Restaurant
Emerson on Hurumzi Rooftop Tea House
Set-menu dinners of Persian, Omani and East African dishes on one of Stone Town's highest rooftops, with cushion seating, sunset views and live music.
Waterfront seafood restaurant beside Forodhani Gardens, combining South African and Japanese cooking with sashimi, fish and chips and a South African wine list.
Good to know
Cape Town Fish Market Zanzibar occupies a waterfront spot at Forodhani Park, right next to the gardens where the evening street food market is held. In Stone Town it offers a sit-down alternative to the stalls outside, with an open-air terrace looking over the water.
The restaurant describes its menu as combining South African and Japanese cooking. That means two strands running side by side: on one hand classic sashimi and other Japanese-style raw fish dishes, and on the other South African favourites such as fish and chips, plus grilled seafood. The kitchen puts the emphasis on fresh fish, but there are options for meat eaters and vegetarians too. A selected range of South African wines accompanies the food, and Altezza Travel's 2026 guide highlights the extensive wine list.
Altezza Travel lists the restaurant as open from about 09:00 to 23:00 daily, with live music in the evenings, and describes prices as fair for the setting. A dinner for two with drinks sits in the mid to upper range for Stone Town. Booking is a good idea for sunset tables on the terrace, which are the most sought after; at other times you can usually walk in.
This is a practical choice for groups with mixed tastes, couples looking for a sunset dinner and families who want a reliable menu close to the main sights. If you want to try the Forodhani stalls but also want a proper table and a glass of wine, it is easy to do both: graze at the market early, then move next door. Bring insect repellent for evening meals outdoors. The restaurant's own website is brief and does not list hours or prices, so check details when you arrive or book. If you are visiting in the evening, walk through the Forodhani stalls before or after dinner to see the grills in action, as the market runs from roughly 19:00 to 23:00.
The location could hardly be more central. The Old Fort is directly behind Forodhani Gardens, the House of Wonders stands alongside, and the Old Dispensary and the ferry port are a short walk north along the waterfront. Shangani's hotels are a short stroll in the other direction, so it works well for those staying in the old town without transport.
At Forodhani Park on the Stone Town waterfront, next to Forodhani Gardens.
A mix of South African and Japanese cooking, including sashimi, fish and chips and grilled seafood.
Yes. The restaurant offers meat and vegetarian dishes as well.
Yes, including a selection of South African wines.
Altezza Travel lists roughly 09:00 to 23:00 daily.
Altezza Travel reports live music in the evenings.
Booking is advisable for sunset tables on the terrace.
Thing to do
Seafront park in front of the Old Fort that fills with grills and food stalls after sunset, serving Zanzibar pizza, urojo, seafood skewers and fresh sugarcane…
Hotel
Luxury seafront hotel in Shangani combining the 19th-century Mambo Msiige mansion with a modern wing, with 67 rooms, an infinity pool, spa and beachfront.
Attraction
Zanzibar's historic Swahili trading town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, packed into 96 hectares of coral-stone houses, carved doors and winding lanes.
Bar
Fifth-floor rooftop bar and restaurant at Upendo House on Hurumzi Street, with an infinity pool, sunset cocktails, DJ evenings and a weekend brunch.