Name: The Seyyida Hotel and Spa
Address: Kijangwani, Zanzibar Town, Zanzibar, TZ

8/10

Excellent

23 Jul 2026

Kumbirai Trish

The room was clean, and housekeeping came by every day to clean and replace the towels.

For the first two mornings, there was no hot water early in the morning. After I reported it, they sent a housekeeping staff member to verify the issue before alerting maintenance. By the following morning, it had been fixed, and I finally got to enjoy a blissfully hot shower.

My room was next to one of Stone Town’s many alleyways, so there was almost always activity and noise late into the night. As a light sleeper, I found this quite challenging.

The rooftop restaurant has some of the best views in Stone Town. Just be prepared to share the space with lots of birds—they can be quite persistent while you’re trying to eat!

Overall, I think Seyyida is a decent place to stay in Stone Town. That said, there are other hotels that don’t have these issues. The second hotel I stayed at (not Seyyida) was almost perfect, so you definitely have options. Even so, Seyyida isn’t a bad choice at all.

8/10

Excellent

20 Jul 2026

Fareed

Breakfast is great though not buffet. The location is in the middle of stone town and very near to the sea and the night market location. Staff is so friendly. I prefer if the toilet has door instead of a curtain. The room was without telephone but it was very near to the reception desk so it was ok.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Nov 2025

Caridad

Beautiful hotel and the staff was very friendly and helpful.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Oct 2025

YIBO

clean room

6/10

Pleasant

29 Aug 2025

Melanie

The shower could use updating and amenities in the bedrooms (bar soap, face tissues)

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2025

Laura

Excellent location, many shops and restaurants nearby. Very close to the beach.
We had a fantastic room with a lovely sea view.
Clean and inviting pool area.
Very good breakfast and helpful staff.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Apr 2025

Adele

A classic old building well maintained and beautifully decorated. MARIE MARIE MARIE. YOUARE THE BEST

6/10

Pleasant

10 Apr 2025

Sara

The room and rooftop were lovely, service was excellent, and the food was very good. The noise of children playing in the alley below went on til quite late, and the shower water never got very hot. Otherwise, a cool spot in the heart of Stone Town.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

27 Feb 2025

Maya

Hotel is situated right in the heart of stone town, close to everything. Felt very safe. The hotel had a boutiquey feel to it. Rooms were lovely, space to hang out and unwind was nice. Good food options if you don’t want to go out

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

28 Jan 2025

Vince

Good relaxing stay.

Location close to many things. Location is off the regular streets. Roof top restaurant was nice and view was great. Some simple wire to keep the crows away would be nice! Room does need TVs but didn’t miss it. Wi-Fi signal needs improvement. Spa treatment was nice but location is an issue with echo and noise.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

10 Oct 2024

temi

The hotel is very clean and the staff is attentive.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Sep 2024

courtney

We were pleasantly suprised with our stay at seyyida! If you’re thinking of booking … don’t hesitate ! We had the most memorable stay! The location is just off the Main Street off the beach - a quick walk from the ferry terminal and the night market. Stone town can feel quite intimidating to navigate upon arrival- we loved and took comfort knowing as long as we could find the ocean we could find our hotel. The staff was pleasant and helpful. They provided a map of stone town and assistance with things to do. The hotel is stunning. The pictures online will never do it justice! The courtyard and pool are works of art. Breakfast every morning was quick fresh and delicious. Please ensure you take the time to view the sunset on the rooftop patio-breathtaking ! The staff allowed us to store our luggage free of charge upon check out and use the pool until our time to leave. My only regret is that we couldn’t stay longer! Thank you for a lovely safe and memorable stay!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Aug 2024

Ivaylo

Nice and clean hotel in a nice location. The pool and the restaurant are great.
On the downside - it is hard to find when arriving by car as there is no indication where the hotel is from the street and have to walk a narrow alley from the street to the hotel entrance. Some clear signage visible from the street would greatly help.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

29 Jul 2024

Tiffani

It was disappointing to find my sheets not clean. There appeared to be blood and dirt marks on the sheets. When showing to staff, he refused to change the linen. This left me to spend my only night on the property sleeping on soiled bedding. He also packed juices, with lids and straws holes in a bag without warning us. This juice spilled all over ruining my laptop.

They also tossed my friends retainer, which was left in the room.

