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Emerson Spice Hotel

3.5 star property
Bask in the charm of Stone Town from this seaside haven. Savor fresh seafood while taking advantage of convenient services that make your stay seamless.

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Photo gallery for Emerson Spice Hotel

Room (Violetta) | Individually decorated, individually furnished, laptop workspace
Front of property
2 restaurants, lunch, dinner served; seafood
Room (Camille) | Individually decorated, individually furnished, laptop workspace
Room (Belle) | Individually decorated, individually furnished, laptop workspace
Located in historic Stone Town, Emerson Spice Hotel offers a tranquil retreat with continental breakfast, seafood dining options at two on-site restaurants and relaxing spaces like the garden and terrace. Enjoy laundry facilities, luggage storage and tour assistance during your stay. Previous guests rave about the helpful staff.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Airport transfer
  • Bar
  • Laundry facilities
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi

Main amenities (12)

  • Daily housekeeping
  • Near the beach
  • 2 restaurants and bar/lounge
  • Beach towels
  • Room service
  • Airport shuttle
  • Terrace
  • Air conditioning
  • Garden
  • Front-desk safe
  • Self-serve laundry
  • Luggage storage

Feel at home (6)

  • Garden
  • Terrace
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Laundry facilities
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Deep soaking bathtub

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 5 of 5 rooms

View all photos for Room (Camille)

Room (Camille) | Individually decorated, individually furnished, laptop workspace

Room (Camille)

Highlights

Furnished balcony or patio
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Ceiling fan
Blackout drapes/curtains
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Violetta)

Room (Violetta) | Individually decorated, individually furnished, laptop workspace

Room (Violetta)

Highlights

Furnished balcony or patio
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Ceiling fan
Blackout drapes/curtains
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Semele)

Room (Semele) | Individually decorated, individually furnished, laptop workspace

Room (Semele)

Highlights

Furnished balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Refrigerator
Separate bedroom
Ceiling fan
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Design Twin Room (Mimi)

Design Twin Room (Mimi) | Individually decorated, individually furnished, laptop workspace

Design Twin Room (Mimi)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Ceiling fan
Blackout drapes/curtains
Deep soaking bathtub
  • 344 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Large Twin Beds

View all photos for Room (Belle)

Room (Belle) | Individually decorated, individually furnished, laptop workspace

Room (Belle)

Highlights

Furnished balcony or patio
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Ceiling fan
Blackout drapes/curtains
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

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About the neighborhood

Map
Stone Town, Zanzibar Town

What's nearby

  • Slave Market - 3 min walk
  • Old Fort - 6 min walk
  • Shangani Beach - 6 min walk
  • Forodhani Gardens - 6 min walk
  • Zanzibar Ferry Terminal - 8 min walk

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) - 15 min drive
  • Airport shuttle (surcharge)

Restaurants

  • ‪Cape Town Fish Market - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Passing Show Hotel - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Meeting Point Cafe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Lukmaan - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Livingstone Beach Restaurant - ‬7 min walk

About this property

Emerson Spice Hotel

Located just 4.9 mi (7.9 km) from the airport, Emerson Spice Hotel offers a shuttle (available 24 hours). Guests looking for a bite to eat can check out Rooftop restaurant, one of 2 restaurants, which serves seafood and is open for lunch and dinner. Other features include a bar/lounge, a terrace, and a garden. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff.

Languages

English, Swahili

At a glance

DONE

Hotel size

    • 10 rooms
    • Arranged over 5 floors
DONE

Arriving/Leaving

    • Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
    • Minimum check-in age: 18
    • Check-out time is 10:00 AM
DONE

Special check-in instructions

    • This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
    • The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
    • Front desk staffed during limited hours
    • This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
DONE

Required at check-in

    • Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
    • Government-issued photo ID may be required
    • Minimum check-in age is 18
DONE

Pets

    • No pets or service animals allowed
WIFI

Internet

    • Free WiFi in public areas
    • Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING

Parking

    • No onsite parking
DONE

Transfers

    • Airport shuttle on request (available 24 hours)*
DONE

Other information

    • Designated smoking areas

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast each morning 7:00 AM–10:00 AM
  • 2 restaurants
  • Bar/lounge
  • Room service (limited hours)

What to do

  • Beach nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby

Services

  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Beach towels
  • Bike storage

