Good to know
Good to Know
- Budget street food (Zanzibar pizza, urojo, mishkaki) costs $1–$3 per item; mid-range restaurant meals run $6–$15; high-end dining $20–$30+.
- Forodhani Gardens night market is the epicenter of Stone Town street food culture—open after sunset with multiple vendors and lively atmosphere; popular with both locals and tourists.
- Seafood is fresh and abundant; ask restaurants about the catch of the day, though availability varies.
- Vegetarian and vegan options are genuinely strong due to Indian and Arab culinary traditions; plant-based dishes are flavorful, not an afterthought.
- Booking in advance is recommended for popular restaurants (Emerson Spice, The Rock, 6 Degrees South), especially during peak season.
- Darajani Market offers authentic local atmosphere early morning with fresh fruits, vegetables, and spices at better prices than tourist areas.
- Spices (clove, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin) are central to nearly every dish; cinnamon and ginger-infused teas and drinks are island staples.
- Gratuities may already be included in restaurant bills; confirm before adding tip (customary 10% if not included).
Supermarkets
- Overview
- Supermarkets concentrated in Stone Town and beach areas; prices higher than mainland Tanzania. Local markets (Darajani) offer fresh produce at better value.
Locations
Darajani Market
- Type
- Traditional open-air market with fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, legumes
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (central market area)
Zanzibar City Centre
- Type
- Modern supermarket with groceries, imported goods
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (near central area)
Budget
Lukmaan Restaurant
- Price Range
- TZS 5,000
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (Mkunazini Street)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Swahili/Zanzibari (pilau, biryani, octopus curry, samosas)
Passing Show Hotel
- Price Range
- TZS 7,000
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Local Zanzibari (biryani, pilau, fresh juices)
Forodhani Gardens Night Market
- Price Range
- TZS 2,000
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (waterfront)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Street food (Zanzibar pizza, urojo, mishkaki, seafood BBQ)
High End
The Rock Restaurant
- Price Range
- TZS 80,000
- Neighborhood
- Michamvi Pingwe Beach (20 min by car from Stone Town)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fresh seafood and Italian-Zanzibari fusion
Upendo Restaurant
- Price Range
- TZS 60,000
- Neighborhood
- Michamvi (beachfront)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Mediterranean-inspired with fresh seafood and modern Zanzibari cuisine
Mid Range
Emerson on Hurumzi (Emerson Spice)
- Price Range
- TZS 35,000
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (historic center)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Swahili with modern twist (rooftop taarab experience)
Cape Town Fish Market
- Price Range
- TZS 30,000
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (Forodhani Garden waterfront)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fresh seafood (grilled fish, prawns, calamari, sushi)
6 Degrees South
- Price Range
- TZS 32,000
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (Shangani Street, waterfront)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Afro-Continental (burgers, steaks, seafood with modern twist)
Mr. Kahawa
- Price Range
- TZS 15,000
- Neighborhood
- Paje Beach
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Coffee, breakfast, vegetarian-friendly (salads, falafel wraps, smoothies)
International Cuisine
- Overview
- Stone Town offers Thai, Indian, Italian, Ethiopian, and Mediterranean options alongside traditional Zanzibari food. Tourist-friendly restaurants in central areas cater to diverse tastes.
Notable Venues
The Silk Route
- Cuisine
- Indian (tandoori, curries, biryani)
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (near Forodhani)
Masa Japanese Restaurant
- Cuisine
- Japanese
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (Shangani Street)
Abyssinian Restaurant
- Cuisine
- Ethiopian (kitfo, injera, doro wat)
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (Vuga area)
Beach House Zanzibar
- Cuisine
- Fusion (curry, naan, pizza)
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town
Local Must Try Dishes
Zanzibar Pizza
- Where To Try
- Forodhani Gardens night market (Stone Town)
- Description
- Thin dough filled with minced meat, vegetables, cheese, or egg; sweet versions with banana, Nutella, and mango also popular. Pan-fried until crispy.
Urojo (Zanzibar Mix)
- Where To Try
- Darajani Market, Forodhani Gardens, roadside stalls in Ng'ambo
- Description
- Tangy soup combining crispy fritters, boiled potatoes, raw mango, coconut, and spicy chutneys—blending Indian and coastal African flavors.