They would do good to pay better attention to details for the benefit of their guests.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jul 2024

Nicole

Fantastic property! Love the charm and the rooftop restaurant. It’s centrally located and walkable to everything.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 May 2024

christelle

This property itself was beautiful. Our room had two stories, and our room upstairs opened up to the restaurant, and the beautiful rooftop view. The staff here were so nice and helped us to plan everything we wanted to do. Also, the location of this place is very convenient, very close and walkable distance to the night food market, and different historic locations in Stonetown. We loved our stay here and will definitely go back. Only complaint we had was that the drain in the shower went down very slow and the bathroom would flood. The free breakfast was also very delicious.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

09 May 2024

Paula

Staff welcoming and attentive. Hotel rooms large clean and comfortable. Turn down service provided everynight which included mosquito nets and repellant. No lift in the property but the staff carried our luggage and allowed me to keep my childs pram down in reception. Every meal we had in the restaurant was delcious. The hotel is very close to the main road and the waterfront. The night market is a 2 minute walk

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

04 May 2024

Rashida

The receptionists, the in house and breakfast team were excellent

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Mar 2024

Heather

I loved the botanical atmosphere of this hotel. I had a massive double room on the ground floor surrounded by plants which made it magical!! Pool area was relaxing. My favourite was the rooftop restaurant which had beautiful views of the seafront. I would definitely come back here. The location was very central to exploring Stone Town.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

12 Feb 2024

Benjamin

Excellent location…near the water and the old fort.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Feb 2024

Alihussein

.

Business_and_leisure

10/10

Exceptional

29 Sep 2023

Rubani

What a beautiful property! The staff was extremely helpful and supporting, felt so safe at this hotel.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Sep 2023

Ed

It is a nice clean hotel in the perfect location so you need not to get a taxi.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

12 Aug 2023

Natalie

Very nice hotel with really nice staff and great location. No TV but if you can watch TV via wifi on your phone it is not an issue.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2023

Krystle

Nice, clean hotel directly in the middle of Stonetown. Great breakfast and views from the rooftop. Only issue were the roaches in the room that I noticed late at night when I woke up to go to the restroom.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jul 2023

Nancy

I liked the ambiance of the property. I loved my room, although I thought I had booked a room with a balcony. My room was great and I loved the AC. After wandering around the streets of Stonetown, the AC was refreshing. The rooftop dining area and views were great. The staff were helpful and friendly. Good location.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

17 Jul 2023

ardita

Disappointed

Cheap buffet breakfast per $15/person. A joke

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2023

S

Best Boutique Hotel in Stonetown

I love this gem of a hotel - beautifully tasteful rooms, fantastic location, and great staff. By far, this gem is my favorite place in Stonetown.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

24 Feb 2023

Sridhar

Very Close to Forodhani gardens and all other places are walkable Distance from this property.you can see the beautiful Sea View From the Top of the Hotel (restaurant) .
room amenities are Average .if you don't spend much time in room that s OK.

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

25 Jan 2023

Juliette

Hotel was overbooked although we had paid

Business

6/10

Pleasant

19 Dec 2022

Jonathon

Like: Location, location, location. The view from the rooftop was nice as well.

Dislike: No shower door (should have had one). Limited water pressure. Tons of street noise. Windows leaked from dew/humidity/rains.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Nov 2022

Alyson

LOVELY ROOFTOP DINING AREA

8/10

Excellent

18 Oct 2022

Patrick

Overall for one night stayed, it was a good experience. Although, I thought that it was noisy outside, the bathroom needed maintenance, and some of the furniture appears that they needed cleaning. The restaurant was out of beers one afternoon, which seems unusual. There was gap/holes in the mosquito netting above the bed. It seems like the hotel needs some care and some love. The pictures on the website are not representative of the hotel.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

04 Oct 2022

Joanne

Tired and in need of a refurb.

