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Zanzibar City

Zanzibar Serena Hotel

Kelele Square, Zanzibar City

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Check-in
Nov 24, 2026
Check-out
Nov 26, 2026
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HAPPI EXPERIENCE

The stay, in detail

  • Luxurious 5-Star Accommodation

    Zanzibar Serena Inn, located in the heart of Stone Town, offers exquisite 5-star accommodation overlooking the stunning Indian Ocean. Each room is elegantly decorated with traditional furnishings and modern amenities, ensuring a comfortable stay.

  • Dining with a View

    Indulge in a culinary journey at Zanzibar Serena Inn's restaurants, offering a variety of international, Swahili, and seafood dishes. Enjoy breathtaking ocean views from the Terrace Seafood Restaurant's rooftop terrace while savoring delicious meals prepared by talented chefs.

  • Relaxation and Activities

    Unwind by the outdoor pool or on the beach, soaking up the sun and enjoying refreshing drinks from the Pool Terrace Bar. For the adventurous guests, snorkeling, kayaking, and diving activities are available nearby, promising an unforgettable experience.

Book your stay at Zanzibar Serena Inn for a luxurious and memorable retreat by the sea.

HAPPI HIGHLIGHTS

  • Excellent waterfront/location with sea and pool views

  • Friendly, accommodating and helpful staff

  • Beautiful historic building and well-designed rooms/balconies

At the hotel

Popular amenities

117 listed
  • 24-hour front desk
  • 24-hour security
  • Access to health care professionals
  • Air conditioning
  • Airport drop off
  • Airport pick up
  • Airport shuttle
  • Airport shuttle (additional charge)
  • Babysitting/child services
  • Bar
View all amenities

Pools & wellness

  • Beauty Services
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' pool
  • Massage services
  • Outdoor pool
  • Pedicure
  • Spa/wellness center
  • Spa/wellness center services
  • Swimming pool

Dining & drinks

  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast takeaway containers
  • Coffee Shop on site
  • Cooking class
  • Delivered food - securely covered
  • Food delivered to guest room
  • Fruits
  • Kid meals
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Physical distancing in dining areas
  • Restaurant
  • Sanitized tableware & silverware
  • Snack bar
  • Special diet menus - on request
  • Wine/champagne

Fitness & outdoors

  • Beach
  • Beachfront
  • Bike tours
  • Cycling
  • Garden
  • Outdoor fireplace
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Personal trainer
  • Sun loungers or beach chairs
  • Sun terrace
  • Terrace
  • Water sport facilities on site
  • Yoga classes

Rooms & comfort

  • CCTV in common areas
  • CCTV outside property
  • Heating
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Shared lounge/TV area

Safety & cleanliness

  • Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
  • Contactless check-in/check-out
  • Dry cleaning
  • Entertainment staff
  • Fire extinguishers
  • First aid kit available
  • Guest room sealed after cleaning
  • Guest rooms disinfected between stays
  • Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
  • Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
  • Physical distancing rules followed
  • Process in place to check health of guests
  • Property cleaned by professional cleaning companies
  • Safety deposit box
  • Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
  • Security alarm
  • Smoke alarms
  • Staff adhere to local safety protocols

Getting around & access

  • Free Parking
  • Parking
  • Private parking
  • Shuttle service
  • Shuttle service (additional charge)

Guest services

  • Currency exchange
  • Fax/photocopying
  • Ironing service
  • Laundry
  • Laundry washed per local authority guidelines
  • Lockers
  • Luggage storage
  • Meeting/banquet facilities
  • Private check-in/check-out
  • Tour desk
  • Tour/class on local culture
  • Walking tours

Services & essentials

  • BBQ facilities
  • Business center
  • Canoeing
  • Car hire
  • Cashless payment available
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Designated smoking area
  • Diving
  • Evening entertainment
  • Face masks for guests available
  • Family rooms
  • Fishing
  • Free WiFi
  • Games room
  • Happy hour
  • Horse riding
  • Indoor play area
  • Key access
  • Live music/performance
  • Mobile app for room service
  • Non-smoking throughout
  • Packed lunches
  • Picnic area
  • Room service
  • Snorkelling
  • Sun umbrellas
  • Themed dinner nights
  • Thermometers for guests provided by property
  • WiFi available
  • Windsurfing

Review in focus

568 reviews
8/ 10
L'emplacement est idéal, la chambre et la vue merveilleuses, la piscine grande et rafraîchissante
Renouard · solo traveller · 2026-10-24

The guest experience

8.6out of 10
568 verified reviews

Loved most

  • Excellent waterfront/location with sea and pool views
  • Friendly, accommodating and helpful staff
  • Beautiful historic building and well-designed rooms/balconies
  • Nice pool area, live music and pleasant atmosphere
  • Clean, peaceful setting with sea breeze

Worth knowing — Food and beverage quality inconsistent; several complaints about breakfast and dinner · Perceived poor value for money — high prices and unexpected charges · Visible trash on small beach area by the breakfast room detracts from experience · Occasional maintenance issues (broken hairdryer, small bathroom/no extractor fan) · Half-board/booking confusion on arrival

How guests scored the stay

  • Location9.6

    Repeatedly described as excellent: waterfront/sea-front position, unbeatable location in Stone Town with great views and walking distance to attractions.

