Design New or redone
andBeyond Mnemba Island
“Barefoot coral lodge”
Be Zanzibar
“Palm-framed beach bungalows”
Bawe Island Resort
“Private island roost”
Local
Emerson on Hurumzi
“Restored merchant palace”
Emerson Spice Hotel
“Restored Swahili quarters”
Be Zanzibar
“Palm-framed beach bungalows”
Sharazad Wonders Boutique Hotel
“Restored Swahili townhouse”
Kizikula
“Coral limestone guesthouses”
Park Hyatt Zanzibar
“Swahili beachfront bastion”
Zuri Zanzibar
“Thatched hillside village”
Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat Zanzibar
“Sculpted domed sanctuary”
Wellness Quiet Secluded
Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa
“Eco-conscious beachfront hideaway”
The Residence Zanzibar
“Forested oceanfront refuge”
Kizikula
“Coral limestone guesthouses”
Design $–$$
Mvuvi Boutique Resort
“Thatched beach lodge”
Emerson Spice Hotel
“Restored Swahili quarters”
Sharazad Wonders Boutique Hotel
“Restored Swahili townhouse”
Emerson on Hurumzi
“Restored merchant palace”
$$$$ Medalled
Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat Zanzibar
“Sculpted domed sanctuary”
andBeyond Mnemba Island
“Barefoot coral lodge”
The Residence Zanzibar
“Forested oceanfront refuge”
Bawe Island Resort
“Private island roost”
Park Hyatt Zanzibar
“Swahili beachfront bastion”
Zuri Zanzibar
“Thatched hillside village”
Secluded
Essque Zalu Zanzibar
“Thatched cliffside compound”
Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa
“Eco-conscious beachfront hideaway”
Mvuvi Boutique Resort
“Thatched beach lodge”
LUX Marijani, Zanzibar
“Omani-style beach resort”
Upendo Beach Boutique Hotel
“Bohemian beachfront villas”
Editorial mentions
The Neela Boutique Hotel Stone Town
“Restored coral-stone townhouse”
LUX Marijani, Zanzibar
“Omani-style beach resort”
Essque Zalu Zanzibar
“Thatched cliffside compound”
Upendo Beach Boutique Hotel
“Bohemian beachfront villas”
A
andBeyond Mnemba IslandTwo treatment rooms in the Wellness Banda opening onto the casuarina forest, plus in-banda treatments using South African Healing Earth products; offerings include massages, facials, reiki, sound bath therapy, and singing bowl meditation.DesignLuxeResort$$$$B
Bawe Island ResortTreatment suites offering holistic body and wellness treatmentsResortDesignLuxe$$$$ Be ZanzibarCoco Spa open-air oceanfront treatment pavilion staffed by Zanzibari therapists offering deep tissue, relaxing, hot stone, and couples massages.DesignLocalWellness$$$E
Emerson on HurumziDedicated relaxation and massage area offering treatments on siteHeritageLocalDesign$$ Emerson Spice HotelRestored Swahili quartersDesignHeritageLocal$$ Essque Zalu ZanzibarSix to eight treatment rooms including two couples suites and outdoor Maasai-style treatment tents, offering Africology treatments and the signature two-hour Maasai Ritual.DesignLuxeResort$$$K
KizikulaMassages and body treatments offered in open-air wellness pavilions or guest rooms on requestDesignWellnessLocal$$$L
LUX Marijani, ZanzibarOceanfront LUX* ME Spa offering massages, body scrubs, facials, manicures, pedicures, and couples rituals incorporating locally harvested seaweed from Pwani Mchangani and traditional foot-wash rituals.DesignResortLocal$$$M
Mvuvi Boutique ResortTreatment spaces at both Makuti and Mnara offering body scrubs, deep-tissue and relaxation massages, and wellness packages.DesignResortLocal$$P
Park Hyatt ZanzibarThree private spa treatment suites including one dedicated couples suite, offering spice massages, coffee body scrubs, and floral foot ritualsHeritageDesignLocal$$$$S
Sharazad Wonders Boutique HotelRestored Swahili townhouseDesignHeritageLocal$$T
The Neela Boutique Hotel Stone TownRestored coral-stone townhouseDesignHeritageLuxe$$$ The Residence ZanzibarSix private treatment pavilions in a two-hectare garden sanctuary, with treatments using ila organic products and Zanzibari botanicals.ResortLuxeWellness$$$$U
Upendo Beach Boutique HotelBohemian beachfront villasDesignLuxeSocial$$$X
Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat ZanzibarKiota Spa with indoor treatment rooms, a couples suite, oceanfront treatment deck, Africology botanical products, and the signature Pamoja Experience clove body scrubDesignLuxeLocal$$$$Z
Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & SpaThe Senses Spa with open-air and indoor treatment pavilions, offering signature therapies using locally harvested seaweed, virgin coconut, and indigenous spicesLuxeWellnessResort$$$$ Zuri ZanzibarMaua Spa with three treatment rooms including couples suites and an open-air cabana deck, beauty salon for manicures, pedicures, and haircare, offering body rituals, wraps, facials, and massages incorporating local spices and island herbsDesignResortLocal$$$$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.
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.
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.