On arrival we were informed we'd been 'upgraded' as our room was in use for another guest. This was not an upgrade but a large family room on the ground floor for one night only. Unfortunately, the room was located next to an alley where mopeds and motorcycles were driven all night. We hardly had any sleep as we would be woken by the next vehicle every time we dropped off to sleep. Some passersby even knocked on the windows at all hours

The bar ran out of normal beer and only had small bottles of lite.
The kitchen could not make toast on request.
The toilet for the restaurant/ bar area is disgusting and smelt of urine.
The bathrooms in the rooms are tired and grotty. Cracked sinks, loose and broken toilet seats that don't fit the toilets.
The electrics were so bad, they were dangerous. Bared conductors on the metal bed side lights being the worst example. Light switches that did not work and arced when switching, but did not turn on the lights.
Only one bedside light and table for double beds in some of the rooms. Why?
Air conditioning worked well in every room we used; three in total.
Towels were well past their best and stained even after laundry.
One of the reception staff and the cleaners were very helpful, but the rest of the staff just didn't seem that interested in doing a good job.
Had a chat with other guests who'd also had to request different rooms due to late night noise issues or malfunctioning equipment.
Would try elsewhere if we were to return.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

26 Sep 2022

Nawir

The locatoin, the staff and hotel is wonderful.
I was in room 402 and would have like to see the bathroom fittings update and maintained, The toilet flush constantly made noice and kept running, the shower heat was blocked and the wash hand basin faucet was well worn. These are easy items to sort and keep looking fresh.
I would still come back despite these as they did not affect my stay.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Sep 2022

HADEEL

Location is superb, it is a clean and very well managed property, staff are friendly and service oriented and their manager 'Maureen' is very capable and professional..pleasure to do business with. what can be improved is more wheel chair friendliness to be introduced and somesort of a lift or elevator even if a tight/small external one so people with disabilities can enjoy your roof top restaurant and terrace and enjoy its breath taking views that are so memorable and among your best property assets or attractions.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

06 Sep 2022

Jared

Accessibility to all interesting places around Forodhani, staff very warm and supportive. Even allowed me a late check out on last day because i had an evening flight.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2022

Shawn

I was so amazed by how friendly and accommodating the was to me. The setup my ride to a from the airport, and gave me dining suggestions of local restaurants. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I will
Highly recommended staying at the Sayyida when visiting Zanzibar.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2022

Verified traveler

Free breakfast was $15 per person

The room was enormous and beautiful. The location is great, close enough to walk to/from the ferry in daylight. The hotel would not honor the free breakfast that Hotels.com said we would get. But I blame that on Hotels.com because they subcontracted with hotelbeds.com and did not select the free breakfast option.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2022

Okan

Amazing location and property.. In the heart of stonetown. Beautiful views from the roof top and amazing food. Stayed here for 5 days and it our 12th hotel in zanzibar after 2 months of honeymooning and I must say it was a highlight of the hotel experiences.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

30 Apr 2022

Verified traveler

Uncomfortable and dark

The greatest thing about this hotel is their talent for photo shop. This hotel was the worst we’ve stayed at in 10 years, incredibly noisy, bed was extremely uncomfortable and our room had no light due to facing a cement wall, an apartment from across the alley could look directly into our room.
The staff was nice but the surroundings outside did not feel safe at night time.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Apr 2022

Mary Ann

Excellent staff, great location a block from ocean.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Feb 2022

Erica

Seyyida is a convenient location for Stonetown Old Fort events (like Sauti Za Busara) and other sight seeing and shopping. The only downside is getting through a dark alley at night to the front entrance, but the area is quite safe. The pool is refreshing, and the rooms are very well-maintained and clean. Staff is very helpful with everything you need. I will be staying again next time I'm in Zanzibar.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

27 Nov 2021

Vicki

The decor was tasteful. I loved the photos which were throughout the hotel...each photo included a description...the mixture of old (furnishings) with new...bathroom.....Although there was no elevator in the 4 story building, it was not a taxing walk. The restaurant was Amazing! The food, the staff (Mr. Massoud and Mundhir Said were attentive and pleasant) (Ms. Chichi Ally provided excellent meals). The housekeeping staff were accommodating and efficient. I had a much needed full body Zanzibar Spice massage (s/o to the therapist) Maureen Jollebo...was an absolute angel throughout my stay. I had experienced an unexpected delay in transit, which caused my initial hotel to be canceled. I was sad, frustrated and out of sorts when I arrived at the Seyyida. Maureen did all in her power to make sure I left Stone Town with a different impression...I will happily be returning to the Seyyida. The pool which was located within a few steps from my room was clean and relaxing...i am looking forward to another great experience at the Seyyida....#customer service matters!

