Quick facts
Destination
Stone Town
Country
Zanzibar
Category
Hotel
Price tier
Luxury
Starting from
$160 per night
Star rating
5 / 5
Number of rooms
11
Nearest airport
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) — Approx. 15-minute drive from Zanzibar International Airport, on Stone Town's main shopping thoroughfare
Best for
Couples and culture-focused travellers wanting a uniquely designed, historic boutique stay in central Stone Town
Child policy
Family-friendly; please confirm room configurations directly with the hotel
Last reviewed
June 2026
Emerson Spice Hotel
Emerson Spice occupies a former Sultan’s palace on Stone Town’s main shopping thoroughfare, a coconut’s throw from the old town’s top attractions. The hotel melds two historic buildings and several architectural styles into one property, designed to give guests the feeling of stepping back in time to 19th-century Zanzibar.
Rooms
Each of the 11 rooms is individually designed with antique furniture, locally made textiles, ornate carved woodwork, and gorgeous fabrics, reflecting Stone Town’s Swahili, Arab, Persian and Indian influences. No two rooms are alike, and several open onto private balconies overlooking the rooftops and alleyways of the old town.
Tea House Restaurant
The hotel’s rooftop Tea House restaurant is one of Stone Town’s best-known dining spots, serving Swahili-influenced set menus with live taarab music performances on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Old Fort and the Indian Ocean.
Location
Set in the heart of Stone Town’s UNESCO World Heritage old quarter, the hotel is within easy walking distance of the House of Wonders, the Old Fort, Forodhani Gardens and the main markets.
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WhatsApp UsLocation & getting there
Nearest airport
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ)
Transfer time
Approx. 15-minute drive from Zanzibar International Airport, on Stone Town's main shopping thoroughfare
Facilities & amenities
Rooms & accommodation
Heritage Room
Individually designed room with antique furniture, locally made textiles and carved woodwork, no two rooms alike.
Balcony Room
Heritage-style room opening onto a private balcony overlooking Stone Town's rooftops and alleyways.
Activities offered
Best time to visit
■ Good season ■ Low / wet season
Ready to plan your stay at Emerson Spice Hotel?
WhatsApp UsSafariBando's view
Emerson Spice’s setting inside a former Sultan’s palace, blending two historic buildings and several architectural eras, makes it one of the most atmospheric small hotels in Stone Town. With only 11 individually designed rooms – no two alike – it offers a genuinely boutique experience, and the rooftop Tea House restaurant, with its live taarab music over views to the Old Fort and ocean, is a destination in its own right for guests and non-guests alike.— The SafariBando team