Facilities

  • 1 building/tower
  • Built in 1870
  • Safe-deposit box at front desk
  • Garden
  • Terrace
  • Bicycle parking
  • At least 80% of food locally-sourced
  • At least 80% organic food
  • Vegan dining options
  • Vegetarian dining options
  • Locally-owned & organized tours & activities
  • Local artist showcase
  • At least 10% of profits reinvested in community & sustainability
  • Local culture & ecosystem education
  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Comprehensive food waste policy
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • No plastic soda bottles
  • No plastic coffee stirrers
  • No plastic drinking straws
  • No plastic water bottles
  • Reusable cups only
  • Reusable tableware only
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

Home comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan

Sleep well

  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Turndown service
  • Bed sheets provided

What to enjoy

  • Individually furnished and decorated

Freshen up

  • Partially open bathroom
  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • Shower/tub combination
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Towels
  • Toilet paper

Stay connected

  • Laptop-friendly workspace
  • Free WiFi
  • Electrical adapters/chargers

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water

More

  • Daily housekeeping
  • Water-efficient toilets only
  • Guidebooks/recommendations
  • Local maps

Special features

Dining

Rooftop restaurant - This seafood restaurant specializes in seafood and serves lunch and dinner. Guests can order drinks at the bar and enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). Reservations are required.
Secret Garden - Overlooking the garden, this restaurant specializes in local and international cuisine and serves lunch and dinner. Guests can order drinks at the bar and enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). Open daily.

Fees & policies

Refundable deposits

  • Deposit is payable by bank transfer and is due within 24 hours of booking the reservation

Mandatory fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges by the property at check-in or check-out. Fees may include applicable taxes:
  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 4.00 per person, per night

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of USD 25 per vehicle (one-way)

Renovations and closures

The property is closed between April 21 and May 20.

Children & extra beds

  • Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cribs/infant beds and high chairs

Policies

Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed.
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
This property does not have elevators.
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit on site.
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash.

Also known as

Emerson Spice Hotel Hotel
Emerson Spice Hotel Zanzibar Town
Emerson Spice Hotel Hotel Zanzibar Town

Frequently asked questions

Is Emerson Spice Hotel currently open?

The property is closed between April 21 and May 20.

Are pets allowed at Emerson Spice Hotel?

Sorry, pets and service animals aren't allowed.

Is parking offered on site at Emerson Spice Hotel?

Sorry, there's no onsite parking at Emerson Spice Hotel.

Is airport shuttle service offered by Emerson Spice Hotel?

Yes, an airport shuttle is available. The charge is USD 25 per vehicle one-way.

What are the check-in and check-out times at Emerson Spice Hotel?

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM. Check-out time is 10:00 AM.

What is there to do at Emerson Spice Hotel and nearby?

Have fun with nearby activities like boat tours, kayaking, and scuba diving. Emerson Spice Hotel also has a garden.

Are there restaurants at or near Emerson Spice Hotel?

Yes, there are 2 onsite restaurants, featuring alfresco dining, seafood, and garden views.

Does Emerson Spice Hotel have rooms with private hot tubs?

Yes, each room has a deep soaking bathtub.

What's the area around Emerson Spice Hotel like?

Emerson Spice Hotel is in Stone Town, a short 3-minute walk from House of Wonders and 3 minutes' walk from Slave Market.

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Emerson Spice Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

9.4/10

Amenities

9.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Exceptional

Everything amazing!
Amazing, great people, great food, great hotel. Rooms are beautiful, comfy, clean!
2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Fantastic place in heart of old Stonetown. Beautiful unique rooms, fantastic food in a rooftop restaurant with an an amazing view, and and a very helpful staff.
Janet, 3-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Exceptional
This small hotel is in the middle of Stone Town, and it is beautiful. The staff are attentive, without being intrusive, the manager is so professional and knowledgeable, and the standard of comfort is of the highest order. Breakfast was served on the roof terrace and consisted of a wonderful selection of fruit followed by eggs and a pastry. We had the taster menu one evening, and it was exceptional. This is a very special hotel, and we had an unforgettable stay.
heike, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Excellent stay in a place immersed in history.

