Trips: multiple visits spanning 2016 and 2017
Below is our Top 5 Things To Do in Stone Town, Zanzibar, part of the Just Carrying On – Top 5 Things To Do series. These lists are our favorite activities, eats, and drinks from our travels around the world.
1. Emerson on Hurumzi Tea House Restaurant
The ascent up the steep and winding staircase is rewarded by a stunning view of Stone Town and the best dining experience we’ve ever had in Africa. Dinner is served at one seating a night, preceded by a cocktail hour to allow ample time for leisure and watching the sun set during the Muslim and Hindi calls to prayer. Throughout our delicious dinner of fish, chutneys, pilau, and tagine the hosts graciously explained each course, gave a brief history of Stone Town and we were serenaded by a wonderful ensemble from the nearby Dhow Music Academy. Each fixed course meal was around $30 USD and well worth it.
2. Nakupenda Beach
Walk down any main drag of Stone Town and you will be offered a boat ride, a taxi ride or anything else someone can think of selling you. Engage the ever eager business people and bargain for a boat to take you to Nakupenda Beach for the morning (after stocking up on snacks and water) and after a 20 minute boat ride you will find yourself on a small sandbar in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The water is turoquoise and sparkling and clear and glorious. We bartered for 55,000 TSH for the two of us roundtrip.
Google maps (approximate) / Trip Advisor
3. Forodhani Night Market
At once touristy and local, the night market is one of the most interesting and fun ways to taste Zanzibar. The market is flickering with hanging lights and lanterns on each table, providing just enough light to view what’s for sale. They feature Zanzibar pizzas and you can enjoy either a savory meat or veggie mini pizza or a sweet pizza filled with nutella, sugar or tropical fruits. There are also multiple types of barbecued seafood served alongside the most delicious pili pili (hot sauce) we’ve had here. Enjoy your food sitting on the stones that line the park while listening to the ocean.
4. Stone Town Cafe
We came here the first morning…and then again the next. We sat on the terrace under the shade of palm trees and savored the strong delicious coffee served in a copper tin alongside hot milk, which will always steal my heart. The spicy avocado toast was delicious and the prices were right.
5. Baboo Beach Café
After meandering a little outside of the more touristy part of Stone Town we wanted to find a nice spot to read and see the ocean. Then we turned the corner and saw Cafe Baboo at the end of the street, hardly believing our luck. Perched on the corner, overflowing with beautiful palms and foliage and overlooking the Indian Ocean, they could have served me anything and I would have been happy. I enjoyed some masala chai and Jason had an ok smoothie. Don’t go for the food though, go for the view and the breeze and the salty air.
Honorable Mentions
Explore Stone Town of course by meandering through the streets. Don’t pay for a tour, getting lost is free. Lazuli Café had the most delicious, cold, refreshing smoothies chock full of local tropical fruits. And of course check out this Curio shop, unlike all the tourist traps, full of old candlesticks, coffee pots, bronze elephants, and jewelry—we wanted it all.
Just Carrying On – Top 5 Things To Do in Stone Town, Zanzibar is part of our Top 5 Things To Do series, which offers our best travel recommendations from around the world.