Hotel Matlai is designed as an exclusive villa resort for people seeking a high level of comfort and privacy in a relaxed atmosphere. The hotel contains of two villas, Asili House and Villa Kidosho. Both villas are directly on the beach, embedded in abounded blooming and scented plants. Asili House is designed with natural African and Swahili elements, Villa Kidosho in oriental style. Therefore the villas combine the typical african and arabic influences which have shaped the character of Zanzibar.
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
Romantic
Luxury
Languages Spoken
German
Location
Plot No. 622/5/206, Pingwe Tanzania
Boutique Hotel Matlai
345 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
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.
Hotels are often described ‘boutique’ but here it is completely different level and impossible to compare with anywhere we stayed. Everything was perfect when we visited. The owners were really nice with the guests and the butlers were most kind and helpful. Dinners in different parts of the garden were unforgettable and the food delicious. The room was so special, the bathroom huge and with idillic view to beach. Everything was relaxing and the hotel made us feel spoiled. This part of the island is a good mix of resorts but not too busy at all. You are far from shops etc but we found that Zanzibar is not very well equipped for tourists outside the resorts... not much outside old town anyway. The only small negative was that room service team basically kicked us out at 10am even though we agreed with the owners to stay till 11am... they literally enter the room and started cleaning with us still in the room.... anyway, we highly recommend this hotel, it is a really special place and if rest, relax and peace is what you need, look no further!
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip 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.
If you are looking for some R&R with stunning scenery this is the place. Everything was truly wonderful. The owner Inge and her husband actually met us at the entrance when we arrived, a very pleasant surprise. Our room was full of intimate details, from the fresh flower petals to the bedtime stories left on the bed with turn down service. We stayed in the Mwezi (Swahili for moon) room of Villa Kidosho. The villa itself has the most amazing views. It was incredible that you can walk out into the Indian ocean for a good mile in knee deep water.
As beautiful as the scenery was, the staff multiplied the wonderful experience we had. Erick's warm and cheerful personality gave us a wonderful welcome. Regina and Omar were beyond words. They were so very thoughtful. We enjoyed every conversation with them. Chef Saleh and his food were gifts from heaven! We enjoyed every bite of everything we ate! He even came out to meet us while we were being served our 10 year anniversary dinner. We are so in love with Boutique Hotel Matlai and will definitely be back!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip 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.
Response from IngeB665, Inhaber at Boutique Hotel Matlai
Responded Feb 4, 2020
Dear guests, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. You made our staff so happy with your lovely comments, specially Chef Saleh was more than proud. Villa Kidosho is the perfect place for a romantic special occasion. We would be very delighted to welcoming you again soon. Kindest regards Inge
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Boutique Hotel Matlai is an incredible property with top notch, personalized service. No small detail was overlooked by the owners. You can tell they took many years of travel experiences to ensure guests have all they need in an idyllic setting. You could choose various locations where your meals would be privately served, be it breakfast on your terrace overlooking the ocean, a candlelit dinner on the beach or in one of the many garden nooks, to a lunch at the bar or to take on an excursion. The suites are very spacious with claw footed tub and walk in shower and all have gorgeous views. There are limited units so you feel like you have the place to yourselves. The waters are pristine with sandbars and snorkeling to see tropical fish just off the beaches. Most of all, the people working there made you feel like family and were very accommodating and friendly. Will definitely return when back in Tanzania!
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip 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 Inge Becker-Boost, Owner at Boutique Hotel Matlai
Responded Oct 24, 2022
Dear guests, Thanks for choosing to stay with us, and taking time to review our small hotel. We are glad that your stay with us was a memorable one! We are very happy that our staff and services met your needs. Warmest regards Tim & Inge
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We stayed 6 nights in Ashili House and it was the most perfect relaxation after a busy safari in Ruaha.
The location is wonderful- right on the beach and we loved the sandbar at low tide to walk/swim out to.
We absolutely loved our butler Derick who was fabulous and great company - as were all of the staff. Food can be served whenever you require it and we loved the seclusion and beauty of the place.
Our room was spotless and the art created on our bed every day was beautiful and a great joy!
