Where to Stay in Stone Town: Boutique & Heritage Hotels

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Where to stay in Stone Town usually comes down to one trade-off: a converted heritage house deep in the alleys, or a modern seafront hotel on the edge of town.

Stone Town isn’t a beach destination — its hotels sell history, not swimming access. Almost every well-regarded option here occupies a restored 19th-century merchant house, former government building, or old trading mansion. Below is a comparison of nine real, bookable options with current guest ratings and price ranges (checked via Kayak/TripAdvisor aggregated rates; actual prices fluctuate by season and booking date), followed by more detail on each. It fits naturally into the Stone Town weekend itinerary.

Where to stay in Stone Town: Quick Comparison

Hotel	Stars	Guest Rating	Price/Night	Best For
Park Hyatt Zanzibar	5-star	8.5/10 (615 reviews)	$342–738	Five-star consistency
Zanzibar Serena Hotel	5-star	8.7/10 (427 reviews)	$237–522 (suites to $1,055)	Heritage look, resort service
Emerson Spice	Boutique	4.8/5 (865 reviews, TripAdvisor)	$124–232	Design, romance, rooftop dining
Emerson on Hurumzi	Boutique	4.6/5 (496 reviews, TripAdvisor)	$188–308	History buffs, sunset views
Jafferji House & Spa	4-star	8.6/10 (673 reviews)	$98–175	Spa with heritage charm
Zanzibar Coffee House	3-star	8.9/10 (1,299 reviews)	$56–161	Quiet, small-scale heritage
Tembo House Hotel	4-star	8.4/10 (5,958 reviews)	$60–198	Ocean views, value
Dhow Palace Hotel	4-star	8.3/10 (3,274 reviews)	$65–168	Central courtyard atmosphere
Maru Maru Hotel	3-star	8.2/10 (1,386 reviews)	$70–130 (up to $320)	Value and location

Stone Town Boutique Hotels on the Map

The Hotels in Detail

Park Hyatt Zanzibar. Stone Town’s main five-star beachfront option — spacious rooms and suites dressed in local artwork, a spa, a fitness center, and several restaurants. Guest rating 8.5/10 from 615 reviews; rates run $342–738/night depending on room type.

Zanzibar Serena Hotel. A seafront luxury property blending Swahili and Arab architectural details with colonial-era charm. Guest rating 8.7/10 from 427 reviews — the highest of the group — with standard rooms from $237 and executive rooms climbing past $900.

Emerson Spice. The most theatrical boutique stay: a restored merchant’s house with 11 individually themed rooms and a rooftop five-course Swahili tasting menu. TripAdvisor rating 4.8/5 from 865 reviews, rooms $124–232/night. Steep stairs, no elevator. Hungry after all that? our Zanzibar food guide has the specifics.

Emerson on Hurumzi. Emerson Spice’s sister property, in an 1870s mansion built for merchant Sir Tharia Topan. TripAdvisor rating 4.6/5 from 496 reviews, rooms $188–308/night — pricier than its sister property, reflecting the larger rooms and rooftop Tea House with live music.

Jafferji House & Spa. Boutique luxury with a spa attached. Guest rating 8.6/10 from 673 reviews, rooms $98–175/night — good value for the antique-furnished-plus-spa combination.

Zanzibar Coffee House. A quieter boutique option in an 1885 building, just eight coffee-themed rooms. Guest rating 8.9/10 from 1,299 reviews — the highest guest-satisfaction score on this list — at a comparatively low $56–161/night. If you’re nearby, Forodhani Gardens’ night market is worth folding into the same day.

Tembo House Hotel. A 19th-century seafront landmark with a pool (rare for a heritage property this central) and a rooftop restaurant over the Indian Ocean. Guest rating 8.4/10 from the largest review base on this list (5,958 reviews), rooms $60–198/night.

Dhow Palace Hotel. A restored courtyard building near the House of Wonders and Old Fort. Guest rating 8.3/10 from 3,274 reviews, rooms $65–168/night.

Maru Maru Hotel. A more contemporary mid-range option by the House of Wonders. Guest rating 8.2/10 from 1,386 reviews; standard rooms run $70–130, with higher-tier rooms up to $320. A quick read of the visa guide saves some guesswork later.

FAQ

Is Stone Town a good place for a beach holiday?
No — Stone Town is a historic old town, not a swimming beach destination. Pair a stay here with a few nights on the coast (Nungwi, Kendwa, or the east coast) for the beach portion of a trip.

What’s the best-value hotel in Stone Town based on guest ratings?
Zanzibar Coffee House has the highest guest rating on this list (8.9/10) at one of the lowest price points ($56–161/night), making it the strongest value pick among the heritage boutiques.

What’s the difference between Emerson Spice and Emerson on Hurumzi?
Both are boutique heritage hotels from the same owner. Emerson Spice is themed around leading ladies in individually designed rooms and runs slightly cheaper; Emerson on Hurumzi occupies an older 1870s merchant’s mansion with a stronger historical backstory, a rooftop Tea House, and runs somewhat higher priced. It’s an easy add-on alongside Nakupenda Sandbank.

Do any Stone Town hotels have swimming pools?
Yes — Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Zanzibar Serena Hotel, and Tembo House Hotel all have pools, which is relatively unusual for buildings this old and central.

Which Stone Town hotel has the most reviews, and is that meaningful?
Tembo House Hotel has the largest review base (nearly 6,000), reflecting its size and seafront location rather than necessarily being the “best” — a smaller boutique property with fewer total guests, like Zanzibar Coffee House, can carry a higher average score with far fewer rooms turned over.