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Emerson Spice Hotel

3.5 star property

Photo gallery for Emerson Spice Hotel

Room (Violetta)
2 restaurants, lunch, dinner served; seafood
Room (Belle)
Room (Belle)
Interior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Bar
  • Laundry room
The current price is NZ$227
includes taxes & fees
9 May - 10 May

Explore the area

View map
Stone Town, Zanzibar Town
  • Place, House of Wonders
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Forodhani Gardens
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Slave Market
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Airport, Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.)
    ‪10 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room (Belle)

Room (Belle)

Room (Belle)

  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Violetta)

Room (Violetta)

Room (Violetta)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Semele)

Room (Semele)

Room (Semele)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Room (Camille)

Room (Camille)

Room (Camille)

  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Design Twin Room (Mimi)

Design Twin Room (Mimi)

Design Twin Room (Mimi)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(11 reviews)
  • City view
  • 32 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Large Single Beds

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About the area

Zanzibar Town

Emerson Spice Hotel puts you in the heart of Zanzibar Town, within steps of Shakti Temple and Christ Church Cathedral. Highlights at this hotel include 2 restaurants and free continental breakfast. .The seafood restaurant, Rooftop restaurant, serves seafood and is open for lunch and dinner. For a drink, you can stop by the hotel's own lounge bar. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi in public areas and laundry facilities. Each morning free breakfast is served. There's also the convenience of an airport shuttle. .Places within a 5-minute walk of this 3.5-property class Stone Town hotel include Malindi Mosque and House of Wonders.

What's nearby

  • House of Wonders - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Forodhani Gardens - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Slave Market - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Old Fort - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Zanzibar Ferry Terminal - 5 min walk - 0.5 km

Getting around

  • Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.) - 21 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Forodhani Park - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Lukmaan Restaurant - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Livingstone Beach Restaurant - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪House of Karafuu - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Secret Garden - ‬1 min walk

About this property

Emerson Spice Hotel

There are 2 restaurants on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Free breakfast is available daily. Public spaces have free WiFi.

A terrace, tour/ticket assistance, and a garden are also featured at Emerson Spice Hotel. An airport shuttle (available 24 hours) is available for a fee.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this 3.5-star Zanzibar Town hotel.

  • 1 building
  • 10 guestrooms or units
  • 5 levels
  • 2 dining venues
  • Built in 1870
  • Continental breakfast (free)
  • Towels for the beach
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Bellhop
  • Smoking in designated areas
  • Bar or lounge
Emerson Spice Hotel offers 10 air-conditioned accommodations with complimentary bottles of water and free toiletries. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. This Zanzibar Town hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Rooms have partially open bathrooms. Bathrooms include a combined bath/shower unit with a deep soaking bath. Additionally, rooms include a ceiling fan and blackout curtains. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered on a daily basis. Amenities available on request include hairdryers.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • No on-site parking available
  • 24-hour return airport shuttle on request for a surcharge

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • 2 restaurants
  • A bar/lounge

Restaurants on site

  • Rooftop restaurant
  • Secret Garden

Things to do

  • Bicycle storage

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Guidebooks
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service

Outdoors

  • Beach towels
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • 1 building
  • 5 floors
  • At least 10% of profits reinvested in community and sustainability
  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • At least 80% of food locally-sourced
  • At least 80% organic food
  • Biodegradable coffee stirrers available
  • Biodegradable drinking straws available
  • Built in 1870
  • Comprehensive food waste policy
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • Designated smoking areas
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Local artist showcase
  • Local culture and ecosystem education
  • Locally-owned and organised tours and activities
  • No plastic coffee stirrers
  • No plastic drinking straws
  • No plastic soft drink bottles
  • No plastic water bottles
  • Reusable cups
  • Reusable tableware
  • Traditional architecture
  • Vegan dining options
  • Vegetarian breakfast available
  • Vegetarian dining options

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Partially-open bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Electrical adapters
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Laptop workspace
  • Water-efficient toilets

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Renovations and closures

The property is closed between 21 April and 20 May.