Would recommend doing the snorkelling and starfish tour that the hotel organised. The spa was also an amazing experience.
Would not hesitate to recommend - a beautifully managed hotel. Thdd as no you so much Inge.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
Response from Inge Matlai, General Manager at Boutique Hotel Matlai
Responded Jan 12, 2023
Dear guests, Thank you very much for staying at our place and for your amazing review. We are extremely happy that you were so excited about our little paradise and its staff. Kindest regards Inge
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We spent 7 days at Hotel Matlai after a safari and could not have been happier. There are SO many reasons that you should stay here, but see below for a list of top reasons: 1. Rooms: We stayed in the Mwezi Room of Villa Kidosho, which was extremely spacious, comfortable and light-filled. From the patio, you can go directly to the pool, ocean and uniquely curated lounge areas (i.e. lounge chairs, hanging daybed, shaded verandas, etc.) which leads to an abundance of wonderful places to spend your days right from your door. 2. Location: In our minds, Hotel Matlai offered the best of both worlds in that it was directly on the beach but also is very lush and spacious, making it feel secluded. There are restaurants, a dive shop and market up and down the beach, so plenty to do if you're looking to explore the area. There is also endless opportunities for running/walking on the beach, especially at low tide. I was able to do an 18 mile run on the beach one morning and still didn't tire of the views, which feels like a huge testament to the amazing location :) 3. Service: The team at Hotel Matlai so dedicated and extremely professional, while also being approachable and friendly. They go so far above and beyond to make sure your every need/want is met - from morning and nightly turn-down services to suggesting recommendations based on your preferences (i.e. the scent of the room, dietary preferences, etc). 4. Food and drink: There was a newly curated menu each night, with such great balance. I am vegetarian and had an abundance of options for every meal and never ate the same thing twice.
Hotel Matlai is one of a kind and while I could go on and on, will leave it at: don't look any further and book this spot!! :)
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Date of stay: September 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
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 Inge Becker-Boost, Owner at Boutique Hotel Matlai
Responded Oct 24, 2022
Dear guests, Thank you very much for staying at our place and for taking the time to leave this wonderful comment. We are so happy to learn that you enjoyed your time here, appreciating every single aspect of the rooms, the food and the service. It was nice to meet you. We hope to welcome you again soon. Kindest regards Inge & Tim
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Firstly can I say ignore the review by Wilma, their criticism is ridiculous and reading it sounds like they would moan about anything.
We had an amazing 8 night stay. We were a party of 8 so took over the whole of Asili House. It worked so well.
Prior to our stay we spent two nights in the hustle and bustle of Stone Town so it was so nice to arrive and be well welcomed with a cool towel and drink as Inge explained everything. The rooms and the grounds are better in read l life than the photos.
The rooms have everything you need. They are beautifully furnished and decorated with flowers to welcome you.
The pool was perfect with an amazing backdrop of the ocean.
The food was delicious and there was a good choice and coukd be eaten in a choice of locations in the gardens or the bar or House.
The staff are very friendly and go to great lengths to ensure a happy stay. It was very sad to say good bye. Our son Harry enjoyed paying table football with them.
The open air cinema was a big hit and we all enjoyed a couple of films with popcorn and drinks.
Lovely beach and good snorkelling.
We would love to return.
Thank you all
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Date of stay: January 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 IngeB665, Inhaber at Boutique Hotel Matlai
Responded Jan 29, 2020
Dear family, Thanks so much for your great review! I was a pleasure to have you here and to celebrate the New Year with you. It was amazing for us that you did the open air cinema with the entire group, we were not sure if the place fits for 8 people - and we were happy that you enjoyed it and booked it again. It would be great to welcome you again in the future. Kindest regards Inge
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My husband and I had three nights here to start our honeymoon. We can honestly say this is a hotel you will always remember. The welcome is lovely, the atmosphere and setting just perfect and the pool amazing. It is very relaxing, with only a few other rooms which means you have the luxury of many spaces to enjoy and relax in. The little touches are amazing, you can choose the room fragrance, the bath salts and then a bedroom story at night to enjoy. It really is a place to remember and make memories. We did the open air cinema and it was just magical.
