I am living in Zanzibar and I am a tour operator. The place is good for Solo travelers, couples and families. The rooms are stylish and containing the existing history of the Stone town. At the Secret Garden restaurant and the rooftop Tea House is where you can lay your heart with different test of local and International cuisines.

nice place

This is an absolutely exceptional hotel with wonderful staff and a restaurant with a great menu. I wish we stayed here during out visit because it would have made the entire stay that much better. It’s close to shopping, transportation, and in a walkable area of the island. The nearby beach leave a lot to be desired but you can head over to an island for cleaner waters and beach. Tourists need to clean up after themselves and stop polluting! I don’t recommend Zanzibar overall but if you go, stay here. It will be worth your trip to the island.

Wow! What a wonderful experience! I met here the most wonderful, helpful and friendly staff ever. The rooms are magical and each one of them have a story to tell. I particularly appreciated the free laundry service they offered. However I found the breakfast to be pretty plain and simple for a vegan.

The view is beautiful, especially for sunset. The drinks are exquisite and the service is unrivalled. This feels exclusive as there are only a few sitting spaces so be sure to book. I was very happy with the drinks and the food was delicious. They have a set menu which you can choose from. I would say this is very expensive but this is the exclusiveness of the place. Food was delicious but I would say anything overly special. My main delight was the service from the staff. He was attentive, well spoken and described the menu well. I enjoyed it but it is a splurge treat.

Lovely Hotel. Enjoyed every single moment. Staff wonderful and helpful. Breakfast great and the rooms.... Missing already. The only complication was the arrival. Aware that you need to walk through Stone Town and that was not the problem more that the driver and no proper information.... But all forgotten once in the Hotel. Spacious, lovely decorated rooms. All individually shaped and decorated, not your lifeless standard mold room. Breakfast on the roof with view over Zanzibar. Amenities good. Clean. Old historical house. Very spacious. Can only recommend.

Enjoy good coffee at Emerson spice roof top

Best dining experience in Zanzibar! We didn't stay at the hotel but the sunset dinner and six course menu was delicious and memorable. Having a sunset dinner, hearing the call to prayer, and each of the meals being delicious is an experience I can only recommend.

I’m obsessed with this hotel! All the rooms are unique and I tried to look in as many of them as were open. The outdoor bath in the turandot room was a huge selling feature for me. The seafood dinner is excellent and the view from the top is amazing. I loved the secret garden and could spend hours there!

I have been here 25 weeks apart. First time was for dinner, my partner and I were disappointed. Food was mediocre. This weekend we just came for drinks with friends. The staff is super helpful which is great.

We had a fantastic stay. The staff was helpful and friendly. Zanzibar can be tricky and they helped us navigate everything. The room was really pretty and the little details- like local soaps, linen towels, laundry service, and toiletries made us feel quite pampered. When we had an issue with a middleman, the hotel was supportive and understanding. The upstairs restaurant is awesome. Delightful breakfast, fantastic dinners, spectacular views. Also, the adjacent Secret Garden is an oasis. Great food and drinks along with fantastic Friday night entertainment. It was a local dance and music group from a performing arts academy- so much better than the garbage performances designed for tourists. While Stone Town isn't my favorite place, Emerson Spice is a fantastic oasis and I'd happily come back to this hotel.

Best hotel nice rooms with 2 restaurants 1.is rooftop tea house restaurant it a nice place with a nice view u can even enjoy the sunset while u enjoy drinking and wait for the dinner they serve a set menu with 5 courses. 2. Secret Garden it is downstairs but it a nice place u enjoy looking at the old building with many flowers and trees a place which u can have peace of mind they serve a la carte menu. Both restaurants serve well their customers.

Food is delicious, view is amazing, staff are very friendly (and English is excellent if you need it)! We went for lunch - $25/person for a fixed platter. Seafood platter is a great deal with a variety of dishes. Veg platter is not as great a value for money - very good, but simple grilled vegetables. Generous side portions. Can pay by card. Rooftop is great for shade and breeze, especially after being pretty hot in the streets below. <5 minutes from the Community Spice Market. Staff were incredibly friendly. They let us keep our bags there after lunch as we wandered around, then a porter helped us bring them to the shore for our boat connection to another hotel. We didn't have cash and told him in advance - no deterrent. Kind and nice the whole way through, I was very impressed.

