Kholle House

Tanzania , Zanzibar
STONE TOWN , Malindi, 607/608 2
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50 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

16 Mar 2026

Shediah

This hotel is excellent. The staff (including the owner) is phenomenal. Everyone is so accommodating and welcoming. The staff speaks English and provides concierge service (directions, booking drivers/transportation and excursions). They were all concerned for my well-being and safety. The food at the restaurant was tasty. The pool is clean, warm, and aesthetically pleasing. The beds include a mosquito net to protect you. The air conditioning is nice and cold. The shower is nice and hot. Highly recommend!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Mar 2025

Mulang

We would love to thank the entire staff... From the registration desk, to waitress, to the cleaners... Same service level. Thanks to Marie, Doreen ect... Amazing service level!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Mar 2024

Alexis

Though a little away from things and I somehow got lost every single time I set foot outside, I did enjoy staying here. The pool was delightful and the A/C was a lifesaver. Staff was very good and helpful (e.g. immediately dealt with a blown fuse when I told them about it), but it should be noted that I think they spoke less English than the property advertised (I REALLY should have used Google translate to explain what was going on with the previously mentioned blown fuse). However, since the hotel is popular with Europeans, I suspect staff might be better at communicating in French, German or Italian. Breakfast was simple but good. They could use an update on their door locks. Other than that, I am very glad I stayed here.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Feb 2024

Carmen

Beautifully restored hotel, perfect location, great staff. Perfect place to stay for anybody that want to experience Stone town in Zanzibar.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Feb 2024

Jonathan

Beautifully restored, unique villa. Unfortunately the location is an initial concern in terms of safety but we soon learned how to navigate the area safely. Small but very pleasant plunge pool - just the thing for hot, humid days

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Dec 2023

Ann

We loved Kholle House! What an amazing history is connected to the hotel! Everything was arranged for us at our request...airport pick up, spice tour, a fabulous 3 hour walking tour of stone town! Our room was perfect...very comfortable. Kholle House has a lovely pool and numerous comfortable nooks and crannies to relax, read a book, play a game. The outside dining room was lovely with delicious food at a reasonable price. Make sure you have the rooftop Swahili tea they offer!! The staff were so friendly and helpful! A fabulous place to stay!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Nov 2023

Kelly

The staff was excellent in all aspects but went over and above in some cases. First, they picked us up at airport at 2am, then our luggage was lost by airline and the staff was very helpful in following up with airline. Location is good and the rooms were clean. They also had good food. Enjoyed stay.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2023

Joy

Beautiful boutique hotel in Stone Town! Very friendly and attentive staff, lovely breakfasts, charming and quiet garden and outdoor dining area, spacious rooms. A fantastic experience overall and would def recommend!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Feb 2023

robert

A lovely historical hotel in the center of Stonetown. The rooms are compact and perfect for a short visit. There is a beautiful courtyard with a small pool to cool down after a hot day of sightseeing. The staff are very accommodating

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Dec 2022

Jean

A memorable stay in a wonderful hotel

I had an amazing experience during my one day overnight stay at the hotel. The entire staff were so welcoming, helpful, courteous, and attentive to my needs. The room i stayed in was impeccably clean and tidy. The food both dinner and breakfast was the best i had during my trip. I didn't lack for much during my stay. The hotel staff assisted with any questions that i had. I would definitely stay at the hotel during any future return trips back to Zanzibar. I also recommend it to anyone thinking of a possible lodging option during a Zanzibar visit.

Self

8/10

Excellent

11 Sep 2022

Verified traveler

Clean, friendly, and authentic Zanzibar

Good hotel, friendly staff, authentic experience. The only downside to Kohlle House is it’s location. Still close to many top attractions, but being close to the ferry terminal means for a less safe evening experience. It shouldn’t be enough to say no to Kohlle House, just be aware of your surroundings and stay on the boardwalk as long as possible.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2022

Melissa

Fabulous trip to Stone Town!

Spent a terrific three nights at Kholle house with my 20 year old daughter -- we shared a room and were very comfortable. Enjoyed the central location, the service and the food! Staff were friendly and helpful and we highly recommend the spice farm tour and a massage -- both booked through the hotel front desk! Thank you to the staff for making our stay so special! We also recommend booking a walking tour of the city -- the streets can be a bit confusing. :) *Pool is LOVELY!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Nov 2021

Regina

Hotel is very nice but the best part about the stay was the staff!! Everyone there was very friendly and professional. The front desk attendant Sebastian was exceptional!!! Anything we needed he was more than willing to assist. He is a huge asset to your hotel

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Oct 2021

Brooke

The hotel is beautiful and the location is excellent. The food also is great, and the Swahili dinner they organize on the roof is a great experience.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Sep 2020

Steven

Great hotel

Very friendly staff and extremely unique building. Loved our stay.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2020

Todd

Cool boutique hotel...quiet, cozy. Liked the brrakfast.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

28 Dec 2019

Emily

Lovely place and staff. Only thing was the bed is short! If your 5’10 or above it is tiny haha. My boy and I are tall so it was an interesting experience to try to sleep on the little bed

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Oct 2019

Laure

Brilliant place

Perfectly located, beautiful house, the staff is very nice and helpful. Strongly recommend!!

