The Dhow Palace Hotel in Stone Town is a beautiful old building full of Swahili character. Originally, the building belonged to a wealthy Arab from the Omani royal family. It then remained as a private house until thirteen years ago, when it was fully renovated and became a hotel. The original structure is 150 years old (an extension was added four years ago) and the Dhow Palace still houses many antiques from the era of Arabian rule.
The Dhow Palace Hotel sits amongst the streets of Shangani, in the heart of Stone Town. It isn't by the sea, but from the rooftop restaurant there are some wonderful views across the multi-coloured iron roofs of Stone Town. It is a Muslim hotel, owned by the same people that own the Tembo Hotel and is alcohol free. Though there are plenty or nearby bars and restaurants where you can stop for a drink.
Built around two central courtyards, the Dhow Palace Hotel is relatively small, though it does have a swimming pool, a pool table, and a table-football table. It is a great hotel for families and when we were last there, there were a number of families staying so the atmosphere was quite bustling and fun. There is also a lovely rooftop restaurant which serves a variety of fairly good international cuisine – though the main reason for dining here would be to enjoy the view.
The hotel has 27 Standard Suites and one slightly larger and grander Presidential Suite. All of the rooms are furnished with a mixture of locally crafted Zanzibari furniture, and items imported from India. The rooms are not spectacular or particularly large, but they are very comfortable and full of character and charm.
The Dhow Palace Hotel is one of the more charming hotels that we saw in Stone Town. It is very atmospheric, friendly and welcoming. For the quality of service, standard of room and general feel of this excellent mid-range hotel – it is great value.
Ideal length of stay: The laundry is an extra charge – when we were last there it was between $1 -2 per item.
Central facilities: The Dhow Palace Hotel is centered around two courtyards; in one sits a small fountain and a few comfortable wicker chairs, whist in the other is the swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by a red-tiled floors and lovely stone seats molded out of the wall. The pool is of a reasonable size and always has a few people lounging around it to cool off.
To the side of the pool is a small games area with a pool table and a table-football table. This seems to be where most of the children hang out to compete against each other for championship titles! The adults can then relax to the side of this, where there is a lovely lounge area furnished with Zanzibari antiques.
The rooms tower up on either side of these two courtyards, and are reached by two sets of stairs. Along the wide corridors are some fascinating pieces of furniture, including an antique gramophone, and even an old upright piano!
On the roof is the restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat. You can choose to sit either in the conservatory area which has large glass windows and a wooden roof, or out on the terrace. The open-sided terrace is wonderful on a bright day as you can see right across Stone Town and over roofs to the ocean.
Directions: It takes around 35 minutes to fly to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, and then it is a further 10 minutes to Stone Town and the Dhow Palace Hotel.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
Usual board basis: B&B
Food quality: Breakfast is served between 7.00am until 9.30am. It is a buffet style breakfast consisting of fruit, cereal, tea & coffee and eggs of your choice. For the adventurous there are also a few 'mandazis' to nibble on – these are essentially a Tanzanian version of the doughnut!
Lunch is served from 12 until 3pm, and is a simple snack menu with a variety of sandwiches, salads, chips etc to choose from. Dinner is then a more extensive 3-course a la carte menu which is available between 7pm and 9.30pm in the evening.
The menu consists of fairly standard international cuisine, with a few traditional Swahili options. Everyone should find some thing to their taste.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Room service: There is no room service at the Dhow Palace Hotel
Special interests
Family holidays: The Dhow Palace Hotel is a great hotel for families who are staying in Stone Town. There is a swimming pool to keep kids entertained, as well as a pool table and a table-football table.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for family holidays in Zanzibar
Honeymoons: Dhow Palace Hotel canopied beds and authentic atmosphere make it a good stop for cost-conscious honeymooners.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for honeymoons in Zanzibar
Children
Attitude towards children: Children are welcome at the Dhow Palace
Age restrictions: There are no age restrictions at the Dhow Palace Hotel - though children under 5 years can stay for free.
Activities: There are no special services or activities for children.
Equipment: Cots and highchairs are available on request.
Generally recommended for children: Yes
Notes: This is a great hotel for children, as there are plenty of things to keep them occupied during their stay. Though parents should be aware, that their children are their own responsibility for the duration of their stay.
Central communications
Power supply: Mains Electricity
Communications: The Dhow Palace Hotel has phones with outside lines in all of the rooms – though calls made to outside of the hotel will be charged to your room. There is internet access in the hotel, for about $1 per hour. It is possible for guests to send an international fax, which costs about $6.
TV & radio: There is a TV in all of the rooms with local channels.
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: The Dhow Palace Hotel is in Stone Town where there are plenty of doctors as well as a private hospital nearby.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There are guards by the hotel doors around the clock.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers in all of the passages.
Extras
Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: The laundry is an extra charge – when we were last there it was between $1 -2 per item.
Money: At the Dhow Palace Hotel you can exchange dollars, pounds and euros. The Dhow Palace cannot exchange travellers' cheques.
Accepted payment: You can pay for any extras in pounds, euros, dollars and shillings cash.
Character hotel in central Stonetown.
As described, this hotel is clean and well-located. The architecture and interior was full of character and like a step back in time.
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One night at Dhow Palace Hotel
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Enter a different world at the Dhow Palace
a wonderful place to stay amidst the heat and noise of Stone Town. Exotic, tastefully decorated and the pool is wonderful.
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Useful links...
We want you to understand more about Dhow Palace Hotel. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Dhow Palace Homepage As with the Tembo’s website – this is colourful and slow, but does have a few good clear pictures on it.
