Emerson on Hurumzi

Zanzibar Town


This hotel is simply brimming with character. Two adjacent historic buildings have been restored in a fantastical Arabian Nights style; each of the 15 rooms is uniquely and decadently decorated, with traditional Swahili and contemporary design combined perfectly (some might say outrageously). The popular rooftop teahouse restaurant is open to nonguests for lunch and dinner.

Some rooms are reached by steep staircase, which might be a problem for those with limited mobility.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Zanzibar Town attractions

1. Princess Salme Museum

0.01 MILES

Carefully curated by the renowned historian Said al Gheithy, this delightful little museum tells the story of Princess Salme, a sultan's daughter who…

2. Aga Khan Mosque

0.05 MILES

In the Kiponda area of Stone Town, this mosque is one of the largest in Zanzibar, catering to the Ismaili community since 1905. The beautifully detailed…

3. Hamamni Persian Baths

0.1 MILES

Built by Sultan Barghash in the late 19th century, these were the first public baths on Zanzibar. The various rooms were renovated in 2017 and, although…

4. Palace Museum

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Occupying several large buildings along the waterfront, this was the palace of Sultan Seyyid Said from 1828 until it was largely destroyed by the British…

5. House of Wonders

0.11 MILES

An icon of Stone Town, the House of Wonders rises in impressive tiers of slender steel pillars and balconies overlooking the waterfront. Its enormous…

6. Old Fort

0.16 MILES

With its pale-orange ramparts overlooking Forodhani Gardens and the ocean beyond, the fort was built by Omani Arabs when they seized the island from the…

7. Ijumaa Mosque

0.16 MILES

This lovely Arabesque-style mosque is one of the largest in Stone Town. As an Ijumma (Friday) mosque, the faithful come to pray here, rather than at their…

8. Anglican Cathedral

0.17 MILES

The tall spire and grey-yellow walls of the Anglican cathedral dominate the surrounding streets in this part of Stone Town, while the dark-wood pews and…