Tembo House Hotel

Follow the quirky, checkered flooring to a pretty, Arabian-style courtyard in the centre of the hotel. Hidden away from the busy streets of downtown Stone Town, it's a lovely, calming place with traditional Swahili furnishings and plenty of hanging chairs for relaxing. There's also a swimming pool for cooling off in. Bahari Restaurant overlooks the sea, and serves a variety of local delicacies and international favourites (but there's no alcohol). For something more romantic, head up to the roof terrace for a private dinner a deux under the twinkling stars.

Positioned around the central courtyard, the 37 rooms look out either over the ocean or the courtyard, and all have small, wooden terraces, traditional of Arabic architecture. Furnished with traditional dark wooden bed stands, antique desks, wardrobes and ornaments, as well as low-slung sofas, you'll be transported back to the yesteryear of Zanzibar. The small hamman showers in the ensuite bathrooms are marvellously tiled with a myriad of patterns.

Stone Town, aside from being a UNESCO World Heritage site, is filled with plenty of quirky shops, boutiques, cafes and markets. Get lost in the streets (don't worry - everyone does!), and wind your way around the town, stopping off to look at the wares as you go. For the active, the hotel can organise cycling and diving excursions, or head further afield and take a tour of the spice plantations, further inland on the island.