A beautifully restored 19th century Swahili Sultan’s Palace, the Emerson Spice Hotel is a multi-storied small hotel in Stone Town with an inner courtyard, 11 romantic antique-filled rooms, and one of Zanzibar’s best rooftop restaurants.
A striking and theatrical boutique hotel, located in the heart of Stone Town
An incredibly romantic roof terrace, for memorable dinners and sundowners
The Secret Garden is an enchanting, crumbling courtyard full of romance and history, and often features live music to accompany your dinner
There's some noise from the streets (which is inevitable in central Stone Town)
Be prepared for steep stairs and no elevator/lift
The Emerson Spice Hotel offers it’s guests a magical authentic experience, with every room immersing you into a different world that is inspired by movies, books, operas, and other real life characters. High ceilings, stained glass windows, large stone bathtubs, characterful wooden balconies, and a beautiful inner courtyard all combine to make this the most romantic hotel in Stone Town!
All 11 rooms (except Mimi) have their own private veranda (although guests in Mimi are welcome to use the rooftop tea house as their outside space.)
All rooms are equipped with a small fridge, air conditioner, fan, and high ceiling mosquito net.
The double rooms have one queen size double antique Swahili bed, and enclosed en suite WC with bath and shower that is open or semi-open to the room. Therefore the double rooms are not suitable as twins, although an extra bed for a child (or baby cot) can be added when needed.
Aida is a duplex, suitable for a family. On the first level, there is a queen size bed in the main room, a single in the sitting area, and two singles on the upper level. Ideal for a family with up to three children, both WC and bath are en-suite and enclosed.
Belle, Violetta, Semele, Camille, Desdemona
Double Rooms with one queen sized bed and balcony.
These rooms are not suitable as Twins, but we can add a baby cot or a small extra bed for a child in some of the rooms, bath and shower are open to the room.
Lamour Toujours Lamour & Mimi
Twin Rooms with two separates beds.
Mimi has no private balcony, but guests are welcome to the use roof top Tea House directly above as an outside space.
Lamour has an extra outside bath and two queen size 210cm long beds.
Kate
Kate has its own private garden veranda and second balcony with outside bath, one queen sized bed (with wings that can be converted to extra beds for smaller children only)
Aida
Aida is a duplex, with one queen size bed in the main room, a small single in the sitting area, and two small singles in the upper sleeping loft. Suitable as a double or as a family room.
Turandot & Siti
Smaller rooms with balcony and one queen sized bed.
Can be used as doubles, but are most suitable as singles.
The Rooftop Tea House Restaurant is open for dinners and sunset cocktails, on reservation only (and seating is very limited!) The seafood-based, five course ‘Taste Safari’ Degustation Menu is prepared daily by Emerson’s Zanzibari chefs, and all ingredients are locally sourced and fresh.
There is only one sitting, and service begins promptly at 7 p.m. – but it’s definitely worthwhile to be there in time for sunset… and make the most of the experience!
Breakfast is Continental, with fruit plate and eggs of choice, coffee and tea.
The Tea House Restaurant is closed on Thursdays.
The Secret Garden – set amidst lushly landscaped, hidden ‘Ruins’ and open to the skies, has an open Grill and Zanzibari-inspired a la carte menu.
Look out for live music performed by The Dhow Countries Music Academy.
Open for Lunch and Dinner.
The Secret Garden is closed on Wednesdays.
The Emerson Spice Hotel is set in the maze of the old Stone Town alleyways, with no car access.
The Stone Town location means that you’re surrounded by the sounds and smells of local life, but well-travelled guests (and the list includes Matt Dillon and Juliette Binoche) embrace this feast of the senses and are not bothered by the lack of conventional amenities such as minibars and television.
Map & Location
