

Basic breakfast. Not really much to write about. Not enough juice given.

Cons:

There was no WiFi at all. The a/c didn't work. The fan was functioning but didn't cool down the room.
There were crawling insects and bedbugs on my bed. I had to sit on the chair and try to catch some sleep. I still have insect bites on my arms.
The room was very filthy.
I guess Hiliki house which is next door is better than Retro house. No good view either from the room's windows which couldn't close at night.
I don't recommend Retro place .

A bit of monthly cleaning of the room and bathroom required. Fumigation is really necessary for that place. Generally, there's need for an overhaul clean for the room to preserve the good furniture and history in that house.

2026-05-12 • via Nuitee
M
Maria Belen • solo_traveller • pf
8
2026-05-09 • via Nuitee
S
Stella • couple • ke
3
Cheap Stonetown Stay
Pros:

The art on the wall is nice and the chill area on the rooftop.

Cons:

We had to change rooms because the first room smelled strongly of mold and water musk. It was hard to fall asleep, the second room was not any better, smelled terribly we had to sleep with the window open due to the musty smell.

2026-05-06 • via Nuitee
B
Beerrttaa • family_with_children • es
1
La casa del terror
Pros:

Absolutamente nada

Cons:

Llegamos y el hotel estaba destrozado. Sucio, moho en todas partes, la habitación daba miedo literalmente. Parecía que estábamos en una película de terror. Pagamos online y cuando intentamos cancelar y que nos devolvieran el dinero no ha habido manera (obviamente no dormimos allí , salimos corriendo) . No cogen el teléfono ni contestan mensajes. Una vergüenza muy grande. NO VAYAIS A ESTE HOTEL O SI QUEREIS IR POR LO MENOS NO PAGUEIS POR ADELANTADO HASTA VER LA HABITACIÓN.

2026-05-04 • via Nuitee
I
Ida • solo_traveller • se
1
Cons:

DO NOT STAY HERE!! 3 stars? I would say -20 stars! The place is filthy - sheets, pillows and towels dirty, the bathroom and shower stinks and there’s no AC or wardrobe as promised. But the worst thing is the scary man working here. He didn’t give me the upgrade I payed for. He’s getting high (smoking weed right outside the property) and drunk all day and night and got crazy angry and aggressive when I asked if my friend could come over to visit for a short time while I was getting ready (never ever been a problem in any other place I’ve stayed in any country - including Tanzania). I’ve been staying in many hotels all over the world and this is by far the worst experience of my life and honestly the first bad review I’ve ever have to give. Just want to protect people in the future - I REPEAT: DO NOT STAY IN THIS SO CALLED HOTEL!! It’s a nightmare

2026-04-29 • via Nuitee
D
Djiar • couple • dz
10
Good zanzibarian experience
Pros:

Mr David was very helpful and kind with us , the location is very good and the breakfast was perfect , the room was clean

2026-04-26 • via Nuitee
N
Noa • couple • il
4
Pros:

מיקום מרכזי

Cons:

מלון ישן לא נקי לא מתוחזק , עובש בכל מקום

2026-04-18 • via Nuitee
S
Shahnaz • couple • in
8
Good accommodation close to the old town.
Pros:

The location is very good, close to the old town yet very peaceful, opposite to a beautiful green park.its a very old heritage building, there's a scope for upgrading the guest rooms, bathrooms, their kitchen. The manager Mr David was not very friendly. The breakfast was good with fruits. Over all value for money. There are beautiful paintings on the wall and heritage furniture.

Cons:

The property needs upgrading, the management has to be improved. There should be UPS or electricity back up . They should mention on which floor the room is located.

2026-04-16 • via Nuitee
M
Maider • solo_traveller • es
1
Inaceptable: la peor experiencia de todo mi viaje por África
Pros:

El desayuno, bastante completo (fruta, huevos, tostadas y café), y el personal del hotel vecino (Kiliki), que fue amable, aunque no hablaba inglés.

Cons:

Llevo tiempo viajando por África y este ha sido, con diferencia, el peor alojamiento en el que me he quedado.

Llegué sobre las 21:00 y me asignaron una habitación que no correspondía con mi reserva. Tenía humedades visibles en el techo y un estado general muy deteriorado. Al reclamar, me enseñaron la habitación correcta (la de las fotos de Booking), pero pretendían cobrarme 20.000 chelines más por ella. Absolutamente inaceptable.

La limpieza es algo deficiente en general, pero además estaban las mosquiteras sucias y rotas, enchufes en mal estado y una sensación general de abandono total.

Durante la noche llovió fuerte (época de lluvias). La habitación, ubicada en el último piso y con claras humedades en el techo, no aguantó: entró agua. Literalmente, llovía dentro de la habitación.
La seguridad es inexistente. El acceso al hotel permanece abierto y, aunque aseguran que hay personal vigilando, al volver de cenar a medianoche encontré al encargado dormido. Por la mañana (entre las 8:30 y las 9:00) no había absolutamente nadie del personal en todo el hotel.

Además, hubo un corte de luz (algo habitual en Zanzíbar), pero aquí no hubo ninguna gestión: ni agua, ni cubos, ni velas, ni una sola explicación. Tampoco informan de lo básico: tuve que enterarme por otro huésped de que el desayuno se sirve en el hotel vecino (Kiliki).

Para rematar, intentaron cobrarme tasas adicionales de la ciudad y 5.000 chelines extra por guardar las maletas el día del check-out. Una falta de respeto total teniendo en cuenta las condiciones.
Sinceramente, no deberían ofrecer habitaciones en este estado. Vergonzoso.

2026-04-14 • via Nuitee