Small place on the beach with tasty good and friendly staff. We had mix seafood and octopus curry. Both of them were delicious. We stayed at a table on the beach, having a beautiful view of the ocean.

Best place to eat in all zanzibar! The food in this restaurant is amazing. Everything super fresh from the sea and cooked as you want. Much better than the rock or luxury resorts.. if you want to try real local food this is the place! I recommend to order a big plates of cigalas and lobsters is something crazy.. octopus too is delicious.. Thank you hamos and crew for the welcome and time spent with us. Asante sana

Amazing place with perfect service and delicius seafood! During our stay nearby we visited Bin Jabir several times, it was always a big pleasure. We loved the snaper and the most delicate and tasty octopus ever! The star is garlic butter sauce which boosts the taste of every dish. Highly reccomended 😀

Best food we had during our stay here; perfectly cooked fish (not dry!), tasty dishes, amazing service and great prices! Came here 2 nights in a row

Very fresh seafood. We had grilled octopus and local fish and bananas- they are so delicious and fresh! The special sauce for the seafood is also great and unique. Fair price. Love it a lot!

We had a lovely seafood brunch. The food was well prepared and the presentation was equally good. The waiter was friendly and attended to our every need. Definitely a nice restaurant with great potential. Love from SA. ❤️🌹

Like every restaurant in Zanzibar, completely overpriced, average food, small portions. These offer the only other option to tourists, as the hotel restaurants are extortionate for mediocre food. Prepare to get svelte in Zanzibar 😉

Don't overlook this place just because it doesn't look like a great restaurant. The food is amazing and the service is excellent and friendly. You might have to wait a while for the food but that is because it is cooked from scratch. The lobster is great and so is the "local food" (fish with bananas). Great value for money!

First off don't be chased off with look of the place ! Explore ! Place your order and go for a walk and enjoy serenity of empty beach and observe daily life of local people ( as orders take time to be prepared, as they are preparing everything from scratch!) Mr. Jabbar was outstanding host and food was delicious and fresh ! Price are very fair as well. We drove 30 minutes to try this place out and we are coming back again. Genuine review and I'm very difficult to give 5 stars.

Walked down the beach to Bin Jabir, greeted by Chef Baya who took our order and reservation (and phone number so that we could text 30 mins before arrival so that he could ensure our food was ready when we arrived). Had the lobster (5/5, esp the garlic butter sauce), grilled tuna, grilled octopus (this one is also 5/5, so juicy/tender/seasoned well), with side of fries (seriously vegetarians, come here for the fries), surprisingly delicious salad of tomatoes, cucumber, and onions, and mucho coconuts. The food was amazingly tasty, the fries were top shelf, the coconuts were refreshing, and the chef was uber great. In short: Chef Baya is a national treasure and Bin Jabir is a must try!

It was good, but we had to wait very very long for a bottle of water and the rest of our drinks. The waiter forgot a lot of things we asked him. The food was okay. The live band is very nice!!

Don’t go there for the Local brunch I step by inspired by the Swahili brunch on the beach. We were a party of 5 it was 2.30 pm almost nobody in the restaurant I took more the 45 minutes to get served (the waiter told us 7 minutes as all was ready) Everything was cold on the plate especially the fried stuff… So I do not recommend for this - my son who took a Coconut Curry was super happy - the swimming pool is great - the location is great - the ambiance is a bit awkward

Fabulous location right on the beach. Great cocktails and fresh juice, however, the garlic bread with cheese was using a weird cheap cheese amd didn't taste good. I don't know about the rest of their menu as I didn't taste it I'm sure that their event nights are lively and fun. Summary good for music events and drinking, not really for quiet romantic break.

Great staff, very clean and tidy, you can go to the reef abd enjoy seeing sea stars different kind of fish. We had a very good DG Party by chriss .. well and highly recommend for a quite and relaxing holiday.

Really good choice for a week off! The beach is always some steps away and empty! Everyday they have different entertainment for guests at the restaurant. Recommend even for families or solo travellers.

I hadn't been to seles till this weekend and I was shocked by the terrible lack of care given their old dog whisky . He is covered in mange and terribly sore all over his body. How can you Piotr allow this to happen to this wonderful old dog? Please get help for hom ASAP. If you don't know who to contact please call Zaaso Zanzibar animals affection soc asap. I have a good night music was great food terrible ..

We did not stay at The Seles but went for the beach which is amazing. The beach goes on for ever and has the finest sand I have ever seen. It is like power, white and surprisingly cool underfoot. The only disappointment was that they only have one palapa. We got it the first time but not the second. Poolside is ok. We had lunch one day and it was fine, bathrooms are very clean and new. Waiters are prompt and friendly, beer wa cold and reasonably priced. What more do ya need?

Seles is an amazing place located on the beautiful Matemwe beach in Zanzibar. The staff are super friendly and offer great service. They offer different sorts of entertainment such as karaoke nights, live music and pool parties. The food and cocktails are super tasty. I highly recommend this place.

