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Emerson Spice Hotel

3.5 star property
Hotel in Zanzibar Town with 2 restaurants and free breakfast

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Emerson Spice Hotel

Room (Violetta)
2 restaurants, lunch, dinner served; seafood
Interior
Room (Belle)
Room (Camille)
Emerson Spice Hotel in historic Stone Town offers continental breakfast and seafood at two restaurants. Relax in the garden or terrace after exploring. Staff arranges tours and handles laundry and luggage storage.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Room service
  • Laundry
  • Housekeeping
  • Air conditioning

Room options

Check availability for these dates

Tonight

Sept 20 - Sept 21
Check availability for tonight Sept 20 - Sept 21

Tomorrow

Sept 21 - Sept 22
Check availability for tomorrow Sept 21 - Sept 22
Available filters for rooms
Showing 5 of 5 rooms

View all photos for Room (Camille)

Room (Camille)

Room (Camille)

Highlights

Furnished balcony or patio
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Blackout curtains
Ceiling fan
  • 1 bedroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Violetta)

Room (Violetta)

Room (Violetta)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Furnished balcony or patio
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Blackout curtains
Ceiling fan
  • 1 bedroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Semele)

Room (Semele)

Room (Semele)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Furnished balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
Fridge
Separate bedroom
Blackout curtains
  • 1 bedroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Design Twin Room (Mimi)

Design Twin Room (Mimi)

Design Twin Room (Mimi)

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
(10 reviews)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Blackout curtains
Ceiling fan
Deep-soaking bath
  • 32 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Large Twin Beds

View all photos for Room (Belle)

Room (Belle)

Room (Belle)

Highlights

Furnished balcony or patio
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Blackout curtains
Ceiling fan
  • 1 bedroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed
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About the area

Map
Stone Town, Zanzibar Town

What's nearby

  • Forodhani Gardens - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Slave Market - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Shangani Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Old Fort - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Zanzibar Ferry Terminal - 5 min walk - 0.5 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Forodhani Park - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Zenji Garden Café - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪House of Karafuu - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Zenji Cafe &. Boutique - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Lukmaan - ‬4 min walk

About this property

Emerson Spice Hotel

Hotel located in Stone Town
Take advantage of free continental breakfast, a terrace and a garden at Emerson Spice Hotel. Make sure that you enjoy lunch and dinner, along with seafood and al fresco dining at the two on-site restaurants. In addition to laundry facilities and a bar, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • A round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge), a front desk safe and beach towels
  • Outdoor furniture, secured bike storage and luggage storage
  • A porter/bellboy and tour/ticket information
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff
Room features
All rooms are individually furnished, and boast comforts such as laptop-friendly workspaces and air conditioning, in addition to perks such as free WiFi and free bottled water.
Extra amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with deep-soaking baths and free toiletries
  • Wardrobes/cupboards, ceiling fans and daily housekeeping

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • No on-site parking available
  • 24-hour return airport shuttle on request for a surcharge

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • 2 restaurants
  • A bar/lounge

Restaurants on site

  • Rooftop restaurant
  • Secret Garden

Things to do

  • Bicycle storage

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Guidebooks
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service

Outdoors

  • Beach towels
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • 1 building
  • 5 floors
  • At least 10% of profits reinvested in community and sustainability
  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • At least 80% of food locally-sourced
  • At least 80% organic food
  • Biodegradable coffee stirrers available
  • Biodegradable drinking straws available
  • Built in 1870
  • Comprehensive food waste policy
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • Designated smoking areas
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Local artist showcase
  • Local culture and ecosystem education
  • Locally-owned and organised tours and activities
  • No plastic coffee stirrers
  • No plastic drinking straws
  • No plastic soft drink bottles
  • No plastic water bottles
  • Reusable cups
  • Reusable tableware
  • Traditional architecture
  • Vegan dining options
  • Vegetarian breakfast available
  • Vegetarian dining options

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Partially-open bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Electrical adapters
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Laptop workspace
  • Water-efficient toilets

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in

Renovations and closures

The property is closed between 21 April and 20 May.

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 4.00 per person, per night
  • Deposit is payable by bank transfer and is due within 24 hours of booking the reservation.

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 25 per vehicle (one-way)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

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
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cots/infant beds and high chair
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

Property is also known as

Emerson Spice Hotel Hotel
Emerson Spice Hotel Zanzibar Town
Emerson Spice Hotel Hotel Zanzibar Town

Frequently asked questions

Is Emerson Spice Hotel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Emerson Spice Hotel?

This property doesn't offer parking.

What time is check-in at Emerson Spice Hotel?

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at Emerson Spice Hotel?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Does Emerson Spice Hotel provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of USD 25 per vehicle applies.

Where is Emerson Spice Hotel located?

Located in Stone Town, this hotel is steps away from Shakti Temple, Hamamni Persian Baths and Christ Church Cathedral. Malindi Mosque and House of Wonders are also within 5 minutes.

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Reviews

Emerson Spice Hotel Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

9.6

Cleanliness

9.2

Amenities

10

Staff & service

9.4

Eco-friendliness

9.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 73 out of 89 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 89 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 89 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 89 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 89 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Piero

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Everything amazing!