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • Pets and service animals are not allowed at Emerson Spice Hotel

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.

Payment types

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 4.00 per person, per night
  • Deposit is payable by bank transfer and is due within 24 hours of booking the reservation.

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 25 per vehicle (one-way)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cots/infant beds and high chair
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children. If you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room. No on-site parking is available. Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cots/infant beds and high chair. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, debit cards and cash. This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products. Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit in all accommodation.

We should mention

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.
  • Pets and service animals are not allowed on site.

Property is also known as

Emerson Spice Hotel Hotel
Emerson Spice Hotel Zanzibar Town
Emerson Spice Hotel Hotel Zanzibar Town

Frequently asked questions

Are there any beaches close to Emerson Spice Hotel?

Yep, Emerson Spice Hotel is a short 6-minute walk from Shangani Beach. Fun beach activities include snorkelling, scuba diving and kayaking. You can also find boat tours.

How much does it cost to stay at Emerson Spice Hotel?

As of 8 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Emerson Spice Hotel on 9 May 2026 start from NZ$227, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What makes Emerson Spice Hotel a romantic place to stay?

Al fresco dining and a lounge bar, as well as deep-soaking baths in the guestrooms, all help set the scene for a romantic weekend at Emerson Spice Hotel.

Are there hot tubs in the rooms at Emerson Spice Hotel?

No, but there are deep-soaking baths in the guestrooms.

Does Emerson Spice Hotel serve breakfast?

Sure does, free continental breakfast is available daily between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Emerson Spice Hotel?

No, but there's an airport shuttle that runs 24 hours a day on request for a fee.

Is there a bar or restaurant at Emerson Spice Hotel?

Yep, they've got a lounge bar and 2 restaurants. Pre dinner cocktails anyone?

What time are check-in & check-out at Emerson Spice Hotel?

Check-in begins at 1:00 PM. Check-out time is 10:00 AM.

Are pets allowed at Emerson Spice Hotel?

No, pets and service animals are not allowed.

Emerson Spice Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 95 out of 112 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 112 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 112 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 112 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 112 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

emile

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a wonderful stay and couldn’t have asked for a better welcome. The staff were very friendly and accommodating, we arrived very early in the morning and were pleasantly surprised when they offered us breakfast and allowed us to check in early. The property itself is stunning: a beautiful historical building that has been thoughtfully and tastefully decorated. Our room was spacious, elegant, and very comfortable. The location is also great, in a pretty and vibrant street and just a few minutes away from the night market and the sights. Highly recommended!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

saorlaith

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Bo-Yu

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It is one of the best hotel I've ever stayed. Excellent room, staff, services. The hotel and the rooms are in traditional Zanzibar architecture style, which gave me great experience. Staff is considerate and detail oriented. The dinner at the rooftop is wonderful. One minor downside is the shower had low water pressure due to my room was in the top floor. Sometimes I had to wait for 1-2 minutes until the water came, which was not good when taking shower. The staff said there will be a major work to add a pump. Hope it will be better after it's done.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

sandra

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The rooms were decorated well and was very clean. Staff was so friendly and helpful. Loved the rooftop for breakfast and the location was perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Special place. The staff outstanding. A few remarkable days at this wonderful historic 'hotel'.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Patricia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beautiful Hotel

Amazing stay. From the warm welcome and services. Truly enjoyed the food in the Secret Garden and rooftop.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Piero, Vasto

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Melinda

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Really nice historic hotel

My sister and I stayed here for a few nights when arriving in Zanzibar. Our flight plans got brought forward and the hotel was great in bringing forward our airport pick up. A staff member met us in the traffic area and carried our bags to the hotel, making sure we were following too. It really was nice to be in the heart of Stone Town. We stayed in Mimi which is one of the top rooms, so lots of stairs to get there. Room was huge, light and airy. We had a problem with hot water for the shower but once we notified the staff it was quick to be resolved. Beds were comfortable. Turn down service was a lovely touch. Breakfast was wonderful and served at the roof top restaurant, which has a nice view over Stone Town. Also a great spot for sundowner drinks. We didn't try the set menu dinner there. We ate dinner at the onsite restaurant which was nice. They had a beach bag with towels which came in handy. We also liked the group tipping rather than needing to constantly tip. We'll return here if back in Zanzibar and recommend to others.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael and Heather

