• Home
  • About
    • About Helen
    • Features & Published Work
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
  • Destinations
  • Reflections
  • Food
  • Travel Essentials
  • Photo Gear
  • Copyright

Not Without My Passport

A Travel and Photography Blog

Stone Town Restaurants: What and Where to Eat

January 10, 2015 by Helen

3K Shares
Share
Tweet
Pin3K
Reddit
Email
Flip

lazuli cafe, stone town restaurant

Restaurants in Stone Town reflect the cultures that have made their mark on Zanzibar: bold dishes infused with exotic spices, an intriguing variety of textures and mouthwatering flavours.

My gastronomic adventure led me to restaurants, food markets and cafes in the maze of narrow streets and alleys which, alone, make this historical seaport a worthy travel destination. Whether you’re seeking an authentic taste of Zanzibari cuisine or meals closer to home, these recommended eats and food establishments will leave your taste buds begging for more.

A few points worth noting: many establishments do not serve alcohol, and those with a sensitivity to sodium may find some of the food over-salted (which I found to be the case throughout Zanzibar). And, if you want to be adventurous and eat as the locals do, use your hands instead of the cutlery.

Forodhani Gardens

This evening food market near the Old Fort on the waterfront was my regular hang-out for both dinner and snacks. By nightfall, you’ll find everything from spiced seafood skewers to samosas displayed under the glow of oil lamps. The food is generally quite salty, but the buzzing activity at this popular meeting place always had me coming back for more. (It’s also home to a number of cats that will happily accept your scraps.)

zanzibar food, forodhani gardens, stone town

forodhani gardens, stone town market, zanzibar

locals gather at food stalls at Forodhani Gardens, an outdoor night market in Stone Town Zanzibar

Care must be taken when choosing your meals to avoid food poisoning (which I had the misfortune of experiencing one night, although it’s not clear which food caused it). Either ask a local for the freshest tables or select one that’s busier than others.

The Zanzibar pizza, which is fried with your choice of fillings right before your eyes, is always a safe bet. For 5,000 TSh, the pizza stuffed with chicken, egg, chopped vegetables and cheese was my go-to meal, and the banana and chocolate pizza satisfied my sweet cravings.

zanzibar pizza

The Zanzibar mix is popular among locals. This soup of falafel, potatoes, boiled egg and cassava chips is only 1,500 TSh. I may have ordered it a second time if my first bowl had been hotter.

zanzibar mix

For beverages, make sure to return empty bottles to the vendor you purchased your soda from. Better yet, skip the soda altogether and go for the hand-cranked sugar cane juice with hints of lime and ginger. I haven’t had fresh sugar juice like this anywhere else in the world.

sugar cane juice, forodhani gardens

sugarcane juice

Lukmaan Restaurant

Locals and tourists alike flock to Lukmaan Restaurant near the former slave market. Recommended by Stone Town residents themselves, this small establishment serves up cafeteria-style lunches and dinners.

exterior of lukmaan restaurant in stone town zanzibar

lukmaan restaurant, restaurants in stone town

Some of the items I ordered were room temperature, but the Zanzibari meals here are excellent value — about 30-40% less than the food offered at the tourist-trap restaurants. For just 7000 TSh, I indulged in a generous portion of pilau, spinach and fish coconut curry with fresh lemonade.

lukmaan restaurant, zanzibar cuisine, stone town restaurants, best restaurants in zanzibar

Jaws Corner

Community meets coffee at this outdoor cafe, situated in a small courtyard in the heart of Stone Town’s winding streets. It’s a glimpse into everyday life: men discuss the issues of the day and play board games over traditional Arabic brew.

jaws corner

jaws corner, stone town

Despite its dark appearance, the ginger-infused, black coffee is not, in my opinion, that strong. If you don’t mind the questionable hygiene (the cups are merely doused in water after each use), you can order your own small cup with a piece of peanut brittle for 200 TSh.

arabic coffee, jaws corner

Coffee is served in the morning and afternoon — you won’t find much activity in the square at other times of the day.

