236 Hurumzi
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Formerly called 'Emerson and Green', a sumptuously restored merchant's mansion with renowned rooftop restaurant in the heart of Stone Town
For some people, a hotel is a business. For others, it’s a
pleasure. For Emerson Skeens and Thomas Green, American founders of
Stone Town's most famous hotel, it was a true labour of love.
Taking on the tropical rain and sun, African pace and a poor
socialist infrastructure, they managed over 10 years to turn a pair
of crumbling merchants’ houses into a stylish and luxurious
little hotel.
Their ways have now parted but their legacy remains, in some of the
most opulent rooms in Zanzibar. Stained-glass windows and
wooden lattice-work throw mysterious patterns over marbled bathtubs
and oriental rugs, while vast mosquito nets drape langorously from
chandeliers and down over carved four-poster beds. The view from
the towertop restaurant over the motley rooves of Stone Town forms
a magical backdrop for a Swahili dinner served at knee-high tables
by robed waiters. Over the years it has gained a third building
with 6 spacious
suites,
new management and a new name - but it's still a magical glimpse
into the exotic Zanzibar of old.
Reviewed by Michael Cullen
Last updated 12 April 2012
Highs
- Central location on busy but traffic-free lane
- Rooftop restaurant with great atmosphere
- Exotic style and artistic detail
- Every room has something special: an open-air bathtub, a galleried balcony overlooking town, painted wooden fretwork or, quite simply, palatial dimensions
Lows
- Noise from the streets (inevitable)
- The hotel is often full, so book ahead
- Some rooms are less charming than others
- Steep stairs and no elevator or phone
- Don’t expect Stone Town to have the wealth and style of, say, Marrakech: it’s simple and rundown, but charming nonetheless (see Local Info)
Its historic buildings have been completely restored along the lines of an Arabian Nights fantasy...
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