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Al Minar Hotel

3.5 star property
Hotel in Zanzibar Town with a full-service spa and free breakfast

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Al-Minar Hotel, in the heart of Stone Town, offers spa massages and facials. The Terrace Restaurant serves international cuisine with al fresco dining. A coffee shop is nearby, and WiFi keeps guests connected throughout their stay.

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Spa
  • Parking available
  • Breakfast included
  • Room service
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Housekeeping

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 3 of 3 rooms

View all photos for Family Room

Family Room | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, memory foam beds, in-room safe

Family Room

Highlights

Separate dining area
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
3 bedrooms
Premium bedding
  • 3 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Standard Double Room

1 bedroom, premium bedding, memory foam beds, in-room safe

Standard Double Room

Highlights

Separate dining area
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
Premium bedding
Ceiling fan
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Standard Twin Room

Standard Twin Room | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, memory foam beds, in-room safe

Standard Twin Room

Highlights

Separate dining area
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Refrigerator
Flat-screen TV
Premium bedding
Ceiling fan
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Twin Bed

About the neighborhood

Map
SHANGANI STONE TOWN ZANZIBAR TANZANIA Plot 96, SHANGANI S, Zanzibar Town, Mjini Magharibi Region, 4858

What's nearby

  • Christ Church Cathedral - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Slave Market - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Shangani Beach - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Forodhani Gardens - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Nakupenda Beach - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Forodhani Park - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪House of Karafuu - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Lukmaan Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Zenji Garden Café - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Secret Garden - ‬4 min walk

About this property

Al Minar Hotel

Hotel located in Stone Town
You can look forward to free full breakfast, an airport shuttle, and a terrace at Al Minar Hotel. Adventurous travelers may like the water skiing, scuba diving, and windsurfing at this hotel. Indulge in a massage and a facial at the onsite spa. The on-site international cuisine restaurant, Terrace Restaurant, offers lunch, dinner, and al fresco dining. Enjoy onsite activities like sailing and mountain biking. In-room WiFi, with speed of 25+ Mbps, is available to all guests, along with a coffee shop/cafe and a hair salon.
Additional perks include:
  • Bike rentals, a safari, and a roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Express check-out, express check-in, and babysitting (surcharge)
  • Free newspapers, a front-desk safe, and a computer station
Room features
All guestrooms at Al Minar Hotel include comforts such as 24-hour room service and premium bedding, as well as thoughtful touches like air conditioning and separate dining areas.
More amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with rainfall showers and free toiletries
  • 21-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels
  • Separate dining areas, refrigerators, and coffee/tea makers

Similar properties

Exterior
Mamdali Guest house
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
Mamdali Guest house

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps

Parking and transportation

  • Offsite parking available (USD 3 per night)
  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request for a surcharge

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • Terrace Restaurant

Things to do

  • Bicycle rentals
  • Full-service spa
  • Mountain biking
  • Safari
  • Sailing
  • Scuba diving
  • TV in common areas
  • Water skiing
  • Windsurfing

Family friendly

  • Babysitting (surcharge)
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities
  • Separate bedroom
  • Separate in-room dining area
  • Snack bar/deli
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Hair salon
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • Computer station

Outdoors

  • Picnic area
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Facials
  • Massage
  • Spa open daily

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Elevator
  • Low-height counter and sink
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Memory foam mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 21-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Free bottled water
  • Refrigerator
  • Separate dining area

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 15

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
1 child, up to the age of 7 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per night

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 4.00 per person, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 20 per vehicle (one-way)
  • Nearby parking fee: USD 3 per night (328 ft away)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 20.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, and a first aid kit

We should mention

Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
Alcohol is not served at this property

Property is also known as

Al-Minar
Al-Minar Hotel
Al-Minar Hotel Zanzibar Town
Al-Minar Zanzibar Town
Al Minar Hotel
Al-Minar Hotel Hotel
Al-Minar Hotel Zanzibar Town
Al-Minar Hotel Hotel Zanzibar Town

Frequently asked questions

Is Al Minar Hotel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Al Minar Hotel?

Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at Al Minar Hotel?

Check-out is at 11 AM. Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability).

Does Al Minar Hotel provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of USD 20 per vehicle applies.

Where is Al Minar Hotel located?

Located in Stone Town, this spa hotel is steps from Jaw's Corner, Hamamni Persian Baths, and The Ancient Door of Stone Town. St. Joseph's Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral are also within 5 minutes.

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Reviews

Al Minar Hotel Reviews

8.6

Excellent

8.8

Cleanliness

8.8

Location

9.2

Staff & service

8.4

Eco-friendliness

8.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 124 out of 275 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 110 out of 275 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 28 out of 275 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 275 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 275 reviews

Reviews

8/10 Good

Rembrand

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

No nonsense hotel with good service

We enjoyed our 2 night stay at Al Minar. Good value for money, located close to all the 5 star hotels, but this one is affordable. Especially the family room which fitted us nicely.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Pia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Bra läge!

