The best restaurants Zanzibar Archipelago

Excellent restaurant on the roofs of the wonderful Emerson On Hurumzi hotel, overlooking the old town. One comes to sip a cocktail in front of the setting sun, before focusing one's palate on the unique tasting menu (with several options), a mix of Swahili flavours and spices in 3 or 5 gastronomic dishes, with Persian and Omani influences. The menu is created each evening from seafood and is designed by the chefs. The finesse of the preparations and the sophistication of the dishes are incredible and unique to Stone Town. The whole thing is hearty.

Upstairs in a very central house on the beach in old Stone Town, this upscale Indian restaurant is frequented by island regulars, often of Indian origin, and by tourists who want to indulge in a romantic dinner on the high terrace. The interior has been renovated and the cuisine is up-to-date, orchestrated by three different chefs according to their specialities. The dishes are of remarkable finesse and flavour, especially the curries, tandooris and other Indian specialities prepared with the most subtle spices of the island.

A central address offering fresh fruit juices and excellent smoothies, the house specialty. Also on the menu: all kinds of sandwiches, daily specials, salads... all quite good. We particularly liked the spicy avocado chicken burger. Ask to be served with the sauce on the side, as the seafood and fish are drowned in a cocktail sauce... The highlight here is the hyper-central outdoor terrace with wifi. Also ideal for breakfast if you're on a single rental.

Restaurant with rooftop terrace and sea view... Excellent seafood, meat and salad dishes, at low prices for the quality and quantity served. We recommend the grilled octopus marinated in white wine, balsamic vinegar and oregano, a samaki wa nazi, fish of the day in a coconut and tomato sauce with coriander rice or the vanilla chicken... The setting of this beautiful building lends itself to an aperitif, a shisha. On weekends, there is an acoustic concert on the terrace, followed by a DJ set. The atmosphere is festive and eclectic, mixing locals and tourists.

The Baladin restaurant is very pleasant, with its pretty (and high) makuti roof and its view on the beach and the sea. It offers refined cuisine under the watchful eye of a Peruvian chef, so ceviche lovers beware! Its originality lies in its menu of Baladin craft beers, which can be tasted while sitting at a counter made of an original tree trunk. The owner is a well-known brewer in Italy, who makes draught beer with spices from Zanzibar.

The Zanzistar restaurant is renowned in Jambiani for its refined, original cuisine and the warm welcome of its manager, Peter. The setting is most pleasant, amidst the lodge's beautiful vegetation, under subdued lights in the evening. Starters include a delicious tuna-mango-avocado tartare, chicken tikka with tomato and peanut sauce, served with manioc and coconut sauce, grilled fish with sesame seeds, lime and coconut, and perfectly seared and spicy tuna tataki. Lunch on the beach, dinner at the hotel in the village.

This is the restaurant of the new Seconda Stella Zanzibar luxury hotel in Jambiani, dedicated primarily to couples. At the time of our visit, the restaurant had not yet opened, but it will be the first "Surf & Turf" restaurant on the southeast coast. In other words, the seafood and meat combos popular across the Atlantic. One of Bulgaria's top chefs (a Master Chef award winner) is due to come in specially to take charge of the kitchens.

For some time now, new restaurants have been opening along Pajé's main road, changing the habits of tourists usually concentrated on the beach. The Pants is an excellent new restaurant, decorated in a very plant-based style, serving only vegetarian and vegan specialties. The upstairs terrace with its pretty wooden tables is a delight from breakfast to dinner. Everything is delicious, varied, fresh and tasty, making it feel like a canteen. A nice change from seafood.

This chic little address is nestled in the courtyard of the new Sharazad Wonders Boutique, a luxury hotel with an equally refined table. A beautifully furnished patio courtyard keeps things fresh for lunch and dinner. A la carte dishes are created with local and seasonal ingredients, all at a low price. A daily menu offers variations according to the chef's mood. A very green menu, light and urban cuisine, a change from Swahili specialties.

The restaurant at the new Neela Boutique Hotel is a culinary discovery of choice. Local ingredients are blended with exotic influences to create al fresco fusion dishes with a vegetal twist. Like the pweza please, octopus with braised chickpeas, white beans, lemon aioli and Chinese cabbage. Also on the menu: gourmet tapas to share and fine salads. Restaurant in the shady courtyard and rooftop lounge bar with city views.

