Dhow Palace Hotel

The Dhow, being the heart beat of the East African culture, has been carrying people, goods and treasures to and from Zanzibar for hundreds of years. Today, the Dhow Palace serves as a meeting point for people and cultures from all over the world amidst a decor and artefacts from a time gone by. Dhow Palace was originally the home of a rich merchant, Sheikh bin Mujbia. Bin Mujbia and his descendants kept the building for more than three centuries before it was sold.

The Dhow Palace building, being right in the heart of the stone town, has bore witness to many events taking place in Zanzibar, before the Dhow building itself became the centre of attention back in 1993 when it was transformed from a family mansion to this elegant hotel. In 2005 it again sought the attention when the new wing was added. The Dhow Palace can easily be described as a living museum dedicated to furniture, art and oriental ornaments which have found their way to the shores of Zanzibar over the past centuries.

17 rooms The 17 bedrooms. ROOM DCOR: Tastefully furnished with Zanzibari antiques and Persian carpets. ROOM AMENITIES: Some rooms have traditional four-poster beds with painted headboards, others have brass beds. Balconies in the rooms overlook an attractive courtyard with palms and creepers. You have the convenience of an air conditioner, television, telephone, mini-bar and hairdryer.

The en-suite bathrooms are interesting, with blue tiled sunken stone baths which have hand-held showers (similar to the characterful ones at Emerson and Green). SPECIAL FEATURE: There is no swimming pool here, but you're welcome to walk down the road to Tembo House, which has a large pool. Tembo and Dhow Palace are owned by the same group who follow the Muslim code of not serving alcohol.

Dhow Palace Hotel offers a delightful food and drink experience centered around its new rooftop restaurant, which serves as an uplifting breakfast venue where guests can enjoy buffet-style meals featuring fresh fruit, cereal, pastries, eggs, and Zanzibar coffee while watching fishing dhows sail across the Indian Ocean above the tin roofs of Stone Town. The on-site restaurant serves a variety of local Zanzibari and international cuisine, with dining options available in the restaurant area, pool area, or near the fountain, though the hotel operates primarily as a bed and breakfast establishment, so guests typically seek lunch and dinner elsewhere.

Drinks are available at the bar/lounge, coffee shop/cafe, and poolside bar serving soft drinks like Sprite and Tamarind, but notably no alcohol is served at Dhow Palace because the hotel is owned by a group following Muslim code, and guests can enjoy complimentary tea/coffee making facilities and drinking water in their rooms while relaxing by the swimming pool or on the rooftop terrace.