The best restaurants Zanzibar Archipelago

This is THE new restaurant in Stone Town. Hailing from South Africa, it has taken over the spectacular building on the water in Forodhani Gardens Park, so the view is breathtaking and the tables are numerous, as are the waiters. You'll want to try everything: the poké bowl, the tuna tataki, the grilled meats, the fish and shrimp "popcorns", and above all the sushi, creative and deliciously fresh, thanks to the tempting photo menu. When the plates arrive, they're as sophisticated as the image: everything is a success, right down to the insane cocktails.

An institution in Stone Town. At Lukmaan's, you can eat local, but in a tourist-friendly setting, and at a bargain price. All the dishes presented in a buffet can be ordered at the counter, including the grilled fish and seafood. Real Swahili family cooking, balanced with local spices, like this coconut curry octopus and its green bananas. You have to come back several times to taste these marvels. Also a juice bar with incredible smoothies (avocado-banana, beet-orange-carrot...). Avoid the end of the service when there is not much left.

Passion Boutique Hotel lives up to its name with spectacular and passionately hearty plates. For starters, the delicious guacamole is served with crunchy cassava chips. What about the grilled octopus with garlic and lime, coconut rice and spicy tomato and onion kachumbari salad, or the pasta with moringa pesto, the energizing African plant? Many vegetarian options. As an appetizer facing the beach just ahead, the restaurant offers a plethora of creative cocktails and mocktails.

A charming café-restaurant, with a pleasant, shaded outdoor terrace laid out with palm trees and wooden tables, complete with wifi. The perfect place to watch the passers-by go by with a little black coffee. Good breakfast, but also lunch and dinner. The house serves hearty, delicious dishes at more reasonable prices than the beachfront. On the menu: grilled octopus, avocado smoothie, spice coffee, Swahili specialties... Special mention for the homemade banana-coconut bread in the morning! There's also an inexpensive B&B, just renovated.

This brand-new venue is exceptional, in the heart of Paje, which is becoming increasingly young and trendy. The wooden interior is warm and inviting. On one side, a large food court where several local brands are represented: Italian pizzas, noodles, sushi, burgers, Mexican specialties, seafood, and even crepes, ice creams... On the other, a bar with a few eats-stands in the sand and on a planted terrace upstairs. It faces a tattoo parlour and a beach boutique. Live music jam session on Fridays and DJ set on Saturdays, from 8pm to 11pm.

Mzee Husa is the new gastronomic gem from Jussi, a Swedish chef who has worked at the renowned Essque Zalu and Zuri hotels. In his democratically priced restaurant, he cooks according to his inspiration, at the crossroads of Swahili, Mediterranean and Nordic influences. Like this eggplant millefeuille with shrimp and avocado cream, or this fish with beet purée and citrus sauce... Everything is delicious and the plates are decorated with flowers. Signature cocktails and original desserts. Tables with your feet in the sand or upstairs, overlooking the ocean.

This is the best restaurant in Mtende, for its extraordinary setting and the quality of its finely prepared dishes. The restaurant is perched on a terrace in the canopy of a huge baobab tree. The kitchens are open non-stop, so come for lunch or dinner before or after your visit to Mtende beach. On the menu, in addition to gargantuan and delicious lobsters (served with avocado chutney or eggplant sauce): marinated and grilled whole fish, the famous jumbo prawns (tiger prawns), burgers, delicious fresh juices (baobab juice)..

This new local restaurant in the village of Jambiani is already a favorite with regulars, who love its low-cost dishes. It has to be said that the cooks have been trained in lodge restaurants and have mastered the art. It's a pleasure to watch them busy themselves in the open kitchen. The sheltered outdoor room is modest, but clean and fresh. The menu of dishes on the slate, copious and served quickly, changes often. We loved the cashew-encrusted seared tuna fillet with mango sauce, and the grilled slipper lobster at a bargain price.

Yeoyum is New York spirit on Pajé beach. The Liquid Life hostel's restaurant is a great spot to devour a burger, a brownie, but above all a "box", superb dishes served in cardboard boxes presented in a rainbow of flavors. The basic salad (rice, coconut, mango, avocado, arugula, radish, red cabbage and sesame carrot pickle, pineapple-passion sauce) is topped with tempura shrimp, honey halloumi, sweet and sour chicken or cauliflower sauce, with toppings (crispy onions, chickpeas, peanuts...). We love it!

Behind the Emerson Spice Hotel lies a ruined building where nature has reclaimed its rights. A lush secret garden with a pretty decor of old advertising posters and tables and chairs in the shade of huge green garlands. A magical place! A sanctuary of calm and freshness. At lunchtime, the menu is simple and affordable; in the evening, the dishes are spectacular and delicious, such as tender goat's cheese in biriani rice, under a crust of bread, or tuna tartare. Fascinating taarab and ngoma concerts on Wednesday and Friday, excellent cocktails.

This beautiful beachfront house has been converted into a trendy bar. As soon as you arrive, cosy white sofas invite you to bask in the sun on the terrace, along with tables for lunch, dinner or sipping a cocktail as the sun sets. Well-chosen DJ background music at weekends and during Sunday brunch. We come here for a glass of South African wine or a good cocktail prepared by real bartenders. The dishes, on the other hand, are a little disappointing in terms of flavors, which you'd expect to be more sophisticated and fresh, especially at this price level.

The Upendo hotel's boho chic bar-restaurant features a wooden deck, sofas and cushions on the sand, where you can sip a cocktail right across from The Rocks. The plates are incredible: it's hard to choose between vegan bowls, sushi, salads (seared tuna crisp with pepper, green papaya and cashew nuts), gourmet burger, tapas (crab samosas and tamarind chutney), octopus is incredibly tender, mahi mahi with saffron risotto, truffle, dates poached in port and almonds... Excellent and very popular Sunday brunch with DJ.

A breathtaking location, seen on every postcard. As its name suggests, this restaurant is perched on a rocky outcrop close to the shore, and can be reached on foot at low tide, and by boat at high tide. The trendy atmosphere, with sofas on the terrace facing the lagoon, makes it an ideal spot to sip a cocktail. Inside, the food is worthy of the place, with noble ingredients (lobster, slipper lobster, squid, octopus...). To enjoy this privilege, you'll have to pay the price and make a reservation. Otherwise, just come for a drink (no reservation required).

If you want to eat local and of an indisputable freshness, this restaurant makes the unanimity. In this small and unpretentious house, the tables are laid with coloured kanga cloth tablecloths, it is original. The atmosphere is simple and friendly, the plates are royal. Here the Swahili flavours are authentic and spiced up with island spices, the plates are overflowing with lobsters, cicadas and shellfish served in gargantuan quantities and at more than reasonable prices. Particular attention is paid to the presentation of the plates.