Stone Town has the widest choice of food anywhere on the island, from Forodhani night-market grills to rooftop terraces over the harbour and restored merchant houses plating Swahili and Indian dishes. It's the one place you can do a proper sit-down dinner and a cheap street plate on the same night, so it suits food-led travellers and anyone who wants variety over a beach view.
A highly rated Turkish restaurant in Stone Town for kebabs, grills and meze, with vegetarian mezze and halal cooking as you would expect from the cuisine. Rated 4.8/5 across about 150 Google reviews.
It leans more toward a special-occasion dinner than a quick lunch.
An upscale Stone Town restaurant aimed at a slow, special-occasion dinner rather than a casual meal, serving a fixed multi-course Swahili and fusion tasting menu that leans on local seafood and spice. It suits couples and anyone marking an evening, and can usually accommodate vegetarians.
A casual seafood restaurant on the Stone Town seafront side, built around fresh fish, seafood platters and sushi, with a sunset bar. The mood is relaxed and group-friendly, good for an easy meal or drinks rather than a quiet fine-dining night.
A Stone Town restaurant and bar built around seafood, grills and a fusion menu, with a proper cocktail and wine list that pulls an evening crowd. It suits couples and groups who want dinner and a few drinks rather than a fast, cheap plate.
A Stone Town cafe that leans to breakfasts, coffee and lighter, healthier plates, with a few local and seafood dishes on the menu too. It is an easy daytime stop for a slow breakfast, a coffee break or a light lunch, with enough to keep vegetarians happy.
A long-running budget Swahili canteen by the Mkunazini baobab in Stone Town, popular with locals and visitors for honest, home-style Zanzibari cooking: biryani, pilau, curries, grilled fish, urojo and fresh juices. You order cafeteria style, pointing at the trays, and it is busiest at lunch.
An Indian and pan-Asian restaurant in Stone Town serving curries and Indian classics alongside sushi, seafood and a bar, with the vegetarian range you would expect from an Indian kitchen. It works for a sit-down dinner with drinks or for groups sharing a few plates.
Landmark
Forodhani Gardens is Stone Town's seafront street-food market, open each evening on the waterfront by the Old Fort. Vendors grill seafood and meat skewers, cook Zanzibar pizza to order, and press fresh sugarcane juice. Walking in is free; a light meal runs about US$3 to 8 (2026, verify). Order from the busiest stalls, eat what is cooked in front of you, and agree the price first.
