About Us

The Heartbeat of Heritage

Magical spaces

Emerson Spice Hotel is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our lovingly restored Swahili mansion hosts twelve unique rooms, all individually designed and decorated. 

All rooms offer framed views of the surrounding buildings; with nothing to filter the sights and sounds of local life you feel properly immersed.

We also host two renowned restaurants; our roof top Tea House Restaurant with amazing views of Stone Town.  Then the magical first floor Secret Garden Restaurant, where guests relax in the ancient surroundings and soon forget the bustling narrow streets of the town.

SOUL OF ZANZIBAR

Swahili mansion

The Emerson Spice Swahili Mansion was originally built and owned by Mohammed bin Ahmed el Alawi, the Mwinyi Mkuu and last Swahili ruler of Zanzibar from 1845 until his death in 1865.

He built the oldest portion of our mansion which is the northeast wing. This wing of the mansion reflects classic Swahili-Arab architecture with high timbered ceilings and arched walls.

Following the Sultans death the mansion was from 1873 owned by Tharia Topan, a wealthy Ismaili customs master, businessman, and spice trader who served as a principal advisor to the Omani Sultan. Topan built additional structures and added a distinct Indian Swahili architectural influence, including intricately carved latticed balconies and courtyard spaces.

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EMERSON DEWY SKEENS

Lovingly restored

After the building was appropriated during the 1964 revolution, it passed into the hands of Mr. Sharbaidi who leased it to Mr. Sharali Champsi that opened the original Spice Inn in 1980.

The Spice Inn was one of the first hotels in Zanzibar after the revolution and one of the few existing when our founder Emerson Dewey Skeens, a flamboyant American expatriate, opera lover, and pioneer of boutique hospitality in Zanzibar, acquired the buildings in 2006.

By then our historic structure had fallen into severe dereliction, Emerson Dewey Skeens meticulously restored and combined the three crumbling buildings into the unique twelve room mansion featuring two restaurants that our hotel is today.

Our current shareholders are dedicated to keeping Emerson Dewey Skeens` vision for this opulent Swahili mansion alive, preserving World Heritage and the vibrant, colorful Swahili culture we live and thrive in.

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Il Kappa Senses Zanzibar si trova a Pwani Mchangani, nella parte nord-orientale di Zanzibar, direttamente su una spiaggia incontaminata di sabbia bianca con vista sull'Oceano Indiano. Il resort dista circa 45 minuti dall'aeroporto internazionale Abeid Amani Karume (ZNZ) e offre un facile accesso a Stone Town, all'atollo di Mnemba e ad altre importanti attrazioni.

Il Kappa Senses Zanzibar offre camere spaziose e moderne, tra cui le Prestige Garden Rooms e le Sea View Rooms, progettate con comfort moderni ed elegante estetica costiera. Alcune categorie di camere vantano una vista diretta sul mare, mentre altre sono immerse in lussureggianti giardini tropicali.

Il resort offre un'ampia piscina, accesso diretto alla spiaggia, diversi ristoranti e bar, tra cui una lounge panoramica sul tetto, centri benessere e spa, possibilità di praticare sport acquatici ed esperienze esclusive sull'isola. La location è ideale per coppie, famiglie e gruppi in cerca di una vacanza elegante in riva al mare.

Zanzibar è una meta ideale in ogni stagione. Il periodo migliore per godersi il clima va generalmente da giugno a ottobre e da dicembre a marzo, con temperature miti, scarse precipitazioni e condizioni perfette per la spiaggia. Il resort gode di una posizione ideale per apprezzare il clima tropicale di Zanzibar durante tutto l'anno.

In genere, ai viaggiatori diretti a Zanzibar non viene richiesto di presentare vaccinazioni specifiche, a meno che non provengano da un Paese in cui la febbre gialla è endemica. In tal caso, potrebbe essere richiesto un certificato di vaccinazione contro la febbre gialla. Si raccomanda sempre di consultare il proprio medico o un centro di medicina dei viaggi prima della partenza per ottenere le informazioni più aggiornate.

Our guests say it best!

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Nicole Dunaway profile picture
Nicole Dunaway
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Truly exceptional stay - the most beautiful hotel I've experienced in years! Emerson Spice was an absolute highlight of our time in Zanzibar. The rooms are the most beautiful we've stayed in anywhere, each one individually personalised and completely different from the next, generously sized, and furnished with real taste in local sultanate style. The colours throughout, on both the walls and floors, were stunning. The bathrooms and balconies were perfect in every detail. The rooftop terrace is simply incredible - such a special spot to spend an evening. What made the stay even more memorable was the service. The manager went above and beyond, letting us keep our room for a late check-out until 6pm at no extra cost - a small gesture that made a huge difference to my day. Every member of staff was warm, welcoming, and genuinely helpful throughout our stay. It was also in a perfect location, right in the hear of Stonetown. We're already hoping to go back. Cannot recommend Emerson Spice highly enough.
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Ahn Weema-Weh
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A must do experience when in Stone Town. It is more than a hotel, it's a destination. Russell and his team are a delight with many extra services offered that are not overpriced. This is our number one choice in Zanzibar
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Maha Albaghli profile picture
Maha Albaghli
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It was living in a fairy tale. I loved the interior design, the vintage furniture, the friendly staff & the gorgeous rooftop restaurant.
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Federico profile picture
Federico
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Wonderful and stunning hotel the rooms are amazing with a outside tub and a inside one as well as the twin beds were big and spacious the staff is very kind and helpful. Ended up having to leave early to catch a flight so didn’t get to eat any of the food. Very pleased with my stay here highly recommend if you’re in the area. It is very high quality for the area you’re in.
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Lina T profile picture
Lina T
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Everything about my stay at the Emerson Spice hotel was simply magical. I stayed in the room called “Violetta” and it was a breathtaking room. Everything was top notch from the friendly staff to the location of the hotel itself. I’d totally recommend this hotel to anyone planning to visit Stone Town P. S. Don’t miss the chance to see the sunset from the roof top
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Paul Tellwright
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Lunch at the tea house, new fantastic menu, extremely well presented and colourful, one of the best (beef) humps of my life
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James Porter profile picture
James Porter
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We had a fantastic 2-night stay at Emerson Spice for our honeymoon. We wanted to explore Stone Town for a couple days, and this was the perfect location to start from. All the staff are fantastic and friendly, and Russell is a brilliant host. The Secret Garden is also an outstanding spot for lunch or dinner (or both as we did), would highly recommend.
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