The tropical garden of Aluna Beach Lodge and its restaurant are among the restful settings that one would like to enjoy for lunch or dinner, in front of the beautiful pool. We love the consistency of this address, where we are always well received, the sophisticated preparation, the flavours faithful to our expectations. For the menu is creative and tempting. Its signature dish: a tuna just seared in a crisp sesame and Zanzibar spices, served with a sweet potato mousse and grilled vegetables. Swahili specialties are also worked on.

Les Portes de Zanzibar" is the main restaurant at Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa, Zanzibar's only Relais & Châteaux. The bistronomic table in this luxury setting is worthy of its standing. Under the leadership of chef Emmanuel Richard Mruma, African fusion dishes of rare finesse are served à la carte for dinner. They are sourced locally, from the hotel's organic vegetable garden and the day's catch. The ambience is distinguished in the beautiful lounge with its white tablecloths, illuminated by chandeliers.

This restaurant located in Mbuyuni, a very quiet village isolated between Pajé and Jambiani, serves more than 40 pizzas, crispy and tasty, reputed to be the best in the area. The homemade seafood pasta dishes are also a good choice, because here we don't mess around with Italian specialties. And if you prefer to try a Swahili dish, the plates are just as tasty, especially the octopus curry-coconut. We love the romantic candlelit atmosphere in the evening, and its location directly on the beach.

For a change from Zanzibar specialties, this Ethiopian restaurant is a real change of scenery! Exotic decor with waiters dressed in traditional garb, and typical dishes - a little expensive but very hearty. Good original smoothies, and vegetarian dishes served in large traditional trays with Ethiopian injera crepes for finger food. Service a little slow, but take your time, especially on the terrace, where the atmosphere is pleasant in the evening.

This pretty white and blue interior is the perfect place for a gourmet, fruity break. Come and sip excellent fresh fruit juices and vitamin-packed smoothies at low prices: mango, pineapple, passion fruit, banana, lemon, ginger, depending on what's in season. You'll also appreciate the beautiful salads (like the one with chickpeas, mango, avocado and pineapple), sandwiches, burgers and curry chapatis (chicken or vegetarian) with fruit and vegetables, for lunch on the go, on the spot or to take away. Fresh and light.

The Hilton Double Tree hotel has opened a sophisticated, ultra-modern restaurant on the crenellated rooftop terrace of a building slightly set back from the seafront. The service is impeccable and the dishes up to the highest standards, especially the Swahili specialties (the octopus curry was delicious) or the finer gourmet dishes such as the coconut crab soup, or the seafood (lobster, cicada...). Extreme freshness and subtle preparation, basket of artisan breads... You'd expect a savory note (warning: the glass of wine is very expensive).

Located upstairs in a building just off Stone Town's central beach (above the One Ocean Dive Club), Ocean Grill offers great seafood and fresh fish dishes at reasonable prices. The king fish with green bananas and the Swahili dishes are good. The terrace is nice. The service is however very slow (perfect for the contemplative who watch the boats coming and going) and the menu is not always available in full (proof of freshness but disappointing when you want a specific dish).

This is the gourmet restaurant of the prestigious Park Hyatt hotel. While the rooms are reserved for wealthy happy fews , its chic restaurant is a fine address for dining out and watching the dhows in the setting sun. The setting is fantastic, on the terrace facing the sea, with white tablecloths and pretty crockery. The à la carte fusion cuisine is top-notch, with lobster king and deliciously prepared octopus: the dishes are spectacular. The restaurant's interior is equally magnificent.

It's not to be missed: every day is a repeat of the unchanging Forodhani night market. The inhabitants of Stone Town love to gather with their families around the stalls and in the garden to eat a popular dish on the run. There are stalls selling shawarmas (fatty meat), samossas and Swahili dishes, as well as "crêpes" (bricks made by the minute). But we strongly advise against seafood kebabs, as they're guaranteed to give you food poisoning. Follow the locals to find the right stalls.

This trendy bohemian-chic address is overpriced for a stay, but affordable and recommendable for lunch or dinner in a rather youthful atmosphere, with good background music. Particularly at weekends, when free Afro-jazz bands perform. The restaurant's menu reflects the image of the place: sophisticated but with local ingredients, you'll find peach ceviches on the slate and tasty fish tartars.

