travel guide: zanzibar

Zanzibar is a dreamy mix of vibrant culture, warm beaches, and soulful moments that linger long after you leave. There’s a rhythm here that moves slowly, inviting you to pause and soak it all in.

Our longtime friend + muse Edi B recently spent time on the island and shared her favourite ways to experience Zanzibar and why this destination should be on your travel list.

See

Stone Town
A maze of sun-soaked alleys, carved wooden doors, rooftop calls to prayer, busy spice markets. Turmeric-stained fingers, vanilla pods, saffron threads, colour everywhere. The old Slave Market sits in the centre of it all, grounding the city’s beauty with its history. Wandering Stone Town feels like stepping between past and present at the same time.

Nungwi
Beach shacks, fishermen tending to their nets, wooden dhows in the shallows. The entire village feels shaped by the sea. It’s calm, vibrant and slow in the best way.

Paje
Paje carries a different rhythm; sandy laneways, bright turquoise waters, vibrant beachfront bars and restaurants. Kites fill the sky when the wind comes in, people float in shallow pools when it’s calm. Days take their time here.

Eat

Floating Bar (Stonetown)
A bar that rocks gently off the coast. Best at sunset.

Forodhani Gardens Night Market (Stonetown)
An open air food market with local cuisine and culture.

Swahili House (Stonetown)
Rooftop views, delicious local food.

Maisha Beach (Nungwi)
Nestled on a coral ledge at the northernmost tip of Zanzibar, this place has the best food in the north.

ZavA Restaurant (Nungwi)
Unforgettable sunsets, live entertainment on the beach, delicious cocktails.

The Rock Restaurant (Paje)
One of Zanzibar’s icons; perched on a rock above the ocean. Live music, tasty cocktails, Zanzibari cuisine with an Italian twist. Accessible by foot at low tide and by boat when the water rises.

Upside Down Vegetarian (Paje)
Fresh, simple dishes made from local product, located on one of Zanzibar's most famous beaches.

Do

Mnemba Island
Dolphins, crystal-clear shallows, bright reef life.

Maalam & Kuza Caves
A freshwater pool tucked beneath the earth; luminous blue, cool stone, stillness all ’round. One of the island’s most peaceful pockets.

Sunset Cruise
Watch the day slowly turn to night on a traditional wooden dhow. Pole pole.