Zanzibar, TanzaniaKizimkazi Dimbani
Kizikula
Coral limestone guesthouses
Kizimkazi Dimbani Zanzibar, Tanzania
Opened
2020
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness LocalOutside the door
Coral limestone guesthouses
These cliffside guesthouses trade typical resort polish for homegrown farm cooking and quiet swims off the rocks.
“These simple structures cater for a variety of needs, from social interaction to intimacy and relaxation.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Raw concrete and island coral limestone structures built by Mumbai-based Case Design.
Notable
Open-air timber pavilions configured for MovNat natural movement practices and cliffside yoga.
Notable
Produce harvested from on-site permaculture beds and recipes shaped by Zanzibari culinary traditions.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Wallpaper*.
The architecture is both inventive and site-specific, the buildings’ distinctive forms constructed from locally sourced coral limestone, which…creates an extraordinary richness of texture.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
On a limestone cliff in Kizimkazi Dimbani, where gardens and ocean meet far from resort corridors.
1 of 4
The rooms
Rooms sit behind deep timber verandas, with bare concrete walls and bathrooms open to the sky.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The pool is set into a coral-stone terrace overlooking the ocean, shaded by coconut palms and timber pergolas.
At the table
The open-air pavilion serves house-baked sourdough with local honey, and the poolside thatched bar pours drinks at sunset.
How it began
Two childhood friends bought the barren coral plot to retire on, but decided to build an open-door guesthouse decades early.
Zanzibar
More like this
Be Zanzibar
“Palm-framed beach bungalows”
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.