Zenji Hotel
Malawi Road, Stone Town, Zanzibar City Tanzania
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Avg. $54 /night, 2/11 - 2/12
$58
per night
$55
per night
$52
per night
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About
#1 of 10 small hotels in Stone Town
Location
4.2
Rooms
4.2
Value
4.4
Cleanliness
4.5
Service
4.6
Sleep Quality
4.0
In the middle of bustling Stone Town, Zenji Hotel welcomes guests for a relaxing stay on the rooftop or in one of the 9 authentic rooms. The rooms have a ceiling fan and air conditioning, some rooms have balcony. All rooms have a different atmosphere referring to the rich Zanzibar heritage and culture. The breakfast, including homemade bread and jams, fruit juice, fresh fruit, different types of tea and real espresso coffee, is served on the rooftop from which you have a beautiful view over Stone Town and the harbor.
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Property amenities
Street parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Bicycle rental
Snorkeling
Airport transportation
Rooftop terrace
Baggage storage
Wifi
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Car hire
Concierge
Gift shop
Mosquito net
24-hour front desk
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Safe
Clothes rack
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Extra long beds
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Centrally Located
Location
Malawi Road, Stone Town, Zanzibar City Tanzania
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 86 out of 100
86
Kisauni Airport
4.7 mi•
See all flights
Dar Es Salaam Intl Airport
49.7 mi•
See all flights
Rental Cars
19 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 255
- 163
- 46
- 5
- 8
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Detailed Reviews



We wanted a clean, simple room with a/c within walking distance of the seafront and old town. This hotel fitted our requirements exactly. Breakfast was really good with excellent coffee, juice,fruit, eggs and bread. Staff was very accommodating and kept our luggage free of charge for a few hours when we checked out.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
My fiance and I chose this place based on a few amenities and we were beyond impressed with the hotel as a whole. We arrived a few hours before check-in but they kindly stored our bags for us while we went out exploring. Every staff member we encountered was polite, kind, and welcoming.
We opted for a room with a balcony, which sadly we didn't use as much as we thought we would. The laundry service was a necessity for us, and both times they had our clean, folded clothes ready for us when we came back to the room after dinner. The rooftop breakfast was a wonderful touch. The fresh juices, amazing coffee, and delicious jams made a wonderful start to every day. We utilized their tour and transportation booking options almost every day, and every one we had we loved! Since we were staying for more than 3 nights we also got a free historical tour of Stone Town, unfortunately since our schedule didn't allow for it until the end of our stay a lot of the information we had already learned from other outings.
One of the nights there was a power outage in the middle of the night but after a few minutes the generator kicked on, had I not been awake already I wouldn't even have noticed.
The coffee shop you have to walk through to get to the check-in area has great expressos and milkshakes that we took advantage of several times.
We opted for a room with a balcony, which sadly we didn't use as much as we thought we would. The laundry service was a necessity for us, and both times they had our clean, folded clothes ready for us when we came back to the room after dinner. The rooftop breakfast was a wonderful touch. The fresh juices, amazing coffee, and delicious jams made a wonderful start to every day. We utilized their tour and transportation booking options almost every day, and every one we had we loved! Since we were staying for more than 3 nights we also got a free historical tour of Stone Town, unfortunately since our schedule didn't allow for it until the end of our stay a lot of the information we had already learned from other outings.
One of the nights there was a power outage in the middle of the night but after a few minutes the generator kicked on, had I not been awake already I wouldn't even have noticed.
The coffee shop you have to walk through to get to the check-in area has great expressos and milkshakes that we took advantage of several times.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â The proximity to the ferry terminal a major factor for us, but because of that there is noise...
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.
Response from ZenjiHotel, Owner at Zenji Hotel
Responded Jan 10, 2020
We are more than happy to receive this beautiful review from you! You have been such a wonderful guests. Thank you so much for everything and taking your time sharing your experience. We do hope to welcome you back at Zenji another time. Wish you all the best from all of us at Zenji
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.


This was a great stay and the service, staff and breakfast was amazing! They were always ready to help us with any needs we had. Hasan was always willing to help us with anything we needed. The room was very clean comfortable and welcoming. The location of the hotel is central to all tourist attractions and great shopping spots as everything is in walking distance. The rooftop where breakfast is served is cute and well set out.
There was always fresh fruit, homemade jams, juices and bread at the buffet. The coffee is out of this world!
All in all, an exceptional experience!
There was always fresh fruit, homemade jams, juices and bread at the buffet. The coffee is out of this world!
All in all, an exceptional experience!
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Response from ZenjiHotel, Owner at Zenji Hotel
Responded Jan 10, 2020
We are so happy you enjoyed your stay with us, thank you for taking the time to write this beautiful review. The start of the New Year could not have been better for us! We wish you all the best and hope we have the pleasure of welcoming you back at Zenji in the near future. Best wishes, the Zenji Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.