Pweza Wa Nazi (Octopus Curry)
- Where To Try
- The Rock (Michamvi), Lukmaan Restaurant, Emerson Spice, beach grills in Pongwe
- Description
- Tender octopus simmered in coconut-infused stew with garlic, tomatoes, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, and lime. Served with rice or flatbread.
Biryani
- Where To Try
- Lukmaan Restaurant, Passing Show Hotel
- Description
- Fragrant rice layered with spiced meat (chicken/beef), potatoes, fried onions, saffron. Heavier and richer than pilau; arrived with Indian traders.
Pilau
- Where To Try
- Lukmaan Restaurant, local restaurants, hotel buffets
- Description
- Aromatic rice dish cooked with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, cumin, and meat or chicken. Often made for special occasions.
Mandazi
- Where To Try
- Darajani Market, street stalls, breakfast spots
- Description
- Swahili doughnuts flavored with coconut milk and cardamom, slightly sweet, fried golden. Traditionally served with chai.
Mishkaki
- Where To Try
- Forodhani Gardens, Lukmaan Restaurant, street vendors
- Description
- Marinated meat (beef/chicken/goat) skewered and grilled with spices (ginger, cumin, garlic, chili). East African BBQ staple.
Chapati
- Where To Try
- Darajani Market, village eateries, local cafes
- Description
- Soft, layered flatbread pan-fried until golden. Served with curries, beans, stews, or spiced chai.
Chips Mayai
- Where To Try
- Forodhani Gardens, neighborhood cafes, beach shacks
- Description
- Omelet made with French fries and eggs, served with ketchup or pili pili (hot sauce). Street food breakfast staple.
Vitumbua
- Where To Try
- Darajani Market, breakfast spots, street vendors
- Description
- Fragrant coconut rice cakes, soft inside with caramelized crust. Slightly sweet, traditionally served at breakfast.
Vegan Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- Zanzibar has strong vegetarian/vegan options due to Indian, Arab, and African culinary influences blending meatless dishes with tropical produce. Most restaurants, especially tourist-focused ones, accommodate dietary preferences.
Venues
Shanti Café
- Neighborhood
- Paje Beach
- Description
- Vegan and vegetarian-friendly with smoothie bowls, chickpea wraps, veggie burgers, herbal teas. Digital nomad-friendly vibe.
The Plants
- Neighborhood
- Paje
- Description
- Minimalist vegan eatery on main road; Asian/Indian-inspired plant-based menu (samosas, lentil dal, spring rolls, pho, Zanzibarian spinach dish). Supports local farmers.
Zanzest Vegan Restaurant
- Neighborhood
- Jambiani
- Description
- Fully vegan menu with curries, salads, smoothies in peaceful beachfront setting.
Mama Mia
- Neighborhood
- Nungwi
- Description
- Vegetarian and vegan-friendly Italian and Zanzibari cuisine (pasta, pizzas, salads).
Heart and Soul Café
- Neighborhood
- Nungwi
- Description
- Vegan-focused with falafel salad, vegetable noodles, buddha bowls, burritos, fresh juices. Unpretentious streetside setting.
Emerson on Hurumzi (Emerson Spice)
- Neighborhood
- Stone Town (historic center)
- Description
- Rooftop restaurant offering vegetarian biryanis, samosas, curries alongside seafood.
Food Delivery
- Note
- Limited formal delivery services; most dining involves dine-in or takeaway at vendors and restaurants. Mobile payment and informal ordering common in tourist areas.
Michelin Restaurants
- Note
- No Michelin-starred restaurants documented in Zanzibar. High-end dining focuses on oceanfront luxury experiences (The Rock, Emerson on Hurumzi, 6 Degrees South) with fresh local ingredients and fusion cuisines.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.altezzatravel.com
- 2.therockrestaurantzanzibar.com
- 3.diywithjoy.com
- 4.xe.com
- 5.migrationology.com
- 6.notwithoutmypassport.com
- 7.zanzibarworld.com
- 8.beachsafari.com
- 9.zanzibarsafaristours.com
- 10.pongwe.com
- 11.dumaexplorer.com
- 12.zanzibarworld.com
- 13.tukutaneporinisafari.com
- 14.wanderlog.com
- 15.wanderlog.com
- 16.luxaterra.com
- 17.kilidovetours.com
- 18.pongwe.com
More About Zanzibar
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.