Mohammed, a young man from Jambiani, decided to open this small local restaurant, which now serves authentic food in a renovated, more pleasant dining room. The only constraint is that you have to book in advance so that the cooks can make arrangements with the fishermen and you don't have to wait for hours! Grilled seafood and fish, including lobster and cicadas, are a gargantuan treat! Or the octopus and fish dish with tomato and curry, with chapati, rice, vegetables... All juices and dishes are made with filtered water.

He says it himself in his (not misleading) ad, "You eat until you say Hassan: please don't kill me with your food." His wife concocts the dishes in large pots (the seafood and coconut fish are delicious). In addition to the dish, you have a soup, an appetizer, a vegetable, nans (Indian breads), homemade juice in a big bottle that he constantly fills... And the cooking could not be more authentic, full of spices, high in flavors. If you are not very patient, we advise you to book.

We've already heard of Badolina, the hotel and restaurant serving Levantine cuisine hidden in the vegetation, but here's the Asian version of Badolina, right on Nungwi beach! To spot it, look for a forest of colorful lanterns illuminating the ceiling. On the menu: Chinese noodles, fresh sushi prepared with the rigor required for raw fish, tataki... The dishes are sprinkled with greenery, the setting is as neat as the plates, and it's a nice change from Swahili specialties.

This is the new place to try out in Nungwi: a beautiful garden that remains cool and shady at lunchtime, with candlelit tables in the evening, and a great atmosphere. The menu offers a range of creative dishes, from tuna tartare with beet and hibiscus for starters, to gambas with bisque and soft bread for main courses... We also appreciate the inspired cocktail menu, such as the Prophecy, with beet and vanilla gin, tonic and lime. Don't forget to book, especially in the evenings, as the place is already very popular.

This dream lodge has an excellent restaurant open to non-guests which serves refined cuisine based on local ingredients, where the vegetable is also honored. Shrimps, lobsters, grilled fish or fish in sauce are always escorted by a colourful salad or crunchy vegetables. The flavours are exceptional. We like the attention paid to the garnishes, the layout of the plates, the decoration, where no detail has been neglected, as well as the beautiful cocktails.

The chic Sevi Boutique Hotel is an address for the privileged few. However, its restaurant is open to all, and is an excellent place to dine in Matemwe. We love the service and the dimly-lit atmosphere on the covered terrace, promontory facing the sea. For starters, the shrimp and lemongrass soup (which grows on the island) was delicious, as was the tuna tataki with potato gratin or the ginger-tomato chicken. The well-chosen South African wines, jazzy background music and appetizers were all appreciated.

Michamvi already had its restaurant The Rock perched on a coral rock in the sea, Matemwe has. Opening in 2019, this restaurant embraces Matemwe beach thanks to its natural promontory: a rock at Kigomani where it has made its nest. The view is splendid, as far as Mnemba on one side and Kiwengwa on the other, with dozens of small boats moored at Kigomani in perspective. On the menu, copious starters and main courses, with varying degrees of success. The tuna tartar with pepper was good, while the meat kefta was a little dry, but original and fragrant with spices.

This little café, which used to exist near the fishing port on the central beach, is now housed in a pretty house on the seafront. Attractive outdoor terrace facing the beach, with concrete mosaic tiling and simple furnishings. On the menu, the same specialties as before at reasonable prices. We like the avocado salad, king prawns served generously, tasty Swahili dishes, kingfish with mango sauce... A great address from breakfast to dinner.

Here's a new restaurant in Paje that's well worth a visit for lunch or dinner. Right on the beach, Oxygen boasts an upstairs terrace facing the sea. The à la carte menu features remarkably well-presented plates of finely prepared dishes. Tuna tartare with avocado compote, fish fillet encrusted with cashew nuts, sushi topped with mango, avocado and fine herbs are to die for, as is the lobster, prepared with great flavor. The place is also festive, ideal for a drink.

This small local restaurant is located not far from the Meli, next to a small kitesurfing school, and also has a small store with very reasonable prices. On rustic wooden tables set on the sand, you'll find plates of authentic Swahili cuisine at really affordable prices. Starters include samosas and kachori (spicy potato balls). For the main course, we liked the fish soup with coconut green bananas, and the rice dishes, pilau or biriyani. No alcohol served here.

