Emerson on Hurumzi: A Magical Hotel in Stone Town, Zanzibar

Full of history and rich with Zanzibar charm, the Emerson on Hurumzi boutique hotel is and an absolute must stay in historic Stone Town, Zanzibar.

One of two Emerson hotels in Stone Town, Emerson on Hurumzi is the perfect hotel option for those who enjoy a unique boutique hotel experience amidst old-world historic charm.

We kicked off our seven-night Zanzibar trip by spending two nights in historic Stone Town at Emerson in Hurumzi, in the Instagram-worthy North Room.

Keep reading to learn more about our experience this magical hotel.

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Arriving in Stone Town at Emerson on Hurumzi

Emerson on Hurumzi was originally built in the 1870s a personal residence for a wealthy Zanzibari merchant. It was restored and repurposed as a boutique hotel during the 2000s.

The hotel is set in a prime location in the heart of Stone Town, just a short walk to the beach, cultural attractions, and the famed Foradahni Square.

Emerson on Hurumzi’s sister hotel, Emerson Spice, is located just a five minute walk away. While very similar, Emerson Spice is a bit newer, larger, and has a more modern feel versus the historic charm of Emerson on Hurumzi.

Arriving at the hotel was seamless. We booked our stay directly with the hotel and arranged transportation from the airport with them. The hotel’s representative was waiting for us upon landing, and drove us ten minutes to Stone Town.

As historic Stone Town is not accessible by vehicle, the driver escorted us on foot for a quick two-minute walk to the hotel. This all only cost a very reasonable $20 USD.

I highly recommend a daytime arrival if possible, so you don’t miss out on the magic of arriving in Stone Town and the hotel during daylight.

However, if you have a late night arrival like we did, know we felt very safe on our walk to the hotel, thanks to our escort.

The hotel was also very accommodating with late-night check in, though you do need to arrange this in advance.

If you are an American, you will need a visa to enter Zanzibar. We highly recommend arranging your visa in advance online. We spent over an hour in customs, even though we were in the “fast” line for those who already had visas!

Emerson on Hurumzi Lobby

The Emerson on Hurmuzi’s entrance and lobby has so much charm and history within its walls.

It truly feels like you have stepped into another world both in the lobby itself as well as out its front doors.

Here you’ll find a sitting room with a number of Zanzibar art pieces, sculptures, textiles, and furniture pieces.

It almost feels like you have stepped into a museum rather than a hotel.

If you’re interested in taking a piece of it home, there are many items for sale in the lobby.

The check in desk is located in the lobby. The staff can assist with check in, luggage, making reservations, booking transportation, and providing local information.

Every employee we interacted with during our stay was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and kind.

Also located in the lobby is the staircase to the rooms.

It is important to note that due to its historical design, Emerson on Hurmuzi is not accessible to those who have difficulty with stairs.

There is no elevator, and the stairs are incredibly steep.

The rooms are located on the second and third floors. The climb to our third floor room was quite challenging for us, but well worth it.

Emerson on Hurumzi Common Areas

There are so many magical places in the hotel, we highly recommend grabbing your camera and spending some time exploring the property.

Both the second and third floor landings have indoor and outdoor common spaces that are perfect for photos. We also noticed that after cleanings, the staff left the doors to several unoccupied rooms open. We were able to peek in and take a few pictures in several different rooms.

From the second floor landing, you can take an outdoor bridge to cross the alley and explore more of the property. This will lead you to this beautiful outdoor space with a swing, which was one of our favorite locations in the hotel.

And from the third floor you can climb the outdoor stairs to access the Tea House, which is the highest point of the hotel. Outside of meal times, this is a great photo op location, too.

Emerson on Hurumzi Rooms

The Emerson hotel is home to nine themed rooms. Rooms feature appointed beds with mosquito netting and personal air conditioners, intricate old world decor and rich textiles, and balconies with encompassing views of Stone Town. Many of the rooms even feature open-air concept third walls with carved lattice windows and large stone bath tubs.

Every detail of the rooms at Emerson is thoughtful, from the skeleton room keys to locally produced soaps to house-made natural insect repellent. As plastic is illegal in Zanzibar, the hotel even provides glass bottles of fresh drinking water daily. Another touch is the local cell phones included with your room, so you may contact the hotel while exploring Stone Town if you need.

