Restaurants cuisine régionale Stone Town

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.

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.

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).