If you find yourself in East Africa one of these days, do yourself a favor and hop over to Zanzibar. It's a great side trip, with both culture and physical beauty. Hotel-wise, both stylish luxury and simplicity exist. While I was there last year, being the nosy design buff that I am, I wandered around some of them, with my camera. Here are two of my favorites, both of which are beautiful examples of Zanzibar style.
Baraza: $$$$
On the luxurious end is Baraza, located on beautiful Bwejuu Beach, on the eastern part of the island. Baraza is one of those hotels from which you will emerge, a week later, as a well-massaged and well-rested shadow of your formerly frenzied self.
All the buildings and rooms are a bright clean white plaster, with accents of gold. The result is light, airy and cool. The arched doorways are classic features of old Omani architecture. (I wouldn't be surprised if you ran into a Sultan on the way to the pool.)
Zanzibar Coffee House: $-$$
Unlike Baraza, the Zanzibar Coffee House is in the thick of everything, opening out into the busy winding alleys of Stone Town. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Stone Town is a slice of the 19th Century, with crumbling but beautiful coralline buildings and a rich and complicated history. The hotel runs a coffee shop downstairs (hence its name) and a guest house above.
Guest rooms are off the tall plant-filled stairwell. The white plaster walls and traditional carved openings make it open and bright.
Carved wood furnishings, draped beds, chandeliers and arched windows show the mix of Swahili, European and Arab styles.
A rooftop lounge overlooks the town. The low seating and colorful pillows make it relaxed and comfortable.
(Images: all Dabney Frake, except for Zanzibar Coffee House guest room photo, via Trip Advisor)
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Yes! Yes! Yes!
Stayed at the Zanzibar Coffee House in March of 2010 and it was wonderful. Clean, safe, friendly, and just lovely. Rooftop breakfast with house-made mango cardamom marmalade is still something I talk about. Returning to our room each afternoon to jasmine blossoms on the beds and much-needed air conditioning (I didn't think we needed such things, but I can't even tell you how welcome they were) was such a relief at the end of a hot, sweaty day. And the spiced coffee... oh my.
If I were to visit Zanzibar again (which I'd love to do), I'd probably stay out at the beach since Stone Town can get really hot and confusing, with the narrow serpentine streets and general lack of signage or thorough maps -- but ideally the Zanzibar Coffee House people will have built a beach outpost by then :)
A couple notes:
-Both my friend and I have spent quite a bit of time abroad and I consider myself an above average navigator, but I can't even tell you how many times we got lost. The good news is, there is plenty of beauty and atmosphere to soak in while you try to find your way. Just allow a little extra time for detours, and if you see something in a shop that you like, buy it right then and there -- you might not be able to find that store again! :)
-Everyone in Stone Town was really sweet and helpful to these pathetic lost tourists. Some actually knew the right directions and some didn't (even the locals get confused), but everyone wanted to help!
-Be wary of buying spices at the market. We loaded up, and while some of them have been great, others (huge bag of saffron!) really were too good to be true.... (I still don't know what that was). We kind of knew that going into it, but threw caution to the wind anyway... oh well, it was cheap!
Oh, I've always dreamt of going to Zanzibar...
Zanzibar and Pemba are both so interesting and a big contrast from the mainland--talk about crossroads of the world...see it while it is still not completely Westernized!
I adore Zanzibar!! There are many beautiful and reasonably priced places in Zanzibar. I've never stayed at the Coffee House but have had coffee there, and it was lovely.
We stayed at the Chavda Hotel -it was in Stone Town & looked very much like the 2nd hotel pictured. It didn't have an elevator, but many flights of stairs. It was very charming w/ a rooftop restaurant and a very accommodating staff.