The Swahili House
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Summary of reviewsThe Swahili House in Stone Town is celebrated for its exceptional setting, making it an attractive choice for travelers who appreciate convenience combined with historical charm. Located in a beautifully maintained, historic building, it offers stunning views from its rooftop restaurant, noted for its spectacular sunsets and atmospheric dining. The hotel's authentic Swahili design is consistently praised, featuring spacious, clean rooms equipped with essential amenities like air conditioning and mosquito nets for a comfortable stay.
Guests frequently commend the staff for their warmth, friendliness, and attentive service, creating a welcoming atmosphere throughout the hotel. The breakfast and dinner experiences at the rooftop restaurant largely receive positive feedback, highlighting the setting and some delicious meal options, although certain guests felt the menu could use more variety. The historical architecture adds unique character, further enhanced by the hotel’s cleanliness and the reliable service provided by the staff.
Despite some concerns about dated aspects and inconsistent WiFi connectivity in the rooms, guests appreciate the communal areas for their inviting atmosphere and reliable internet access. The small rooftop pool offers a refreshing spot for cooling down, though it may not meet expectations as a full-fledged swimming facility. Overall, The Swahili House remains a charming and appealing choice for visitors aiming to explore the cultural essence of Zanzibar within a cozy and hospitable setting.
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Guests frequently commend the staff for their warmth, friendliness, and attentive service, creating a welcoming atmosphere throughout the hotel. The breakfast and dinner experiences at the rooftop restaurant largely receive positive feedback, highlighting the setting and some delicious meal options, although certain guests felt the menu could use more variety. The historical architecture adds unique character, further enhanced by the hotel’s cleanliness and the reliable service provided by the staff.
Despite some concerns about dated aspects and inconsistent WiFi connectivity in the rooms, guests appreciate the communal areas for their inviting atmosphere and reliable internet access. The small rooftop pool offers a refreshing spot for cooling down, though it may not meet expectations as a full-fledged swimming facility. Overall, The Swahili House remains a charming and appealing choice for visitors aiming to explore the cultural essence of Zanzibar within a cozy and hospitable setting.
Accessible Hotel
The hotel provides rooms and facilities specifically for disabled guests, with wheelchair access available throughout its grounds. It is equipped with a lift, ensuring all areas are reachable.
3-Star Hotel
Located in Stone Town, The Swahili House offers a blend of traditional Swahili architecture and modern comfort. Its central location provides easy access to historical sites and local markets, making it ideal for travelers interested in cultural experiences.
Hotel with Outdoor Pool
This hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, including a rooftop pool and a plunge pool. It also features a poolside restaurant and bar.
Family Friendly Hotel
Hotel with Swimming Pool
Outdoor Pool
Business Hotel
Guest Reviews
The Swahili House offers an exceptional setting in the heart of Stone Town, making it an ideal choice for travelers seeking both convenience and charm. Its central position allows guests to easily explore the vibrant markets, souks, and nearby waterfront, all just a short walk away. Set within a beautifully maintained, historic building, the hotel embodies the unique Swahili and Arabic architectural styles, providing a truly atmospheric stay. The rooftop restaurant is a particular highlight, offering stunning views of the city and serving as a perfect spot to enjoy spectacular sunsets. Guests consistently commend the hotel for its stylish design, spacious rooms, and the friendliness and reliability of the staff. With its superb location, The Swahili House is well-situated for taking in the rich cultural and historical tapestry of Stone Town.
Nestled in the heart of Stone Town, The Swahili House offers a breakfast experience that elicits a mix of opinions from its guests. Many reviews highlight the beauty of the rooftop terrace setting, which provides a stunning and breezy atmosphere to start the day. The breakfast often includes a generous selection of fresh fruits and sweets, alongside eggs cooked to order, contributing to the positive feedback. While some guests find the breakfast to be delicious, abundant, and accompanied by arguably the best coffee in town, others feel that it leaves room for improvement, describing it as basic or lacking variety. Despite these mixed impressions, the reliable and friendly staff, coupled with the hotel's unbeatable location and the character of its rooms, continue to enhance the overall experience for travelers exploring the vibrant streets of Stone Town.
The Swahili House boasts a rooftop restaurant that garners significant attention for its breathtaking views of the Stone Town skyline. This unique setting is often highlighted as a brilliant spot for both dining and enjoying drinks. Guests frequently describe their meals as tasty, with several noting that they had excellent dinners there. The breakfast experiences are also praised, suggesting a consistent quality throughout the day's offerings.
While some reviews indicate that the food is delicious, with a phenomenal chef mentioned, others suggest that the menu could benefit from more variety. The restaurant's prices are mentioned as somewhat high compared to its standard, which may not always meet expectations. Despite these mixed reviews, the historic architecture of the hotel and the friendly staff contribute positively to the overall dining atmosphere. Overall, The Swahili House's rooftop restaurant appears to provide a memorable dining experience largely thanks to its impressive views and the quality of some of its meal options.