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

25 Nov 2021

Jake

I really liked this place and would stay again. But a couple of things let it down - the breakfast was poorly done, things like cheese, butter and bread are left out in the heat and flies buzz round the fruit. Cheeper hotels like Spice Palace are half price and have a better breakfast. The Pool is nice but it's in an atrium so you have to move about to catch or avoid the sun. The room I was in was big and really lovely, but there wasn't a refridgerator, and the shower only had cold water for most of the day. All the staff however were super friendly and helpful especially Cliffthon and Rita on the evening shift on the amazing roof terrace. That's why I'll recommend this place to friends.
If they fix the breakfast this place will be amazing.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

19 Nov 2021

Clare

We were only in for a night but the dinner menu was ok and the room was comfortable and perfectly cool. The service could be a lot quicker and some staff did not smile at all when engaged. Overall though it is a beautiful place inside. Also the outside was a bit scary when coming in because there is no signage and you access the hotel through alley ways. This is particularly unnerving for travellers who are just following guidance from people they dont know. You could think you were being set up for a robbery. But once inside, the place is amazing and the room and roof views are to die for. Love the art pieces and thoughfulness of the designs too.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

21 Oct 2021

tina

Pretty place

It was very clean. Beds were comfortable and big. Wonderful roof top restaurant you can eat. It’s mainly Greek food. Breakfast buffet had a good selection even smoked salmon and home made baked goods.
The building, the decor and the plants make up for a wonderful picture. Personally I appreciate tasteful decor which I really liked about this place.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Oct 2021

Plato

Good spot

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2021

Karim

Nice, recommended!

Nice hotel with a good location. Very close to the beach and all the attraction, places to visit, nice restaurants and Cafe and the ferry terminal.

Staff are friendly and helpful.
Breakfast is set menu but enough and simple, with a great view as it's on the roof top.
Spacious room and nice decoration.
Needs a little bit of maintenance and renovation but Ok.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

20 Feb 2021

Verified traveler

Great View. The stage kept the property very clean. I wish I knew of the hotel sooner. Close to shopping and restaurants.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jan 2021

Amar

Excellent superb big comfortable caring central clean

Business

8/10

Excellent

06 Jan 2021

Verified traveler

It is a beautiful property set in a very old city, right next to the former palace. It is a stone throw away from the beach and some good restaurants. The hotel itself is ok, comfortable bed but the proprietor was not very pleasant. She was only nice to the white guests and completely ignored us or switched off our music at the roof top bar . The toilets kept clogging up . The breakfast was very bland overdone eggs always . The hotel gave us just 2 small shower gels for our stay of 3 days and doesn't provide tothpaste. At that price point you expect a bit more.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

27 Nov 2020

Kyla

Very good location for visiting stone town, beautiful building and nice breakfast. The room was pretty but construction was very messy making it look unclean.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2020

Sarah

Everything was just so perfect about Seyyida.
The Location=perfect
The decor=perfect
The price=perfect
The bedspreads=perfect
The staff=perfect

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

An easy walk from the ferry. Beautiful views from the rooftop restaurant and good food.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Breakfast was amazing in a great setting, well worth the money.
Room was good although shower entrance felt a bit tight.
Would stay here again!

Self

8/10

Excellent

11 Dec 2019

Russell

The hotel is in a good location in Stonetown and is situated close to the ferry. The rooms are comfortable, the AC works well as does the internet. I have stayed here before and will stay again.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

03 Nov 2019

Verified traveler

Perfect location, beautiful accommodations. Very helpful staff. Wonderful rooftop breakfast included! The view is spectacular. Great pool. Highly recommend!

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Sep 2019

James

Unique blend of exotic yet contemporary hotel

First...they let us check-in 4 hours early and gave us a late check-out! When you are a weary traveler, little things make a difference.
And the staff at the spa stayed late so I could treat myself to a pedicure!
Second...we were treated to a welcome drink on their rooftop bar/restaurant. I simply cannot imagine a better spot to view the Indian Ocean and sites of Stonetown. And the menu was varied and entries delicious.
Third...the room was vast! High ceilings, antique furniture, grand entrance to the bed, and the fabrics were colorful and cozy. All you needed-hot water, refrigerator, fluffy pillows
and safe.
Lastly, the location within Stonetown allows one to explore fully.
Recommend Seyyida Hotel & Spa as a perfect spot to begin or end your trip in Zanzibar.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Sep 2019