Zanzibar Coffee House

The best coffee I drank in Zanzibar was at this lovely cafe attached to the Zanzibar Coffee House Hotel. Once an Arabic house and one of the oldest structures in Zanzibar, this building is an attractive blend of romantic tradition and warm design.

zanzibar coffee house, stone town cafe

Lovingly served by trained baristas, the coffee is local (grown by the hotel owners themselves on estates in Tanzania), fresh, and produced with a commitment to both quality and sustainability. Zanzibar Coffee House is also an excellent spot for a light breakfast or lunch.

zanzibar coffee house, stone town restaurants

Tins of coffee are available for purchase — a unique gift idea for anyone who will appreciate an authentic taste of Zanzibar. Wifi is 1500 TSh for 1/2 hour.

Lemongrass (CLOSED)

When I’m on the road, I occasionally crave Asian food — and I was elated to find it at Lemongrass. Located above the Shangani Post Office just off of Kenyatta Road, this restaurant impressed me with its contemporary dining room, open-air balcony, Thai cuisine, cocktail list — and free wifi.

lemongrass restaurants, stone town restaurant

Expect to pay North American prices. I sipped on a caipirinha (7,000 TSh) and devoured the daily special: an excellent dish of rice, sesame chicken stuffed with pineapple chunks for 17,000 TSh.

lemongrass restaurant, thai restaurant zanzibar

Lazuli Cafe

This colourful, intimate spot is known for its natural ingredients, and fresh, healthy, Swahili-inspired lunches and dinners. You’ll find curries, chapati wraps, sandwiches, burgers, seafood and pancakes on the menu, as well as their popular fruit juices and smoothies.

lazuli cafe, best food in stone town

I chose one of their daily specials: a satisfying, delicately spiced fish coconut curry stew with cinnamon-infused rice for 12,000 TSh (see featured photo at the top of this post).

Sunset Lounge, Africa House Hotel

For the premier destination for sunset viewing in Stone Town, make your way to the rooftop terrace of Africa House Zanzibar, a hotel in a 150-year-old building once owned by the Omani sultanate. If you don’t mind North American cocktail prices and dance music, you’ll enjoy sipping your favourite drink while watching dhows sail across the Indian Ocean against the falling, tangerine-orange sun.

africa house hotel, stone town bars

stone town sunset, bars in stone town, africa house hotel bar

Book Cafe

This cafe can be found in a bookshop on Kenyatta Road — an ideal pit stop after a day of shopping. For 4,000 TSh, I enjoyed an iced coffee, and snacked on avocado, tomato and onion bruschetta.

book cafe, stone town cafe

Silk Route

In Stone Town, I’m not sure Indian fare gets much better than at Silk Route. Aromatic curries, spiced biryanis and tandoori dishes are offered at this spacious, three-story, Goa-style restaurant. Snag a table on the top floor and sip on a pre-dinner drink from their extensive cocktail menu with a gorgeous view of town.

silk route restaurant, indian restaurant stone town

My delectable meal hit the spot: garlic naan (2,500 TSh), a rich and creamy chicken korma (15,900 TSh) served over a candle heater, and Silk Route rice (4,000 TSh). The spread was enough for two people. This is a cash-only establishment.

Rooftop Tea House, Emerson on Hurumzi Hotel

One enchanted evening, I dined on the highest rooftop restaurant in Stone Town at Emerson on Hurumzi for my most magical culinary experience to date. One of the most luxurious and atmospheric hotels in town, the nineteenth century Arabian building is exquisite. If you don’t stay as a guest, I highly recommend their dining experience. It will engage all your senses.

emerson on hurumzi, sunset, stone town

Arrive early for a sunset cocktail, like the Pimm’s Sultan that blends cognac with Stoney ginger beer and tamarind juice, and enjoy the 360-degree view of the rooftops, church spires, mosque minarets and Indian Ocean against the hypnotic sounds of the call to prayer and ringing bells from the Hindu temple below.

emerson on hurumzi, best stone town restaurant

rooftop tea house, emerson on hurumzi, best restaurants zanzibar

Guests are asked to remove their shoes before being seated on floor cushions under a canopy of silk fluttering through the evening breeze, a local wedding tradition in Zanzibar (a table, however, can be requested if you don’t wish to sit on the floor).

The menu for the Persian-inspired, three-course menu changes daily. At 25 USD it’s also surprisingly affordable.

