Zanzibar Coffee House
Mkunazini Street, Stone Town, Zanzibar City Tanzania
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Avg. R 2,260 /night, 3/24 - 3/25
R 2,843
per night
R 2,543
per night
R 2,242
per night
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Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
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About
#4 of 41 hotels in Stone Town
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Zanzibar Coffee House Hotel offers a touch of magic and romance in an authentic Arabic house deep in the heart of Stone Town. Transformed into a stylish hotel with harmonious interiors, antiques and rich fabrics, it is one of the oldest buildings in Zanzibar constructed by the Wazir to Sultan Said Bargash in 1885.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Rooftop bar
Rooftop terrace
Baggage storage
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Breakfast buffet
Special diet menus
Concierge
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Air conditioning
Safe
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Boutique
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English, German
Location
Mkunazini Street, Stone Town, Zanzibar City Tanzania
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 98 out of 100
98
62 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
4.6
908 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Zanzibar Coffee House hotel garners accolades for its attentive service and heritage ambiance, with guests frequently commending the hospitable staff and charming coffee-themed decor. Its prime location in Stone Town makes it a hit for easy access to local attractions.
While the rooftop breakfast and cleanliness earn high marks, opinions on value are split, with some guests finding the experience worth the price and others questioning the cost of extra services. Room satisfaction is generally high, though a few guests note the rooms can be snug and have had booking issues.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Stylish
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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Detailed Reviews
Room was spacious and well appointed .
Mosquito nets , fans and A.C.
Fine bathroom , with hot water .
Drinking water in the room.
Fine large breakfast and coffees on the rooftop. Serving team friendly and attentive .
Front desk, caring and helpful . My luggage did not arrive with me . They called the baggage handlers, and organised a driver for me to try and collect the bag in the first instance .
Front desk allowed me to use an unused shared shower after check out, while I was waiting for my luggage in the evening , after checkout .
Front desk allowed me to wait in the reception in the evening and rest and use wifi, while I was waiting for my luggage to arrive late in the evening , while the main door was closed to the public .
Mosquito nets , fans and A.C.
Fine bathroom , with hot water .
Drinking water in the room.
Fine large breakfast and coffees on the rooftop. Serving team friendly and attentive .
Front desk, caring and helpful . My luggage did not arrive with me . They called the baggage handlers, and organised a driver for me to try and collect the bag in the first instance .
Front desk allowed me to use an unused shared shower after check out, while I was waiting for my luggage in the evening , after checkout .
Front desk allowed me to wait in the reception in the evening and rest and use wifi, while I was waiting for my luggage to arrive late in the evening , while the main door was closed to the public .
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sone Stevens, General Manager at Zanzibar Coffee House
Responded 24 Nov 2024
We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lovely little hotel with coffee named rooms! We were in moccachino and machiato I think! Both ensuite - one double and one twin.
Lovely welcome and very grateful for one room being ready early. Perfect for us to shower up after 20 hours of travel!
Please note taxis can not get to the hotel (most hotels this applies to) and we had to walk with our luggage the last part of the way through narrow streets.
These are traditional style quaint rooms. Hot water but low pressure. It's what you would expect in an old town but served it's purpose perfectly
Breakfast was good choices if non veg/eat egg but my parents did struggle a little for choice as they don't eat eggs. The lovely smiley lady serving was so friendly and kind. Coffees incredible.
We ate lunch in the cafe once. My panini was not great but hubbys chapati wrap was nice.
We had an amazing experience with the coffee plantation rep (I think his name was Abdul). He gave my family and I a lovely class about coffee production and we roasted some beans that we each got to bring home a bit of!
We did buy bags of coffee - lots of bags but they were unable to do any discounts on this. They are on sale in the airport cafe for the same price so can get there also.
The smiley ladies working behind the scenes make this place. They are incredibly strong. Smiles even stronger. So friendly. Loved seeing Filomena housekeeping daily. Went out of our way to help us. Turndown service with mosquito nets and repellant was great. Filtered water in the rooms and able to fill water bottles upstairs and in cafe.
There are lots of stairs so exert caution if mobility issues. Being pregnant, I was a little out of puff getting to the terrace for
breakfast but worth it for the views.
Many thanks to you all
Lovely welcome and very grateful for one room being ready early. Perfect for us to shower up after 20 hours of travel!
Please note taxis can not get to the hotel (most hotels this applies to) and we had to walk with our luggage the last part of the way through narrow streets.
These are traditional style quaint rooms. Hot water but low pressure. It's what you would expect in an old town but served it's purpose perfectly
Breakfast was good choices if non veg/eat egg but my parents did struggle a little for choice as they don't eat eggs. The lovely smiley lady serving was so friendly and kind. Coffees incredible.
We ate lunch in the cafe once. My panini was not great but hubbys chapati wrap was nice.