rachel

Central Stone Town Boutique Hotel

Calm oasis in a bustling area of Stone Town with beautiful rooftop terrace

Partner

4/10

Poor

29 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

The pictures aren’t a great representation of what your actually getting, the room looked much larger and the balcony should not be classified as a balcony since there was barely enough room for a chair. The staff were pleasant but under trained. In the restaurant every meal we ordered something and it wasn’t available. When we were finally able to order something available it took a long time to receive and was inconsistent to what we had previously ordered and enjoyed, particularly the cocktails. In our room there was a broken toilet seat, a leaking shower, calcium buildup in the shower head meant it sprayed all over the floor and the bedside table PowerPoint was hanging off the wall. It was great to be able to book tours through reception but the description for what could be anticipated was very poor, a two hour tour for $35USD ended up being a four hour tour for twice as much plus a tip. Although maintenance issues were communicated to management on check out just to give them a heads up the owner didn’t seem bothered and tried to excuse the shower head due to poor water when the night before we stayed in a resort which had no issue only half an hour away. Unfortunately as much as the staff were pleasant and the location was good we won’t be staying again.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

What a fantastic hotel! I absolutely loved my room- I booked the king suite and it was huge- suitable for 2 couples as the room has separate areas with 2 king beds and in the middle is the bathroom. Both sections have a seating area and one has the tv. Internet connection wasn’t the best but it was better in the lobby. The restaurant offered a fantastic breakfast- the bacon was beef and a bit hard to chew though. The location is perfect to access the ferry terminal- about a 4 minute walk. Wonderful location is stonetown! I will definitely rebook. Also, the pool was a little iffy but there were plenty of chairs to lounge and chill. The staff was friendly and had 24-hour coverage.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

15 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Comfortable little hotel

Overall nice hotel with nice small pool. Very friendly staff and clean rooms. Only problem was the mosquito net was poorly set up and didn’t close up which left with extremely bad sleep.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

The Seyyida Hotel & Spa is an amazing hotel in the heart of stone town. It was based in a great location close to many historical attractions and also the Forodhani Park night food markets.
The rooms were decorated beautifully in Swahili-style and were very clean with daily housekeeping. The rooftop restaurant overlooked the ocean and was perfect for sunset drinks. The morning breakfast was delicious with a variety or eggs done any way and fresh fruit and an array of pastries. A highlight was the pool area after a day of exploring and the heat of the days it was a treat to cool off in a quiet oasis. My partner and I loved this hotel and area so much we extended our stay an extra night, a total of 3.

I cannot excel the staff more on their service. They truly went above and beyond. I unfortunately fell ill after our trip to the Serengeti and the hotel staff were extremely helpful.I needed medication to be delivered from Dar Salaam to the local pharmacy, the staff organised drivers to arrange pick up and communicated with the doctor on the where abouts. The manager of the hotel was also extremely helpful on the situation recommending appropriate health facilities to go to and was always checking on my progress . We felt extremely safe in this hotel and felt like we built a strong rapport with the staff. So much so, in the case of leaving our GOPRO with a driver in Paje over one after staying at seyyida we contaccontacted the hotel manager to see if she could help u

8/10

Excellent

24 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Loved it here. It personified everything great of Stonetown

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

Being at the Seyyida Hotel was a wonderful experience for us in so many ways: the friendly greeting when we arrived with cool towels refresh our hands an faces; the staff was always courteous and friendly; the room was always taken care of very well, even with our room prepared for the evening and with some cookies as a treat; the rooftop restaurant was very reasonably priced and served a wonderful breakfast; and the view from the restaurant over the sea was wonderful. We would definitely go back again. Highly recommended.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Jan 2019

Keish

Pros: nice amenities, well-maintained and thoughtful decor, good breakfast, amazing views from rooftop restaurant

Improvements: painfully slow-nonexistent WiFi on the 4th floor, no lift, limited lunch and dinner menu though this could be said for all Zanzi restaurants, info from front desk staff not always concise. I inquired about check out time upon arrival and was told something different than the official check out time, which is 10am. That is very early for any place.