Air Tanzania cancelled flights from Johannesburg to Dar es Salem meaning we were unable to get to Zanzibar. We have tried multiple channels to get in touch with this hotel for a refund however they have been non-responsive and have scammed us. Avoid!!!

Great views with a great variety of tasty seafood dishes, friendly staff. Not the cheapest but you pay for quality. And you do need to book in advance & confirm with a deposit...

Great sunset dinner at Emerson Spice historical hotel rooftop. Fusion Tanzanian food. Recommended. Reservations needed for the dinner. Only one seating at 7pm.

(Translated by Google) Wonderful view. Invites you to linger and more ... (Original) Wunderbare Aussicht. Lädt zum Verweilen ein und mehr....

(Translated by Google) Very atmospheric old Omani hotel but I would not stay there. (Original) Очень атмосферный старинный оманской отель но я бы в нем не остановился.

Definitely the best hotel and restaurant in town, and it's not cheap but so it's worth it And here is the best ruff top restaurant

I didn't stay here but the rooms looked amazing. I love the way they left the doors open when the rooms weren't occupied so it sort of inspired and called out to you even if you were just a restaurant guest. The rooftop provided lovely views of stonetown and I am glad I had my first drink in Zanzibar on this rooftop and beautiful property. The service was good.

Great food, great Service, can definitely recommend. Fresh fish, great seasonings and sauces.

(Translated by Google) We just stopped by because it was so praised on the net. It is a narrow roof terrace without much charm. Up here there is no elevator and no toilets. Opposite at Swahili House is way better. (Original) Wir haben hier nur vorbeigeschaut, weil es im Netz so gelobt wurde. Es ist eine enge Dachterrasse ohne großen Charme. Hier oben gibt es keinen Fahrstuhl und auch keine Toiletten. Gegenüber im Swahili House ist es um Längen besser.

Secret gardens amazed me with an wonderful spicy vanilla sauce to die for

A hidden restaurant in the small streets of Stonetown. Specialised in seafood. If you want use the rooftop restaurant you need a reservation

Expensive but good food and good service

Magical setting, superb service and delicious food.

Really unique hotel. The designer did something different, confortable, artistic and beautiful. Very kind staff, great breakfast and details like soup and towels are high quality. I saw a few other hotels in Stonetown walking arround and this one but definitely the best. Dinner also great, expensive but its worth it.

Extremely beautiful colonial style hotel with restaurant. Book in advance for the 7pm, 5 course fish/seafood set dinner to avoid disappointment and arrive earlier to enjoy the sunset. An absolute must when in StoneTown. Make sure you book for your first evening so you can return again as we did. It was my favourite meal/location!

Emerson Spice is together with Emerson Hurumzi a very historical and special hotel to stay at. For Tourists with are interested in getting to know the city and its culture as well as history it's the absolute best place to stay. They offer a very good service and have beautiful, big and antique rooms. Every roof is different and special in its own way, ours was Aida which was beautiful and big like a palace. It was indeed magical to stay here, we especially enjoyed the dinner at Hurumzi on the Roof top!

We attended the 5 course meal on the Rooftop restaurant for my girlfriends birthday. It was a great experience. Nice sunset and view of stone town. Really amazing food and drinks.

I’m surprised with the good reviews of this place. We went for dinner to the rooftop Tea House restaurant and the food was very average. The seafood bisque, some appetizers and the dessert were nice - the rest pretty much without much flavor. The service was mediocre. You can definitely skip this experience and you won’t miss out on much.

Emerson Spice Hotel is one of my most favorite hotel stays in recent memory. The rooms are simply spectacular, the staff is helpful and friendly, and our meals (breakfasts on the rooftop, seafood dinner in the Tea House, and dinner next door at the Secret Garden) were all incredibly delicious. Rainy weather aside, we loved everything about our stay.

We enjoyed the 5 course dinner on the rooftop. A unique experience with a focus on seafood and spice! Also, the views over stonetown at sunset were the best we experienced during our time.

We had a wonderful stay here in very spacious, comfortable room. The service was warm, friendly & always willing to help. We had dinner at the roof top restaurant twice & loved it both times! Fabulous views, exquisite service & fabulous fresh seafood! Michelin worthy!

BEAUTIFUL hotel in the middle of stone town. I stayed in Turandot and the room and terrace was fantastic. Service was great, especially the younger woman working a bit everywhere on the hotel. The hibiscus drink on arrival is fantastic. Would definitely stay again and if I return to Zanzibar.