The room options at Emerson Hurumzi are as follows:

Seyyed – A deep crimson and mahogany room evoking the regality of a Sultan’s palace, featuring east and west windows and an open bath tub.
Rose – A red two bedroom, one bathroom suite located on the second floor, featuring two queen beds and views of the Stone Town square.
Blue – A second floor suite overlooking the Stone Town square, featuring a a separate lounge and private bathroom with bath tub.
North – A deep blue north-facing room on the third floor, North boasts views of Stone Town and the Indian Ocean from its terrace, and features an open-air lattice wall and indoor/outdoor bathtub.
East – A bright room inspired by the colors of dawn, this third-floor room features the east-facing open lattice walls and is considered one of the best rooms for afternoon light.
West – A jungle-inspired room of the third floor, West features hand-painted floral murals and two semi-open lattice walls opening to a plant-filled terrace.
Zenana – A room inspired by it’s translation “of the women”, this paradise-themed interior room features a lounge with daybed balcony facing the hotel’s alley.
Keep Suite – A massive castle-like keep with a bedroom, verandah parlor, verandah garden, and a private teahouse, this suite suite features stunning views on high from one of the highest points in Stone Town.
Suite Tour – A private suite in the northwest corner near Hurumzi square, this suite features a private tower top retreat with stunning views as well as a private stone bath.

Emerson on Hurumzi Views

The panoramic views of historic Stone Town from our balcony were stunning, and 100% worth climbing up the hotel’s steep stairs to the third floor. The patio offers rooftop views of all the buildings in Stone Town, a gorgeous mosque, as well as sea views in the distance.

You do need to be aware that if your room is near the mosque, you will hear the daily call to prayers in your room. They begin around 5AM and woke us up both nights, however, it didn’t bother us too much and we quickly went back to sleep. Pack some earplugs if you are a light sleeper.

And don’t miss climbing up to the Rooftop Tea House at the very top of the hotel. You’ll find amazing 360 degree views from the tea house, and it will be empty and available for exploring outside of meal times.

Emerson on Hurumzi Dining & Food

Breakfast is included in your room rate, and you can opt to dine in your room or downstairs in one of the common lounge areas.

We chose to enjoy breakfast on our balcony both mornings so we could enjoy the views of Stone Town from the North Room.

Breakfast consisted of fresh juice, coffee, and a fresh fruit plate to start.

The main course included egg whites, toast with homemade butter and fresh honey, and a fresh Zanzibari bread that reminded us of a spongy cornbread. It was absolutely delicious!

For lunch and dinner, Emerson on Hurumzi and its sister hotel Emerson Spice offers several fantastic options:

Although we were dying to have lunch at Emerson Spice’s Secret Garden restaurant, unfortunately it was closed for renovations during our visit.

We did, however, have a magical sunset dinner at Emerson on Hurumzi’s Rooftop Tea House. Keep reading for more on that experience.

Emerson on Hurumzi Rooftop Tea House

Whether you are a guest at Emerson or just exploring Stone Town, a reservation for the Rooftop Tea House for a sunset dining experience is a must. Reservations are available for outside guests, and that is a great way to experience the hotel if you don’t plan to stay here.

There are two different tea houses – one at Emerson on Hurumzi and one at the sister hotel Emerson Spice. Emerson Spice’s tea house provides traditional dining table seating, while Emerson on Hurumzi adds the option of dining “Swahili style” on top of pillows on the ground. I highly recommend going for this option to truly experience the magic of the restaurant.

As the Tea Houses are both located at the highest points of the hotel, be prepared to climb approximately four flights of extremely steep wooden stairs. It is worth it however, once you see the sweeping views from your dinner. Also ensure you wear easy to slip off shoes, as you will need to remove them before entering the Tea House.

The cost for the dinner $40.00/person for a fixed three course menu. Wine and cocktails are also available for purchase as well. The portions are huge and incredibly flavorful. The restaurant also provides entertainment while you dine. The atmosphere is magical and you will not be disappointed by this meal.

Dinner is served at 7:00PM, but we highly recommend arriving at 6:00PM for sunset cocktails beforehand and the opportunity for a few amazing photos.

Emerson on Hurumzi Video Tour

Check out our video tour of the Emerson on Hurumzi hotel on YouTube! Make sure you subscribe to follow along with all of our adventures and more Zanzibar content.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Emerson on Hurumzi hotel was a one-of-a-kind experience. Please don’t jump into your Zanzibar resort or beach vacation without at least one night in Stone Town! There is so much culture to see here and a stay in Stone Town at the Emerson Hotel will be unlike anything else you do on your Zanzibar vacation. Book the Emerson on Hurumzi or the Emerson Spice hotel and you won’t regret it.

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