Memories of Zanzibar
Memories of Zanzibar
4
About
The biggest souvenir store in Zanzibar, Memories of Zanzibar offers the most extensive selection of quality items all under one roof, at reasonable prices. Situated within walking distance of major Stone Town hotels such as Serena, Tembo, Dhow Palace and upcoming Hilton, you can count on a pleasant shopping atmosphere and service with a smile.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
170 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
67
Average
35
Poor
11
Terrible
7
Zbeide
Central Portugal, Portugal20 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
This shop was nice in past years, in particular because of its large choice of articles with fixed price.
However my last visit was disappointing. The price of most things (in US dollars) has reached astronomic levels!!
You wonder who would pay such amounts of money for those things...
May be that's the reason why the shop has now less tourists inside.
Not fair, not nice.
However my last visit was disappointing. The price of most things (in US dollars) has reached astronomic levels!!
You wonder who would pay such amounts of money for those things...
May be that's the reason why the shop has now less tourists inside.
Not fair, not nice.
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ida
London, England, United Kingdom80 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
Shopped here thrice on my visits to Zanzibar. Worst customer service ever in all the many shops you’d find in this beautiful island. Avoid the cashier who could be a relative of the owner, she wears glasses and doesn’t make any eye contact. It’s obvious that, the shop is busy and they couldn’t give a monkeys to be kind and smile at their customers. Will never return. I would urge any potential shoppers to shop elsewhere or support those hole in the walls kinda shops.
Written March 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna A
Zurich, Switzerland46 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
Yes, it is not cheap. But the selection is very good, it is clean and very centrally located.
I got some spiced coffee, great natural body butter, that could be used after sun and reasonably priced pack of masala tea.
I got some spiced coffee, great natural body butter, that could be used after sun and reasonably priced pack of masala tea.
Written December 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
El Liron Salvaje
Bucharest242 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Two things I loved about this place: it's a one-stop shop - you find everything you want in it (carvings, jewelry, clothing, coffee, tea, magnets, postcards and stamps, bracelets, pins, you name it) and that nobody is chasing you around pushing to sell.
In terms of prices, I'm sure you can get better prices somewhere else, but I don't like the hassle, so here are some references: magnets 4$, coffee 8$ or smaller packs for 4$, tea - prices similar to coffee, carvings - starting at 9$ or even 7$, wooden games (bao, chess) - around 17-24$, t-shirts for adults around 20$.
I honestly enjoyed this place and I recommend it, if the prices seem acceptable to you.
In terms of prices, I'm sure you can get better prices somewhere else, but I don't like the hassle, so here are some references: magnets 4$, coffee 8$ or smaller packs for 4$, tea - prices similar to coffee, carvings - starting at 9$ or even 7$, wooden games (bao, chess) - around 17-24$, t-shirts for adults around 20$.
I honestly enjoyed this place and I recommend it, if the prices seem acceptable to you.
Written August 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FranB
Cape Town, South Africa142 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
This shop had so much choice and set prices.
Very reasonable and no haggling
Credit card machines available
Huge range of soaps, spices, fridge magnets, sarongs,my shirts, post cards and they sell stamps.
I would definately visit this shop again to get my zanzibar shopping.
Very reasonable and no haggling
Credit card machines available
Huge range of soaps, spices, fridge magnets, sarongs,my shirts, post cards and they sell stamps.
I would definately visit this shop again to get my zanzibar shopping.
Written June 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shane B
Te Awamutu, New Zealand811 contributions
Oct 2019
There are hundreds of shops in Stone Town most of them don't have names out the front or addresses etc etc so don't appear in Trip Advisor we found these very good although some are a bit pushy.
We went to Memories a couple of times in our 4 days in Stone Town as they did have some smaller stuff (key rings etc) we couldn't find elsewhere. Generally we found their stuff over priced in comparison to others. An example tee shirts probably paying $10us more here than you could pay in the lane ways.
Our second visit found the staff a little pushy in fact was going to buy an overpriced tee shirt but was put off by the staff member. When I went to pay by mastercard made an error so the staff member had to re-enter the purchase she got a bit miffy with me. Didn't really expect that from a shop that prides it self on superior service.
Worth a look be careful of the prices.
We went to Memories a couple of times in our 4 days in Stone Town as they did have some smaller stuff (key rings etc) we couldn't find elsewhere. Generally we found their stuff over priced in comparison to others. An example tee shirts probably paying $10us more here than you could pay in the lane ways.
