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The Swahili House

3.0 star property
Zanzibar Town hotel with outdoor pool and restaurant

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for The Swahili House

Outdoor pool, pool loungers
Terrace/patio
Reception
Interior
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine, pool views

Reviews

8.2 out of 10

Very good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
    Pool
  • Bar
    Bar
  • Airport transfer
    Airport transfer
  • Free breakfast
    Free breakfast
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning
  • 24/7 front desk
    24/7 front desk
Main amenities
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Near the beach
  • Restaurants and bar/lounge
  • Outdoor pool
  • Hot tub
  • Pool bar
  • Room service
  • Airport shuttle
  • Terrace
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Air conditioning
  • Front desk safe
Feel at home
  • Separate bedroom
  • Terrace
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor swimming pools
  • Free toiletries
The price is €131
includes taxes & fees
21 Nov - 22 Nov

Room options

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Showing 1 of 1 room

View all photos for Deluxe Double Room

Deluxe Double Room

Deluxe Double Room

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Day bed
Separate bedroom
Ceiling fan
Shower/bath combination
Private bathroom
  • 21 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Single Beds

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About the area

Map
Stone Town, Zanzibar Town

What's nearby

  • Slave Market - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Old Fort - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Shangani Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Forodhani Gardens - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Zanzibar Ferry Terminal - 10 min walk - 0.8 km

Getting around

  • Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.) - 17 min drive
  • Airport shuttle (surcharge)

Restaurants

  • ‪Cape Town Fish Market - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Passing Show Hotel - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Meeting Point Cafe - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Lukmaan - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Livingstone Beach Restaurant - ‬9 min walk

About this property

The Swahili House

The Swahili House is only 4.8 mi (7.7 km) from the airport and offers a shuttle. The outdoor pool is a great spot to take a dip, and guests can grab a bite to eat at Rooftop Terrace, which serves international cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A poolside bar, a hot tub and a terrace are other highlights.

Languages

Dutch, English, Swahili

At a glance

Hotel size

  • 22 rooms
  • Arranged over 5 floors

Arriving/Leaving

  • Check-in start time: noon; check-in end time: midnight
  • Check-out time is 10 AM

Restrictions related to your trip

  • Check COVID-19 restrictions

Special check-in instructions

  • Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival
  • For more details, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Required at check-in

  • Credit card, debit card or cash deposit required for incidental charges
  • Government-issued photo ID may be required

Children

  • No cots (infant beds)

Pets

  • Pets not allowed

Internet

  • Free WiFi in public areas
  • Free WiFi in rooms

Parking

  • No on-site parking

Transfers

  • Airport shuttle*

Other information

  • Designated smoking areas

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Free English breakfast each morning 7:30 AM–10:30 AM
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/lounge
  • Poolside bar
  • Room service

What to do

  • Beach nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Scuba-diving nearby

Services

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Concierge services
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Dry cleaning/laundry services
  • Luggage storage
  • Pool loungers

Facilities

  • 1 building/tower
  • Safe-deposit box at front desk
  • Terrace
  • An outdoor pool
  • Hot tub

Room amenities

Home comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan

Sleep well

  • Day bed
  • Bed sheets provided

What to enjoy

  • Individually furnished and decorated

Freshen up

  • Free toiletries
  • Towels

Stay connected

  • Free WiFi
  • Phone

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water

More

  • Daily housekeeping
  • In-room safe

Special features

Dining

Rooftop Terrace – This poolside restaurant specialises in international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests can order drinks at the bar and enjoy al fresco dining (weather permitting).

Fees & policies

Mandatory fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges by the property at check-in or checkout. Fees may include applicable taxes:
  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 2.00 per person, per night
  • Administrative fee: USD 2 per person, per night

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge

Policies

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Guests can rest easy knowing that there's a fire extinguisher, a security system and a first aid kit on-site.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Cashless transactions are available.
Property Registration Number Z0000021157

Also known as

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

Frequently asked questions

Does The Swahili House offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, The Swahili House does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in, depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure that you check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Is there a pool at The Swahili House?
Yes, there's an outdoor pool.
Are pets allowed at The Swahili House?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
Is parking offered on site at The Swahili House?
Sorry, there's no on-site parking at The Swahili House.
Is an airport shuttle service offered by The Swahili House?
Yes, an airport shuttle is available.
What are the check-in and check-out times at The Swahili House?
Check-in start time: noon; check-in end time: midnight. Check-out time is 10 AM.
What is there to do at The Swahili House and nearby?
Have fun with nearby activities such as boat tours, kayaking and scuba-diving. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot tub and an invigorating swim in the outdoor pool.
Are there restaurants at or near The Swahili House?
Yes, Rooftop Terrace offers al fresco dining and international cuisine.
What's the area around The Swahili House like?
The Swahili House is in Stone Town, a short 3-minute walk from Slave Market and 4 minutes' walk from House of Wonders.

The Swahili House Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very good

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Good

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.
anne marie, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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.
Laura, 1-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

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.
Olivia, 3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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.
Lisa, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Lovely large rooms with wonderful roof top terrace and friendly, helpful staff.
caroline, 5-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

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!
Lucia, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Awesome place
Amazing place, the staff is so friendly and helpful, love this place and I will be back for sure...
Olga, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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
Marilyn, 3-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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.
1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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.
Jo, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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.
James, 1-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

Characterful hotel
Stayed 1 night in February 2018. Hotel is full of character, having been built for visiting family of the sultan
David, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

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.
Verified Expedia guest review

6/10 Good

Unique
Unique place to stay. The room was a little small. Other than that it was a comfortable stay. Love stonetown.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Check in was unpleasant. According to Swahili house they never received confirmation from hotels.com. Kept us waiting for over 3 hours
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Quaint
Great staff, true to "felt like a sultan"
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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!
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

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.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

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!
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

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.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

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.)
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Kind people
The stairs are going to be hard for elderly people - especially climbing to the rooftop dining room
Verified Hotels.com guest review

2/10 Poor

Never again
Place is cool and in very good location, but staff is rude, their credit card machine doesn't seem to work, and it looks like they steal money from the guests. (Our notes got swapped to fake ones while we were away on spice tour.)
Verified Hotels.com guest review