The bedroom so comfy and the bathroom just beautiful with lovely local products in.
The food was good, and enjoying this in private and choosing where you like is incredible. The breakfast delicious and so many options. The best part, the staff and customer service is exceptional. Nothing is too much trouble and I enjoyed hearing about local life too. We really do thank the team from Omar, Mo’hd and Marianne is house keeping! You are all so kind.
I would say 3 days was enough for us as it really is pure relaxation and very private- but if you are looking for a relaxing, special memory for your honeymoon or holiday please don’t doubt this place and book it! We stayed in another local hotel after with amazing reviews and it just didn’t compare- I think you definitely pay for what you get here and Matlai will be one you remember forever!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip 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.
Response from IngeB665, Inhaber at Boutique Hotel Matlai
Responded Feb 4, 2020
Dear guests, Thank you so much for your great and detailed review. Our team is always happy when guests show their appreciation for their work. For guests looking for a place to relax and be pampered in a private environment or looking for a romantic place for their honeymoon Matlai is perfect. I wish you all the best. Kindest regards Inge
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We came to Zanzibar for our honeymoon and stayed at the Matlai Hotel for 7 days. We had the most amazing experience! The place is gorgeous, only 6 rooms, all facing the pools and the beautiful beach. Service was implacable, we felt like true royalty. Everything is souper clean all the time and they kept on surprising us with small attentions every single day. We will definitely come back in the future and in the meantime we recommend all of those who want to have a perfect vacation to choose this mesmerising hotel.
Thank you Matlai for an unforgettable week!
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip 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.
“Where to start? The warm and attentive staff, the actual hotel, the beach, the pool, the gorgeous room, the view of both the pool and the beach from the room, the beautiful balcony. Our room was made beautifully every day, they even prepared it for us for night time while we had dinner. The food was excellent! So were the cocktails. The hotel had an a lot of cool areas with hammocks, suspended beds to chill on, gorgeous garden area, etc. They also had a spa on site. For meals, you could request to have it at the restaurant, your own balcony, or a surprise spot. They would put a table in a great spot for you to enjoy dinner, what a dream! The hotel was nice and quiet, with only 6 rooms total on the property. The owner was also very nice and helpful, checking in on us and offering great tips of things to do around.”
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Date of stay: March 2021
Rooms
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.
This hotel is by far one of the best hotels we ever stayed in Zanzibar. This hotel is not just an ordinary place. From the moment we walked in, we were amazed by the uniqueness of this place. Things are done differently here what makes this hotel very special.
One thing that we loved is that we could pick our dining location. For breakfast, we chose to dine on our private deck, with a stunning views of the beach and rising sun. For lunch, we decided to dine at the restaurant and for dinner, we picked a romantic table in the garden or on the beach. This is an amazing idea and we loved it.
The service was exceptional with a butler always available, very polite and helpful. The rooms are gorgeously decorated, modern but with lots of African details. We loved the bathtub and comfortable beds and linen. We had our private deck, and loungers and access to the beach. We loved to relax on the swing loungers and at the beautiful infinity pool.
The stay at Matlai is truly magical. We miss it a lot and will definitely go back there and recommend it to everyone who wants a peaceful, relaxing and refreshing vacation in Zanzibar.
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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 love children and we provide all equipment for children, but in both villas the pool and the sun terraces are very close to the rooms and as we have many honeymooners and couples, who visit Matlai for spending quiet and relaxing holidays, they could feel disturbed by playing children. On the other hand it might not be very comfortable for parents to keep the small ones quiet the whole day. Therefore young children can be only accepted for bookings of the entire villa. The minimum age for bookings of individual rooms is 12 years.
Villa Kidosho is the perfect accommodation for families, because it has two rooms and its own swimming pool.
Yes. You can walk to the sandbank. Behind you can go snorkeling. The hotel provides you a map and staff is helpful to show you the way where you have to walk.
There are more places to choose from in the Pingwe area.
PRICE RANGE
$411 - $510 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
TanzaniaZanzibar ArchipelagoZanzibar IslandPingwe
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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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