We had an amazing experience with the coffee plantation rep (I think his name was Abdul). He gave my family and I a lovely class about coffee production and we roasted some beans that we each got to bring home a bit of!
We did buy bags of coffee - lots of bags but they were unable to do any discounts on this. They are on sale in the airport cafe for the same price so can get there also.
The smiley ladies working behind the scenes make this place. They are incredibly strong. Smiles even stronger. So friendly. Loved seeing Filomena housekeeping daily. Went out of our way to help us. Turndown service with mosquito nets and repellant was great. Filtered water in the rooms and able to fill water bottles upstairs and in cafe.
There are lots of stairs so exert caution if mobility issues. Being pregnant, I was a little out of puff getting to the terrace for
breakfast but worth it for the views.
Many thanks to you all
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sone Stevens, General Manager at Zanzibar Coffee House
Responded 06 Nov 2023
Thank you for your stay and review ☕🌼
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We were here for the second time now and it was great again. The rooms are stylishly furnished and spacious. There are lovely extras like coffee soap and bathrobe. There is water in glass bottles in the room, which you can refill at any time. The welcome was warm and the staff very friendly and fond of children. Breakfast on the roof terrace stunning and delicious.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sone Stevens, General Manager at Zanzibar Coffee House
Responded 26 Jul 2023
Jumbo, we are so pleases that you enjoyed your stay with us for the second time. We look forward to your third visit. 🌼☕
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was a great hotel right in the centre of Stone Town. The location was excellent and easy walking distance to everything. The decor in the rooms was beautiful and they were very spacious. The staff is extremely friendly. The roof top lounge/breakfast room is fantastic with really comfortable chairs and great views over the roof tops. Breakfast was plentiful and delicious. It was very clean and shower was very hot and good pressure. Just note that if you do book the room with the external bathroom (Espresso) it is across the main landing of the stairs.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sone Stevens, General Manager at Zanzibar Coffee House
Responded 25 Nov 2024
Thank you for your stay.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
We stayed at the Coffee House for one night at the beginning of our Tanzania trip. As we arrived late by plane, it was ideal that the accommodation organized a pick-up ($25). You have to walk the last few meters to the accommodation as it is in the heart of the old town. The accommodation was very clean and the staff very friendly. We had booked a room with a private bathroom which also had everything we needed. The breakfast was very good and the view over the old town was wonderful. In particular, the coffee that gives the hotel its name was really excellent. Overall, I would recommend the hotel. Thank you for the great stay
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Parken am Hotel nicht möglich letzte Meter zum Hotel müssen gelaufen werden sehr enge Gassen und...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I loved my stay at the Zanzibar coffee, my colleague recommended me the place and it was exactly what I needed for my solo trip. The staff members are super friendly, especially the ladies cleaning and those at the kitchen, you feel right at home when you walk in as they cheerfully welcome you to the coffee house. The rooms are always super clean!! I like the rooftop area for chilling, having coffee and reading. It's super breezy and you get to see a nice view of stone town. I highly recommend this place for anyone, suitable for solo travellers, families and couples, the biggest advantage is it's right in the middle of Stone Town, close to everything you want to do in the area!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sone Stevens, General Manager at Zanzibar Coffee House
Responded 25 Nov 2024
Karibu Tena
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is in an excellent location in the heart of Stonetown. We loved the authentic style of the coffee house and bedrooms and the coffee theme running throughout the building. The breakfast was delicious, sitting on the roof terrace in the morning overlooking the roofs of Stonetown was the perfect way to start the day. The staff were incredibly friendly, helpful and welcoming throughout our stay.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sone Stevens, General Manager at Zanzibar Coffee House
Responded 25 Nov 2024
Karibu Tena
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This hotel is beautiful and in a nice location for exploring Stone Town. It's not right in the middle of the tourist area, but definitely in a place where it's easy to access the seafront, a few nice restaurants, and the local market. It's in a unique, historic building and the space on the roof is downright lovely. Having delicious coffee at breakfast (including cappucinos/lattes!) is a definite highlight.
Overall I enjoyed my stay. The rooms were beautiful and very clean. The manager and staff were welcoming. That said, though, given the price of my stay, I wish there had been a few additional touches to justify the higher price, especially this stay was meant to be a treat to myself following a difficult life event (this may also have been due to the rooms I stayed in). For example, I think the mattresses could have been of higher quality. There is no turndown service (this is not 100% necessary to me... but given the price and service I received elsewhere in Zanzibar, I was a little surprised it was not included since I thought this was a higher quality hotel). On two occasions, in the later afternoon and evening, I asked the staff it would be possible to have a coffee or a cup of tea, but was told no. I found that surprising given the price of the hotel! I think having a hot water kettle in the room would be a nice touch for guests.