Throughout the evening, you’ll be spoiled by your white-robed host with impeccable hospitality; a brief history of Stone Town; captivating stories of the hotel and a bygone era of the Arab sultanate; hand washings with rosewater at your table; spellbinding, live taarab music (a local genre that combines Swahili, Arab and Indian influences); and a fantastic meal which was one of the few I ate in Zanzibar that wasn’t overpowered with salt.

emerson on hurumzi dinner, best restaurant zanzibar

emerson on hurumzi dinner, zanzibar restaurant, best restaurants in stone town

emerson on hurumzi dinner, best restaurants in zanzibar

dessert, emerson on hurumzi, fine dining stone town

rooftop tea house emerson on hurumzi, things to do in stone town

With limited seating, reservations are highly recommended, and the climb up the staircase is steep but worth every step.

Many thanks to Emerson on Hurumzi for the complimentary dinner.

What have I missed? If you’ve been to Stone Town, are there any other restaurants or Zanzibari delicacies you would recommend?

Pin this Post to Pinterest

zanzibar pizza is just one of many foods to try in stone town

You Might Also Like:

  • Get Lost and Other Things to Do in Stone TownGet Lost and Other Things to Do in Stone Town
  • Indigenous Restaurants in TorontoIndigenous Restaurants in Toronto
  • The Surprise of Irish CuisineThe Surprise of Irish Cuisine
  • Island Life in Zanzibar: PhotosIsland Life in Zanzibar: Photos
  • A Visual Journey Through Stone TownA Visual Journey Through Stone Town
3K Shares
Share
Tweet
Pin3K
Reddit
Email
Flip

Enjoyed this post? Don't miss the next one!

Sign up to have new posts delivered straight to your inbox plus my FREE, 45-page ebook, Tips to Take Your Mobile Photography From Ordinary to Extraordinary.

Comments

  1. jane canapini says

    January 11, 2015 at 10:29 am

    We actually stayed at the Zanzibar Coffee House when we were in Stone Town. Great place, very reasonable, and like you said, the aroma of coffee wafting up through the atrium.

    • Helen Suk says

      January 11, 2015 at 12:40 pm

      Ah, lucky you! I took a peek at some of the rooms after finishing my coffee – so charming.

  2. Elaine Schoch says

    January 13, 2015 at 10:57 am

    Your pictures just made me hungry, the Zanzibar pizza looks amazing…

    • Helen Suk says

      January 13, 2015 at 10:59 am

      Ha. It’s good stuff!

  3. Hans says

    April 10, 2015 at 11:30 am

    Dear Helen

    Thank you for your positive comments about our Zanzibar coffee house. We have opened a first Café in Dar es Salaam at Mlimani City, offering similar services as the Coffee House Café. However, more interesting for you could be to visit the farm near Mbeya airport, if you travel that direction some time.

    Enjoy Hans

    • Helen Suk says

      April 14, 2015 at 12:08 am

      Thanks for the info, Hans.

  4. Saleem Jaffer says

    October 18, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    Hi Helen,
    My family will be trying out your best picks in Stone town November 10th. Will post reviews when I get back. Saleem.

    • Helen Suk says

      October 31, 2015 at 3:42 pm

      Excellent, Saleem! I’d be really interested in reading about their experiences.

  5. T2theNGo says

    March 26, 2016 at 7:00 am

    Hellen thanks for this! Love Zanzibar Coffee House and Emerson Spice. Although, silk route is really disappointing (or horrible even) especially for east Africa. There is a little hole in the wall Indian place next door. Keep posting!

    • Helen says

      March 26, 2016 at 7:04 am

      Hey there. I’m not sure what made your experience at Silk Route so awful, but that’s surprising to me because I had an amazing meal! I guess they have their off days (readers take note). Thank for chiming in!

  6. joyce says

    May 11, 2016 at 11:23 am

    Do all these restaurants accept credit cards? In particular the Tea House.

    • Helen says

      May 11, 2016 at 2:22 pm

      Emerson on Hurumzi and Africa House are popular hotels so I would assume their eating and dining establishments accept credit cards but I don’t know for sure. As for all the other places, I think it would be safe to go with cash.

  7. Ann Freemantle says

    August 28, 2016 at 7:27 am

    Hi Helen!

    Do you perhaps have any restaurant recommendations for other areas in Zanzibar? I will be visiting Zanzibar in October and will be staying in Jambiani for part of the trip. My option is to either book half board at the hotel (which I’m imagining could become pretty boring eating all meals at the same place), or explore and find restaurants/street food in the area which seems way more exciting. I have heard though that there aren’t many options for good food in this area….

    Thanks and all the best from Cape Town!
    Ann

    • Helen says

      September 2, 2016 at 10:35 pm

      Hi Ann. Sorry, but I was only in Stone Town, Nungwi and Kiwengwa. In Nungwi, I dined at Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel (where I stayed). I Kiwengwa, I ate at my resort.

