Hotel
Park Hyatt Zanzibar
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.
The Neela Boutique Hotel Stone Town
Fourteen-room design hotel in Shangani by interior designer Nelly Levin, using local materials and Zanzibari details, with a restaurant and candlelit rooftop cocktails.
At a glance
- Type
- Design boutique hotel
- Area
- Shangani, Stone Town, Zanzibar City, Tanzania
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
Good to know
- Restaurant
- Rooftop bar
- 24-hour front desk
- Air conditioning
- Free Wi-Fi
- Parking
Why we recommend it
The Neela Boutique Hotel is included in the Michelin Guide's selection for Zanzibar. It occupies ZHC House No. 67 in Shangani, the seaside quarter of the old town, and its focus is contemporary design rather than antique-heavy period style.
The interiors are the work of designer Nelly Levin, who used local materials and Zanzibari details throughout. The Michelin Guide lists 14 rooms finished with bronze fixtures and crisp linens, and describes the atmosphere as modern and lively. Air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and adjoining rooms are available, and a 24-hour front desk makes late ferry or flight arrivals easier to manage.
Food and drink are taken seriously. The hotel has a restaurant, which the Michelin Guide singles out for praise, and a bar, with cocktails served on the roof by candlelight in the evening. Room service is also offered. Staying here gives you a stylish place to start or end the evening without needing to walk far through the lanes after dark.
The Neela suits couples and design-minded travellers who want a calm, contemporary room in a historic setting, as well as those who find older heritage hotels too dark or cluttered. It is less suited to travellers who want a pool or a beach on the doorstep. Parking is listed, which is unusual in Stone Town and useful if you arrive with a hire car or driver. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out by 11:30, a little later than many old-town hotels, and luggage storage is offered if your ferry or flight leaves later in the day. Rooms in historic Stone Town buildings often vary in size and outlook, so compare the room types carefully before booking. The Michelin Guide accepts reservations through its own listing, and credit cards are accepted at the hotel.
Shangani is one of the most convenient parts of Stone Town for first-time visitors. The Freddie Mercury Museum, the Zanzibar Serena Hotel, Tembo House and Park Hyatt Zanzibar are nearby, as are restaurants and bars such as 6 Degrees South and Livingstone's on the beach. Forodhani Gardens, the Old Fort and the night food market are a short walk along the seafront, and St Joseph's Cathedral and Kenyatta Road's shops are close at hand.
The Neela Boutique Hotel Stone Town FAQs
How many rooms does The Neela have?
The Michelin Guide lists 14 rooms.
Who designed the hotel?
Interior designer Nelly Levin, using local materials and Zanzibari details.
Is there a restaurant?
Yes, plus a bar and candlelit rooftop cocktails in the evening.
Is there a 24-hour reception?
Yes, the hotel has a 24-hour front desk.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in from 14:00 and check-out by 11:30.
Is there parking?
The Michelin Guide lists parking at the hotel.
Where is it?
At ZHC House No. 67 in Shangani, near the Freddie Mercury Museum and the seafront.