Self

8/10

Excellent

22 Sep 2019

Lina

Very clean, delicious breakfast, beautiful hotel. The tours they offer and transportation they arrange was much more expensive than what you could find elsewhere in town.

Self

8/10

Excellent

06 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

The architecture is unique and exotic. Well located to Stone Town with easy access to Prison Island by water, restaurants and tourist attractions.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2019

Verified traveler

Close to all Stone Town attractions. Staff is awesome. Good food. Tours ordered through hotel very good. Decor is lovely.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 May 2019

Verified traveler

Centrally located boutique hotel with a pleasing interior, clean, well decorated and very friendly staff.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

It's a well-maintained, clean property, that allows guests to feel like we have traveled back in time to the old days. Service is prompt and of good quality.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Loved every minute of my stay at Kholle House. It was being in a friend’s beautiful home.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Dec 2018

Rozita

Wonderful place

It was amazing

Partner

8/10

Excellent

23 Dec 2018

Fahad

Located besides the main street. Few meters walkable from the car parking ( if you own or rented a car). I liked the food ordered for dinner. Breakfast is average. Good pool, which can be used any time of the day. It was good to use the after a tiring evening walk around the stone town. Wifi was Ok. No elevator, so you need to climb all the way up. So if you are travelling with kids, this may be of a concern. The room was a bit dark due to its traditional style arrangement. We were allowed to check out few hours late, when we informed about of flight delay. Julia was very welcoming :) Overall: Recommended.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Oct 2018

Christopher

A beautiful historic house in Stone Town

Kholle House is a perfect boutique experience in historic Stone Town. The staff were friendly and helpful, but for me the real attraction was the beautiful design and classic feel of the interior. Renovated from a historic home, the guest house feels like you've stepped back 100 years in time (but without sacrificing modern amenities). And the hotel is on the edge of the maze of streets of the old town, but easy enough to find your way back to via the water's edge.

8/10

Excellent

07 Aug 2018

Joanna

Lovely place

Gorgeous building. Nice breakfast, lovely pool. Good location. Service differed but overall was excellent. Nice rooftop. They didn't have my expedia reservation which made this stay complicated. Was change out to a lesser room (when I was out for a walk), charged twice (once my expedia and by hotel), the hotel doesn't have a good way to pay by credit card. But the staff was very helpful connecting me to my driver going above and beyond which was considerate and I appreciated.

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2018

Chiho

Conveniently located (one street in from the ferry terminal), quaint and charming, and the service was superb (warm and accommodating). It was also very quiet even though it is so close to the port!

8/10

Excellent

12 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

Beautiful Oasis in the Heart of Real Stone Town

I spent a very happy time at this lovely, secluded hotel.
If you want peace, quiet and privacy, this place is perfect.
You're right in the heart of the bustle of everyday Zanzibar life and people - much more real than the bigger, more commercial hotels in town.
It is very near to the ferry terminal - just behind the famous Old Dispensary building; very convenient if you're coming from Dar by sea
Beautiful, tasteful, authentic furnishings and décor. Lovely small pool and garden. Very good breakfast. Near to bars and restaurants and convenient for the food stalls at Forodhani in the evening.
Staff polite, helpful and friendly.

6/10

Pleasant

12 Sep 2017

Verified traveler

Lovely, but not as nice as expected

The Kholle House is a lovely property. However, the property has narrow, uneven stairs that are not ideal for families with small children. It was a great place to take photos, but I the service was less than expected. The manager was friendly, but the staff were not well trained. Based on the other reviews, I expected more. I was underwhelmed, especially after comparing this property with three other hotels in Zanzibar. The breakfast also needs improvement. My crepes were always under-cooked, and the other food was not great.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

07 Sep 2017

Verified traveler

old house in Stone Town

Kholle House is an old house that has been renovated. Rooms are all different sizes due to the house construction. Overall rooms are small with very small bathrooms. If you are looking to have a more authentic experience then staying at Kholle House could be for you. There is an authentic atmosphere and feels more like a B&B. Wifi works only in some areas so it was difficult to do any work in the room. For one night it was nice but for a longer stay I would want more.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

04 Sep 2017

Traveler

Beautiful hotel, not the best area in town

The hotel is very beautiful and perfectly decorated. I just felt that it was not in the best area in town - not very walkable and didn't feel very safe. Being a solo female traveler this is key to me, so at nights I had to take a taxi to go back to the hotel. Perhaps if you just want to relax and stay in the hotel instead of exploring this could work better for you.

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2017

Laura

I was treated like an honoured guest

The staff at Kholle House treated me like a queen and looked after my every need. They organized local guiding services, helped me with transportation to the airport and made sure I was comfortable at all times. As a single woman traveler, I am sometimes \"overlooked\" but at Kholle House I was made to feel honored. Louisa, the two Ali's, and everyone else at the hotel provided excellent service during my few days with them. I was sorry that at the end of my stay everything suddenly became a rush to leave for the airport, which was not the fault of anyone at Kholle House, but the haste did not allow me the time to thank everyone fully and properly in person for providing such a wonderful experience. I hope they see this review and know my appreciation for their generous and caring service.