The sunset from the Emmerson Spice Tea House Restaurant was incredible. We were able to sit on the roof and watch the sun set over Stone Town while eating an excellent 5 course seafood meal. Overall the ambiance was incredible and the food was perfect. It was a small restaurant, so I recommend reservations at least a few days in advance, but if you are planning a trip to Stone Town, do yourself a favor and make reservations now for one of your dinners. You won't regret it.

I didn't stay at the Hotel, just went for the 5 course tasting menu. This place is truly amazing. Seafood on point. Service outstanding 👏 The view looking over Stone Town at sunset are magical. Recommended.

The Emerson Spice Hotel belongs to the most beautiful and welcoming Hotels in Stone Town. You feel transported back to historic times and equally not miss out on comfort. Many rooms have charming balconies and outdoor showers. The rooftop terrace (where breakfast ist served), is one of the highest in Stone Town. Staff is always available and very friendly. We have been four times in this Hotel and are looking forward to our next stay. Oskar & Family

Nice place for good quick lunch in old town. From upper terrace you can see all around the rooftops and ocean. Maybe you'll be surprised with. The food was good.

Great service, elegant & clean rooms, friendly & professional staff. I stayed at Emerson spice 4 days. The hotel initially didn’t have any rooms available for the dates I wanted to book, so I decided to give it a chance and email their reservation department. Lisenka was so helpful in booking 2 different rooms (Belle & Violette) for my stay. She also made reservations for me at the secret garden, And the 5 course dinner at the rooftop. The staff were friendly and very helpful. Just be mindful that you will need to park car and walk to the hotel so transporting luggage can be difficult…but staff can also assist you. A great way to start your experience in stonetown. You won’t be disappointed.

We had dinner at the rooftop here and it was brilliant. We found out about this place way too late and the place was already fully booked for the whole time we were going to be in Stone Town. Luckily somebody cancelled so we got a table. The dinner is a set menu, with local products. I have some really inconvenient food intolerances, but all were taken into account without issue. Dinner starts just after sunset and the views during the spectacular food is breathtaking. When you are not a guest at their hotel you have to pay a 20$ deposit, but that is refunded through your bill at the end of the dinner. The staff was super friendly and the atmosphere felt magic.

We enjoyed a very lovely rooftop tasting menu at the hotel. Be prepared, it's a long way up and there's no lift but the view over the rooftops, with the occasional Ramadan call to prayer, was enchanting. The seafood menu was excellent, the cooking first class. A very lovely evening indeed. Highly recommended.

Still giving this a five star, despite a slightly problematic dinner reservation. All I can say is check with reception as it's a long walk to the top floor if it's not on! On the other hand, our meal ended up in the sister hotel, which had as good a view and slightly better vegetarian options! That being said, this hotel is lovely - well situated, great breakfast, and individual romantic rooms. Staff are friendly, and happy to carry heavy suitcases upstairs. Beware - lots of stairs (and no lift!). Enjoy the Secret Garden too - nice mixed juices there!

We held our 75 person wedding at the very stylish and special Emerson Spice in July 2022. I started planning with the managers of both Emerson on Hurumzi and Emerson Spice via email approximately a year in advance. We decided to rent out the entire hotel for 2 nights (the Hurumzi location) as well as the secret garden (Emerson Spice location) for the ceremony only. The reception following the ceremony was held throughout the entire Hurumzi location (from lobby to rooftop). We hired a local band to perform in the ballroom, and had several food stations plus an open bar situated throughout the different floors of the hotel. The communication with the managers of both Emerson locations was impeccable. All replies were addressed promptly and professionally. The chefs put together a delicious buffet of varied foods using locally and ethically sourced ingredients. The menu was creative and thoughtful as our guests who were vegetarian or gluten free ate plentiful. The variety of alcohol and non alcoholic drinks were also very appreciated by our guests. The staff, including the receptionists and all waiters treated our entire wedding party as family. My guests were amazed with the consistent top notch service and friendly attitudes of all staff members. Emerson went above and beyond to deliver everything we had imagined for our wedding day, and more! I could not recommend this venue enough as the #1 location to host a wedding if you prefer it not to be on the beach. Thank you so much Lisenka, Obama, and Badru for all your hard work. You all made planning a wedding EASY! There was never one thing to stress about. We hope to organize another event in the future, possibly an anniversary party!

What a lovely hotel! Elegant, relaxed, full service but definitely a casbah experience. Our room was Aida—a family suite with a private terrace, lovely bathroom, and a separate space for relaxing. AC worked efficiently and the lack of an elevator was no problem for us. Breakfast on the roof was magical.

