Boutique Hotel Matlai

Perfect for a quiet beachside break. This is a luxury boutique experience with a difference. That difference is the butler service. Nothing was too much trouble. Never encountered a ‘no’. It was always a ‘let’s see how we can make that happen for you. Amazing food which varied every day. Well appointed rooms with luxurious toiletries. Thoughtful management that has an eye on sustainability. As a reader it’s always hard to know whether you have anything in common with a reviewer, so just to put things into perspective, we generally tend to have vacations in luxury resorts such as Sandals in the Caribbean and Baros in Maldives and the level of service and relaxation was on a par (and in some ways superseded) by this experience. We split our holiday in two with the second facility being more focused on the beach. I am already regretting the decision to not spend more of our time in the relaxing surroundings of Hotel Matlai.

In our opinion this hotel was unsuitable for us who are in our 70s. Swimming in both the hotel pool and in the sea was disappointing due to the rocky beach and sea urchins as well as a pool which was uncomfortable for more than one couple. The restaurant lacked atmosphere and the half board choices were underwhelming. Definitely more suitable for honeymoon couples.

Hotel Matlai offered us one of the most relaxing and memorable experiences we’ve ever had. From the warm welcome by Jim and the incredible care from Kim at the restaurant, every moment felt special. The evenings were just magical, especially the outdoor cinema under the stars – a truly unique experience I’ll never forget.

Our stay was absolutely perfect! Hotel Matlai is a stunning property down to every detail. The property looks out onto a gorgeous and serene section of the beach, and you can take long walks from the property along the beach. The service, food, and spa were also incredible. Highly recommend!!

This hotel is by far one of the best hotels we ever stayed in Zanzibar. This hotel is not just an ordinary place. From the moment we walked in, we were amazed by the uniqueness of this place. Things are done differently here what makes this hotel very special. One thing that we loved is that we could pick our dining location. For breakfast, we chose to dine on our private deck, with a stunning views of the beach and rising sun. For lunch, we decided to dine at the restaurant and for dinner, we picked a romantic table in the garden or on the beach. This is an amazing idea and we loved it. The service was exceptional with a butler always available, very polite and helpful. The rooms are gorgeously decorated, modern but with lots of African details. We loved the bathtub and comfortable beds and linen. We had our private deck, and loungers and access to the beach. We loved to relax on the swing loungers and at the beautiful infinity pool. The stay at Matlai is truly magical. We miss it a lot and will definitely go back there and recommend it to everyone who wants a peaceful, relaxing and refreshing vacation in Zanzibar.

MY WIFE AND I STAYED FOR ONLY THREE NIGHTS (WISH IT HAD BEEN LONGER!) AFTER A LENGTHY STAY ON THE MAINLAND AT VARIOUS SAFARI CAMPS. OUR WONDERFUL HOLIDAY ON ZANZIBAR, ESPECIALLY AT THE BOUTIQUE HOTEL MATLAI, WAS A PERFECT AND RELAXING ENDING TO A MEMORBLE VACATION. WE VISTED THE SPA AND WERE SO GLAD WE DID. THE STAFF WERE VERY FRIENDLY, THE FOOD QUITE GOOD, AND THE VIEWS WERE SPECTACULAR OF THE INDIAN OCEAN. WE DID VISIT THE JOVANI FOREST TO SEE THE RED COLOBUS MONKEYS (GO EARLY!) AND WE HAD LUNCH AT THE ROCK RESTAURANT RIGHT DOWN THE BEACH. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ALSO! WE STAYED IN THE MOON SUITE AT THE VILLA KIDOSHO SIDE OF THE RESORT.