This hotel is a good option for Stone Town, but given the price I wish there had been a few more amenities. I would definitely recommend visiting this hotel for coffee/breakfast/and the view. As other reviewers have stated, I recommend reserving a room with an attached bathroom.
Overall I enjoyed my stay. The rooms were beautiful and very clean. The manager and staff were welcoming. That said, though, given the price of my stay, I wish there had been a few additional touches to justify the higher price, especially this stay was meant to be a treat to myself following a difficult life event (this may also have been due to the rooms I stayed in). For example, I think the mattresses could have been of higher quality. There is no turndown service (this is not 100% necessary to me... but given the price and service I received elsewhere in Zanzibar, I was a little surprised it was not included since I thought this was a higher quality hotel). On two occasions, in the later afternoon and evening, I asked the staff it would be possible to have a coffee or a cup of tea, but was told no. I found that surprising given the price of the hotel! I think having a hot water kettle in the room would be a nice touch for guests.
This hotel is a good option for Stone Town, but given the price I wish there had been a few more amenities. I would definitely recommend visiting this hotel for coffee/breakfast/and the view. As other reviewers have stated, I recommend reserving a room with an attached bathroom.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Noreen Cichon, General Manager at Zanzibar Coffee House
Responded 19 Feb 2021
Dear Erica, It has been a while since you stayed with us. I remember that we spoke a few times during your stay. After reading your concerns, I wished that we would have been more welcoming, even though we are all going through a challanging time. You are right! The turndown service is an important service that we take very serious. However, due to staff shortage caused by the current Covid19 pandemic we didn't manage to spray the rooms every evening. I apologize and assure you that we changed back to our regular operations meanwhile including daily turndown service. Furthermore, I haven taken your request to have a coffee or a cup of tea by heart and decided to provide a kettle and different teas next to our minibar for our in-house guests. I hope that we will be able to welcome you again one fine day! Warm regards from Zanzibar, Noreen & the ZCH team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We arrived early and were met by the owner who let us check in early and gave us a bigger room as it was quiet on that day. Recommended a local guide. A welcome coffee was provided and we chose their coffee which was amazing. The staff were cheerful and extremely helpful, and the service was great. The room was traditional and very cool with a/c. Nice small touches such as local robes. Breakfast on the rooftop was picturesque and there was plenty of fresh food and coffee to start your exploration of this vibrant town. Would highly recommend.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sone Stevens, General Manager at Zanzibar Coffee House
Responded 25 Nov 2024
Karibu Tena
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My favourite place to stay: beautiful old rooms with gorgeous simple decor, and the rooftop cafe must be one of the loveliest spots in Stone Town - breakfast is served there for residents, and the public can visit for the rest of the day. Wonderful breakfasts and of course the best coffee.
We had bathrooms which were across the corridor from the bedrooms but this was fine - each bathroom was private and we were provided with a dressing gown to preserve modesty when moving between bathroom and bedroom.
If back in Zanzibar this will be my top choice of place to stay.
We had bathrooms which were across the corridor from the bedrooms but this was fine - each bathroom was private and we were provided with a dressing gown to preserve modesty when moving between bathroom and bedroom.
If back in Zanzibar this will be my top choice of place to stay.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sone Stevens, General Manager at Zanzibar Coffee House
Responded 26 Jul 2023
Jumbo, Thank you for your review. Please visit with us again soon. Our Award winning coffee awaits you. 🌼☕
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
"Hard to get to, so taxi has to stop and you walk with your luggage for about five minutes. Not ideal if you had loads and loads of luggage!"Read full review
"All rooms are different - size are very variable. Some have bathrooms in the hall. "Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
R 2,151 - R 2,843 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
zanzibar coffee house hotel stone town, zanzibar coffee hotel, hotel zanzibar coffee
LOCATION
TanzaniaZanzibar ArchipelagoZanzibar IslandZanzibar CityStone Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingZANZIBAR COFFEE HOUSE - UPDATED 2025 Hotel Reviews & Price Comparison (Stone Town, Tanzania)
Frequently Asked Questions about Zanzibar Coffee House
Which popular attractions are close to Zanzibar Coffee House?
Nearby attractions include Aromas of Zanzibar (0.3 km), Old Slave Market/Anglican Cathedral (0.1 km), and Christ Church Cathedral (0.1 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Zanzibar Coffee House?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a rooftop bar, free wifi, and free breakfast.
What food & drink options are available at Zanzibar Coffee House?
Guests can enjoy a rooftop bar and free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Zanzibar Coffee House?
Conveniently located restaurants include Tea House Restaurant, Emerson Spice Tea House Restaurant, and Zanzibar Coffee House Cafe.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Zanzibar Coffee House?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and German.
Are there any historical sites close to Zanzibar Coffee House?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Nevis Tours And Safaris (0.7 km), Mkunazini, Urban West, Zanzibar (0.3 km), and David Livingstone's place of rest (0.04 km).