The Rock Restaurant Zanzibar — Restaurant in undefined

Before we headed to Zanzibar, I read and heard so much about this place. When we arrived in Zanzibar, I had friends message me to check if I would be visiting The Rock or not.

This restaurant is at Michanwi Pingwe beach on the opposite side of the island from historic Stone Town (where we were based), but we decided to check it out as it was so highly recommended.

The setting is absolutely gorgeous. The restaurant is built on a rock, a bit onto the beach. At low tide, you walk across to it and at high tide, it’s surrounded by water and you need to take a boat to get there or return.

The restaurant itself is lovely, airy and atmospheric. We chose to sit outside, but in the shade. Braver visitors, sat in the direct sun, where the ground was covered in sand, so it felt like sitting right on the beach.

We started with drinks to cool down. An ice coffee for me and a pineapple spice for him - it was loaded with cardamom and he loved it!

For starters, he had the prawn, squid, veg tempura - which he said was very fresh and good. I had the Fish carpaccio with coconut sauce that was supposed to have lime and fresh chilli peppers, but I could only taste the coconut milk, no spicing at all. Fortunately, it was served with lime and I used it to brighten the dish and denature the fish protein.

By the time we ordered lunch, the restaurant was full (2 sittings for lunch and dinner, need to be pre booked)

He was quite full with his tempura 😊 and wanted dessert, so he said he would share my main course.

I ordered the grilled lobster with scarab potatoes and salad. The potatoes were deep fried in a tempura batter and lovely. But the lobster was a tad over cooked and lost its lovely texture and inherent sweet taste.

By the time this arrived, we had already ordered dessert (in small restaurants, always order dessert early when they are full, so you can be assured your first choice is available)

He had the coconut tiramisu which was ok and I ordered the flambéed pineapple with vanilla ice cream. The pineapple per se was delicious, but it was just served warm, not flambed and the ice cream was quite weak.

Prices at the restaurant are expensive. Given the cost of setting up something like this and keeping it supplied with electricity, ingredients, plumbing etc, it is to be expected. Prices are in USD, as they are in most of Zanzibar.

Zanzibar grows brilliant fruits, vegetables and spices. The oceans provide fantastic seafood. With such brilliant ingredients on hand and at these prices, I do expect my food to taste good and better than average. Not just look good with a brilliant backdrop. But then, that’s me 😊

Given the glowing reviews online for their food, I definitely seem to be...

The Rock Restaurant is truly an experience, you have to visit it when in Zanzibar! It’s thrilling, fascinating, and something you just have to experience to fully understand.

Let me start with the journey. First, you need to make a reservation, this restaurant is usually fully booked, especially during high season, so you can’t just walk in. You’ll need to call ahead and book a table, and be sure to arrive on time.

When we got there, we had to take a boat to reach the restaurant because the tide was high, and the sea had covered the beach. The ride was quite something, the waves were rough, and the boat operator was using a wooden stick as an oar to steer. It felt like a long journey because of the choppy waters, but it just added to the adventure. Once we arrived, we had to be assisted out of the boat, and since the sea levels were high, our feet even got wet! But honestly, that was all part of the fun.

Once inside, the place was fully packed, but luckily, since we had reserved a table, we were seated right away. The service was great, and the staff were attentive. We had already looked at the menu beforehand, so we knew exactly what to order, which made things easier. They serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, so there’s something for everyone.

One thing to note: if you’re visiting in the late afternoon or evening, bring something warm. The ocean breeze gets really cold, but they do provide shawls upon request, which is a nice touch.

Now, onto the food. We ordered a seafood platter, vegan curry, chicken and everything was fantastic! The portions were huge, so much so that we couldn’t even finish everything. The food was really good, and none of us had any complaints. At first, the prices might seem high, but once you see the portions and experience the atmosphere, you realize it’s worth every cent.

That night, there was live band music, which made the experience even more special. The restaurant closes around 11pm but it’s best to confirm this with them. We were among the last people to leave, and by that time, we no longer needed a boat because the tide had gone down. We simply walked back to shore and headed to our car, which was such a cool contrast to how we arrived!

A final tip: the menu prices are listed in USD, so if possible, carry dollars to make payment easier. Otherwise, converting to Tanzanian shillings can be a bit of a hassle coz they use different rates there.

Overall, dining at The Rock was an unforgettable experience, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone...

It was very high up my to-do list while in Zanzibar, and as we lived only a couple of minutes away from The Rock, it was a very natural visit. First of all, the place itself is absolutely stunning. Placed on eroded rock, surrounded by bluest water and lush greenery - an Instagram treasure, candy for an eye. However, on low tide, you have to walk through a deep layer of sea grass that has been floated there by the tides, and it is also quite littered, unlike the rest of the beach, that is sad. You must have a reservation here - check on the website, and book a few days ahead. They offer 2 lunch Windows - 12 and 14, and some evening timeslots with live music. We went at 12, to enjoy the rock with the high tide. We stepped in with dry shoes, and exited with the knee high water - that was fun. Now, the place itself is stunning - having a big indoor dining place with plenty of fans to protect you from the heat, and outside sitting with plenty of Shadow. We stayed outside, and it was (for me) the better choice - the breeze and views were stunning. The service was just OK - polite and informative, but nothing special. The food - well, it was good. Unlike what other reviews say, the portions were MASSIVE - influenced by the reviews, we ordered more, and then had trouble finishing our food. I got seafood fritters - huge and delicious, especially the calamari were the softest I've had, well balanced meal and really tasty. As a second I had Swahili chicken skewers and they were OK - I really enjoyed only the vegetable and potato side dish, the chicken has been a bit too dry for my liking. My husband had a seafood pasta, which as an Italian with a higher pasta standard he said was decent, and then a plate full of lobster - I believe it was 5 medium sized ones. The plate was HUGE and he had trouble finishing, but it was delicious! Overall, it was one of the best dining experiences in Zanzibar, but not a very traditional one - this is influenced by the fact the owners are Italian and the influence of the kitchen is that. It is a good restaurant, but mainly for the aesthetic and surroundings. If you want to eat traditional food, just go a couple hundred meters north of the beach for authentic food. Lastly, the bill. Well, it's pricy. What more to say. You'll pay...