10/10 Exceptional

Great ambience
Great ambience, a special experience. Set menu dinner at the rooftop restaurant was good, breakfast as well.
Heidi, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

The staff are beyond friendly
Marcela A., 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Amazing historic hotel
Beautiful histric hotel in the heart of Stonetown. Lots od stairs and no elevator but the views are amazing! Great breakfast too!
Suzanne, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

A wonderful hotel
Lovely hotel Really good and friendly service Fabulous ambience Beautiful breakfast
Greg, 4-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

An older building, filled with antiques. Incredible service. Thoroughly loved our stay.
Michael, 3-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Loved the character of the building. The details were tasteful and well designed. Such a unique place to stay!

10/10 Exceptional

An extraordinary hotel
Originally the building served as a residence for the last Swahili king and you can feel the atmosphere in this extraordinary hotel, perfectly located in the middle of Stone Town. Rooms are like suites and uniquely designed. Staff are very service minded and the restaurant on the roof top serves a unique and very well tasting fixed menu every night in an open air space. Both rates and price for 5 course dinner (40 USD) is very competitive in relation to what you get.
Jan, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

The staff was fantastic! Special thanks to Rashid and Wakili for going above and beyond to insure that I had everything I needed and then some! The rooms were spacious, clean, and, beautifully decorated.
karen, 3-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

The staff was welcoming and friendly. The hotel was clean and elegant. The atmosphere was perfect but the call to prayer at 5:15 was a bit disturbing.
Robert, 3-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Our experience was amazing. The architecture is superb, the staff extraordinarily helpful and we had such an amazing time. The rooftop is breathtaking and all the staff is kind and polite. We want to return soon.
Angela, 3-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

The house is spectacular…as is the service! It’s a “living museum” reminiscent of the bygone era of a Sultan’s exquisite existence.
Donna, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

From a warm and professional welcome through to the art as if antiques in the room, Emerson Spice was a most positive and enjoyable experience.
Gary, 2-night trip

8/10 Very good

Secret Gem
Really authentic building. The building is old and the owners have tried to keep the originality of the building by keeping original features . Its in the winding streets of the old town , so no vehicles except scooters allowed. The staff are great , everyone smiles and are so helpful. The room we stayed in Lamore had a outside shower on a balcony , seems strange, but it was very private and great to have a shower outside
Alan, 2-night trip

6/10 Good

This hotel does not have elevator, not good for older people.The area is too crowded and loud, but if you are looking for antique hotel this might be for you.
Anil, 4-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great service, elegant & clean rooms, friendly & professional staff. They made our stay extremely comfortable and pleasant. The roof top breakfast/dinner experience was magical which we had meals in both hotels. There is no elevator in both hotels - so, it's a big hike. Will definitely come again!!!
Selvamuthu, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Amazing
Amazing. The best hotel experience I have ever had. I’ve traveled to 52 countries and stayed at many places. This is the best so far. I will be back. Amazing staff so kind .
Alexa, 2-night trip

8/10 Very good

It is a very nice old hotel which maintains the feel of past times. The only problem for me, as an old man with bad knees is having to climb more than 70 stairs to my room, the last part on very creaky stairs. The view is magnificent from the roof and the breakfast was excellent with a great variety of frutis
Richard, 2-night trip

8/10 Very good

The Emerson Spice Hotel used to be the Swahili Sultan's place. The rooms are beautifully appointed. Rustic furniture adds to the ambiance. My room was on the top floor which means 3 flights of stairs. The hotel is located on a narrow street. This means that taxis cannot come up to the hotel.
Kulendran, 3-night trip

8/10 Very good

cozy ambience
Great location in Stone Town, very cozy ambience and nice staff. Fantastic outdoor bathroom. Not very practical, many floors and no lift, beds very hard for our European body. Hotel arranged band/music Friday evening, which unfortunatly disturbed many guests, as rooms do not have propper doors/windows.
Mark, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Fabulous and unforgettable stay in Stone Town
Staying two nights at Emerson Spice Hotel was such a memorable experience that I would happily recommend to anyone visiting Stone Town. The property itself is gorgeous; all of the walking tours stop in front of the hotel to point it out. Each of the guest rooms is unique and truly spectacular, and it was such a pleasure being encouraged to explore the unoccupied ones during our time there. The front desk staff was so helpful with everything from airport transfers, ferry ticket purchases, restaurant reservations, taxis, and laundry services. We loved the generous breakfasts on the rooftop each morning and thought that our dinners at the Tea House and the Secret Garden were both excellent. We weren't so lucky with the weather during our visit, so we were extra grateful to pass the time in such a beautiful and friendly hotel. Thank you to the entire team for making our stay so lovely.
2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

TARCISIO, 2-night trip