The Swahili House in Zanzibar offers guests a delightful blend of comfort and cultural immersion with its noteworthy accommodations. The rooms are consistently praised for their spaciousness and cleanliness, highlighting an authentic Swahili design that's both traditional and visually stunning. The incorporation of Swahili furniture adds a touch of local charm, ensuring each room has a distinct character. Guests can enjoy large beds equipped with mosquito nets, air conditioning, and essential amenities that contribute to a comfortable stay.
Despite the allure of its decor, several guests noted some practical drawbacks. Bathrooms sometimes lack proper doors, and some rooms feature open bathroom layouts, which might not appeal to everyone. Moreover, the building's age may cause some noise due to poor sound insulation from the old windows, and certain rooms could feel less accessible or too warm without air conditioning.
Overall, The Swahili House stands out with its beautiful, expansive rooms and traditional ambiance, making it an attractive choice for those looking to experience Zanzibar's cultural essence in a cozy setting.
The Swahili House offers a blend of comfortable and spacious accommodations, featuring massive beds that are a highlight for many guests. While opinions on mattress firmness vary, with some finding the beds firm or hard, a significant number of visitors appreciate the large, comfy beds provided. The hotel prioritizes guest comfort with the provision of mosquito nets, ensuring a restful sleep free from disturbances. Despite some feedback about worn bedding, the overall charm of The Swahili House is enhanced by its inviting large rooms and the picturesque rooftop terrace, adding a delightful experience to any stay in scenic Zanzibar.
Nestled in a richly historic building, The Swahili House offers an intriguing blend of traditional charm and comfort. Guests frequently commend the hotel for its exceptional cleanliness across various facets. Spacious, clean rooms with comfy beds provide a restful retreat, enhanced by consistently fresh towels and the additional comfort of mosquito nets. The attentive staff receive wide acclaim for their friendliness and dedication to maintaining cleanliness, ensuring a pleasant stay for all visitors. While some amenities and the architectural styling speak to an older era, guests appreciate the unique character this brings. The location is also praised for its convenience, making everything within walking distance. Despite some minor concerns about dated aspects, the overall service and cleanliness standards at The Swahili House contribute significantly to its appeal.
At The Swahili House, guests repeatedly highlight the exceptional quality of the staff, painting a picture of warm hospitality and attentive service. Descriptions of the staff frequently emphasize their friendliness, kindness, and consistently helpful nature, contributing significantly to a welcoming atmosphere that makes guests feel right at home. The reception team, in particular, receives considerable praise for their accommodating and reliable service, often going above and beyond to meet guest needs, including thoughtful touches like preparing rooms with new water bottles daily and ensuring readiness even into the evening. Whether dining at the restaurant or seeking assistance at the front desk, visitors can expect to be greeted with a genuine warmth that elevates their experience. However, amidst the overwhelmingly positive feedback, there is a solitary mention of less-than-pleasant service, though this appears to be an outlier in the collection of reviews. Overall, the commendations reflect a dedicated team committed to making every stay memorable with their exceptional hospitality.
At The Swahili House, guests can expect strong and reliable WiFi connectivity predominantly in the common areas such as the reception and rooftop. These spaces are highlighted not only for their internet access but also for their inviting atmosphere, making them favorite spots for guests to relax and dine, especially on the rooftop. While the WiFi experience in these areas is generally positive, the connectivity within the rooms does not meet the same standard, as many reviews describe the absence or unreliability of WiFi in-room. Despite this limitation, the hotel's helpful reception staff and the pleasant setting of the common areas seem to make up for the lack of in-room connectivity, providing guests with a communal spot to stay connected.
The Swahili House features a rooftop pool that is better suited for a quick dip or to cool off rather than a full swimming experience. Often described as having more of a wading pool or splash pool appeal, it offers limited space and depth, making it more appropriate for small children or a brief soak. The small size may not satisfy those looking to lounge poolside for long periods or engage in swimming. It's worth noting that cleanliness has been an issue, with guests commenting on its condition. While the pool site could be a charming nook for cooling down on a warm day, expectations for a traditional swimming pool might not be met.
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Location
Breakfast
Dinner
While some reviews indicate that the food is delicious, with a phenomenal chef mentioned, others suggest that the menu could benefit from more variety. The restaurant's prices are mentioned as somewhat high compared to its standard, which may not always meet expectations. Despite these mixed reviews, the historic architecture of the hotel and the friendly staff contribute positively to the overall dining atmosphere. Overall, The Swahili House's rooftop restaurant appears to provide a memorable dining experience largely thanks to its impressive views and the quality of some of its meal options.
Rooms
Despite the allure of its decor, several guests noted some practical drawbacks. Bathrooms sometimes lack proper doors, and some rooms feature open bathroom layouts, which might not appeal to everyone. Moreover, the building's age may cause some noise due to poor sound insulation from the old windows, and certain rooms could feel less accessible or too warm without air conditioning.
Overall, The Swahili House stands out with its beautiful, expansive rooms and traditional ambiance, making it an attractive choice for those looking to experience Zanzibar's cultural essence in a cozy setting.
Beds
Cleanliness
Staff
Wi-Fi
Pool
Yes, The Swahili House has pool(s) that belong to one or more of the following categories: Outdoor Pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Swahili House.
No, The Swahili House doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Swahili House.
No, The Swahili House doesn't have a gym.
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