Zanzibar is the coast at its best. The coast and Zanzibar in particular, beats to a different, slower drum. Meals are a social occasion, the cooking of which takes time, the eating of which should be savoured and appreciated while conversation is usually lively. As such, service in restaurants can sometimes be a bit slower than what you're used to, waiters are also more deferential while having very little control of what is ultimately the cook's domain.

Bear this in mind, relax, enjoy the conversation and order another beer!

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This Zanzibar Restaurant Guide gives details about the Zanzibari cuisine, as well as some recommendations on where to experience it whilst on the island. General information about local Tanzanian cuisine can be found on our Tanzania Restaurant Guide.

Zanzibar Restaurant Guide

Culture is no where reflected more strongly than through a people's food and Zanzibari food speaks of empires and invaders that have left their mark in the mixture of African, Indian and Arabic food. Swahili women will advise that a night of love will require foods cooked with cinnamon. If the baby is fretting, a pinch of nutmeg will do the trick.

Traditional cuisine is usually sea food or meat cooked in a thick gravy of coconut, spiced with home-grown spices. These are accompanied by wali (boiled rice), ugali, (made from maize or cassava flour), pilau ( spiced rice) or chapatti (unleavened bread). For an all-in-one combination, try a mantabali or Zanzibari pizza (a stuffed chapatti), or the variety of vegetable or meat filled pockets called samosas.

Alcohol, especially during Ramadhan, is often not on offer but the glorious variety of freshly squeezed fruit juices (including sugar cane, squeezed out of a protesting iron press), dafu (tender coconut) or zamzam tea (spiced tea) are guaranteed to please. Dessert is normally halwa (a version of almond Turkish delight).

To really get into the traditional feel of Zanzibar, there are coffee barazas inside the old town that serve freshly roasted Arabica coffee in tiny handle-less porcelain cups accompanied by a few (hard to eat just one!) mahambri (coconut doughnut) or a hot cup of uji (ugali porridge) that makes for a satisfying breakfast. When in Rome .....

Vegetarian? Not to worry, there is an endless supply of fresh fruit at the market during the day. Grilled cassava, skewers of spiced vegetable or paneer (pressed cottage cheese) and the ubiquitous chips, are the way to go. For a slap-up feed, most Indian restaurants actually favour vegetarians and one will be spoiled for choice.

If you would like a more intimate setting, would like to dress up for dinner, are dying to eat some tiramisu, need a strong drink or just feel like splurging, there is also a wide array of upmarket restaurants that serve an international cuisine.

Restaurants List

Kidude (236 Hurumzi)

Behind the house of wonders, formrly Emerson and Green, the current name is 236 Hurumzi. Here you can eat in wonderful surrounding on the rooftop; if you are not staying here you need to book a day ahead as space on the roof is limited. Fixed dinner menus with the emphasis on seafood, expect to pay in the region of US$30 and take all evening to enjoy the excellent food and sumptuous setting.

Type : Top end

Address : 236 Hurumzi Street - Stone Town

Opening hours : 20:00 to to 23:00

Africa House Hotel

Well as a bar and disco, there are 2 restaurants at the Africa House. Tradewinds is the more formal of the two with very good gourmet cuisine as well as Swahili dishes and seafood, whilst the Sunset Grill has an outside terrace, fresh fish and BBQ meat grills. Now the hotel has been renovated the athmosphere and service are excellent.

Type : Mid range

Address : Africa House Shangani Street

Opening hours : 09:00 to to 23:00

La Fenice

An Italien property, on seafront just around the corner from the Serena Inn. Does a good lunch as well as a good dinner, authentic continental ans Swahili seafood dishes

Type : Mid range

Address : Shangani Street

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 12:00

Archipelago

Kenyatta Road, opposite the National Bank of Commerce, open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, traditional Swahili dishes, salads, burgers and daily specials. Good coffee and cakes. Outdoor terrace with modern furniture overlooking the harbour.

Type : Mid range

Address : Kenyatta Road

Opening hours : 09:00 to to 22:00

Mercury's

Staff at Mercury's Restaurant in Stone Town, Zanzibar Atmospheric wooden outdoor terraceoverlooking the harbour, serves pizzas, pasta, seafood barbecue and coctails with goo service. Great place to watch football games on the beah but food is a little averspiced.

Type : Mid range

Address : Mizingani Road

Phone : 24 2233076

Opening hours : 09:00 to to 23:00

Swahili Cuisine

This is a test to see where the cuisine section goes. I could add pictures in here.

Le Spices Rendez-vous

Formaly the Maharaja Restaurant, it still serves up excellent Indian meals,snacks and seafood. African music and dance on tuesday avenings. price have risen steepy since the change of ownership. Recommended

Type : Mid range

Address : Kenyatta Road Near the High Court

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Forodhani Gardens

Here you can get excellent meat or prawn kebabs, lobstar, grilled calamari and fish, corn on the cob, casava and curries all very cheaply. It is very popular with tourists who return night, and fun to wander around even if you don't feel hungry. If you are thirsty, try some fresh coconut milk or freshly squeezed sugar cane juice. The " Zanzibar Pizza". You might need to haggle ovr some of the prices, but you will still come away very full with change from US$5. Just ensure everything is cooked well and inspect it carefully in the dim light. If it's not ask the vendor to throw it back on the coals for a little longer. After dinner you can also get excellent ice cream from the vendor at the noerht end of the market, who very usefully will also niform you of up-to date European football results!

Type : Low

Address : Forodhani Garden

Opening hours : 18:00 to to 23:00

Livingstone Beach Restaurant

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Type : Mid Range

Address : Stone Town

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 12:00

Mangapwani Seafood Grill

Spend a day at exotic Mangapwani Serena Beach Club and enjoy sun, sand, sea sumptuous seafood and the exploration of the Mangapwani Salve Caves. Takes a dhow cruise or a dolphin cruise

Sample some of our sultanesque beauty and massage treatments and indulge in some traditional henna body painting.

Type : Top End

Address : Serena Inn Hotel

Email : info@zenithtours.com

Opening hours : 09:00 to to 14:00

Restaurants in Zanzibar

Zanzibar Restaurant Guide

Restaurants List

Kidude (236 Hurumzi)

Africa House Hotel

La Fenice

Archipelago

Mercury's

Swahili Cuisine

Le Spices Rendez-vous

Forodhani Gardens

Livingstone Beach Restaurant

Mangapwani Seafood Grill

Local time: 02:52:49 PM

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