Based on Trip Advisor reports, we chose to stay at Emerson-Spice for three nights right after completing our safari on the Northern Circuit in Tanzania. I must admit I was a bit worried that the descriptions of "quirky" and "unique" might have been hiding a place that was a little ramshackle. But our experience was exactly the opposite. It was fantastic service and quality as well as being quirky and unique.

It’s located in an old traditional Stone Town building with huge rooms, very high ceilings (about 15 feet) located around a central courtyard with a fountain playing below. Even though the building has been rebuilt, the staircases and beams are all in refinished wood giving the place an architectural grandeur of times past.

To get to our room we had to climb right to the top of the hotel (about 8 sets of stairs!!) but wow was it worth it when we got there. The room is huge with a queen sized bed and two day beds on either side, furnished in Indian sari silks to fit with the theme of Katherine Hepburn (the room is named “Kate”) and what the owner calls the Holly/Bollywood style. In addition to a beautiful rosewood dresser, two large round armchairs and footstools, a desk and a fridge, there is a huge bathroom and two large verandahs, one of which has an outside shower (in addition to the inside shower). Both have splendid views over the surrounding Stone Town to the Indian Ocean beyond.

This is definitely my kind of luxury. Not the packaged “Hilton” type but the unique, inspired, creative type of luxury that so well describes the idea of a boutique hotel. Really beautiful!

I have reviewed the restaurant separately but should add here that diner is served on the rooftop terrace with spectacular views accompanied by sundowners and followed by dinner. The food was first class - such that we went there for dinner twice and we also had an excellent lunch in the cafe on the ground floor. We also organized a 2 hour walking tour of the City for $15 each with the hotel; it gave us a great overview and set us up for finding our way around later. Also, our guide spoke excellent English and provided an interesting overview of the history and architecture. I would recommend that also.

Emerson made sure that a driver met us at the airport and brought us to the hotel. He also offered to keep our bags while we were on Pemba Island and if possible to deliver them to the other side of the island. Nothing seemed too much for the owner and staff at this hotel. Top marks all round!

I stayed two nights at Emerson Spice last week, and from the moment I walked in the door, I felt like the guest they'd been waiting for. The staff is warm and welcoming, the service is prompt, and the rooms are beautifully and comfortably arranged. The dinner at the rooftop restaurant, at sunset, listening to the sunset call to prayer, was the best I had all week in Zanzibar.

Our favorite place in the world is Magical Mnemba island,a place we often return to over the past 20 years,and our stopover ,always was Emerson and Green....but The new Emerson Spice has advanced this experience a notch up.Romantic,exotic and unforgettable....lost in over 1000 years of history,Stonetown,it,s narrow alleyways,colorful markets,smells and sounds will simply blow you away....literally,as we were awakened at 04:30 by the usual nasal wining Allah Akbar chant over a very poor loud speaker system,but,.....this is part of the charm,up there with the market,especially the meat and fish,which ,left us gagging! ONE OF THE MUST EXPERIENCE DESTINATIONS,THAT EASILY RANK AMONGST OUR TOP 20 ever.....and New York City is a close 2 nd

My partner and I got married whilst staying at Emerson Spice - from start to finish Emerson and his partner and staff went the extra mile to make every day special for us. Our bed was decorated with flowers daily and they just added countless special touches to our stay. We stayed in the Kate Room which was gorgeous and had 2 balconies - one of which had an outside bath on it which was pretty unique! The food was wonderful in the tea room downstairs and we loved eating on the roof terrace - highly recommend both! If you are looking for a unique experience in Stone Town then we highly recommend this - it has flair! Every single member of the staff were friendly and welcoming and we can't rate it highly enough - we'll be back!