All in all good stay. Everytime I was downstairs someone was asking if there were any vacancies available, and there were many outside guests at the restaurant nightly. I'd stay here again.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Dec 2018

Antonia

Lovely and friendly boutique hotel in Stone town

Beautifully decorated boutique hotel on the waterfront in Stone Town. Also lovely roof terrace and pool which was an oasis of calm. Fantastic location. The staff were very helpful. Would definitely stay there again.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Aug 2018

Verified traveler

Lovely hotel

Lovely boutique hotel with well decorated rooms. Beautiful spa. Close to the mosque so can get noisy but overall a great stay! Nice pool too!

Friends

8/10

Excellent

07 Aug 2018

Joanna

Gorgeous building! Hotel cost.service needs work.

Pros: Check in was easy, room was nice (except for ugly chair), the beautiful decor and flowers on your bed, the rooftop has a great view, welcome juice, pool is nice and the Spa is quaint, hot water, the restaurant staff were very helpful.
Cons: (note: the expat hotel manager wasn't there during my stay). When I asked for late check out possibility, they didn't understand me and I never got an answer back, 2nd time they said fine, 3rd time (bc they didn't understand the 2nd) they said it was 30 USD extra. Which was fine but the process was HUGE hassle. They need staff at the front desk that really understand English, not half English and are trained in costumer service. There were A LOT of mosquitoes in the lobby and some in the bedroom (mosquito net provided), no garbage pals in room or bathroom, massage was decent (not really deep tissue- go for the coffee scrub instead), check out was a HOT mess, they got the bill all wrong. It was a VERY African 1 hr process. They gave me the bill, I told them it was wrong, I had to explain why, I had to talk to some guy on the phone. Burden on me to do their jobs. They finally understood why (I paid with expedia-- they knew that when I checked in, they forgot when I was checking out). They still gave me the receipt for the wrong payment but hopefully charged me the right bill. Overall, although lovely building but would not say here again bc hotel management is such a mess there are much better options.

8/10

Excellent

30 Oct 2016

Anise

I was there for work but i is always good to be in Zanzibar, good fruit, historic city, small island, beautiful views and lovely people. Stone Town can be walked through in abou a day, a day for the north of the Island and then you would want to go to a resort. the deluxe room is a little more expensive than the other rooms but it's worth it. Big, with a great view, on the quiet side of the hotel etc. Well positioned too although you have to walk a few yards to reach the cabs (streets too narrow) bu then, who wants a cab in Zanzibar anyway most times life around the hotel is 'family based' kids out on the street, women cooking snacks for sale just outside their homes in the alleyways...but you get the tourist restaurants as well very close by....

6/10

Pleasant

10 Jan 2016

Verified traveler

The hotel is very modern with nice facilities (good aircon) and the location is very good - close to many restaurants and sights. The service, however, could be improved. All the staff were very nice, but not very efficient.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Sep 2015

Zeeshan

Neat place in Stone town

Its a bit hard to find if you are out by yourself, but a driver will know exactly where it is.
Its got everything you need and the rooms and very comfortable. Service is excellent as well.

Walking distance from the ocean and the food/shopping areas.

6/10

Pleasant

29 Aug 2015

deborah

good quiet location

I came here for my 50th birthday. On arrival I was told there was a problem with my booking a that I would have t contact Expedia. She helpfully read me the email I had sent 10 months earlier asking for a room with a view, slightly annoying as they never replied to it. As I had an updated confirmation in my hand from Expedia I felt it wasn't my job to chase that up.she sorted it out and we went to the roof top to wait for the room to be ready. When we got the room it was beautiful but the worst view imaginable, two of the windows opened onto a brick wall and the other gave us an internal view of the hotel. As we only saw one couple in the time we were there I'm certain the hotel wasn't full. I suspect the housekeeping wasn't as it should be, while the room was spotless, on our second day a little bag of biscuits appeared along with two dressing gowns, neither of these were there when we arrived and there wasn't any information in the room, no leaflets, no phone numbers, , we had to go to reception because we didnt know the number, not the end of the world but inconvenient when youre trying to get ready etc. I asked for an iron, which was brought to the room, with bare cables hanging out and one snapped cable. we had to wait until the next day to have a working iron. My friend had asked for some kind of decorations in the room for my birthday, they said they would do something, but they didn't do anything.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Aug 2015

martell

Good location.

Good price for location. Very close to ferry and sights. Walked to everything in town.