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janice

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a fantastic experience staying here! The staff went above and beyond to accomodate our needs. They let us keep our luggage there before check in time with no extra charge, and they gave us a room upgrade to one of the best rooms (the Katherine Hepburn room), which was a really nice surprise. The staff were all super friendly and helpful. When we decided to have dinner in the Secret Garden Restaurant on a night when there was music, we complained that we had to pay extra for the music, and the manager was so kind. He didn't make us pay, and arranged for us to eat upstairs where it was quieter. We later realized that the music cost was explained in our welcome letter, so we appologized and paid for it the next day and the manager was so nice.The whole place was spotlessly clean, the bed was very comfortable and the room and the hotel were beautifully decorated. I loved the extra touches like the handmade scented soaps and the flowers in the room. We loved the balcony that was off of our room and asked if we could eat breakfast there instead of going downstairs. The servers forgot about us and we had to wait extra long for our food, but it was worth it! We can't say enough about how much we enjoyed staying at this hotel. We would definately stay here again and even though it's a little bit pricier than other hotels, it's totally worth it. We would highly recommend to others.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Oluwafunmilayo

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

GloriaLissa, Teaneck

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sandra

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Incredibly historic building with unique individually decorated rooms! Perfect location for walking around Stonetown. Delicious breakfast served on rooftop! Request Belle room if you don't want a lot of stairs. It has a huge balcony along the front of the building so it's fun to see tourists stop and take photos!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Trina

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I really enjoyed my stay here at The Emerson Spice Hotel. The rooms are clean and decorated nicely keeping the old feel of this historic building. I liked the old fashioned door style of the Camile Room. Which doesn’t use keycards like most hotels. You use a huge big padlock 🔐 to secure the door. All the staff were very nice and friendly. The only thing you need to be aware of is there is no elevator. All stairs only, so be prepared to get some stair exercises during your stay. LOL! 😃
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jamie

Travelled with family, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
From the moment we walked in, this place was fantastic! We were promptly greeted and we were being shown to our rooms within a few minutes. Our room (Camille) was great! We thoroughly enjoyed the windows and balconies and people watching the street below. The room was spacious and the bed was comfy. Dinner upstairs was wonderful...although the stairs were steep (but the views were lovely). The food was inventive and delicious and the service was top notch. Highly recommend. We also had food and drinks at the Secret Garden and that was also quite nice. I expected the included breakfast to be buffet style but was pleasantly surprised that it was a beautiful made to order breakfast with delicious coffee. Shuttle to the airport was quick and easy. Would definitely stay here again when in Stone Town.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Everything amazing!

Amazing, great people, great food, great hotel. Rooms are beautiful, comfy, clean!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

saunia

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

heike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Exceptional

This small hotel is in the middle of Stone Town, and it is beautiful. The staff are attentive, without being intrusive, the manager is so professional and knowledgeable, and the standard of comfort is of the highest order. Breakfast was served on the roof terrace and consisted of a wonderful selection of fruit followed by eggs and a pastry. We had the taster menu one evening, and it was exceptional. This is a very special hotel, and we had an unforgettable stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic place in heart of old Stonetown. Beautiful unique rooms, fantastic food in a rooftop restaurant with an an amazing view, and and a very helpful staff.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shaun

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Zoe

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Alan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Secret Gem

Really authentic building. The building is old and the owners have tried to keep the originality of the building by keeping original features . Its in the winding streets of the old town , so no vehicles except scooters allowed. The staff are great , everyone smiles and are so helpful. The room we stayed in Lamore had a outside shower on a balcony , seems strange, but it was very private and great to have a shower outside
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marcela A., Portland

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff are beyond friendly
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024