Hotel Emerson Spice (Zanzibar City, Tanzania)

Emerson Spice consists of three adjoining World Heritage site buildings in the exotic kasbah of Zanzibar’s Stone Town. Two of the facades face a quaint square at the end of historic Tharia Street, a principal thoroughfare for walking tours of the city. The third façade looks down Tharia Street toward the Anglican Cathedral and the slave market. Nestled among the rear facades is a squared private courtyard containing an ancient well. The main building, an inspired and lovingly restored merchant’s house, this boutique hotel has ten stylishly furnished rooms structured around an airy central courtyard. The rooftop ‘Tea House’ hosts one of Stone Town’s most renowned restaurants offering a stylish ambiance amidst the sound of the calls to prayer from the town’s many mosques. The Rooftop Tea House Restaurant – The seafood based, set, five course ‘Taste Safari’ degustation menu is prepared daily by our Zanzibari Chefs. Celebrating the best our fishermen catch that morning along with organic dairy and eggs from a local convent farm set in the ‘Spice Hills’ of the island. All ingredients are all locally sourced, from our fresh herbs to our spices. The only thing we have to import is our Wine! The first of the five courses is served at 7p.m. The sunset hour is an integral and pleasurable part of the ‘Emerson Experience’ and diners are encouraged to arrive at anytime after 5.30 p.m. to enjoy a ‘Sundowner’ before dinner and take in the views of the city’s monuments and the sparkling Indian Ocean beyond. Dinner is on reservation only and, as there are only twelve tables, a deposit is required for the booking’s confirmation. Open daily for Lunch and Dinner. The Secret Garden – Set amidst lushly landscaped hidden ‘ruins’, open to the skies, it has a Zanzibari inspired à la carte menu. Look out for live music performed by The Dhow Countires Music Academy. Open daily for Lunch and Dinner.