Personal experience: where to eat in Stone Town?

People in shabby clothes walk the streets of Zanzibar, rubbish often lies on the road, and in a hot bazaar, a seller picks dates with his hands without gloves. Plus, tap water here is advised not even to brush your teeth. Therefore, travelers who find themselves here quite reasonably have doubts about sanitary standards in local restaurants. Traveler Olesya Chayun-King visited the capital of the island – Stone Town – and is ready to share a selection of places where it is both tasty and safe. February 08, 2022 AUTHOR: Olesya Chayun-Korol 0 3 min

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1. Masa Japanese Restaurant

Restaurant above the post office. It is located on the 2nd floor, which undoubtedly has a plus in the form of relaxation from the locals, who all as one want to get to know each other and sell something. Not everything here looks like traditional Japanese food, but the food is homemade delicious. Portions are large and prices are low. There are vegetarian options.

You can not only eat – they make very tasty fresh juices, on request they will mix a drink from several fruits. For example, the mix of watermelon and passion fruit turned out to be very interesting.

The interior is quite unremarkable, but there is a terrace. True, during the day the hot sun falls on it, and in the evening tables are occupied in advance. Very nice ladies work here with a sincere open smile.

Address: 1st floor Shangani Post Office, Stone Town

Website: www.masazanzibar.com

Author of the photo – Olesya Chayun-King

2. Harbor kitchen

Second place – with Indian cuisine. The entire menu is vegetarian, there are many vegan options. It has a themed interior, but the inside is cozy and colorful. The food is very tasty and served with exotic sauces – coconut, mint, coriander. The portions are large: for $25 we ate together, having tried appetizers, main courses and fresh juices. By the way, the service is also on the level.

Address: Soko Muhogo St, Stone Town

Website: kitchen.harbourkitchen.co.tz

Author of the photo – Olesya Chayun-King

3. Secret Garden

Another secluded place away from the hustle and bustle of the road. The cafe is located at the Emerson Spice Hotel and boasts a pleasant atmosphere: you will enjoy your meals next to an ancient fountain, surrounded by lush vegetation.

The choice on the menu is not very large, according to the principle of a business lunch: you order the main course, and add-ons are supposed to be added to it – rice, spreads, etc. The waiters are friendly and courteous. I just do not recommend coming here in the evening, especially after rain – in wet weather, mosquitoes bite in a matter of minutes.

Address: 4044 Tharia St, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Website : emersonzanzibar.com

4. Night food market

This colorful place is located on the street between the embankment and the old fortress. See the exact location here.

The market opens when it gets dark. There are many stalls selling all kinds of ready-made seafood and fish: octopus, clams, barrrracuda (that's how tireless barkers stretch this word, presenting you with an assortment). For vegetarians on the same benches there are sweet potatoes, falafel, breadfruit! Ripe sliced fruits are sold separately: mango, avocado, papaya and others. Here they will clean the coconut for you and you will go to the next counters, drinking coconut water from a straw. Of the minuses: alas, only fruit sellers had gloves. And they call here very intrusively! But these shortcomings are easy to forgive for the sake of the color of island life.

Stone Town is usually just a staging post, where they stop for a while before heading to the beaches. But these places will help you get a full impression from your visit, so I recommend taking the time to see them – you won't regret it!