6/10

Pleasant

28 Oct 2014

Leon

Nice hotel in Stone Town

Nice hotel 5 minutes from the ferry and close to the food market.

4/10

Poor

13 Aug 2014

Shannon O.

Horrible service!!!

The hotel did not have record of our paid reservation from Hotels.com. It took them over an hour to find a room for us after we arrived. At the end of our stay, the receptionist insisted that we still had to pay, despite that I had given them the printed out receipt from Hotels.com that showed that our reservation was already paid in full. The shower in our room was broken as well. Overall, it was a shame, as the hotel was absolutely beautiful, and perfectly located, but the service from the reception was horrible. The service at their restaurant was quite good. The problem was with the reservation and the shower.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

13 Aug 2013

taichijan

50/50

The hotel is an aged building but has been nicely upkept in the interiors, the same can't be said for the external walls, shored up by planks.
Great staff made up for an initial bad impression given when the hotel failed to reply to my email concerning the cost in local currency for a taxi from the airport. Staff most accommodating about changing my room to one with a balcony, when it became available
I'm glad I didn't have to move my luggage up or down as there are no lifts so you rely on a strong bellboy.
Food was reasonable but a little uninteresting. Massage service good.
Central location a key point

8/10

Excellent

02 Dec 2012

Verified traveler

Great rooms, friendly service

Great roof terrace. Friendly staff. Good location close tot he waterfront.
Rooms furnishings beautiful.

4/10

Poor

08 Nov 2012

Verified traveler

Meals not up to standard! Most times without listed items on menu and not enough variety! I had a gecko crawling on me in my bed one night!

8/10

Excellent

28 Oct 2012

Irene

Seyyida Surprise

Free Wi Fi is available at bar and restaurant but not in your room. The shower had lots of lovely hot water which was much appreciated after being in Tanzania. When we arrived the taxi driver said just walk up that alley and turn left. We are so used to being delivered to the front entrance and so were a bit surprised, but that was as far as a vehicle can go in the lane ways and alleys of Stonetown. A comfortable chair to sit on would have been nice

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Sep 2012

Pati

Great location

The hotel is just 2min walking distance from the port, museum, old fort, really nice location. Safe to walk around. Very big room and bathroom, furniture in colonial style so you feel like you are in a different world, nice decorations all over the hotel, really nice breakfast on the rooftop. I'm very fussy about the hotels so i'm really glad I stayed in this hotel.

2/10

Poor

01 Sep 2012

J.P

Forodhani Gardens, Palace Museum, Beit el Ajaib,

The only good comment was the excellence of the rooms from a comfortand decor point of view. The service at the Seyyida Hotel was was well below reasonable expectations. On two of the three nights there were no towels provided in the room. We had to call the reception for a supply of towels. We made payments at the reception desk of a Spice tour and for a hotel taxi pick-up. In both cases, no receipts (or tickets/vouchers) were provided. On check out, no hotel invoice/receipt was provided to confirm the the account was fully settled. We would not stay at this hotel again.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Aug 2012

Adrienne

Very pleasant

I was only there for a night but I thought the hotel was lovely. The rooftop was beautiful. The staff was very helpful. Make sure you look at the art in the hallways - it tells stories of Zanzibar's history. You have to go through an alley to get there from the street, but I didn't see anyone shady there.

8/10

Excellent

10 Jul 2012

Verified traveler

The front desk staff were amazing! Rather than booking excursions in advance, let the hotel staff set it up for you. The restaurant was disappointing and overpriced, but everything else was wonderful.

Family

8/10

Excellent

02 Jul 2012

Mooro

Two night stay in Stonetown.

Due to nearby renovation we had to walk the last 100 yards to the hotel and some of the views from the rooftop terrace have been \"creatively\" taken. Nonetheless the venue offers good value and is clean and well kept. The food is good and staff friendly if not the most knowledgeable on Stonetown and its environs. Make sure you only pay 15,000 shillings from the airport in a taxi and take your drivers card. This will let you undercut any rate quoted by the hotel by at least 30% by dealing direct with the driver. Also, get your local currency in town NOT at the airport and US $ are better than GBP if you are using international currencies. Finally, Nairobi airport is much better for duty free than Stonetown! Enjoy.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2012

