Places to eat in Zanzibar Island

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OK so it's not really a restaurant but it is the place to go for a wonderful evening. where you can eat as much as you want very cheaply.

Once sunset begins dozens (hundreds?) of stall holders begin setting up there stalls at Forodhani Gardens in front of the Old Fort. They sell finger foods such as small kebabs, fried chicken and cassava, octopus and samoosas, there is a host of choices for any palate.

By being able to go from one stall to another and choose food to be cooked for you you can have the best from many restaurants - well food stalls. And there are drink and fruit stalls too. You can eat on the grass in the gardens or take your food with you.

Favorite Dish: Seafood BBQ, fresh squeezed cane juice

Sunset Restaurant
This restaurant also has a wide sundeck on the oceanfront. We had seaburgers that came with diet busting French fries that are so hard to resist. It is another good pick to enjoy the evening sunset. The waiter was a bit dodgy however and had a special math we had to correct a couple of times.

Union restaurant
This spot is a short beach walk from the Langi Langi. It was a wonderful spot to watch the little boats bobbing and the local children play at the waters edge. The tables are set in the sand under a thatched roof and a chalkboard out front tells all the day’s Specials. We had kingfish steaks which was served with chips ,rice and vegetable curry ,all for$6.00. Behind the bar there’s a TV and we got a kick out of the children gathered beneath a palm tree on the beach trying to catch a peak.

Lover’s Restaurant
All along the beach there are restaurants . We liked to stroll along and choose a different one each day. Lover’s restaurant is part of the Aman Hotel complex. They always have music playing and large wicker seats with big colorful cushions. We enjoyed one of the best fish burgers of all time here. Served with nice crispy chips ,it was a pretty good price at $7.00. The dinner menu looked tempting too with loads of seafood.

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Enjoy octopus, shark, king fish, chicken, and more. Every night in Forodhani Gardens large tables of food are put up and the stallholders all have a barbecue grill on the top. You choose your dish and they heat it up. They will put a 'curry' sauce on, but not too much! It is more of a hot pepper sauce. Prices are negotiable, but watch out. Some tables will try and charge you 10 times what the next table will ask for the same thing. Negotiate a price for one piece, then a lower price for 2 and so on. If there is a tourist cruise ship in the harbour, a lot more table appear and they prices can be just the same as an indoor restaurant. Find someone who will give you reasonable prices and stay with them. Small pieces of meat or a kebab stick should be about 500-700 shillings. It is recommended not to eat shellfish in low tourist season. If you ask you can find the man who brings you cold beers to you for 1000 shillings each. This is an event in itself and not to be missed!

Favorite Dish: Octopus with some spicy sauce!

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The outside looks like a French-style veranda from New Orleans with cushioned seat and lush mini-gardens keeping the tables cool. From this little oasis of tranquillity you can oversee the harbour and nearby islands. This is an excellent, but not cheap, place to enjoy a cold tropical drink. The daily specials are written up on a chalkboard at the door.

Service is good quick and friendly. Some night they have Arab-style music. Menus vary, but do contain many African dishes. They have a 3-course meal for about $10. If you order wine, be specific! If you ask for red wine they just bring the most expensive one.

The inside is lavishly decorated like an Arab home. Low tables are accompanied by a myriad pf cushions to sit on the floor. The walls are decorated with different art objects and lighting reminiscent of North Africa. The only problem? It is VERY HOT inside. Dress in shorts and t-shirts would be in order!

Favorite Dish: There are different 3-course specials on the board. They are good value and good quality.

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I call this Bollywood Grill, but it actually has no name. The owner is a nice man who runs a hygienic place to eat at a great price and the sodas are ice cold. He actually has a grill outside of the restaurant and a grill man (pictured in the corner). Everything is covered and made fresh. A large plate of meat, salad and fries will cost you about $1.

I call it the Bollywood Grill because the owner has decorated the walls with Bollywood movie posters.

A little hard to find but worth it.

Favorite Dish: Grilled chicken & beef skewers

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This restaurant and entertainment venue is located inside the Old Arab Fort. Open everyday between 8am and 10pm, they have a large menu serving local and international food. They have a special 'Night At The Fort' every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 7-10pm. The night includes a special Buffet Barbeque with a variety of seafood, meats, salads and fresh fruit (plenty to eat for vegetarians),

'A Night At The Fort' offers Zanzibarian entertainment. Tickets are sold at the front office and are $10 for BBQ and show and $5 just for the show only.