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The Swahili House

3.0 star property
3-star hotel in Stone Town

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Photo gallery for The Swahili House

Outdoor pool, sun loungers
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine, pool views
Bar (on property)
1 bedroom, in-room safe, individually decorated, individually furnished
Terrace/patio

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Hot Tub
  • Pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

Map
Stone Town, Zanzibar Town
  • Slave Market
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Shangani Beach
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Forodhani Gardens
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.)
    ‪10 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Deluxe Double Room

Deluxe Double Room | 1 bedroom, in-room safe, individually decorated, individually furnished

Deluxe Double Room

  • City view
  • 226 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

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About the neighborhood

Zanzibar Town

Seaside stay .With a stay at this Stone Town hotel, you'll be steps from Christ Church Cathedral and Slave Market. Hamamni Persian Baths and Darajani Market are also within half a mile (1 km).

What's nearby

  • Slave Market - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Shangani Beach - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Forodhani Gardens - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Old Fort - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Zanzibar Ferry Terminal - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Passing Show Hotel - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Meeting Point Cafe - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Lukmaan - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Livingstone Beach Restaurant - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Zenji Garden Café - ‬7 min walk

About this property

The Swahili House

3-star hotel in Stone Town
The Swahili House offers its guests an outdoor pool and a hot tub. There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, which include a poolside bar and a bar/lounge. Free breakfast is served daily. Public spaces have free WiFi.

A terrace, tour/ticket assistance, and concierge services are also featured at The Swahili House.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this 3-star Zanzibar Town hotel.

  • 1 building
  • 22 guestrooms or units
  • 5 levels
  • English breakfast (free)
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Terrace
  • Smoking in designated areas
  • Bar or lounge
  • Bar by the pool
  • Dining venue
The Swahili House offers 22 air-conditioned accommodations with safes and complimentary bottled water. These individually decorated and furnished accommodations include day beds. This Zanzibar Town hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Additionally, rooms include complimentary toiletries and ceiling fans. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Languages

Dutch, English, Swahili

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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Separate bedroom

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • No onsite parking available
  • Roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)

Food and drink

  • Free English breakfast available daily 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • Hot tub
  • Outdoor pool

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Day bed

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Phone
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: midnight

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 2.00 per person, per night
  • Administrative fee: USD 2 per person, per night

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. No onsite parking is available. This property accepts Visa and Mastercard. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

Property Registration Number Z0000021157

Property is also known as

Swahili House
Swahili House Hotel
Swahili House Hotel Zanzibar Town
Swahili House Zanzibar Town
The Swahili House Hotel
The Swahili House Zanzibar Town
The Swahili House Hotel Zanzibar Town

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Swahili House to the airport?

The Swahili House is 4.9 mi (15-min drive) away from the Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Swahili House?

As of Jun 2, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Swahili House on Jun 12, 2025 start from $134.78, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does The Swahili House have an airport shuttle?

The Swahili House offers an airport shuttle.

How close is The Swahili House to the beach?

This hotel is a short 8-minute walk from Shangani Beach and 10-minute walk from Nakupenda Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does The Swahili House offer free breakfast?

The Swahili House offers free English breakfast every day from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM.

Is there a casino at The Swahili House?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at The Swahili House?

Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: midnight.

Is there free parking at The Swahili House?

Free parking is not available at this hotel.

Does The Swahili House have a pool?

The Swahili House features an outdoor pool.

Does The Swahili House have a restaurant?

The Swahili House is home to Rooftop Terrace, which features international cuisine, a poolside location, and al fresco dining.

Does The Swahili House have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is The Swahili House to downtown Zanzibar Town?

The Swahili House is 0.5 mi away from Zanzibar Town.