Shared toilet and shared shower. Yes. But for the price paid, I think that this nice little boutique hotel offers great value. Situated in Stone Town, it is walking distances to almost every sights of interest. Not to mention the ferry back to Dar, which is only 8 min walk away from the hotel. The room I got was nice and clean. The AC and the ceiling fan was chilled enough to relieve the heat from my (hot) body. The towel swan welcomed me proudly with its long neck. This is a feature usually only seen in the pictures for room advertisement, but this time the towel swan was a reality! Thanks for this little detail, which lifted my hotel experience to a new level. Dear hotel management, the towel swan was cool and didnt go unnoticed from my side! Also, the breakfast buffet was delicious with fabulous Tanzanian coffee and homemade jams and juices! Ok, ok, I will lastly tell you one thing that I missed in the room. A small table next to the bed where I can put my phone to sleep next to me. Thats all. But surely, I will for stay here again next time I visit Zanzibar!
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Location
Service
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.
Response from ZenjiHotel, Owner at Zenji Hotel
Responded Jan 10, 2020
Dear Kevin, Your kind words made us smile. We have passed the message about the towel swan to our creative housekeepers; the started to shine too. And yes, thanks for your advice about a small table next to the bed. Good idea, and we will make sure there will be one, good for future guest but also for you, in case we will have the pleasure of welcoming you back again. Stay well! Warm regards, the Zenji Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The staff was really friendly and hotel is super clean. There are nice handmade soaps for guests. The beds are also very good. The breakfast is also very good, with homemade jams and fresh fruit. We stayed two times at this hotel and the first room we had the water pressure in the shower was super low but that was the only bad thing about the hotel. Also the food in the restaurant was nice.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Response from ZenjiHotel, Owner at Zenji Hotel
Responded Jan 18, 2020
Dear guest, thanks so much for taking your time to write this positive review. We are happy you enjoyed your stay. It's true, one morning we faced a problem with the water. Fortunately we could fix it the same day, but that caused the low pressure, apologies for that. we do happy to welcome you again at Zenji! Best wishes, the Zenji Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?

What a lovely hotel! Centrally located right in Stonetown. Nice, spacious and clean rooms with air conditioning. Delicious breakfast with fresh fruit and choice on the rooftop/roof terrace and very friendly staff.
Definitely recommended if you want to go to Stonetown.
Definitely recommended if you want to go to Stonetown.
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Automatically translated
Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.


We stayed at Zenji Hotel for 2 nights. The rooms were beautifully decorated and had both air con and fans.
The staff were all extremely helpful and friendly.
The rooftop breakfast and coffee was delicious!
Highly recommended and good value for money.
The staff were all extremely helpful and friendly.
The rooftop breakfast and coffee was delicious!
Highly recommended and good value for money.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
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.
Response from ZenjiHotel, Owner at Zenji Hotel
Responded Feb 28, 2020
Dear guest, that is such a compliment. thank you! Wow, villa... Very happy you enjoyed your stay with us and we hope to meet again. Warm regards, The Zenji Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Great experience, lovely hotel with super friendly and helpful people. Room was perfect!
Highly recommended. You have to go to Stone Town at all.
The owners also own Chako which recycles waste and employs single women and youth without education. Special people with a beautiful mission.
Highly recommended. You have to go to Stone Town at all.
The owners also own Chako which recycles waste and employs single women and youth without education. Special people with a beautiful mission.
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Automatically translated
Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
We spent 5 nights here in two different rooms. The rooms had character, with authentic style beds and the more expensive one had plenty of room. Being located on a major street, the rooms are VERY LOUD. This is not the fault of the hotel, but should be reported as a fact to consider. The breakfast staff were helpful and friendly and the breakfast meals were good. The staff in the shop/boutique were surly and unhelpful, and the prices were excessive. The front desk staff was friendly, but overcharged for every service offerred. Taxis, for example will cost double if booked through the hotel rather that outside on the street right in front of the hotel. Also, the tour services were much more expensive that what the traveller can book themselves directly. I suspected the excess goes to the hotel, and this is confirmed by another review written recently. Generally, the actual experience of staying in this hotel does not match the slick hype of their very polished website.
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Date of stay: August 2011Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â the more expensive rooms are more liveable
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.
I stayed here for 4 nights and was very pleased with my reception and the people that worked there. Everyone was very helpful. The room was well furnished and roomy, nothing special about the bathroom. It had A+ air conditioning which I would have died without it was so hot and humid. The only note I would put on here is that it is very much in the heart of stone town and the street traffic is very very busy. It is quite noisy during the day, but it quiets down after about 9:30 at night. The breakfasts were tasty and pleasant on the rooftop. There is an attached restaurant on the ground floor if you don't want to go too far for lunch or dinner but it's just ok. I would try exploring and trust recommendations from staff.
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Date of stay: July 2019
Rooms
Location
Service
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.
Response from ZenjiHotel, Owner at Zenji Hotel
Responded Aug 21, 2019
Dear Gracie, thank you so much for taking time to review us. Very nice to read you liked our hotel and team. We, indeed, try to give as many recommendations to the guests as possible, so they have a choice of where to go. There are so many nice places to have diner in Stonetown. We hope will meet again one day! All the best, the Zenji Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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"The proximity to the ferry terminal a major factor for us, but because of that there is noise from the ship yard that may bother some people"Read full review
"To avoid airport hassle and chaos you can ask hotel to provide an airpot transfer."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
$54 - $68 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
TanzaniaZanzibar ArchipelagoZanzibar IslandZanzibar CityStone Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Zenji Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Zenji Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Darajani Bazaar (0.3 miles), Zanzibar Interest Tours & Travels (0.3 miles), and Old Dispensary (0.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Zenji Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Zenji Hotel?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a desk, and extra long beds.
What food & drink options are available at Zenji Hotel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Zenji Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Emerson Spice Tea House Restaurant, Secret Garden Restaurant at Emerson Spice, and The Swahili House.
Does Zenji Hotel have airport transportation?
Yes, Zenji Hotel offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are there any historical sites close to Zenji Hotel?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Mkunazini, Urban West, Zanzibar (0.5 miles), David Livingstone's place of rest (0.3 miles), and Tippu Tip's House (0.7 miles).