Amazing, great people, great food, great hotel. Rooms are beautiful, comfy, clean!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sandra

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Incredibly historic building with unique individually decorated rooms! Perfect location for walking around Stonetown. Delicious breakfast served on rooftop! Request Belle room if you don't want a lot of stairs. It has a huge balcony along the front of the building so it's fun to see tourists stop and take photos!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lena

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent stay in a place immersed in history.

10/10 Excellent

Greg

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

A wonderful hotel

Lovely hotel Really good and friendly service Fabulous ambience Beautiful breakfast
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic place in heart of old Stonetown. Beautiful unique rooms, fantastic food in a rooftop restaurant with an an amazing view, and and a very helpful staff.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Trina

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I really enjoyed my stay here at The Emerson Spice Hotel. The rooms are clean and decorated nicely keeping the old feel of this historic building. I liked the old fashioned door style of the Camile Room. Which doesn’t use keycards like most hotels. You use a huge big padlock 🔐 to secure the door. All the staff were very nice and friendly. The only thing you need to be aware of is there is no elevator. All stairs only, so be prepared to get some stair exercises during your stay. LOL! 😃
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marcela A.

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff are beyond friendly
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

heike

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

Exceptional

This small hotel is in the middle of Stone Town, and it is beautiful. The staff are attentive, without being intrusive, the manager is so professional and knowledgeable, and the standard of comfort is of the highest order. Breakfast was served on the roof terrace and consisted of a wonderful selection of fruit followed by eggs and a pastry. We had the taster menu one evening, and it was exceptional. This is a very special hotel, and we had an unforgettable stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
An older building, filled with antiques. Incredible service. Thoroughly loved our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne

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

Amazing historic hotel

Beautiful histric hotel in the heart of Stonetown. Lots od stairs and no elevator but the views are amazing! Great breakfast too!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a fantastic experience staying here! The staff went above and beyond to accomodate our needs. They let us keep our luggage there before check in time with no extra charge, and they gave us a room upgrade to one of the best rooms (the Katherine Hepburn room), which was a really nice surprise. The staff were all super friendly and helpful. When we decided to have dinner in the Secret Garden Restaurant on a night when there was music, we complained that we had to pay extra for the music, and the manager was so kind. He didn't make us pay, and arranged for us to eat upstairs where it was quieter. We later realized that the music cost was explained in our welcome letter, so we appologized and paid for it the next day and the manager was so nice.The whole place was spotlessly clean, the bed was very comfortable and the room and the hotel were beautifully decorated. I loved the extra touches like the handmade scented soaps and the flowers in the room. We loved the balcony that was off of our room and asked if we could eat breakfast there instead of going downstairs. The servers forgot about us and we had to wait extra long for our food, but it was worth it! We can't say enough about how much we enjoyed staying at this hotel. We would definately stay here again and even though it's a little bit pricier than other hotels, it's totally worth it. We would highly recommend to others.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jamie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
From the moment we walked in, this place was fantastic! We were promptly greeted and we were being shown to our rooms within a few minutes. Our room (Camille) was great! We thoroughly enjoyed the windows and balconies and people watching the street below. The room was spacious and the bed was comfy. Dinner upstairs was wonderful...although the stairs were steep (but the views were lovely). The food was inventive and delicious and the service was top notch. Highly recommend. We also had food and drinks at the Secret Garden and that was also quite nice. I expected the included breakfast to be buffet style but was pleasantly surprised that it was a beautiful made to order breakfast with delicious coffee. Shuttle to the airport was quick and easy. Would definitely stay here again when in Stone Town.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was fantastic! Special thanks to Rashid and Wakili for going above and beyond to insure that I had everything I needed and then some! The rooms were spacious, clean, and, beautifully decorated.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The house is spectacular…as is the service! It’s a “living museum” reminiscent of the bygone era of a Sultan’s exquisite existence.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was welcoming and friendly. The hotel was clean and elegant. The atmosphere was perfect but the call to prayer at 5:15 was a bit disturbing.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
From a warm and professional welcome through to the art as if antiques in the room, Emerson Spice was a most positive and enjoyable experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alexa

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

Amazing

Amazing. The best hotel experience I have ever had. I’ve traveled to 52 countries and stayed at many places. This is the best so far. I will be back. Amazing staff so kind .
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Selvamuthu

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great service, elegant & clean rooms, friendly & professional staff. They made our stay extremely comfortable and pleasant. The roof top breakfast/dinner experience was magical which we had meals in both hotels. There is no elevator in both hotels - so, it's a big hike. Will definitely come again!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Alan

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

Secret Gem

Really authentic building. The building is old and the owners have tried to keep the originality of the building by keeping original features . Its in the winding streets of the old town , so no vehicles except scooters allowed. The staff are great , everyone smiles and are so helpful. The room we stayed in Lamore had a outside shower on a balcony , seems strange, but it was very private and great to have a shower outside
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Anil

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
This hotel does not have elevator, not good for older people.The area is too crowded and loud, but if you are looking for antique hotel this might be for you.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Kulendran

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The Emerson Spice Hotel used to be the Swahili Sultan's place. The rooms are beautifully appointed. Rustic furniture adds to the ambiance. My room was on the top floor which means 3 flights of stairs. The hotel is located on a narrow street. This means that taxis cannot come up to the hotel.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Niels Søndergaard

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
One of the most charming places we've ever stayed at. Antique, yet very clean and safe. Food was delicious, best we had on Zanzibar. Staff wonderful. Highest recommendation.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

GloriaLissa

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joakim

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025