Carolyn

Seyyida Hotel and Spa

I found the hotel in a great location even though there was a short lane to access it. The food was great and service excellent. I would recommend if booking a tour to shop around. I found the one I did was not as good as I had expected. I was expecting the town tour to go a little longer. Otherwise no problems or issues

8/10

Excellent

21 May 2012

Verified traveler

StoneTown

Very helpful staff with beautifully decorated, spacious rooms

8/10

Excellent

05 Mar 2012

Goose

The Seyyida Hotel and Spa, Stonetown, Zanzibar

The Seyyida hotel is located one block back from the sea-front in Stonetown and is a very short distance from Mercury's bar. It was very good, clean, fresh and appealing. Our room was well air-conditioned, well maintained, comfortable and had a sea view. The only downside to this hotel was the quality of the \"half-board\" menu. The menu choice was very limited, to a choice of two main courses, and when one choice was unavailable, to a choice of one! That said, breakfast was excellent and dinner was acceptable. I happily recommend people stay here.

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jan 2012

Sina

Great hotel at the excellent location

Very nice hotel with excellent location and great view from the terrace. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, nicely decorated and staff is very friendly and helpful. Overall atmosphere of the place is very pleasant. Strongly recommended.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2011

Toni

Great Character

If you really want to see Stonetown, stay at the Seyyida Hotel. The surrounding area is not for the faint of heart, but will show you the real character of Africa and Tanzania. Take a trip to the fish market if you want a real experience. The area is safe, with no pickpockets or beggars though in some areas is not very well-lit. The staff at the hotel are welcoming and the breakfast service staff are very attentive. Fresh juices and pastries every morning. The hotel is fairly new but management seems to be making a whole-hearted effort to run a well-maintained and functional hotel. The furnishings are new, in Zanzibari/pan African style throughout. We would return.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

12 Oct 2011

Claire

Excellent hotel - great rooftop restaurant

Tucked away between some derelict buildings, this hotel is a real oasis. Located practically next door to the palace museum, it is right in the centre of the old town. The hotel is clean, spacious and our room (303) was huge, with a sea view and an enormous bathroom. The rooftop restaurant is a little pricey but has excellent views over the bay and good food. They're well prepared for the daily power cut on the island, but the generator can be loud!!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

01 Aug 2011

Lena

Nice small hotell with a roof terass where breakfast is served. A hidden gem in the middle of Stone Town close to major attractions. Room 303 is lovely. A trip to the Sandbank, Forodhani gardens, Livingstones and just get lost in town..... Definitely recommend. Stayed 2 X 2 nights in July 2011.

8/10

Excellent

03 Jul 2011

Kimberly

Heart of Stone Town

A nice hotel in the heart of Stone Town, steps away from the night market, the port, and Zanzibar's best restaurants. No pool and slow internet service (none in the room). Little English is spoken, but enough to check in, order food, and usually to get what you need.

8/10

Excellent

21 Jun 2011

Verified traveler

Seyida

This hotel is new and still finding its way. Toilet seat loose, not fixed in 3 days but that's Africa. Some cleaning issues. The hotel is generally attractive and has sea views from many rooms, good local furniture.
At this price I would recommend 236 Hurumzi which looks to have more character; certainly the food was better, if more expensive.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Apr 2011

Carey

I will stay here next time!

I was extremely satisfied with my stay at Seyyida. They went above and beyond giving me a late check out when i had an evening flight. The food at the restaurant was yummy and had great views of the sea. It has a great location, just step out the door and explore. The room was decorated with style, antiques, and i wanted it all. It is quiet. The staff was friendly and helpful. I would recommend Seyyida to anyone. Wifi in the lobby. Go and enjoy!

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2026

Hilde

Fint hotell midt i Stone Town. Store gode room og god seng. Kort vei til smågater og det lokale markede.
Fin restaurant på takterrassen.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

05 Feb 2026

Lijie

The hotel staffs are not really friendly….

Self

10/10

Exceptional

01 Feb 2026

Oluf Zejlund

Perfect location - we stayed for 10 days in one of the rooms with balcony - excellent location within Stonetown where the only drawback is that it’s not possible to drive a car to the entrance of the hotel - very nice rooms and super friendly staff - excellent breakfast with a super nice view of the sea from the breakfast place. Very nice experience and happy to recommend the hotel.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2025

LUDIVINE

Restaurant sur le roof top vraiment agréable. Personnel gentil et dynamique.

Partner