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Emerson Spice

Tharia Street, Kiponda, Stone Town, Tanzania
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Emerson Spice
Ranked #2 of 29 hotels in Stone Town
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188 reviews from our community

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    152
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Los Angeles
Senior Contributor
47 reviews 47 reviews
43 hotel reviews
Reviews in 37 cities Reviews in 37 cities
45 helpful votes 45 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 June 2013 NEW

I think everyone should spend a few nights at a beach resort, and at least one in Stonetown. It would be a shame to miss this unique city. We spent 1 night at Emerson spice. Two would have been better. Such a unique property! Rooms were the biggest I have ever seen. Very "open" hotel and you feel like you... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
babuemerson, Owner at Emerson Spice, responded to this review
17 June 2013

Thank you for your review. Especially your mention that Stonetown is worth more than one night. It is! Travel agents just have not caught on this fact yet! Agents still push a one night in Stonetown itinerary. It is unfortunate, because most guests who do stay only one night feel that they were mislead and have missed some of the... More

Red Deer, Canada
Senior Contributor
24 reviews 24 reviews
8 hotel reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 June 2013 via mobile

Emerson and staff do a fantastic job making everything perfect. We are here for our honeymoon and couldn't ask for anything more. The rooms are beautiful and the roof top restaurant is fantastic thanks again

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babuemerson, Owner at Emerson Spice, responded to this review
16 June 2013

Honeymooners travel in a special aura of joy. It is contagious. Our staff family is always susceptible and from there it is spread to the other guests as well. Thank you for sharing your happiness with us. Please come to see us for an anniversary, so that we can celebrate again. Karibu sana. Emerson More

Sydney, Australia
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 May 2013

2 nights was not enough. Step back in time to a unique experience. The rooms were large and beautifully decorated, arabian nights came to mind. A step stool to climb in to the parachute bed. And the stone bath in the corner big enough to swim in. The call to prayer echoed accross the city as we sat on the... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Boulder, Colorado
Top Contributor
89 reviews 89 reviews
59 hotel reviews
Reviews in 29 cities Reviews in 29 cities
52 helpful votes 52 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 May 2013

This is a relatively new hotel that they are slowly renovating in a historic building. It has classic Zanzibar styling and a nice rooftop restaurant. All rooms have 1 queen bed -- they cannot be twin, but a small bed can be added for a child. All rooms but Mimi have a verandah. There is 1 family room (Aida) which... More

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See 5 more reviews by AWR-Traveler for Stone Town
babuemerson, Owner at Emerson Spice, responded to this review
17 June 2013

Thank you for your nice review. It is especially appreciated by us and by all in Stonetown, because you recommend more than one night in Stonetown. Thank you. Emerson More

Franschhoek, South Africa
Senior Contributor
42 reviews 42 reviews
17 hotel reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 April 2013

I believe what Emerson Spice sets out to achieve is to allow their guests to experience Zanzibari hospitality and luxury accommodations true to the character of Stone Town. This they achieve with aplomb. You truly feel like you have been carried away to a bygone era of Sultans and Princesses and the privileges that came with an elevated status. If... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
See 3 more reviews by RoubaixTravellers for Stone Town
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
4 hotel reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 April 2013

I'm a little surprised at the uniformly glowing reviews on tripadvisor. This hotel is gorgeous, without doubt. The building is full of character, each room is decorated with care and elegance; it is probably the most beautiful building I've stayed in. The location too, in the heart of beguiling stone town, is superb. The service, however, is a little ragged.... More

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babuemerson, Owner at Emerson Spice, responded to this review
17 April 2013

Your review is bracing for us. An honest little slap that we deserve. We are trying to do too much with too little staff, as we edge into closing for maintenance month May. We apologize. Frankly, it is difficult all year for a hotel as small as ours and as moderately priced as ours, to provide all the services that... More

Oslo, Norway
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 April 2013

We stayed at "Kate", a room with two terraces, outdoor bathtub, and fantastic view of Stonetown. Emerson Spice is a hotel with a friendly atmosphere, good service and beautiful interior. We would recommend it to everyone going to Stonetown/ Zanzibar!

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
chertsey
Senior Contributor
32 reviews 32 reviews
7 hotel reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 April 2013

After a fantastic safari experience with Africa Travel Resource we finished our holiday with 3 days in Zanzibar. I have always been keen to visit this most atmospheric of cities and wanted to be right in the centre of things - in the ancient 'souk' of Stonetown. Most europeans as far as I know stay in the resorts on the... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
See 6 more reviews by ChertseyBream for Stone Town
babuemerson, Owner at Emerson Spice, responded to this review
13 April 2013

Thank you, thank you, thank you for such a comprehensive review. What else could I say? Maybe, karibu tena, tena, na tena. More

2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 April 2013 via mobile

We just returned home after a wonderful, but too short, stay (one night). Our room was beautiful and comfortable. My four year old loved the room and kept wanting her picture taken pointing to the painted flowers on the walls. The staff and managers/owners were very friendly and helpful. The mobile phone and map were comforting to have as we... More

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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 April 2013

The hotel is beautiful, the room was gorgeous and the ambiance is very nice. Great location in the center of Stonetown. The dinner is great and very good value, but the rooftop terrace was a bit disappointing, being very small and not at all safe for small kids. The service at the restaurant was great, and while the front desk... More

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Additional Information about Emerson Spice

Also Known As:
Emerson Spice Hotel
Emerson Spice Hotel Stone Town
Emerson Spice Zanzibar/Stone Town
Address: Tharia Street, Kiponda, Stone Town, Tanzania
Region: Tanzania > Zanzibar Archipelago > Zanzibar > Stone Town
Amenities:
Bar/Lounge Free Breakfast Free High-Speed Internet Restaurant Room Service Suites
Hotel Style:
#1 Family Hotels in Stone Town
#10 Romantic Hotels in Stone Town
Price Range: $$
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Emerson Spice, a new Zanzibari experience. This labour of love is a journey into the transformation of a near ruin into a five star fantasy that can only be experienced on the beautiful Islands of Zanzibar. We have opened the cafe and 4 of our rooms in April 2011 and will open the other rooms as they get ready. ... more   less 

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