Shaba Boutique Hotel — Hotel in Mkunazini

I have to say that, sadly, I did not have a very good stay at the Shaba Boutique Hotel. Let me first start with the positives, first of which is the location - the hotel is located in the centre of Stone Town and you can reach all sights within 10 mins walking. Also, the bed was quite comfortable with a nice duvet (not just a bed sheet), and fully working AC. FBreakfastis a continental style and I have to say it was one of the nicest ones I had on the island. There are also some drinks like coffee or tea available 24/7, but not really, since the water cooler was not set up for heating.

There were, however, also quite a few negatives, which the management should really look into. First, I have to say that the staff (with the exeption of the young manager) were not very pleasant, nor they had a very good English knowledge. What I really hated was that my room was located on the ground floor next to the laundry room, thus the room was extremely humid and really really dark due to a lack of windows. The room was also located right next to the main street which could be an issue for some with sleeping problems. The bathroom and shower were okay, but the water pressure was extremely low, so taking a nice shower took quite some time. Also, the tap in the shower was partially broken which was annoying. Finally, for a transportation to the airport they quoted me for $25, which I think is quite pricy and you can get a better price elsewhere (I rode for $15).

All things considered, I would be hesitant to stay in Shaba Boutique Hotel again. It is, however, fair to say that I stayed there during low-season when some of the hotels are closed for tourists completely. It is quite likely that during high season the reality of this hotel would be somewhat improved. Also, I booked the hotel last-minute with a special price. If I paid the full price, I would be very disappointed. For the money that I paid,...

House of Spices still manages to bring a lot to the table that makes this place a pleasant choice for eating out in Stone Town. One big plus is the original pizza oven at the charming rooftop terrace and that they know how to use it so well. In fact, I find their pizza offering really excellent and totally worth the money. Also their starters are so delicious. One of my favourite choices is the combination of thuna, mango, eggplant served in a very appetizing way. We liked the wine and the service was friendly. The only thing that House of Spices is still struggling with is their juice offering. This used to be not convincing before and did not really get better. Put in a positive way: Not too much of a real mango was harmed in the production of what was called a fresh seasonal juice but resembled a Fanta at best. The waiters did not care too much and even insisted that what they had brought to the table was a real juice. In the basement of House of Spices one can find some souvenirs like massage oil and nice scarfs that are hand-made, serve a good cause and make nice gifts. Also you can buy the usual overpriced spices and some coffee geared at tourists. House of Spices also has a few nicely decorated rooms that are at the same price level right now as hotel rooms that may offer more amenities when booked at the usual sites. It may make sense to ask directly at the place. All in all, I think Stone Town is enriched by this well maintained and managed place. I would certainly not hesitate to bring local...

We spent one night in the suite, which offered plenty of space for our stay. When we arrived, it was later than we had anticipated, and the check-in process felt a bit rushed, as the staff seemed slightly overwhelmed. Although the staff member kindly offered to carry our backpacks, he struggled a bit with them up the stairs, making us feel a bit guilty for not carrying them ourselves.

The suite was indeed spacious, though we noticed it didn’t have a balcony, which would have been a nice touch. The bathroom featured an open floor plan, which unfortunately led to water pooling on the floor during showers. Additionally, more shelf space for toiletries would have been appreciated. The air conditioning worked well, but we found the mattress to be on the firmer side, which might not suit everyone’s preference. Our room was located on the second level facing the street, resulting in some noise, even with the shutters closed. Thankfully, I had earplugs with me, which helped a lot.

On a positive note, breakfast was a highlight of our stay! In addition to a generous buffet, we enjoyed the option of ordering eggs or avocado toast, which featured an incredibly generous amount of avocado spread.

Overall, I would recommend this hotel for...