In this local family restaurant, Kim is in the dining room, her mother in the kitchen, and the food and service are all the more authentic. The real Swahili taste cooked in pots according to family recipes is served to the customers, many of whom are regulars. We love the mama's creations like the coconut-crusted tuna and her classic recipe for octopus with island curry, which are divine. The large braised fish with lime are perfectly cooked. The atmosphere is musical and relaxed, the welcome very warm.

This café-restaurant of the Z Hotel is located on the first floor of a covered structure on the beach. What a view! Deckchairs under the coconut trees complete this heavenly setting. Signature tropical fruit cocktails, well balanced and chilled, as well as fruit juices are served from midday to evening, even by the hotel's pool. Surprisingly, the salads, burgers and gourmet plates are inexpensive, hearty and elegantly seasoned, like this tuna tataki, with its small salad and lime.

Quality Indian cuisine, but exclusively vegetarian dishes. The quality of the plate is superior to the setting in which you eat. The place is popular with the locals, mainly of Indian origin, and with tourists who have been introduced to this little joint. The specialty of the house: the Gujarati Thali, a set of subtle and spicy dishes served on a tray from the Gujarat region, which was delicious. Excellent homemade yoghurt and exotic fruit lassis. Also takeaway, for those who prefer to eat on the beach.

On the beach, in front of the Sharazad Boutique Hotel, a new little Vietnamese restaurant has opened with its feet in the sand. A change of scenery within a change of scenery. Here, the finesse of Kim's Vietnamese cuisine - digestible, light and generous in vegetables and flavours - is combined with the postcard landscape of Jambiani beach. Glass noodle, spring rolls, pho soup, bo bun...: the cuisine blends local ingredients with Vietnamese flavours. A true delight.

This new ecolodge and restaurant overlooks Mtende beach. The restaurant is nestled on the rocky promontory, the hotel a little further back, lining up its handful of bungalows facing out to sea. With their makuti roofs and beautifully crafted local furniture, they're really pretty. A bay window separates the terrace from the elegantly appointed bedroom. David, the French owner, will give you a warm welcome. The restaurant, with its superb view, offers a handful of dishes, such as tuna tartare with olive pesto.

On its beautifully decorated deck facing the sea, Delight Zanzibar is a white ship in which one wants to linger. More than just an exceptional coffee shop serving sweet espressos and tempting desserts, salads and healthy wraps, it is also an excellent restaurant-pizzeria. You can enjoy it from breakfast to dinner, both on the swings and the cosy benches. The pizzas are the best in Pajé, and the dishes, where you can feel the Italian know-how, with local ingredients are all to die for.

With large sofas facing the sea and tables in the sand, the Kendwa Rocks hotel bar-restaurant offers pizza or seafood platters, as well as tasty sushi plates. You can have your coffee on the deckchairs or on the boats transformed into sofas, on the guarded beach (away from the insistent beach boys) in its private part. The staff is attentive, friendly and responsive. In the evening, especially on weekends, the atmosphere is festive as it is here that the Full Moon Party takes place once a month. Wifi.

This otherwise recommendable 3-star guest house offers a beautiful view from its restaurant on the floor of a straw hut, indeed. The neat setting with precious coloured wax cushions and carved banco furniture as well as the plates are equally pleasant to look at. From breakfast (with wild honey pancakes) to dinner (lobster and slipper lobster grills to die for) to the vegetarian options, everything is delicious. It's quickly becoming a canteen for its affordable prices and cosy setting.

Moto Moto is the restaurant of the new Zula hotel in Pajé center. An enchanting, trendy setting facing the beach, with feet in the sand and a wooden terrace, with cosy banquettes colored with pretty wax cushions. Above, the hotel's plexiglass swimming pool adds a whimsical touch to the setting. Well-chosen background music invites you to enjoy a fresh juice, cocktail or glass of wine. On the food side, local cuisine concocted with fresh, natural ingredients is served, including vegetarian options and seafood specialties.

If you're tired of lobster and grilled fish, why not try a burger? In this small, clean local eatery, the preparation is lightning fast, with good, fresh local beef (which could be stamped organic, since cows roam here), and always adorable home fries, as everywhere else. The choice of toppings is vast, and prices are reasonable. You can order on WhatsApp and have your order delivered to your hotel, which is much nicer because the restaurant is far away and on the side of the road. Even the packaging is neat.

