Authentic culture, cuisine, music, art and events in magical, timeless spaces. The specs: Fusing a restored nineteenth-century Swahili sultan’s palace and Zanzibar’s first photographic studio, this multi-storied small hotel has an inner courtyard, eleven unique antiques-filled rooms, and one of Zanzibar’s best restaurants. The look: Romantic, with blue-, pink-, and violet-painted walls, rich textiles, deep baths, and high beds. The experience: The Stone Town location means you’re surrounded by the sounds and smells of local life, but well-travelled guests—the list includes Matt Dillon and Juliette Binoche—embrace the feast for all senses and are not bothered by the lack of conventional amenities such as minibars and television. All suites have verandas, and each is so intriguingly decorated that there is no cause for the room envy typical of many converted courtyard houses.