The staff here is so helpful, professional and friendly. Our room was beautiful and very clean. We loved the ambience of this hotel. We enjoyed dining in the Secret Garden and the rooftop restaurant. The food was excellent. It was a wonderful experience and provides guests a real taste of Stonetown. So glad we didn't choose one of the chain hotels and were able to enjoy being emersed in Stonetown culture.

Interesting experience with good views. Maybe a bit pricey for the food you receive

An amazing place to watch the sun go down with a cocktail. A somewhat western take on local cuisine. If you are looking for something warm and hearty, this might not be the place for you.

I was quite disappointed with the dinner here . The price per person is extremely high so you expect something amazing. Unfortunately the restaurant has no atmosphere- it’s completely quiet . The views is nice but the place feels cramped and small . The food is really good but is it excellent? No . The drinks menu is not extensive either . We had a nice evening but I wouldn’t recommend it .

They have several kind of spice.

Beautiful terrace, but $4/9000tsh for a soda was ridiculous, would definitely rather go elsewhere as there are plenty of beautiful rooftops in Stone Town!

Incredible lunch at Emerson's rooftop tea house. Fabulous food, beautiful view, very good value. If you're in Zanzibar, don't miss this!

Lovely sunset 5-course meal (US$40) from their rooftop restaurant overlooking Stonetown. A modern and innovative take on local food.

Food was not up to the hype. Reservations were required combined with a $10/pp deposit paid in advance. The cuisine was not creative, it was mostly local ingredients prepared for Western tastes and plated nicely in small portions. The taste was mostly mediocre -- and in the case of the attempt at Hisbiscus sorbet/granita, it was horrible. The best course was the appetizer, which was a pomelo salad and a crispy deep fried spinach leaf. The rooftop setting was idyllic but at this price point you're better off enjoying dinner somewhere proper and reliable, like the Park Hyatt and so forth.

Great spot to stop for a drink after a long walk around Stonetown. Great place out back they call "secret garden" one of the few places for a beer in the area. Constructed from an original stone building which was home to the last Swahili ruler of Zanzibar.

Amazing hotel! The rooms in the historical wing are big with high ceilings and charming interior. The staff is friendly and will offer special tours, but we booked everything through the front desk. The location is also great in the middle of stone town. This hotel is the nicer of the two Emersons hotels.

We went there for sunset and for the 40US dinner. It was such a nice experience, the view of the city is amazing even more when the Islamic call to prayer start all around the town. Truly beautiful. Service was excellent. As for the food, it was good but not exceptional. I guess you also pay for the experience. Considering the other meals we had on Zanzibar islands, it was amongst the better ones. Cocktails are pricey, but the Long Island ice tea equals about 3 cocktails. Their sister hotel also offer a rooftop experience with less courses and less pricey. Depending on your budget, you can decide which one you’d like to try, but it’s worth going at least for a sunset cocktail.

Very good lunch. Was the only one there around 12:30. The squid and habiscus dessert were great. Ambiance very good. Service exceptional.

We stayed here 3 nights during our honeymoon, after 5 days on Safari. It is a stunning hotel, with extremely uniquely designed rooms. Ours was the Violetta and beautiful and a large balcony to sit out on and take in the sights and sounds of Stone Town. The rooms have an old world and traditional feel, and you feel like you have stepped back in time to when the Sultans rules Zanzibar. The hotel has two great restaurants....two of the best in the city! The rooftop Tea House restaurant has amazing views of the city with delicious breakfasts. We did dinner one night, and it is well worth it. It is a set menu, but if you have dietary restrictions they are very accommodating. Outstanding meal! The Secret Garden restaurant is also very cool and unique with great meals. We highly recommend the Emerson Spice for anyone visiting Stone Town!

The Idea of restoring an old merchant house into a boutique hotel, keeping the textures and authenticity is phenomenal. This hotel transports you into the past with its aesthtical architecture. It is beautiful to say the least. Its walls, high ceiling roofs and doors all tells a tale of their time and as a guest in the hotel, it feels like you have become a part of that story. I stayed in Belle room with my husband and we spent two nights there. The staff were very friendly and helpful. This was one of the most romantic hotel. The roof top restaurant for sunset and breakfast and secret garden restaurant for lunch and dinner. I just loved the interior design of the hotel, Its inspiring, it takes you away from the loudness of the world and captivates your thoughts and mind. It will be one of the most memorable stay for me.

