Shaba Boutique Hotel Zanzibar, Zanzibar - Reviews, Room Options & Prices 2025

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About the Hotel

Uwanja Wa Shaba, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Shaba Boutique Hotel, a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner, occupies a historic merchant trading building in Stone Town's UNESCO-protected center. The 4-star bed and breakfast features a rooftop terrace with city views, sustainability recognition through Travelife Gold Certificate, and serves as an ideal base for Tanzania safari exploration.

Traditional Stone Town Rooms

Shaba Boutique Hotel offers 13 air-conditioned rooms across three categories: 4 Suites accommodating up to 4 guests, 5 Deluxe rooms, and 4 Standard rooms. Each accommodation features Zanzibari-style furnishings, premium bedding, ceiling fans, and flat-screen TVs.

Diverse Dining Options

The terrace restaurant serves local and international cuisine, complemented by a wine bar just 2 minutes away at House of Spices. Guests access diverse dining options including Indian, Ethiopian, Lebanese, Asian, and Arabic restaurants within walking distance.

Activities and Recreation

Recreational amenities include bicycle rentals and nearby spa services offering holistic treatments. The hotel provides excursion arrangements to explore Stone Town's attractions, including the House of Wonders museum and Forodhani Food Market.

Central Stone Town Location

Located 0.5 miles from Darajani Market and 0.5 miles from the beach, Shaba Boutique Hotel sits 6 miles from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. The property provides 24-hour security and airport shuttle service.

“The hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of Stone Town, making it easy to explore the vibrant streets and local culture.”view full review

View hotel on map

“Charming hotel in an excellent location with friendly service” view full review

Top location:Highly rated by recent guests(8.6)

Check-in/Check-out

from 14:00-23:30

from 05:00-10:00

Amenities

No parking available.

Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel for free.Wireless internet is available in public areas for free.

Other information

The hotel Shaba Boutique serves a full breakfast for free.

There are no extra beds provided in a room. There are no cribs provided in a room.

Pets are not allowed.

Number of rooms:13

Former name

House of Spices

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Suite

Max:

2 persons

33 m²

Bed options:

1 King Size Bed

City view

Shower

Air conditioning

room details

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Deluxe King Room

Max:

2 persons

15 m²

Bed options:

1 Double bed

City view

Shower

Air conditioning

room details

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Small Double Room

Max:

1 person

8 m²

Bed options:

1 Double bed

City view

Shower

Air conditioning

room details

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Price and Room Availability Calendar

Check availability and prices for your dates now!

Getting around

A guide to all available transportation options

City Center

Zanzibar1000 ft

Airports

Kisauni (ZNZ) 4.9 mi

Facilities

Experience a variety of amenities at the boutique hotel, crafted to ensure your comfort and unforgettable moments

Spacious Comfort

“The Chilli room we stayed in was incredibly spacious, featuring beautiful furniture that made us feel right at home.” view full review

Excellent Breakfast

“Breakfast was a highlight of our stay, offering an array of delicious options that truly exceeded our expectations.” view full review

Charming Rooftop

“The rooftop terrace was a good spot for our meals, providing a unique atmosphere and lovely views to enhance our dining experience.” view full review

Cozy Sitting Room

“The sitting area in our room was perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring, creating a cozy environment to unwind.” view full review

General

No smoking on site
Wi-Fi
No parking
Safe deposit box
No pets allowed
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Smoke detectors
Fire extinguishers

Services

Paid shuttle service
Housekeeping
Tours/Ticket assistance

Children

Cribs

Room features

Air conditioning
Sitting area
Tea and coffee facilities

Media

Flat-screen TV
AM/FM alarm clock

Location

Uwanja Wa Shaba, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Map view

Uwanja Wa Shaba, Zanzibar, Tanzania

City landmarks

Benjamin Mkapa Rd

The Peace Memorial Museum

3600 ft

Gallery

Hellen Art Gallery

2900 ft

Kizimkazi Mosque

1.0 mi

Nearby

Mizingani Rd

Old Dispensary

1700 ft

Museums

House of Wonders

1700 ft

Museums

Old Fort of Zanzibar

1700 ft

Historic Site

Stone Town

1700 ft

Museums

Sultan's Palace

1700 ft

Hamamni St

Hamamni Persian Baths

1700 ft

Market

Darajani Market

1700 ft

Kenyatta Road

Mercury House

1700 ft

Church

Christ Church Cathedral

1200 ft

Parks

Forodhani Park

1700 ft

Church

Old Slave Market

1700 ft

Marahubi Palace

300 ft

Gallery

Hurumzi Henna Art Gallery

600 ft

Princess Salme Museum at Emerson on Hurumzi

800 ft

Gallery

The Beautiful Eyes

800 ft

Hamamni Street

Cultural Arts Centre Zanzibar

900 ft

Kelele Square

1700 ft

Cathedral St

St Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral

1700 ft

Kiponda

1700 ft

Hurumzi St

Shree Shiv Shakti Temple

600 ft

Jamatini Rd

Malindi Mosque

800 ft

Church

Christ Church

700 ft

P.O.Box 1844,Zanzibar Tanzania Stonetown Zanzibar

Imani Zuberi

300 ft

Vikokotoni

1100 ft

Zanzibar

Friday Mosque

800 ft

Hurumzi Street

1700 ft

Tharia St

Slave Chambers

1700 ft

Restaurants

House of Spices

200 ft

Kiponda street

Zanzibar Coffee House Cafe

400 ft

1563/64 Mkunazini Street Zanzibar Coffee House Hotel

The Swahili House

400 ft

Mchambawima Street

Two Tables

300 ft

Victoria St

Baharia Restaurant

300 ft

Stone Town

Cafe Africano

300 ft

Hurumzi Street

Coco de Mer

300 ft

Gizenga Street

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

74%

enjoyed the hotel and would happily stay again

Charming decor

Outstanding value

Poor dining service

Cleanliness issues

7.4/10

Very good

Rooms

7.4

Location

8.6

Service

7.0

Dining

7.8

Thomas

United Kingdom, January 2025

5.0/10

My stay at House of Spices was a mixed experience. The hotel is unique and has a lovely, homey feel with its charming decor and the welcoming presence of Cesare, the owner. However, my experience with the dining service was disappointing, and I encountered some issues with cleanliness in the room. On a positive note, the value for money here is outstanding, especially given the homemade Italian cuisine.

