Top 5 restaurants in Zanzibar
5 Must-Try Restaurants in Zanzibar for an Unforgettable Culinary Experience
The island of Zanzibar is one of those wonderfully exotic names which conjures up mystery, spices and tropical heat. It is all those things and more. It is likely to be your beach destination of choice if you have been on safari in mainland Tanzania or even Kenya.
There exist many all-inclusive beach resorts on the island but for those who are more adventurous, there is a historic, tropical island to discover and meals to eat! Our team has compiled a list of five restaurants that are gastronomically good or are in interesting locations.
Our list of the Top 5 restaurants in Zanzibar is as follows;
1. Mercury's Bar
Stone Town
Named after the eponymous band leader of Queen, this seafood restaurant is the only one in town with a seaside location (mainly views of the harbour). The food is more wholesome than gastronomic but the atmosphere and cold drinks more than make up for it.
Information link: Mercury's Bar
2. Mangapwani Beach Grill and Restaurant
Sea Cliff Resort and Spa
Located on the less-developed northwest coast of Zanzibar near the historically interesting Mangapwani Slave Caves, this is a great place to chill out whilst waiting for your grilled seafood on the beach. If you can imagine sipping a fresh cocktail on a white tropical beach with clear blue water, you have arrived at this destination!
Information link: Mangapwani Beach Grill and Restaurant
3. The Rock
Pingwe, Zanzibar
Located on the southeast of the island, on the Michamwi Pingwe peninsula, about 45 minutes from Stone Town. In a short space of time, this restaurant has become an iconic destination for travellers to Zanzibar. As the name suggests, this thatched restaurant is perched on a rocky outcrop, walkable at low tide and reached by boat at high tide. Excellent seafood but also surprisingly good pasta and more international dishes. Comparatively expensive for Zanzibar but worth every penny.
Information link: The Rock
4. Mtoni Marine's Restaurant and Sports Bar
Stone Town
This beachside restaurant is located just outside of Stone Town and is a short stroll to the Mtoni Palace. It has a casual atmosphere and is frequented by locals and tourists but it is always a pleasure to dine on a beach by candlelight with your toes in the soft white sand. Highly recommended.
Information link: Mtoni Marine's Restaurant and Sports Bar
5. Terrace Seafood Restaurant
Zanzibar Serena Hotel
Gastronomically speaking, one of the best on the island. The restaurant is located on the roof terrace overlooking the bay in Stone Town and features an excellent selection of freshly-caught seafood. Expect to pay nearer international prices but you will not be let down by the quality nor the location.
Information link: Terrace Seafood Restaurant
Top 5 restaurants in Zanzibar by Uyaphi.com
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Map of Lodges in and around Tanzania
Lodges And Camps In Tanzania
Jabali Private House
Jabali Private House is set overlooking dense forest that fringes the bordering Ikuka escarpment in the wildlife and birdlife-rich Ruaha National Park. This Ruaha Private House is the perfect accommodation option in Ruaha for a small group of family or friends that are seeking out a more private safari option.
Tarangire Safari Lodge
At the heart of Tarangire Safari Lodge are the impressively high thatched roofs over looking some of the best views in the whole of Tanzania. The lounge area at Tarangire Safari Lodge has oversized armchairs made from old Zanzibari dhow boats, which make a perfect place to relax in the evenings.
Arusha Serena Hotel
Nestled on the tranquil shores of Lake Duluti, surrounded by verdant coffee plantations and rolling hills, the Arusha Serena Hotel offers a spectacular setting. It is, without a doubt, the perfect haven to relax and unwind before or after an unforgettable Tanzanian or East African safari. Its prime location near Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania's magnificent national parks, makes it an exceptional choice for any discerning traveller.
KIA Lodge
KIA Lodge with her 40 rooms, "your door to Tanzania", just under 3 minutes drive from the Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport, situated on a secluded hill in the heart of beautiful savannah scenery that is so typical for East Africa. One of the better Arusha accommodation options if you just need a night in the area, KIA Lodge is all about its location to the nearby airport.
Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp
Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp offers an exceptional classic tented safari experience, with a truly unique feature that sets it apart. What is particularly spectacular about this camp is its mobility; it relocates twice a year to ensure it is perfectly positioned for the Great Migration. This incredible attention to detail means that if you stay at Kichakani, you are guaranteed a front-row seat to one of nature's most magnificent spectacles. Without a doubt, this is one of the best ways to ensure you do not miss the drama of the migration.
Rubondo Island Camp
Rubondo Island Camp is the only Lake Victoria accommodation establishment found in the Rubondo Island National Park, an island and forest that is a haven for wild chimpanzee, sitatunga antelope, elephant and giraffe. Rubondo Island Camp offers guests in exclusivity and privacy when on safari here at the edge of Lake Victoria.
Singita Sabora Tented Camp
Radiating simplistic elegance in the middle of the Serengeti plains, Singita Sabora Tented Camp, with her nine tented suites, evokes a romantic "Out of Africa" adventure with vintage safari tents dressed in classic Edwardian safari accommodation style. located in the heart of the Grumeti Reserve, a private concession bordering the famed Serengeti.
Little Oliver's Camp
With only five exceptionally designed tented suites, Little Olivers Camp, nestled in the heart of Tarangire National Park, provides what can only be described as a profoundly intimate and exclusive safari experience. It is without a doubt one of the most personal camps in Tarangire, small enough to feel as though it is entirely your own private piece of the African bush.