Great rooftop restaurant with great lunch platters. We had the seafood platter. Great hotel with period feel.

Amazing food and views! Beautiful building

Rooftop overlooking Zanzibar, in a 20ish seater restaurant, with a set menu, which is USD and relatively expensive, for Zanzibar, but still as bargain at $25 USD pp for food at lunchtime. We were referred by the chef of Tabaar, above the Doubletree (also good), who said "only good restaurant doing pure Zanzibar food". Good recommendation. We had a seafood platter, with lovely accompaniments, a desert my GF LOVED ... called Zanzibar delight. Short but acceptable wine list. Outstanding and personal service. Loved it. Definitely going back for dinner ($40 USD from memory) before we go. The space is amazing, as is the hotel, but beware ... no elevator, so 8ish flights of elegant wooden stairs.

Vintage... Old looking and nice spiced coffee

Had dinner in the secret garden twice. Great food, friendly staff, and fantastic atmosphere ??

Amazing!

Founded by The late Emerson

Great food and service.

Great seafood!! For dinner on the rooftop is reservation necessary.

(Translated by Google) An oasis in the middle of Stone Town - Chosen cach of the day. (Original) En oase midt i Stone Town - Valgte cach of the day.

Very Authentic and romantic rooms, wonderful experience in an ancient building rebuilt and renovated. The view is wonderful and the many balconies are really lovely. The welcoming nice staff make the experience enjoyable. Definitely recommended

Nice hotel and Delicious food and nice fresh juice

Great food and amazing atmosphere. Best hole in the wall restaurant around.

(Translated by Google) Excessive restaurant prices, nothing exceptional. (Original) Prix restaurant excessif, rien d'exceptionnel.

The Secret Garden restaurant it's amazing. Food is great. A very nice place to have your morning cofee or lunch.

Beautiful place, elegant and confortable. I love it!

We ate in the "Secret Garden", one of the two restaurants of the Emerson Spice hotel. The food was delicious, correct quantity and correctly priced, the service was fast and the open-roof garden with a vintage touch "Habana-ish" is really charming: an decadent structure taken by exuberant vegetation. Really nice!

Slow service for lunch but lovely secret garden.

It was beautiful. Stone city is a beautiful town. The hotel itself is cozy with rustic beauty rarely seen.

(Translated by Google) Restaurant, super (Original) Restaurant,super

Nice and cool.....

(Translated by Google) He is no longer Emerson of the origins. It is fascinating to have dinner on top of a building in the heart of Stone Town but it is no longer so elegant and refined. Discreet dinner, which is appreciated more than anything else for the wise use of spices. Still worth a try. (Original) Non è più Emerson delle origini. È affascinante cenare in cima ad un palazzo nel cuore della Stone Town ma non è più così elegante e raffinato. Cena discreta, che si apprezza più che altro per l'uso sapiente delle spezie. Vale comunque la pena provare.

food is great

(Translated by Google) Beautiful (Original) Precioso

Had a very nice lunch there. Ironically, it wasn't very spicy

Love this place

(Translated by Google) An excellent view, the quality is at the top. But a little slow on the other hand (Original) Une vue excellente, la qualité est au top. Mais un peu lent par contre

The photos do not do this property justice. It is a fabulous hotel! Incredibly unique, pristinely decorated, in a fantastic location, with very attentive and accommodating service. I, undoubtedly, will stay here on my next visit to Stone Town! It would be a missed opportunity to not stay here, I highly recommend it!

(Translated by Google) An unforgettable garden. (Original) Nezaborana bašta.

Food and the restaurant is nice and has an attentive feeling. However, the accommodation needs a slight update, especially the AC units.

(Translated by Google) I had to spend several hours in the restaurant of this hotel. Nice place, lobby is beautiful and authentic, Arabic style. The rooms are beautiful and spacious, however comfortable they are unknown. The restaurant in the courtyard is very pleasant and beautiful, the portions are small but tasty. (Original) Пришлось провести в ресторане этого отеля несколько часов. Приятное место, лобби красивый и аутентичный, в арабском стиле. Номера красивые и просторные, насколько комфортные неизвестно. Ресторан во внутреннем дворике очень приятный и красивые, порции небольшие но вкусные.

Stunning hotel with a fantastic open air restaurant that looks over Stone town. Beautiful bar on the bottom floor. Fantastic experience.