Best Restaurants in Zanzibar: 9 Places to Eat in Stone Town, Nungwi and Paje

The call to prayer echoes over Stone Town as the sun sinks behind the dhows. On a rooftop above the narrow streets, waiters light lanterns and bring out the first plates: tuna with tamarind, octopus in coconut, a basket of warm chapati. Down below, Forodhani Gardens fills with smoke and the shouts of vendors. It is hard to think of a better place to be hungry.

The best restaurants in Zanzibar include Emerson Spice Rooftop Tea House for a sunset tasting menu over Stone Town, Lukmaan for honest Zanzibari food at local prices, Forodhani Gardens night market for street food, The Rock on the east coast for seafood with a view like no other, and beach restaurants in Nungwi and Paje for long evenings by the sea. Here are nine picks, how to book and what to order.

Opening hours change with the seasons and Ramadan, so check before you go, and book the popular places.

Where should you eat in Stone Town?

1. Emerson Spice Rooftop Tea House: best for a sunset dinner

Emerson Spice's rooftop is one of Stone Town's most famous dinners: a set menu of seafood and Swahili flavours served high above the old town as the sun goes down. It books up, especially in high season, so reserve ahead. It is a splurge, and many visitors call it the highlight of their trip.

2. Lukmaan: best for local Zanzibari food

Lukmaan is a no-frills local restaurant loved by residents and visitors alike. Point at what looks good in the trays: biryani, pilau, curries, grilled fish, chapati and mishkaki. It is fast, affordable and the food is excellent. Guides regularly call it one of the best places to taste real Zanzibari cooking, and it has won local tourism awards for its dining experience.

3. Forodhani Gardens night market: best for street food

Every evening, the waterfront gardens of Forodhani fill with stalls selling grilled seafood, mishkaki, sugarcane juice and the famous Zanzibar pizza, a thin dough folded around egg, minced meat and vegetables, or banana and chocolate for dessert. Agree on the price before the vendor starts cooking, choose seafood that looks freshly grilled, and come hungry. Read more in our best fast food in Tanzania guide.

4. House of Spices: best for a relaxed dinner in the old town

House of Spices is one of Stone Town's popular restaurants, with a pleasant terrace and a menu mixing Mediterranean dishes with Zanzibari spice. It is a good choice when you want a calm dinner without the formality of a tasting menu.

5. Waterfront restaurants: best for seafood and sea breezes

Along the Shangani seafront, several restaurants and hotel terraces look straight out to sea. Places such as 6 Degrees South and the Livingstone Beach Restaurant are popular for grilled seafood, cold drinks and sunset views without climbing to a rooftop. Look at a few menus as you walk and pick the one that suits your mood.

Where should you eat on the east coast?

6. The Rock: best for a once-in-a-lifetime setting

The Rock sits on a small rock in the sea off Michamvi Pingwe. At low tide you walk across the sand; at high tide you take a small boat. Inside, the menu focuses on seafood, and the view is the main event. It is very popular, so book well ahead and choose a time with the tide in mind. Prices are high for Zanzibar, but most people agree the experience is worth it.

7. Paje cafés and beach restaurants: best for a relaxed day

Paje is known for kitesurfing and an easy-going feel. Cafés such as Mr Kahawa serve coffee, breakfast and light meals by the beach, and the village has a good spread of seafood restaurants for dinner. It is a great place for a long, lazy lunch after a morning on the water.

Where should you eat in the north?

8. Nungwi beach restaurants: best for sunset dinners

Nungwi, at the northern tip of the island, has some of Zanzibar's best sunsets and a long row of beach restaurants and bars. Hotel restaurants such as Sexy Fish at The Z Hotel are well known for seafood with a view, while smaller beach places offer grilled fish and chips at friendlier prices. Walk along the beach before dinner and see what is fresh.

9. Local spots in the villages: best for real everyday food

Away from the hotels, small local restaurants in every village serve pilau, biryani, fish curry, chipsi mayai and urojo (Zanzibar mix) for a fraction of resort prices. Ask your driver or guide where they eat lunch. You will often find the best food behind the plainest sign.

Which Zanzibar restaurant suits you?

What should you eat in Zanzibar?

• Zanzibar pizza at Forodhani.
• Urojo, a tangy soup with bhajia, potatoes, egg and chutney.
• Octopus curry in coconut sauce.
• Biryani and pilau, rich with Zanzibar spices.
• Grilled fish and seafood with lemon, garlic and pilipili.
• Chipsi mayai, the chips omelette eaten all over Tanzania.
• Fresh sugarcane juice with ginger and lime.

Zanzibar's cooking reflects centuries of trade across the Indian Ocean, with spices like clove, cardamom and cinnamon in many dishes. Read more about Tanzania's chip-based favourites in Tanzanian dishes made with fries.

What tips help when eating out in Zanzibar?

• Book the famous places early, especially from June to October and in December.
• Check Ramadan hours. During Ramadan many local restaurants close during the day and open after sunset.
• Dress modestly in Stone Town, covering shoulders and knees, out of respect for local culture.
• Carry cash for local restaurants and Forodhani; bigger restaurants usually take cards.
• Plan the tide for The Rock and some beach restaurants.

Planning a wider trip? See our best restaurants in Tanzania and best restaurants in Arusha for the safari side of the country. Travel guides such as Altezza Travel's Zanzibar restaurant guide are also useful for more options.

For Zanzibar hotels and restaurants Supa Fries Premium Frozen Fries, bulk supply

Supa Fries supply restaurants and hotels with consistent, crisp chips. Ask about bulk orders and delivery.

Ask for wholesale prices

How much does eating out in Zanzibar cost?

Local restaurants and street stalls are very affordable, while rooftop tasting menus and famous seafood restaurants are priced for tourists. A good way to balance a budget is to have lunch where locals eat and save one special dinner for the place you most want to try.

In short

The best restaurants in Zanzibar include Emerson Spice Rooftop Tea House for a sunset dinner in Stone Town, Lukmaan for affordable local food, Forodhani Gardens for street food at night, The Rock in Michamvi Pingwe for seafood in a unique setting, and beach restaurants in Nungwi and Paje. Book the famous places ahead, check tides and Ramadan hours, dress modestly in Stone Town and carry cash for local spots.

Frequently asked questions