Our second visit found the staff a little pushy in fact was going to buy an overpriced tee shirt but was put off by the staff member. When I went to pay by mastercard made an error so the staff member had to re-enter the purchase she got a bit miffy with me. Didn't really expect that from a shop that prides it self on superior service.
Worth a look be careful of the prices.
Written October 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ccccc
Cape Town Central, South Africa206 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
We don't like haggling and have no idea what things really cost.
This place provides an immediate solution to the above plus they throw in some much needed aircon and absolutely nobody hassling you whilst shopping.
The biggest range of souvenirs I've seeing on offer. If you're not into shopping, this place offers a 'one stop shop' and get out solution. Really great.
This place provides an immediate solution to the above plus they throw in some much needed aircon and absolutely nobody hassling you whilst shopping.
The biggest range of souvenirs I've seeing on offer. If you're not into shopping, this place offers a 'one stop shop' and get out solution. Really great.
Written August 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrewM
Sydney34 contributions
Sep 2018 • Solo
Hello fellow traveller,
May I suggest you buy your souviners from elsewhere!!!
On a recent visit, I selected a face carved from an ebony piece, showing the 2 colours of the wood, for my father and they offered to wrap it for me. In good faith, I waited and they returned with a wrapped item for which I paid and left. They knew they would not see me again and I wasn't expecting to go there again my self.
When I presented the gift to my Dad (who's a carpenter by trade), I WAS HORRIFIED AND LIVID TO DISCOVER THEY HAD SWAPPED IT FOR A DIFFERENT PIECE WHICH WAS SMALLER AND INFERIOR!!!!!!
My father didn't know what I had originally selected but appreciated it as all Dads do.
The following year, my travels took me near enough and my anger straight back into the store to change the piece. I was met with incredulousness and told I could not get any retribution bc "No no no. We would neVer do such a thing. If you want a different piece, you'll have to buy it like every one else".
What they did to me really hurt and every time I look at the piece, I am reminded of how was tricked. Don't let it happen to you. Shop some where else!
May I suggest you buy your souviners from elsewhere!!!
On a recent visit, I selected a face carved from an ebony piece, showing the 2 colours of the wood, for my father and they offered to wrap it for me. In good faith, I waited and they returned with a wrapped item for which I paid and left. They knew they would not see me again and I wasn't expecting to go there again my self.
When I presented the gift to my Dad (who's a carpenter by trade), I WAS HORRIFIED AND LIVID TO DISCOVER THEY HAD SWAPPED IT FOR A DIFFERENT PIECE WHICH WAS SMALLER AND INFERIOR!!!!!!
My father didn't know what I had originally selected but appreciated it as all Dads do.
The following year, my travels took me near enough and my anger straight back into the store to change the piece. I was met with incredulousness and told I could not get any retribution bc "No no no. We would neVer do such a thing. If you want a different piece, you'll have to buy it like every one else".
What they did to me really hurt and every time I look at the piece, I am reminded of how was tricked. Don't let it happen to you. Shop some where else!
Written August 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patty6-13
Davis, CA520 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
We went a couple times to see what can be found in Zanzibar and found some prices to be cheaper than the small shops and the quality to be a little better. The spices are much cheaper here than what we paid at the spice farm for identical items. Good quality t-shirts & caps. Best of all it is air-conditioned & a welcome retreat from the heat & humidity outside!
Written March 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting, we hope you had a good experience in Zanzibar
Written July 9, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Petie Pretorius III
Vryburg, South Africa19 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
I love that shop ! There are allot of gifts to choose from and in most cases cheaper than the street vendors you can shop and look around with no one hassling you to buy things. It's amazing to have a shop like this in Stone Town. Good luck for the Future.
Written March 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your custom.
Written July 9, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Buona sera, per favore, qualcuno sa dirmi se in questo negozio è possibile trovare anelli con la pietra tanzanite che non costino tanto. Grazie a chi potrà rispondermi.
Written December 14, 2018
we are traveling to Zanzibar on November 6 2016
We are staying at Ocean Paradise Resort... can you tell me how far you are from there and also if you take credit cards?
Written October 5, 2016
They take credit cards. Your hotel seems to be situated about 50 minutes from Stone Town. Memories is in Stone Town.
Written October 7, 2016
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