18th-century Swahili house converted into a boutique hotel, at the heart of Stone Town's labyrinth.
Kisiwa House
From
210.758 €
“Authentic Swahili architecture with carved doors and inner courtyards, a two-minute walk from the seafront.”
Kisiwa House occupies a restored merchant's dwelling on Baghani Street, one of the historic arteries of Stone Town. The carved Zanzibar wooden doors, makuti ceilings and shaded courtyards recall 18th-century Swahili architecture. We sleep in rooms with whitewashed coral walls, dark wood furniture, ceiling fans, old-fashioned tiled bathrooms. The restaurant serves honest Swahili-Indian cuisine, room service available until 22h. The airport shuttle eases arrival from Abeid Amani Karume (15 km, 30 minutes). From 211 € per night, rating 8.8/10 on 483 reviews, reflecting a well-kept address but without palace pretensions. Stone Town is explored on foot from the door, the spice souk five minutes away ✨
Who is it for?
Who we recommend it to
We recommend Kisiwa House to travellers seeking historical immersion without forgoing modern comfort, couples on cultural trips or families curious about Swahili architecture. It is an address for those who prefer to sleep in the urban fabric of Stone Town rather than in a beach resort, with the souk and alleys within walking distance. Fans of contemporary palaces will pass by, here one comes for the authenticity of the building and the central position.
The building
Architecture and interiors
Kisiwa House reinvests an 18th-century Swahili merchant's house, typical of Stone Town architecture: coral block walls, carved Zanzibar wooden doors, inner courtyards for natural ventilation. The makuti ceilings (braided palm leaves) and wall niches were preserved during restoration. The scale remains domestic, no monumental hall, circulation via narrow stairs and shaded walkways. Materials are raw: white lime, dark wood, artisanal tiling, wrought iron on balconies.
At the table
Restaurants, bar, service
The restaurant at Kisiwa House offers a Swahili-Indian menu centred on local produce: fish from Darajani fish market, Zanzibar spices, octopus curries, crab biryani. Breakfast is taken in the inner courtyard or on the terrace, fresh fruit juices and home-made bread. Room service available until 22h for late returns after a night stroll in Stone Town. No signature chef or gastronomic table, we stay with honest, fragrant home cooking.
Highlights
- 18th-century Swahili building with carved doors and period inner courtyards
- Stone Town location: seafront in 2 min, spice souk in 5 min
- Airport shuttle included to Abeid Amani Karume (15 km)
- On-site restaurant with Swahili-Indian cuisine, room service until 22h
- Rating 8.8/10 on 483 Booking reviews, family rooms available
Location & access
Where the hotel sits in Zanzibar
Kisiwa House stands on Baghani Street, in the north-east quadrant of Stone Town, a two-minute walk from the seafront and the dhow port. The Darajani spice souk is five minutes away, the Sultan's palace and the House of Wonders ten. Stone Town is entirely explored on foot, the alleys too narrow for cars. Abeid Amani Karume airport is 15 km (30 minutes by shuttle), the neighbourhood stays lively until late with the terraces of Forodhani Gardens and Swahili cafés.
Good to know
Before you book
- Airport shuttle
- Included, to Abeid Amani Karume (15 km, 30 min).
- Family rooms
- Available, suitable for children.
- Wi-Fi
- Free throughout the property.
- Room service
- Available until 22h.
Facilities
Airport shuttle
Non-smoking rooms
Free Wi-Fi connection
Room service
Restaurant
Wi-Fi available everywhere
Family rooms
Location
Where Kisiwa House is located
Exact address
Kisiwa House
Address
572 Baghani Street, Stone Town
In the same city
Other addresses in Zanzibar
A Swahili house from the 18th century transformed into an 8-room boutique hotel, in the heart of the Stone Town labyrinth.
The Neela Boutique Hotel Stone Town
Five private villas facing the Indian Ocean, with infinity pool and dedicated butler.
Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat Zanzibar
Intimate resort on the south coast of Zanzibar, far from the tourist circuits of Nungwi, facing the dolphins of Kizimkazi.
Johari Beach Resort, Kizimkazi Zanzibar
A 5★ business hotel that has set down its suitcases on the beach at Mbweni, ten minutes from Stone Town, between conference centre and spa facing the Indian Ocean.
Madinat Al Bahr Business & Spa Hotel
Swahili palace facing the port of Stone Town, where East Africa meets the Indian Ocean in a setting of sculpted stuccos and Zanzibar wood.
Zanzibar Serena Hotel
Beachfront villa resort north of Nungwi, where Swahili luxury meets the intimacy of a 20-room address.