Park Hyatt: Our full report

Part of the Park Hyatt chain of international hotels, Park Hyatt Zanzibar is one of the largest, and probably ...

... the most luxurious, properties in Stone Town. Situated on the seafront and just a stone’s throw from the town centre it provides a relaxed retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded alleyways of Stone Town.

The hotel comprises two buildings, the older Mambo Msiige and the new, purpose-built Zamani Residence.

Built in the 17th century around a central courtyard, Mambo Msiige (meaning 'not to be copied or imitated' in KiSwahili) is steeped in history. A wealthy local trader originally constructed it and over the years it has been used for a number of functions, including a mission house and a hospital during World War I. Its architecture incorporates an interesting mix of Swahili, Persian and Indian influences including Omani-style arches and woodcarvings.

In contrast, the Zamani Residence is a large, modern building, with high ceilings and corridors of marble, but perhaps lacking the hint of Zanzibari charm of Mambo Msiige. Both sections of the hotel blend together fairly seamlessly, helped by the high standard of build quality and furnishings in both. It's all been executed very well, with a cosmopolitan, international clientele in mind. This is very unusual for Stone Town, where many things feel as if they've gradually grown organically, and the quality of finishes is rarely so high. Thus the rooms in the Park Hyatt feel slightly dislocated from it's location: some visitors will relish this, viewing it as an oasis of style and calm modernity; whilst others may feel isolated and divorced from their surroundings, missing the atmosphere of the rest of Stone Town.

Park Hyatt Zanzibar has 67 en-suite rooms and suites. All are light and airy and have a contemporary feel, with air conditioning and a large four-poster bed.

The 56 standard rooms are furnished with a large, four-poster bed, a desk and chair, with amenities that include WiFi, HDTV, docking stations for iPhones and speakers, a fully stocked minibar, tea and coffee facilities and a hairdryer. Guests are also presented with complimentary fruit upon arrival. In the en-suite bathroom you'll find a stand-alone bath, a rain shower and a separate toilet cubicle. We particularly liked the oceanfront rooms that command beautiful views over the dhow harbour where you can watch the activity on the beach below.
The 11 large suites are all different and quite individual. They range in size from 100 square meters to an expansive 450 square meters. All offer a high level of luxury and come with separate living and dining areas, a powder room and a flat-screen TV. In addition to the facilities found in the standard rooms, all suites have a private balcony overlooking the harbour and the Indian Ocean.

Park Hyatt Zanzibar has a selection of bars and restaurants to choose from:

The Library and Veranda is a lovely, relaxed area with a shady terrace that commands great views over the seafront. Here they serve light lunches and snacks as well as a good range of cocktails and drinks; they even have a dedicated children's menu with a range of child-friendly dishes.
The Living Room is filled with sofas and crystal chandeliers and provides an elegant dining location where you can purchase a range of light meals and a selection of drinks.
The Dining Room is an opulent space decorated in a colonial style. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it serves fresh and tasty food influenced by Portuguese and Arabian cuisine.
The Pool Lounge is situated by the sea and is a great spot for lunch or a snack. Come here to enjoy a range of fresh fish and seafood as well as homemade ice creams and smoothies.

As you would expect from a large, luxury hotel, Park Hyatt has many facilities. As well as an 18m ocean-front infinity pool, there's a 24-hour gym complete with a range of cardio equipment and weights. Two luxury boutiques offer retail therapy, and there's pampering in the form of a hair salon and a spa, where a number of treatments are on offer. Concierge and valet services are also available.

With over 160 square meters of event and function rooms, Park Hyatt Zanzibar is also well set up for business travellers to Zanzibar and the hotel offers a number of business services such as laptop hire.

Park Hyatt Zanzibar acts as a good base to explore Stone Town's attractions such as the Forodhani Gardens and the Old Fort. The hotel can arrange a number of excursions and water activities including kite surfing or a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow sailing boat.

Our view

Park Hyatt Zanzibar is a high-end, luxury hotel in a great Stone Town location. It offers very modern, comfortable, spacious rooms, large communal areas and lots of facilities. Everything is finished to the high standards of an international hotel – the only downsides are the relatively high price tag, and the fact that it does feel like an international hotel.

Jessica Plumb

Zanzibar expert

Geographics

Location: Stone Town, Zanzibar
Ideal length of stay: 1 or 2 nights to give you time to explore Stone Town.
Directions: Park Hyatt Zanzibar is easily accessible from Stone Town and is only a 15-minute drive from Zanzibar Airport.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Bed & Breakfast
Food quality: We did not have the chance to eat at the Park Hyatt on our last visit in September 2019, however we understand the food at Park Hyatt to be very good. A range of Swahili and international cuisine is served in the four restaurants; the Dining Room, the Living Room, the Pool Lounge and the Library. Options range from a la carte fine dining to traditional grills and also lighter lunches and snacks.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Drinks included: Drinks are not included.

Special interests

Luxury: Arguably Stone Town's top hotel, Park Hyatt certainly provides a highly luxurious base for exploring the area. Expect high ceilings, polished white marble walls, fine dining restaurants and a beautiful pool overlooking the ocean.; See ideas for Luxury

Children

Attitude towards children: Children of all ages are welcome at Park Hyatt.
Property’s age restrictions: Park Hyatt Zanzibar has no age restrictions.
Special activities & services: The hotel offers babysitting services (with local women doing child-minding, rather than qualified child-minders to European standards) and has a number of facilities for younger children and babies, and some child-friend menu options.
Equipment: Cots and highchairs are available on request.
Generally recommended for children: Yes.
Notes: Although this property has Hyatt elegance, this is a good hotel for children, as it is one of the few in Stone Town that has a pool to keep them entertained and can also offer babysitting.

Communications

Communications: WiFi is available throughout the hotel – and amongst the fastest WiFi that we found on the island.
TV & radio: There’s a flat-screen HDTV and DVD player in each room, though no library of DVDs is available – so bring your own!
Water supply: Mains

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: There are doctors available in Stone Town if needed – although major medical emergencies would probably be dealt with better in Dar es Salaam.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Fire safety

Activities

Boat trip
Cultural excursion
Self-guided walking
Snorkelling
Watersports

Extras

Disabled access: In Place
Laundry facilities: A good laundry service is available, at extra cost.
Money: There are safety deposit boxes available for use, and electronic safes in the rooms.
Accepted payment on location: Park Hyatt Zanzibar accepts most credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Cash payments are accepted in US dollars, Tanzanian shillings and Euros. On our mist recent visit in July 2017 GB pounds were not accepted at the Park Hyatt.