The Swahili House Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 63 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 25 out of 63 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 14 out of 63 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 63 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 63 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great friendly staff Unique well kept older building with a central location and access to the markets right outside the door
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Vanessa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Fabulous rooftop bar, great breeze, excellent included breakfast, very helpful staff. NO wifi in rooms, only at reception area and rooftop bar/restaurant. Located on VERY narrow cobblestone street with ONLY motorcycle access. NO taxi or car service directly to hotel. MUST walk 5 - 10 minutes from street through crowded souq/market area to reach hotel. However, you can call the hotel and they can send someone out to the street area in front of the market entrance to help carry your bags and navigate entrance to hotel. Good central location. Safe area. Pool in photo is deceiving as it is more like a very large bath tub or splash pool. It was not very clean!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

anne marie

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The building architect amazing, the staff good, breakfast was delicious.the bed was so hard it was like sleeping on a wood box, which was with a box spring on the floor.Other guests also complaining.The bathroom has a big opening with no door. I asked him to credit it the dinner for the terrible nights sleep and my sore back, he said he could not do that.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A great stay in a beautiful and historic building.

We came to The Swahili House after a week-long safari in Tanzania. Our guide happened to know the manager at Swahili House and we met him upon check in. Our experience was great start to finish -- staff was so kind, a welcome drink on the rooftop terrace upon arrival, the room was clean and large, and the staff helped us arrange a city tour and transportation from the airport and to our next destination.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Olivia

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very central location for Stone Town. Easy to walk to local attractions. Less easy to get back to but that is due to the many narrow streets rather and geography of the area and nothing to do with the hotel! The hotel is known by everyone so if you get lost someone will help you get back. It is noisy with building work going on nearby, calls to prayer, and the church bells ringing but we expected that to be the case and soon got used to it. The air conditioning, fan and turn down service including bug spray were greatly appreciated. Great shower and toiletries provided. Front desk and cleaning staff were very friendly and helpful. Most restaurant staff were also very good - 1 or 2 seemed to stand back and not help out much. The food was ok - some was excellent (the chickpea curry was delicious), but other things (tuna and burgers) we had better outside of the hotel. Happy hour includes all cocktails, beer and wine so well worth sitting on the roof top at sunset to enjoy some drinks with a great view. As we stayed on the 3rd floor we were very grateful for the elevator. You cannot park outside the hotel so be aware you will need to walk from your transport to the hotel (short walk through market) - our driver helpfully took our cases for us.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

We highly recommend this stunning hotel in the heart of StoneTown. The people are wonderful and the rooftop restaurant has delicious food and spectacular views. Don’t hesitate! Book your room now.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

caroline

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely large rooms with wonderful roof top terrace and friendly, helpful staff.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Lucia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Cute place

I liked the Swahili House, of course it’s right in stone town so an easy walk to any destination. The bed was big and comfortable. Only thing I didn’t like was that there is a door to the bathroom, but the wall doesn’t go all the way up so not much privacy there. Loved the rooftop, the wraps were good — wish we weren’t the only people there + more music would have been nice for it not to Ge so quiet. They also didn’t see our reservation or expect that we were coming!
Stayed 1 night in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Olga

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Awesome place

Amazing place, the staff is so friendly and helpful, love this place and I will be back for sure...
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Marilyn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Swahili House is a beautiful hotel nestled in the centre of Stone Town so it’s very easy to get around on foot. The staff were very nice and friendly, and the rooftop restaurant has a wonderful view over the town and the port. The wifi wasn’t so great; so be sure to let your loved ones know that your connection will be limited so they don’t worry about you. Otherwise no complaints! I look forward to staying there for my next visit to Zanzibar
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great service and good value

The staff were really friendly and helpful. Very beautiful traditional rooms and very comfortable. Everything is walkable from the hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jo, Johannesburg

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very Friendly staff and reception. Nice central location makws sightseeing easy within Stonetown. The hitel has an authentic feel and loved the rooftop bar where I could watch the sun set and the day unwind.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

James

Nice Hotel

Swahili House is a great hotel in the Stone Town. It is within easy walking distance of anything in the Stone Town. The staff are friendly and the rooftop bar is a nice place to chill and have a drink.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2018

8/10 Good

David, Leeds, England

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Characterful hotel

Stayed 1 night in February 2018. Hotel is full of character, having been built for visiting family of the sultan
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2018

8/10 Good

Ange, NSW, Australia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Central, historic and with lots of charm.

