The views amazing and enjoyed the amazing fresh breakfast. The hotel deco it's beautiful, the pool was under renovation unfortunately .

Stayed in May 2024

Breakfast staff a little slow

Room layout, breakfast, staff

Stayed in April 2024

It is a little tired and needs maintenance

Location, view from restaurant and decor and pool

Stayed in May 2024

Room was good but I wish there was more light. I stayed for only one night but I could visit areas nearby on foot

Stayed in April 2024

They charge everything in US$ which is not favorable for residents who earn in local currency (TSh)

Decor and location

Stayed in April 2024

The security safe in the room did not work. I also don't appreciate being presented menu in USD while the local currency is Shilling. I am not American, neither are they. But this is an issue across the entire island.

The building of the hotel is very unique. The pool has a chilled vibe. Staff were very helpful.

Stayed in March 2024

AC went in our room on 1 night which made it a little warm

Breakfast was very nice, the views from the balcony of the sea are fantastic and overall we had a brilliant time at the hotel. It was raining on one of the days but they gave us an umbrella and organised all our tours. We did spice tour, slave tour, prison island tour and stone town tour. All very much worth doing!

Stayed in April 2024

Lots of water stains and mold in the bedroom and bathroom (but I think that's common in such a humid area). I paid for a room with a balcony, but the balcony was too small and crowded with furniture to enjoy -- no room to sit! No shower curtain, so bathroom floor got soaked. Although I had a lovely 4-night stay and ate dinner at the restaurant 3 of my 4 nights, I was asked to pay an extra $10/hour for a late checkout (for 3 hours after the 11:00 am checkout). The front desk clerk told me that the hotel was fully booked (not true -- I had just checked booking.com and had seen that rooms were available for that night)...I would understand if a late checkout was not possible because the hotel was fully booked, but then why would he have allowed a late checkout if I paid for it? I felt this was petty. I asked to speak to the manager -- who never came out of his adjacent office to speak with me. This left a bad taste...especially because there are no air-conditioned public spaces where I could sit and work. I had 20+ hours of traveling ahead of me and didn't want to be a sweaty mess. I would not recommend this hotel for business travelers. However, it is a good value.

Beautiful antiques throughout. Common areas very clean. Pool is clean and refreshing. Breakfast buffet is outstanding (omelette station, plenty of fresh fruits, tons of pastries, hot food changed daily, delicious coffee and spiced tea!). Restaurant is spotty (pasta mediocre, but grilled rock lobster was one of the best meals I've had in a while!). Beautiful view of harbor from restaurant. Great location. Easily accessible by taxi (not all hotels or guest houses are). Room was comfortable. A/C worked well. Two bottles of water delivered daily was a nice touch. In-room fridge.

Stayed in April 2024

Nothing.

Lovely setting. Spacious rooms with lots of character. Good breakfast on pretty balcony. Helpful and friendly staff. Walking distance to all sights in the Old Town.

Stayed in April 2024

Being at the front of the property, it was a little noisy next to the road and ferry

Friendly staff, excellent breakfast buffet and lovely pool. Great location, beautiful views and easy walking distance

Stayed in April 2024

Everything was old and worn off, the sheets had holes , the towels had stains, the appliances at breakfast looked old and not clean

Great location, old colonial building with nice decor

Stayed in April 2024

Needs better wifi

The property is the real gem here, absolutely beautiful! It also has a nice swimming pool and pool table which my teenager and I enjoyed playing in the evenings. We took the ferry to Zanzibar and walked 3 minutes to the hotel. Staff are friendly and the room was clean. Only downside was the wifi didnt work in the room we had on the first floor, and when we returned after a couple days away we got a room on the top floor which has slightly better but still not great wifi. Breakfast was good, a lot of variety and the views from the dining area alone are amazing! Love this place!

Stayed in March 2024

The beds are a little uncomfortable.

Beautiful decore and a wonderful location.

Stayed in January 2024

The breakfast was as good as advertised. The view was wonderful and there were many choices. The breads were very good as was the fresh fruit. The hotel was classic in architecture and interior decorating. Very intriguing decorations and wooden staircases. Unique balcony overlooking the pool. The shower/bathroom looked unusual but was excellent in performance. We had limited time here--just our first night from airport and staged our tour of Stonetown and the spice tour in the afternoon. We went to the east side resorts for our 2nd and 3rd nights.

Stayed in March 2024

It's not a major complaint, but the beautiful bathroom with its exotic bathing facilities in mosaic tiles had just a spray shower - perfectly adequate, but an actual fixed shower would have been easier to use. Also, for religious reasons no alcohol is served in the restaurant so a cool glass of wine had to be procured at other establishments in the town. Both these observations are just for information, not criticism.

Fascinating old merchant's 'palace' built around open-air courtyards; very atmospheric with carved wood decor and furniture. The private veranda was a privilege, although it was so hot by 10am that it was not always usable. Fascinating views of the working harbour, the local tourist boats and graceful dhows, and Zanzibar local life going by, all against the backdrop of the unearthly blue ocean.The service (cleaning, food, general assistance) was excellent. The breakfast was an astonishing array of choices, many of them local delicacies, but always lots of fruit. Great swimming pool in one of the open-air courtyards, and the most elegant, traditional poolside furniture ever! Good air conditioning - and thank goodness because sleep would have been impossible otherwise.

Stayed in January 2024

Smell and difficult rooms

Well located

Stayed in March 2024

Smell was bad, elevator perplex. Not as good for value for money as I would have imagined.

Traditional one next to the old stone town.

Stayed in March 2024

Beautiful lokation, view to the sea front, harbour and Stontown. The pool was very nice, the restaurant good. The staf were kind and very helpful.

Stayed in March 2024

A/C loud and not strong enough. Lack of power in sockets and some of them not working. They give us the wrong room, then give wrong again.

View from top balcony.

Stayed in March 2024

There were constructions works - no piece and silence. Beddings old and tired. Some employees tried to cheate us with rates. Language skills were poor.

Perfect location and interior design. Good breakfast options.

Stayed in March 2024

There was lots of fresh fruit and nice omelettes for breakfast. The hotel is in an attractive building which was enhanced by attractive and appropriate furniture.

Stayed in March 2024

The hotel is so beautiful and our room had a balcony with a view to the pool area. The staff is really friendly and made us feel welcome. The breakfast buffet had many options.

Stayed in February 2024

There were no information of a no alcohol policy, that came as a surprice, but there are watering holes very close. The internet was slow, but that really seems like á minor thing compaired to the location, witch is perfect.

The Hotel is like á labrynth Museum, the furniture all original, the layout perfect. In short it is a gem. The staff was always helpful, cherful and pleasant.

Stayed in March 2024

NOTHING

I was comfortably accommodated by friendly staff. The breakfast was truly delicious fruits. Although the restaurant was hot, I was generally satisfied. The pool water was also clean.

Stayed in March 2024