Jaws Corner

Jaws Corner is not a café in the usual sense but a small square at the meeting point of Sokomuhogo, Cathedral and Baghani streets, where coffee sellers serve strong black coffee to people sitting on the stone benches around the edge. It is one of the most sociable places in Stone Town, and Explore Parts Unknown called it the old town's favourite outdoor coffee joint. For many residents it is part of the daily routine, a place to catch up on news, argue about politics and play board games.

The coffee is the traditional Zanzibari style: black, strong and often flavoured with ginger, poured into tiny cups. It is very cheap, and you can pair it with a local sweet such as kashata (peanut brittle), mandazi (a lightly sweet fried bread) or visheti. There is no menu, no table service and no seating plan: find a space on the bench, buy a cup from the seller and watch the street go by.

Timing matters. Coffee is served mainly in the morning and again in the afternoon, and the square is liveliest early in the day, when people stop on their way to work, and in the late afternoon. Bring small notes or coins in Tanzanian shillings. The benches are in the shade for much of the day, which makes it a pleasant break during a walking tour.

Jaws Corner suits curious travellers who want a slice of everyday life rather than a polished café. It is traditionally a gathering place for local men, but visitors are welcome to stop for a cup; be respectful, dress modestly and ask before taking photographs of people. Conversation is often in Swahili, so a few words of greeting go a long way. It is not a place to linger with a laptop or a large group.

The square lies in the heart of the old town, close to St Joseph's Cathedral in Baghani and a short walk from Kenyatta Road. It fits easily into a self-guided walk taking in the Hamamni Persian Baths, Christ Church Cathedral and Darajani Market, and makes a good contrast with the Brazilian-style coffee at Puzzle Coffee Shop in Shangani.