Rooms

6.0

The room was adequate with a charming carved bed, although the bathroom could use some improvements and the water supply was inconsistent.

Service

5.0

While Cesare was warm and welcoming, the dining service was notably poor, which significantly impacted my overall experience.

Location

7.0

The hotel is situated in Stone Town, in a less touristy area, making it feel authentic. However, the narrow streets are a bit noisy, and taxis can't directly reach the property.

Dining

5.0

The restaurant experience was notably disappointing, with cold food and slow service that made for an unpleasant meal.

Facilities

5.0

The hotel has unique charm and artistic decor, though the cleanliness could be better.

Charming decor

Poor dining service

Anna

United Kingdom, January 2025

8.2/10

I had a lovely stay at this hotel, perfectly situated in the heart of Stone Town with charming, traditional decor. The breakfast was outstanding, featuring homemade delights that really impressed me. Although I faced some minor issues with water and electricity intermittently, which is common here, it didn’t overshadow the great value for money this hotel offers. The only downside was that the room wasn’t as clean as I had hoped.

Rooms

7.0

The room we stayed in was comfortable and had a nice traditional design, but I did notice it could have been cleaner. The air conditioning was a blessing in the heat.

Service

8.0

The service was warm and welcoming, though some amenities were a bit lacking due to being in an older building.

Location

10.0

The hotel's location was perfect for exploring Stone Town on foot, nestled within its narrow, winding alleys.

Dining

9.0

The breakfast was one of the highlights of my stay, featuring delicious homemade bread, croissants, and pancakes.

Facilities

7.0

While it was a boutique hotel with charming facilities, the occasional issues with water made it less than perfect.

Zoe

United Kingdom, January 2025

8.0/10

We had a lovely one-night stay at this hotel, which is nicely situated in the heart of Stone Town. The room was clean and beautifully decorated, providing an authentic Tanzanian experience. Breakfast was a delightful highlight with fresh fruits and cakes, although we did encounter some occasional electricity and water interruptions. Overall, it was great value for money, making it a solid alternative to larger hotels.

Rooms

8.0

The room was nice and clean, decorated in a traditional style that added to the authentic feel of our stay.

Service

7.0

The service was helpful, especially the taxi driver who assisted with our luggage.

Location

9.0

The hotel is right in the center of Stone Town, making it easy to access attractions on foot, but the narrow streets meant we couldn’t drive directly to the door.

Dining

9.0

Breakfast was excellent with a good variety including fresh fruit, cakes, and omelettes, though it might get repetitive on longer stays.

Facilities

7.0

The hotel offers some basic amenities that were adequate for our needs.

Justin

United Kingdom, December 2024

8.6/10

My stay at the House of Spices in Zanzibar was truly delightful. The ambiance was charming, with beautifully decorated rooms that felt very welcoming. The location was perfect, allowing me to immerse myself in the vibrant life of Stone Town. However, there were a few issues with the bathroom facilities that could use some improvement. Overall, it was a beautiful experience, making it hard to leave this magical place.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms exude a unique Moroccan style and come complete with lovely balconies, perfect for waking up to the bustling sounds of Stone Town. They are tastefully furnished and comfortable, adding a romantic touch to my stay.

Service

9.0

The service was warm and proactive. The owners went out of their way to address any issues and were eager to help with arrangements such as tours around Zanzibar.

Location

10.0

The location is ideal, right in the heart of Stone Town. This allows easy access to explore the local markets and soak up the culture, making it a fantastic base for discovering Zanzibar.

Dining

9.0

Dining at the House of Spices was a pleasure. The fusion food was amazing, and I particularly enjoyed the fresh Italian pizza on the terrace.

Facilities

7.0

Although the facilities were charming, the bathroom amenities could be enhanced for greater convenience. Despite this, the spice shop and tea room added a unique touch to my stay.

Beautifully decorated rooms

Bathroom needs improvement

Albert

United Kingdom, September 2024

7.8/10

I had a great one-night stay at this charming hotel right in the heart of Stone Town. The traditional décor gave it an authentic feel, and I enjoyed a lovely breakfast with fresh fruits and cakes. While there were brief interruptions with electricity and water, they were expected in Tanzania, and the overall value was quite good. However, I did notice that the noise from the streets could be bothersome at times.

Rooms

8.0

The room I stayed in was nice, clean, and decorated in a traditional style, which I really liked.

Service

7.0

The service was decent, with the staff helping me carry my luggage and accommodating an early breakfast.

Location

7.0

The hotel’s location was perfect for exploring Stone Town on foot, but taxis can't drive all the way to the door due to the narrow streets. It can be quite noisy at night.

Dining

9.0

Breakfast was excellent, with a good variety of fresh fruits, cakes, and omelets. It set a nice tone for the day.

Facilities

8.0

Facilities were decent for a boutique hotel; the rooftop terrace was a lovely touch for meals.