  8. Eleanor says

    March 12, 2017 at 8:52 am

    Hi Helen,

    I’m in Stonetown as I write and we had a fantastic meal last night at Radha vegetarian restaurant. Affordable, friendly service and great food. It’s inside and there’s no wonderful view but it’s local and delicious.

    Eleanor

    • Helen says

      March 13, 2017 at 1:47 am

      Thanks for the tip, Eleanor. Hope you’re having a great time!

About Helen

Helen Suk

Travel writer. Photographer. Always curious. I search the world for beauty and inspiration while sharing valuable tips to help you plan your next trip.

Read more »

Let’s Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

As Seen On

Reader Favourites

  • japanese cherry blossoms at ryoanji temple in kyoto The Meaning of Cherry Blossoms in Japan: Life, Death and Renewal
  • golden sand on outlet beach at sandbanks provincial park Things to Do in Prince Edward County
  • kennedy lake, nanaimo to tofino, road trip canada Great Canadian Road Trip: Nanaimo to Tofino
  • best bali beaches, padang padang Where are the Dream Beaches in Bali?
  • victoria harbour, victoria bc parliament building, victoria bc 48 Hours in Victoria, BC

Mobile Photography on Instagram

Helen Suk

notwithoutmypassport

During a family visit to North Carolina, we spent During a family visit to North Carolina, we spent an afternoon digging the vibes and art murals in Winston-Salem. The artists here have some serious street cred. 💯

#streetart #winstonsalem #graffitiart #northcarolinaart
It was a perfect day for wine tasting in Niagara-o It was a perfect day for wine tasting in Niagara-on-the-Lake.🍷

#visitniagara #niagaraonthelake #niagaraonthelakewinery #ontariowineries #discoveron
Have you experienced @littlecanada? This exhibit s Have you experienced @littlecanada? This exhibit surpassed all my expectations.

.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#miniatureworld #miniatures #explorecanada #discoveron #enjoycanada #tourcanada #thankyoucanada #canadaday
🌸 It’s one of my favourite times of the year. 🌸 It’s one of my favourite times of the year. Cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and they’re here in Hamilton. These delicate flowers are rich in symbolism in Asian countries like Japan. Don’t wait to take in their beauty - it won’t last long.
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#cherryblossoms #sakura #hanami #bayfrontpark #HamOnt #MyHamilton #HamiltonOntario #TheHammer #SteelTown #HamiltonProud #CityofHamilton#TourismHamilton #ExploreHamilton #WhatUpHamilton #HamiltonPhotography #HamiltonPhotographer #discoveron
An artist’s haven. .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #doorsope An artist’s haven.
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#doorsopenhamilton #millworks #millworkscreative #dundasont #dundasontario #dundason #HamOnt #MyHamilton #HamiltonOntario #TheHammer #SteelTown #HamiltonProud #CityofHamilton#TourismHamilton #ExploreHamilton #WhatUpHamilton #HamiltonPhotography #HamiltonPhotographer #discoveron #explorecanada #enjoycanada
Checked out this cool studio for #DoorsOpenHamilto Checked out this cool studio for #DoorsOpenHamilton. 
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#millworks #millworkscreative #dundasont #dundasontario #dundason #HamOnt #MyHamilton #HamiltonOntario #TheHammer #SteelTown #HamiltonProud #CityofHamilton #TourismHamilton #ExploreHamilton #WhatUpHamilton #HamiltonPhotography #HamiltonPhotographer #DiscoverON #ontarioforyou
#explorecanada #enjoycanada  #oh_canada_
That time I learned Lake Huron is THIS blue. That time I learned Lake Huron is THIS blue.
Hello, Hess Village. You’re cute. .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ Hello, Hess Village. You’re cute.
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#electricdinerhamont #HessVillage #HamOnt #MyHamilton #HamiltonOntario #TheHammer #SteelTown #HamiltonProud #CityofHamilton #ExploreHamilton #discoverON #explorecanada
SO ELATED that @trueshotcoffeeco has re-opened. Fo SO ELATED that @trueshotcoffeeco has re-opened. Folks: this is where you go for the best coffee in Hamilton! 🙌🏼
Follow Me on Instagram
Booking.com

Search This Site

Copyright © 2025 · Not Without My Passport