If there is one address to remember for its dishes in Uroa, it is this one. This Italian-inspired restaurant takes care of its setting: a coral stone room with vaulted entrances looks great with the romantic lights on in the evening. The beach is just a stone's throw away and the terrace offers a wonderful landscape for sipping a cocktail. The restaurant serves good burgers, but its real specialty is the affordable grilled lobster and cicada menu, as well as a sophisticated octopus carpaccio with passion fruit.

It is a sure value, a classic in Nungwi! It must be said that this pretty restaurant on stilts, with its cute Zanzibarite decoration and old-fashioned furniture, and the terrace allow you to enjoy the lapping of the waves and the sunset in a romantic atmosphere. The service is even more "longui longui" than elsewhere, but the portions are generous and the dishes tasty, especially the demonic fish and seafood dishes with coconut curry, and the big braised fish with peppers. A real effort is made on the flavour of the food.

This new signature restaurant of the Z Hotel replaces the very famous Saruche on the same level facing the sea and the beach. It is only open for dinner and the address is chic. Sexy Fish offers seafood in all sorts of ways and sauces. The fish is of course local and ultra-fresh, as is the seafood, and the chef Bengali Rasel offers an African-European fusion menu, spiced up with Zanzibar spices: delicate tuna ceviche, lobster tempura, crab curry à la sénégalaise, or simply a nice grilled lobster.

The Badolina restaurant, a new restaurant in Nungwi, is nestled in the garden of the eponymous lodge. It stands out for its originality, its Middle Eastern flavours and its rootsy chic setting, under a vast makuti hut, lit by lanterns and decorated with tables and benches. You want to share everything, from the starters to the dishes. Like the yalla yalla, a falafel roll (with tahini, lime and parsley), the ceviche of tuna marinated in lime, with ginger, mango and coriander, sparkling salads and inspiring Mediterranean dishes.

This very discreet Japanese restaurant on the first floor of the Stone Town post office is an excellent address for raw fish lovers. The sushi, the great speciality of the establishment, is generous, made with ultra-fresh fish, and you can order a whole table of it on the pretty outdoor terrace which allows you to see the street without being seen and to enjoy a relaxing calm. Other Japanese-influenced specialties are generously served, including a delicious octopus on a cast-iron dish, gyozas, noodles... Reasonable prices.

The new boutique hotel Upendo houses a very original and sophisticated rooftop restaurant, which blends Swahili, Indian and fusion flavours and cuisines. Between a crispy seared tuna with green papaya and cashew nuts, mahi mahi bream with saffron rice, poached dates with port and almonds, and a plethora of small vegan dishes or delicate meats, it's hard to decide. The cocktail bar is equally appealing, especially on Thursday nights with live saxophone music. Brunch every weekend to enjoy the view and the pool. Wifi.

This is the best restaurant in Nungwi, especially the grilled octopus, a real treat. Walking out onto the Essque Zalu hotel's huge pontoon is already a stroll, lined with swings facing the shades of turquoise and, why not, sip a good cocktail before settling down to eat. On the menu, an array of gourmet dishes to share, including many vegetarian options - excellent squash and carrot fritters with mango chutney - and seafood options, such as grilled cicadas with chimichurri sauce or tuna confit with capers and red beans.

The rooftop restaurant of the eponymous hotel offers a beautiful 360° view of the city and the waterfront to appreciate its grandeur. The pool is refreshing. The food is excellent even if the choices are a bit too numerous (Swahili, Chinese, Italian, European, Indian...). The Indian dishes are the most authentic because it is the specialty of the house, especially the curries. You can also opt for a refined cocktail before dinner at sunset, a bar is dedicated to it.

Located in the village of Nungwi, on the central square, this small café attracts locals and tourists alike, and has been given a new, attractive look. You can watch the bustle of the village at all hours from the terrace. We come here to sip a refreshing tropical fruit smoothie followed by a good breakfast. The menu offers burgers, wraps, curry dishes and grilled meats, all hearty, reasonably priced and delicious. You can also order takeaway for a picnic on the beach or a day trip by boat.

Celine, a friendly French woman who has been in Nungwi for a long time, has just opened this cute little deli sandwich shop with its checkerboard floor and pretty windows. It's a great place to find a salad or a gourmet French sandwich with homemade bread (like the Deluxe roast beef, sun-dried tomatoes, pickles, crispy onions, rocket and salad). You can enjoy an espresso, juice, milkshake, croissant, pastry (éclair, pie) or a fresh fruit and spice smoothie at any time. Ideal to fill up on energy.