  • Service9.3

    Consistently praised: friendly, helpful and accommodating staff (multiple mentions, including specific praise for staff members and late reception help). Overall service considered a strong point.

  • Amenities9.2

    Good amenities cited such as a lovely pool, balcony hammocks, live music and restaurant/breakfast facilities; some operational issues (hairdryer, extractor fan) but overall positive amenities.

  • Overall Experience9.2

    Overall very positive sentiment: many guests 'loved' their stay, highly recommend the hotel, citing charm, views and friendly staff despite some issues with value and food.

  • Room Quality9.0

    Rooms described as gorgeous, spacious with large balconies and good sea/pool views; a few minor issues noted (small bathroom, occasional broken hairdryer or extractor fan).

  • Cleanliness8.7

    Generally reported as clean and well maintained, but a notable complaint about visible trash on the small beach area seen from the breakfast room lowered perception slightly.

  • Food and Beverage7.3

    Mixed feedback: some reviewers called breakfasts and food delicious, others reported poor or limited breakfast and disappointing dinners — inconsistent F&B experience across stays.

Live guest feedback

Guest reviews

Consistent

92% of 13 recent stays rated 8+

8.6568 reviews
  • Idéalement reposant dans une ville vibrante

    8/10

    Renouard · solo traveller · 2026-10-24

    “L'emplacement est idéal, la chambre et la vue merveilleuses, la piscine grande et rafraîchissante”

  • 5 glorious nights in paradise

    10/10

    Bradley · solo traveller · 2026-10-21

    “Amazing people , facility well catered for travellers , great hospitality , great food , amazing room .The most friendly welcoming staff especially Fatima and Suleiman”

  • Very good hotel, very well situated

    9/10

    schmitz · solo traveller · 2026-10-16

    “The reception, the location of the room with see view, the breakfeast”

  • Wonderful relaxing stay

    10/10

    Harvey · couple · 2026-10-13

    “Great property and staff service. wonderful relaxing break.”

  • Overall service at the hotel was great. Staff very friendly, food good and the location

    10/10

    Karen · family with children · 2026-10-11

    “Breakfast was good and the location great.”

  • Very enjoyable experience staying at Serena.

    10/10

    Wendy · solo traveller · 2026-10-09

    “Beautiful, great location, and friendly helpful staff.”

  • Decepcionante para el nivel esperado por su calificacion y precio

    6/10

    Álvaro · couple · 2026-10-07

    “La ubicacion”

  • Guest review

    9/10

    Birgit · couple · 2026-09-14

    “Was directly next to the sea. Close to Stonetown.”

  • A beautiful hotel in Stone Town location overlooking the Indian Ocean, stunning architecture

    10/10

    Shehnaz · solo traveller · 2026-09-13

    “Zanzibar Serena Hotel has a fabulous location, right in the heart of historic Stone Town, yet directly facing the Indian Ocean. It really gives you the best of both worlds: easy access to Stone Town combined with beautiful ocean views and a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere. The ambience and architecture are beautiful, with so much character and a real sense of Zanzibar’s history and heritage. The staff are excellent, warm, attentive and consistently professional, and the quality of service really stands out. The food is also very good and complements the overall experience. A beautiful hotel in a truly special setting, with excellent service and plenty of character.”

  • Guest review

    9/10

    JOSE VICENTE · solo traveller · 2026-09-11

    “Personnels très gentils La formule petit déjeuner et dîner est impeccable”

  • A wonderful experience in Zanzibar.

    9/10

    Gary · solo traveller · 2026-09-10

    “Excellent location and facilities. Very well maintained grounds. Dining area next to the beach. Unblocked sunset views. Generally attentive staff.”

  • Super, je reviendrai

    9/10

    Simia · family with children · 2026-09-10

    “Agréable décor et positionnement sur la mer. Super sympa staff. Nourriture surtout bon au petit déjeuner très variés avec spécialités Zanzibari”

  • Guest review

    9/10

    Tonneau · couple · 2026-09-05

    “La chambre et la terrasse avaient une vue exceptionnelle !! Localisation parfaite”

View all guest reviews

Hotel info and reviews come from third-party sources.