When planning a trip to Zanzibar, one should include a night or two in Stone Town. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Zanzibar’s main city exudes plenty of charm, history and magic. These facets come together beautifully at Jafferji House and Spa, an enchanting boutique hotel in the centre of Stone Town and ideal for a romantic stay.
A Historic Mansion in the Heart of Stone Town
Jafferji House is found within the maze of Stone Town’s Gizenga neighborhood. There are great boutiques which line the street it’s on and the sites of Stone Town are all within walking distance, including the Old Fort, the House of Wonders, the seafront, and the Forodhani gardens night market. A wealthy city of trade, elaborate mansions were built for its rich merchants, including the building which now houses the hotel. Started over 150 years ago, since 1945 the elegant mansion has been owned by the Jafferji family, merchants originally from India. It has been a boutique hotel since 2012.
Historic Features & Vintage Decor
The large building has several beautiful interior courtyards and features intricate Fatimid style Coptic architecture arch work. Traditional built-in seating is throughout as well as antiques, Swahili artwork and vintage items from ancient chests to dial telephones. There is an abundance of greenery, which assists with creating a tranquil ambiance.
Individually Decorated Rooms & Suites
The hotel has a total of 10 suites divided amongst five Signature Suites, three superior suites and two superior deluxe suites. They are all individually decorated and each has its own spirit and themes. For example, the Maasai suite is decked out in the traditional red and black colors of this Tanzanian and Kenya tribe as well as traditional Swahili furniture. For additional romance, you might like to opt for the Kamasutra suite, a two-story suite that evokes passion and love. We stayed in the Mercury suite, an ode to the former lead of the band Queen, Freddy Mercury, who was born in Zanzibar and spent part of his childhood living nearby. It is also a two-story suite, it has autographed photographs of the legendary performer, two large four poster beds, a comfortable sitting area and two bathrooms, including and outdoor one with a large open air bathtub. Rooms are fitted with tea and coffee stations, hairdryers, air-conditioning and other luxurious amenities.
A Tranquil and Romantic Haven
In addition to the lovely suites, there are some relaxing sitting areas, terraces (some private to the suites) as well as a rooftop restaurant serving “Swahili Style” fusion cuisine which has panoramic views of the city and sea. Guests can further relax at the hotel’s sister spa, Cinnamon Spa, located nearby.
Jafferji House and Spa is a lovely hotel which provides a magical setting for exploring in Stone Town. Suite rates range from 80 to 200 USD per night. For further information and booking see the hotel’s website at this link.
I was a guest of Jafferji House, however, all of the opinions above are entirely my own.
