Emerson on Hurumzi

Ok, 2 star hotel but 5 star ambiance/staff/rooftop and so on. Stayed the last night on Zanzibar in this dreamy place. Dinnerexperiance was super, with amazing music! The staff were doing everything to meet up our expectations. Would really stay again!

We stayed at Amber / Green room + small kitchen , two weeks in February 2025. This is our third time in this room. The stay was wonderful as allways! The atmosphere is very nice and the swahili culture is the best. All the staff at the hotel are so helpful. Ola

Amazing view and hospitality. Drinks good. Food...not worth eating really. Music...ok. I visited a couple of times before 5 plus years ago. I think food quality has declined, but the ambiance and scenic vista at sunset make this still worth the trip. I think it would be too hot at lunch You have to be able to do several flights of stairs

The hotel was recommend for its authenticity. And that says it all. Rooms are totally worm out and only a few have airconditioning. Beds are 140-200 had really too small for two adults. Rooms have no comfort what so ever. Bathroom is small, with almost no hot water en a dirty trough to shower in. There are no normal towels but cotton rags to use. Stairs are a nightmare. Location is good and the restaurant really nice with a 360 degree view of the city. If I would go to stone town I would book a comfortable hotel and have a dinner at Hurumzi. I would not recommend.

We stayed at the Emerson on Harumzi for two nights in October after a fantastic safari in Tanzania. We chose the Emerson based on its eclectic style and its reputation. We were very pleased with our choice. The Manager and staff were excellent, answering questions, suggesting and arranging tours. We were given the Sayeed room which was at the top of several steep staircases, and across a boarded bridge/landing adorned with tropical flowering bushes. It was well worth the effort to climb to the room. A large room with rich red curtains and a centrally positioned four poster bed with mosquito nets. The bath/shower was in the corner of the room without a screen, which added to the exotic feeling of the room. The room had an AC unit on the wall but it struggled to chill the room. We had booked on the hotels sunset to sunrise package which is a half board arrangement. We had our first night dinner at the hotels rooftop restaurant. We were seated on the floor on cushions and served local dishes while a small band of lady musicians played and sang. The food was fantastic, the most flavoursome and textured we had during our trip. It was a special place to eat, watching the sun set over the sea with the sailing Dows returning to port. On the second night we ate at the sister hotel, Emerson Spice, in their secret garden restaurant. We had a lovely meal served by a very friendly waitress. The room is open to the sky and has many tropical plants, so you really feel you are in a secret garden. We really enjoyed our stay in stone town, if you like charming, exotic and beautiful hotels then book the Emerson on harumzi you won’t be disappointed.

The elegance of a bygone era. Lovely, unique rooms and fantastic services. Spectacular rooftop dining. We very much enjoyed our stay in “North” room, right at the top of the stairs. Our friends had some of the other rooms, “blue” and “rose” - all lovely in their own way.