Terrace Seafood Restaurant at Zanzibar Serena

The Terrace Seafood Restaurant is the rooftop dining room of the Zanzibar Serena Hotel, which occupies two restored historic buildings on the Shangani seafront. The hotel was created from an 18th-century residence and the 19th-century former Extelcoms House, so the walk up to the roof passes through carefully restored interiors. Unlike the hotel's all-day restaurant, it opens only in the evening and is set up for a slower, more formal dinner, with candlelit tables and an outdoor balcony overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The menu is built around seafood. Serena describes the cooking as focused on the freshest local catch and seasonal ingredients, and its own photography shows grilled lobster and prawns served with white wine, which gives a fair idea of the style. A printed dinner menu is available to download from the hotel's website if you want to look before booking. Expect the kitchen to work with what the boats bring in rather than a fixed list of imported fish.

According to the hotel, the restaurant serves dinner daily from 18:30 to 21:00. Reservations can be made online through the hotel's website, by phone on +255 774 440010, or by email. Booking ahead is wise, particularly in the high season, and you can mention any dietary requirements when you reserve. Arriving at the start of service gives you the last of the evening light over the bay. Serena also sells a Seafood Dinner at the Rooftop experience that can be booked in advance, which is worth asking about for a special occasion.

This is a good choice for couples, anniversaries and travellers who want a polished hotel dinner in the old town without leaving Shangani. It is pricier than independent restaurants nearby, and the atmosphere is calm rather than lively. For something more casual at the same hotel, Baharia serves international and Swahili dishes through the day, and Masahani Bar has live taarab music.

The Serena is on the Stone Town seafront close to Shangani. The Freddie Mercury Museum is a short walk away, as are 6 Degrees South and Tembo House, and Forodhani Gardens is a stroll along the seafront. Being on the seafront road, it is easier to reach after dark than restaurants deep in the lanes.