The Palms Zanzibar

Probably the best hotel we have ever stayed in.... the staff were excellent and the chef produced amazing gluten free food for my wife. The hotel is based on relaxation and great service. In addition you can also use the facilities at the adjacent hotels. We used the Frangipani spa at the Baraza which was excellent. Each room has it's own cabana and sunbeds with lovely views across the Indian Ocean. If you want to relax and be pampered this hotel is definitely worth a visit! Quiet surroundings with superb gardens.

We have travelled extensively and stayed in some amazing places around the world, The Palms is now definitely one of our favourites. The villa (Cinnamon) was really beautiful, spotlessly clean, with lovely decor and stunning views towards the beach. The service was impeccable, Siriak and his whole team are attentive, kind and friendly. Always on hand if needed, with a constant supply of drinks and snacks. Chef William creates amazing food, beautifully presented, with choices for all tastes (catering well for GF needs). The spa at Baraza was very tranquil with a great massage. Kiba, thank you for our Swahili lessons, we are always on the lookout for komba and kima. Siriak - we will be back for our next bao lesson! Thank you for letting us win. We can’t wait to return xxx

We loved the balance of a very exclusive boutique experience with private cabanas and plunge pools together with a lovely staff that we got to know quite well. A particular treat was the chef demonstration of a local recipe in a handmade palm shelter built for the purpose. Breakfast and coffee brought to our cabana was a new experience that made us feel very spoiled in a wonderful way. It was also fun to snorkel directly off the beach, even though a short boat ride takes you to much richer snorkeling we were told.

We have been totally and utterly spoilt this week. There is not a single part of our stay that hasn't been absolute luxury. The grounds are beautiful, immaculate, and so well kept. It's not uncommon to see people climbing the trees to get coconuts for all to enjoy. Our bungalow was bigger than our flat at home! A small kitchen area, spacious lounge, lovely bedroom with a huge comfy bed, a massive bathroom with a bath, vanity area, his & hers sinks, and separate toilet and shower areas, with an additional bathroom, snug, and wardrobe area make up the bungalow. There is also a plunge pool, bed, and sofa area outside, too. Just incredible! Toiletries, first aid kit, hair dryer & safe are all provided. The pool is great, very refreshing with lovely views. The sun loungers are also very comfortable too. The pool bar is a few steps away in a shaded area with drinks a plenty. Each bungalow has its own private cabana with sun loungers and towels daily. The beach is nice. Quite seaweed-y and lots of sea urchins, so take water shoes. During a low tide, you can take a reef walk, and when the tide is higher, you can enjoy a nice swim. The water is at times like a hot bath! You can see plenty of fish and sea life. There are occasionally people walking along trying to sell stuff, but a polite "Hapana asanti" suffices, and you're left to be. It's nice to take a stroll either way down the beach, too. The food. Oh my god, the food. Just wow. 5 course meals which are absolutely exquisite! We have never had food so good. Seafood lovers will be in their element. Our favourite has to be the octopus we had for lunch one day. Breakfast is a variety of fresh fruit, juices, pastries, and hot/cold options. Lunch & dinner are pre ordered, so you'll be shown a menu a couple of hours before the meal to select from. It is no problem at all to order as you sit down, though, or ask for variations of the menu. Sundowners will help you sample the cocktail menu throughout your stay and have some snacks. Every meal, the tables are decorated differently. To put in to perspective how good the food is, we went for dinner one evening at a nearby restaurant, and it came nowhere near to the standard we'd been used to all week. Occasionally, there is evening entertainment. The staff are amazing and make you feel so well looked after and cared for. Kiba & Jackson, in particular, were brilliant with us. The two sister hotels on either side are also very nice, but we mainly stayed at The Palms, so can't comment too much about either of them. I don't think I've ever had a more relaxing week. We're used to slightly more atmosphere & vibrance when we go away, but on reflection, a super luxury week of pure chill out isn't so bad afterall, especially after a busy week prior on safari. Thank you so much for an utterly fantastic honeymoon!!!

To the entire Team at the Palms Zanzibar, Asante Sana! We decided to visit the Palms to rest after being on safari the prior 2 weeks. When choosing a place to stay, we read the reviews on TA and although higher end in cost, it seemed like you couldn't go wrong. We are happy to say that the reviews are spot on and the Palms is worth every shilling! The resort is run by a top GM, Mr. Siriak, who is so efficient and reassuring that you would expect any request could be met (and in our case were!). Mr Siriak was there when you needed anything, and in the ether running the behind the scenes operations the rest of the time. As for operations, there are services from breakfast through dinner (including Tea Time, Sundowners, Lounge Drinks, In Cabana Service). The staff are exceedingly delightful and apologies for not capturing everyone's names: we specifically received top-tier service throughout each day from Jackson, Ngasa, Kibalabala and Maulid. Upon arrival, you are presented your Villa (one of only 7 on property) which is about the size of a small house! Then, you are shown the beautiful grounds including your personal Cabana overlooking the Indian Ocean, with a tidal cycle allowing for excursions to investigate the interesting sea life between the beach and the breakers offshore. We also enjoyed snorkeling, scuba diving, reef walks, and a day trip to visit the spice farms, butterfly garden and National Forest. Needless to say, each of these activities were scheduled, booked and managed by Mr. Siriak and his Team with precision and joy. The last night we enjoyed live music where for the 10 guests having dinner around the pool, Mr. Siriak had provided a 7-piece! band. Lastly, we would be remiss without mentioning that after noting certain food preferences, my wife was treated to Lobster 3 nights (see photo) and various Shrimp entrees the remaining nights; all of the food was terrific and will require loads of exercise to ensure we can visit again... And we would like to as soon as possible. :-)

Perfect place to rest and relax after an African Safari. The villa was amazing. The small amount of villas and 16 and older policy ensured no noise and competing for a space at the pool. The soaking pool and sitting area at our villa were great. The villa bar area was nice. Each villa had a dedicated cabana by the beach. The staff took great care of us with fresh drinks. The sundowners were fantastic. The meals were well prepared and fresh seafood is a plus. We loved the Swahili feast and live entertainment. We didn’t want to leave and will be back.

A beautiful hotel sensitive to Zanzibar culture and elegance. The service is excellent, personal yet understated - it feels easy going. The very focused manager ensured each day felt unique - whether taking lunch on the beach, dinner that celebrated local food and music (Zanzibar / Swahili), the charming chef demonstrating how to sauté lobster. Lunch and dinner menu offers variety to suit any pallet - vegetables / fish / meat.

Truly superb stay. We genuinely can’t think of anything during our 7 nights that could have been done better. The thatched villas are huge, beautifully furnished and have everything you would ever need. From the moment you wake up you are surrounded by the most attentive staff who do everything they can to ensure you want for nothing. The grounds & beach are stunning. The food & drink is simply amazing. Don’t expect the lose weight during your stay! The team led by the incomparable Siriak should all be extremely proud of themselves because they offer a level of service that is second to none. It is also extremely useful that The Palms guests can use the facilities at the adjacent Breezes & Baracca. We highly recommend this hotel & encourage anyone thinking of going to Zanzibar to stay there.

We stayed at The Palms during 5 days on our honeymoon; It was an incredible experience that we'll truly remember! The resort is very quiet & romantic as there are only 7 rooms. The rooms are spacious, well-decorated, and provide a high level of privacy. The food and drinks were over the top - It felt as if you were dining in a 5-star restaurant for every meal! Would highly recommend this resort for anyone seeking a quiet romantic getaway with their significant other.