The Residence Zanzibar
Kizimkazi, Zanzibar
Hotel in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$500–750per night
Why go
Book The Residence Zanzibar if you want a quieter resort base near Kizimkazi rather than a Stone Town stay. The smart room move is to pay only for privacy, outdoor space, or layout you will use; otherwise, keep the category lower and spend the difference on logistics, spa time, and dining.
About The Residence Zanzibar
The Residence Zanzibar is a Zanzibar venue with limited public details. It features a smart casual dress code and has Forbes Recommended (2026) and Star Wine List (2026) recognition.
For planning, The Residence Zanzibar is an option to compare carefully.
Book with confirmed details, not assumptions
Its strongest features are recognition and dress code. Forbes Recommended (2026) gives a broad confidence marker, while Star Wine List (2026) is relevant for guests who care about wine recognition. Neither award confirms the exact room experience, restaurant format, pricing, or availability for a given date.
Ask about the specific room category, included services, dining arrangements, and any timing-sensitive details before using an upgrade or package as the deciding factor.
Room value depends on what you can verify
Dining should be approached the same way. Star Wine List (2026) is a useful recognition point, but it does not by itself provide details on a particular menu, cuisine, service style, or meal period.
For a wider scan before deciding, compare The Residence Zanzibar with Amani Boutique Hotel, Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa, Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat Zanzibar, Emerson on Hurumzi, and other Zanzibar options.
Planning details
- Location
- Mchamgamle, Kizimkazi, PO Box 2404
- Website
- cenizaro.com/theresidence/zanzibar
- Phone
- 255-245-555-000
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Residence Zanzibar reads as a deliberately low-key, island-scale retreat. Set across 79 acres of tropical gardens on the southwest coast, the property prioritizes space and separation: gardens and villa siting act as buffers so the atmosphere stays calm rather than densely programmed. The shoreline is gentle: powder-white sand, calm water and steady dhow traffic give the place a quietly domestic seaside quality rather than a party-oriented scene. Late-afternoon light off the water and broad garden rooms make the overall mood serene, relaxed and intentionally removed from the island’s louder resort clusters.
Best For
This is a destination for travelers who value privacy, generous grounds and gentle water conditions. Couples and honeymooners appreciate the sense of seclusion created by villa siting and garden buffers; guests seeking low-key water activities find the sheltered channel and calm surf well suited to swimming outside peak season. The scale and measured pace also suit small families and wellness-minded travelers who want space to decompress away from the island’s busier northeast resorts. In short, it’s for those who prefer understated luxury and quiet seaside afternoons.
Stay Tips
Book a villa oriented to the Indian Ocean if ocean views and easy beach access matter; the villas and garden paths are aligned toward the horizon. Allow time in the late afternoon for the unique light, when the sand turns copper before dusk. Because the property’s 79 acres are designed as a buffer, specify the level of social interaction you want when reserving (for example, request a more isolated villa if privacy is a priority). The calm water also means water activities are viable outside peak season, so consider shoulder-season travel.
Venue details
Ambiance
Tranquil and sophisticated with natural lighting from expansive glass walls overlooking the ocean, lush tropical gardens, and a relaxed elegant atmosphere praised in guest reviews.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Amenities
View
Accessibility
About the Stay
- Rooms
- 66
- Check-in
- 15:00
- Check-out
- 12:00
- Property Type
- Boutique hotel
- Property Style
- Luxury Beach Resort with Stand Alone Villas
- Design Style
- Contemporary Fusion of African and Omani Decor
- Breakfast
- Included
- Airport Transfer
- Available
- Pool
- Yes
- Spa
- Yes
- Families
- Welcome
- Cancellation
- Moderate
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- Mchamgamle, Kizimkazi, PO Box 2404
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Amani Boutique Hotel, Notable alternative
- Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa, Notable alternative
- Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa, Notable alternative
- Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat Zanzibar, Notable alternative
- Emerson on Hurumzi, Notable alternative
Hotel context
How it compares in Zanzibar
Amani Boutique Hotel is the easier cross-shop for travelers who want a smaller hotel feel and less of a full-resort commitment. The Residence Zanzibar is the better fit for a more contained beach stay with stronger external recognition, while Amani makes more sense if scale and simplicity matter more than resort breadth.
Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa and Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat Zanzibar are the more direct luxury-villa comparisons. Choose The Residence Zanzibar if wine recognition and a quieter south-coast base are priorities. Look at those peers if the trip is centered on villa-style privacy and a more explicitly retreat-led setup.
Emerson on Hurumzi is the opposite decision: book it for Stone Town atmosphere and easier city access, not for a resort bubble. For first-timers deciding between beach and town, The Residence Zanzibar is the calmer resort choice; Emerson on Hurumzi is the better call when location and cultural texture matter more than beach time.
Explore Zanzibar
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Residence Zanzibar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Residence Zanzibar
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Residence Zanzibar | Zanzibar | 2026 Forbes RecommendedStar Wine Lists 2026 |
| Amani Boutique Hotel | Zanzibar | Small Luxury Hotels Member 2025 |
| Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa | Paje | 2026 Relais Chateaux Hotels2026 Michelin 1 KeyWorld Luxury Hotel Awards 2025World Travel Awards 2025Michelin 1 Key 20252025 Michelin 1 Key2025 Relais Chateaux Award |
| Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa | Zanzibar | 2026 Relais Chateaux Hotels2026 Michelin 1 KeyWorld Luxury Hotel Awards 2025World Travel Awards 2025Michelin 1 Key 20252025 Michelin 1 Key2025 Relais Chateaux Award |
| Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat Zanzibar | Dongwe | 2026 La Liste Top Hotels2026 Michelin 1 Key2025 Michelin Selected Hotels |
| Emerson on Hurumzi | Zanzibar | No published awards |
How The Residence Zanzibar Review: Verified Guide compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which room category is best at The Residence Zanzibar?
The best room category depends on the specific inclusions you can confirm for your dates. The dress code is smart casual, and the property is Forbes Recommended (2026).
How does The Residence Zanzibar compare to nearby hotels?
Compare it with Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa, Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat Zanzibar, Amani Boutique Hotel, and Emerson on Hurumzi based on the details each venue can confirm for your dates. The Residence Zanzibar features a smart casual dress code, Forbes Recommended (2026), and Star Wine List (2026).
How is the dining at The Residence Zanzibar?
Star Wine List (2026) recognition is noted for dining. Specific cuisine, menu, meal period, price, or service style are not detailed, so confirm the current dining details directly if food is a major part of the trip.