We spent 3 nights at Swahili and thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of our stay. Room was comfortable and super clean. Staff - reception, bar/restaurant and general were extremely helpful at all times.

6/10 Okay

Brian

Unique

Unique place to stay. The room was a little small. Other than that it was a comfortable stay. Love stonetown.

6/10 Okay

AISHA

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Check in was unpleasant. According to Swahili house they never received confirmation from hotels.com. Kept us waiting for over 3 hours

6/10 Okay

Janine, Orlando

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Quaint

Great staff, true to "felt like a sultan"

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Outstanding Historic Romantic Getaway Hotel

Incredible place. Excellent location in old Stonetown. The rooftop restaurant serves a delicious breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, with a side of spectacular city views extending to the ocean. Friendly and helpful staff. Steep staircase, but worth the climb. It appears they are currently constructing an elevator, though we were never disturbed by any construction. Very clean, with the courteous staff opening and closing the massive curtain-size mosquito netting around the bed at morning and night. Complimentary drinking water and excellent breakfast was a nice touch. Highly recommended. Will stay here next time I'm in Zanzibar for certain!

8/10 Good

Lana, Ontario, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Historic oasis in Stone Town

We stayed at this hotel for 2 nights, and thought it was great! It's right in the middle of Stone Town and fits perfectly into this historically rich town. It's one of the tallest buildings so the views are fantastic for both our room balcony as well as the roof top restaurant and terrace. The roof top restaurant was definitely the highlight, it's a beautiful oasis with a phenomenal chef, so good we ate all our meals here. The room was large with 20 foot ceilings and suited the local cultural experience. It wasn't perfect in condition, but we weren't expecting perfect or we'd have stayed at a big commercial hotel. It's an excellent location for a tour of stone town. They are currently renovating and adding an elevator, but we welcomed the excersize of the stairs to the roof top personally, and it's completely worth it to see and eat on the roof top. The service was very good, and the grounds are private and we'd recommend to any one staying in Stone Town.

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A great Zanzibar stay!

The Swahili House is beautifully decorated and an interesting design. The rooms are amazing with massive beds and mosquito nets and a fan inside the mosquito nets. We didn't need the air con. The stained glass windows and wooden shutters add a beautiful touch and the views over Stone Town are fascinating. The bathroom is quaint but clean and the steep wooden stairs a good work out! Don't worry about carrying your cases though because there are awesome staff, who are extremely fit, to help you! The reception staff couldn't be more helpful and the free wifi in the courtyard is a great bonus. Highly recommend it!

6/10 Okay

Morgan, California, USA

A bit overpriced for what it was. Don't take elderly people here or anyone with walking difficulty. It's around 100 stair steps to the restaurant. Wifi is not available in room, only by the reception -outside. Location itself is fairly convenient. Hotel itself is a unique old building, kept pretty clean. I have a feeling from what we saw elsewhere in Stone Town, that it doesn't get much better without maybe paying much more? Only spent one night here but really would have avoiding staying in Stone Town as a stop before Nungwi. A few hours in Stone Town was plenty.

8/10 Good

Keen Traveller, South Africa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Enjoyable stopover

We stayed at Swahili house for 1 night to experience Stonetown before moving on to a beach resort on the east coast of the island. The location is perfect, within walking distance from the main sights and close to the airport. The reception staff were very friendly and helpful, and the hotel has a nice layout with rooftop restaurant. Overall perfect for our stay. (Just a note that the bathroom is open plan onto the bedroom so if you are sharing with someone be aware that you will not have the privacy of a closed bathroom.)

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

Samantha, Cape Town

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Loads of characters, great views and superb staff

This was a super stop-over for us. The staff were attentive and friendly and the rooms had so much character. Something to note though is that there is no elevator, and it is a tall building. The high up floors have patios and a fantastic view (as does the breakfast / restaurant area) but you have to climb a lot of steps to get there. The porter did bring our bags up though. It would have been nice to have is an in-room mini fridge because with the heat one drinks a lot of water. But really I would recommend Swahili House with no hesitation.