Otroligt trevlig och serviceinriktad personal. Bra läge. Lite slitet rum men fint. Frukosten var ok, bra med frukt och man kunde beställa ägg, hade önskat god chapati men det är en bagatell.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Al

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location is excellent. Manager is great. Facilty requires upgrades.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christof

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Das Al-Minar Hotel hat uns sehr gut gefallen!Es befindet sich in einer idealen Lage in der Nähe des Serena Hotels,Hilton Hotels,Park Hyatt Hotels und des Meers.Man kann es jedem Gast von Herzen empfehlen.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent management and customer services
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2022

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Room comfort

Overview for a 9 days stay at the hotel.

Friendly staff ,green energy for water heating systems ,flexibility with prices to help a client who wishes to extent their stay,great rooftop breakfast restaurant,safe location,ease of available assisted information on tours of the island. The beddings &rooms were smelling damp most times with indications of repeated beddings and towels or lack of proper air at ion.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Awesome location and staff.

Al Minar feels like my home-away-from-home after 7 times to Zanzibar (I run a nonprofit working on the mainland). Very cozy rooms in an incredible Shangani location surrounding by high-rent luxury hotels that cost many times as much. Staff is wonderful and service excellent, steps away from beach and great dining options.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely!

I had a lovely stay at Al-Minar. It is off the main road, but easy to find, unlike some hotels in the labyrinth of historic Stonetown.The room (while a bit on the small side) was beautifully decorated, with a very comfortable bed and a good shower. I loved having a mini-fridge and kettle in my room to make my own coffee! Breakfast was excellent, and all the staff were OUTSTANDING! Welcoming, helpful, and friendly. Highly recommended.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Al Minar has been my favorite stay in Zanzibar for 5 trips since 2015. Great service, location, and comfortable rooms. Good rooftop breakfast cooked to order. Very inviting and cordial staff.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2021

8/10 Good

Dorian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice hotel with friendly helpful staff. Very good breakfast with a nice rooftop view to match. I had a pleasant stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice & helpful staff, great breakfast, clean room. Very pleasant stay overall!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Great location, friendly and helpful staff. Breakfast was plentiful and tasty. Good budget choice for Stone town.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

SM, US

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Staff was EXTREMELY friendly and super helpful!! My original tour to Prison Island was abruptly cancelled without notice one day. So I asked the front desk if they knew of any tour guides. They immediately hooked me up with a great guide and matched the price of my original tour. Facilities were good. My only issue was that the hot water only lasted for a few minutes (didn’t go straight to cold though), but it was already so hot outside that lukewarm water actually felt pretty nice.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2020

8/10 Good

Tshepo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A well spent stay

It was a pleasant experience Very friendly staff Juma and Sebastian.....bery helpful guys
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Affordable gem in an upscale hotel area

Always an awesome choice for location, service, and room quality, this was my 4th stay and probably not my last.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location, friendly staff, but not perfect

Located very conveniently in a very good spot in Stone Town. Staff very friendly, especially Suleiman, big thanks to him! Room cozy, a nice rooftop for breakfast. Good value overall. However, small drawbacks. Towels not fully clean, the hotel could upgrade its laundry service. Another small complaint was, that even though we were promised a breakfast box (and we confirmed this again before going to bed) as our flight was leaving really early, it had been forgotten and we didn't get breakfast. As Zanzibar Airport is missing decent breakfast options, we were left hungry.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020

8/10 Good

Hyong bok

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good accomodation

Friendly and clean
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Hyong bok

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Recommendable hotel

Cost benifit analyis is the best. It is clean and the service looks best.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice, clean comfortable place to stay in Stone Town for business.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

8/10 Good

Ana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great Place near everything at Stone Town

Amazing...just need to replace worn out towels
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Das Personal ist nett und zuvorkommend. Das Frühstück war okey. Das Zimmer war leider nicht sauber. Bei der Dusche und beim Lavabo war der Ablauf nicht verschlossen und stank. Zwischen den Plättchen am Boden kam Wasser raus-> der Boden war immer nass. Die Lage ist jedoch super!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very nice hotel, right in Stonetown! Easy walking distance to Forodhani Gardens, to the OneOcean dive center, to the ocean, all around Stonetown! Very friendly, helpful staff.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Douglas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A Brilliant and reasonable Hotel in Zanmzibar

I have stayed in hundreds of hotels around the world, and this one stands out as special. A boutique-sized hotek, I was greeted by the manager, the room was excellent, then decor was classic Arabian Nights, the location st Shangani is sublime. An absolute recommendation.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Douglas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A Fantastic Hotel at a Great Price

Classic Wood decor, spacious room, excellent staff and helpful manager, good food too breakfast, boutique-sized hotel, just 2 minutes from the waterfront in a very peaceful part of town. Totally recommended.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tino

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Superb customer service

Customer service at the hotel is excellent. The hotel is located at the heart of the old town so all sights, shops and restaurants are within the walking distance. The two different rooms I used during my stay both had a good air conditioning, comfortable bed and all other necessary facilities. Breakfast was fresh and filled the stomach well. I fully recommend the Al-Minar hotel for a visit to Unguja island if you seek a reasonably priced hotel with good service.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2019
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