Family

8/10

Excellent

23 Jan 2026

Christina

Härlig atmosfär och trevlig personal!

10/10

Exceptional

09 Aug 2025

Adam

Perfekt valg for Stonetown

Veldig fornøyd. Fin beliggenhet i Stonetown om enn litt i \"enden\", nært havna. Men fine rom, koselig takterasse og veldig stort pluss med basseng for gutta.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Feb 2024

Karin

Very beautiful interior, very friendly staff, easy walk everywhere , great breakfast, the menu, there could be different choices and no beer..

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Dec 2023

PIERRE

Great location for Stone Town

Nice hotel to stay in Stone Town ! The service is perfect , The staff is charming trying to have your stay great . the breakfast is deleicious.
It is just outside the old center and close to the port . All is at walking distance

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Dec 2023

Mette

Super!

Super dejligt ophold på et smukt historisk hotel. Fremragende seervice og lækker morgenmad.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

21 Oct 2023

Birte

Hotel liegt in der Altstadt, in der Nähe des Hafens (Hafenkulisse hört man in der Unterkunft)
Sehr nettes Personal und grundsätzlich geschmackvoll eingerichtet. Da wir recht groß sind, hatten wir mit den Betten zu kämpfen. Diese sind recht schmal und kurz. Das Fußende war bei unserem Bett geschlossen, sodass eine 1,90m Person nicht in das Bett gepasst hat.
Nach dem Check Out konnten wir vor Abflug noch in der Unterkunft Duschen (sehr praktisch 👍)
Frühstück war lecker.

8/10

Excellent

14 Feb 2023

Bettina

das Hotel hat tollen Charme, gute Lage in der Altstadt von Stone Town

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2022

Laila Angela

Very nice small hotel. Comfy bed and very clean. Breakfast and dinner was very good also. Will stay again. Silent during the night but still very near everything to see in Stone Town. Very nice rooftop. Overall very good.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jan 2022

Emmanuel

Oasis au coeur de Stonetown

Boutique Hôtel très bien placé à Stonetown.
Décoration soignée, chambre spacieuses et très confortables.
Service irréprochable et au petit soin pour les clients.
A noter également la qualité du restaurant de l'hôtel, que ce soit pour le petit déjeuner (copieux) ou pour les repas (nos meilleurs repas à Stonetown).

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jan 2021

Laetitia

Hébergement très propre, bien aménagé et bien situé. Terrasse sur le toit très agréable.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

06 Jul 2019

Raphael

Très bel endroit, mais assez cher !

Cet établissement est très bien situé, à deux pas du port et dans la vieille ville de Stone Town, très pratique pour se balader et hyper safe. Le service est parfait, propreté, confort, tout y est. La nourriture (avec influence Zanzibarite !) servie est excellente. Seul bémol: la gérante n’est pas exactement très aimable. Elle est de bon conseil, renseigne bien, mais les tarifs des activités sont assez chers et elle arrondit toujours les additions au dollar supérieur. Dommage, on a la désagréable impression qu’elle essaye de nous enfler en permanence. Ne pas hésiter à prendre du cash (beaucoup), car tous les paiements par carte engagent des frais de 5% supplémentaires. Enfin, la piscine constitue vraiment un point fort, c’est agréable de se baigner quand il fait très chaud, mais elle n’est pas toujours très propre, le système de filtrage est un peu défaillant et les insectes noyés ne sont pas rares...
Dans l’ensemble, ça reste quand même un très bon choix, très bel endroit, mais un rapport qualité prix pas extraordinaire vu les quelques défauts.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2019

Kelly

Magnigfique

Situation parfaite pour visiter la ville, arriver en ferry, se promener le soir. Le personnel était adorable et la chambre parfaite

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

Lovely place to stay in Stone Town !

We had a very pleasant stay in this,tastfull beautifully oriental decorated hotel.The staff is very kind and helpull,everything very clean.It has a nice little pool and a lovely terrace with views over the roofs of Stone Town.Breakfast was very good

Partner

4/10

Poor

06 Aug 2018

Verified traveler

Over booking on bed room...we did not have a room

Hotels seems nice but when we arrived, the manager told us that they made a mistake and we did not have room that we paid for. Very disappointed. The good news is that they had already managed a night with another hotel so we changed quickly but...we had preferred a phone call before in order to go directly to the another hotel

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2018

David

Great hotel!

Super nice location within walking distance from everything. The room was peaceful and quite. The Hotel is very close to the ferry terminal, and has a very warm and welcoming feeling compared to all the bigger hotels. I will definitely be back next time I go to Zanzibar!

10/10

Exceptional

12 Nov 2017

Monika

Sehr empfehlenswert, was esthetik, Sauberkeit und Service betrifft. Lage und sehr einladender Pool, bestens. Tipp: am Markt gekaufter Fisch wird sehr lecker zubereitet.

Partner