Nice location, friendly, helpful staff, and the local food menu was very good (I had the fish coconut curry). My only complaints were the a/c didn’t work in my upper level room, the front porch sloped so it was not comfortable sitting out there, and their food and drink prices were higher than other comparable places (10,000 shillings for local beers). The breakfast was also pretty limited and not too flavorful. To be fair, they did offer to move me to another room but I decided it wasn’t a big enough problem to go to the hassle of moving. Rooms are generally adequate but don’t expect anything fancy, they are pretty rustic. It’s obviously more about the location.

I highly recommend Sele’s Bungalows to people who are looking for place to have some chill and fun at the gorgeous beach. Atmosphere of that place is great. Live music three or four times a week and great food and drinks everyday. Staff and management are very helpful and accommodating.

Perfect location right on the beach and with the pool just behind the beach too! Absolute paradise the photos don’t even do it justice! The beach is quiet which is perfect for paradise photos and not too much hassle from beach sellers but Seles has enough vibe and entertainment to keep you feeling the buzz. We loved the bonfire night and the karaoke night and even went out to the nearby (short taxi ride) Shambaland club one night so it’s good to know you can party if you want or have a quiet night in if you want! We saw other people from other hotels choosing to eat and drink in The Seles so we were pleased to be already staying there. The hotel staff and owners were amazingly friendly and very accommodating, and always on hand for anything you might want. Also a great location for doing a snorkelling trip to Mnemba Island where we saw lots of fish, corals and dolphins! We would 100% come back to stay at The Seles if we came to Matemwe again and would recommend for everyone!

Very happy with our stay. Modern room and bathroom. Super friendly staff. A bit going on at the hotel every evening with a theme; pool party, music nights etc.

This was the best price/quality hotel we’ve been to in our 3 month trip to east Africa. I didn’t expect it to happen in Zanzibar, but it did! The rooms are so beautiful, very spatious and spatious beds. Beautiful bathroom with spatious and hot shower. We were travelling as a couple and chose this accomadation to have some fun events (karaoke, pool party, live music). Every night there is something to do which was lovely. We thought it would be loud but we stayed in a room far enough of the action so we had a quiet night sleep. In this part of the hotel there was a second swimming pool (yes, they have 2). And at times it felt like it was our own private swimming pool. Very lovely. Also a very good pool to do sportive swimming (12m length). The service was amazing. They have super friendly staff. Hassan, the bartender, made our day each day with his smile and his enthousiasm! Heads off to him. But also heads off to the chef because the food is amazing (we loved the ceviche, fajitas, burgers, cheesy garlic bread, the breakfast). And this accomodation is next to the sea with a lounge right next to it! 100% recommend!

Seles staff are so lovely and welcoming and make you feel really comfortable. The location is amazing right on the beach with beach beds and a balcony that over looks the water. The karaoke is really fun especially for us volunteers staying down the road. Thanks Seles!

We stayed 1 week in Seles and we had an amazing time. The staff is really nice, the place is right in front of the beach. They even have Karaoke nights and live band playing once a week! Amazing!

PROs' Quiet place and area. The hotel is just on the beach so you have a nice view and breeze. Welcome drinks on arrival were delicious and refreshing. Hotel staff were very welcoming. CONs' Room: We asked for twin beds, which was then confirmed by them by email that the request was accepted. Once we arrived, we found out that it was a queen bed (nade of two single beds)  which we were ok with. Bed was comfortable, though after a couple of days, we found out we had bedbug bites all over. We asked to change the room, but they claimed that the hotel was fully booked and that housekeeping would come the next day to "check what they could do about it." A/c doesn't work, although it was set at 16/18 degrees. There's not enough lighting, no closet, no phone to call reception. There is a kettle with some tea/coffee bags, though we found one glass quite dirty. Window glass was broken, very hard to open the windows. Bathroom very small, no hooks to hang towels, no proper mirror and the facial towel (1 for 2 peopele) was not replaced by housekeeping during the stay. The door room was smaller than the actual size of the opening. Hence, there was a 15cm gap from the bottom end, and it didn't feel comfortable at all. There was no electricity or water for several hours every day, which happens on the whole island, though such a "boutique hotel" MUST provide a generator for such cases. Restaurant: Food options were very limited and not very tasty in general. Breakfast fruit was not being replenished throughout. They often run out of options shown on the menu and basic ingredients (e.g., cheese). Once at dinner, while eating, a rat fell on our table from the palm tree above us, we understand that we are in a wild area of the world, though this was not a pleasant experience AT ALL! The reaction of the staff was picturesque: they were laughing at the situation (which, again, I can understand them), they probably didn't know either how to deal with that. We straight away moved to another table and right after the electricity and consequently the lights came off AGAIN. It was like being in Jumanji! Staff apologised and re-prepared the food that was in contact with the "unwanted guest" on the table. This was the ONLY service recovery done by the hotel.

Lovely rooms at the quiet villa section with a pool. Cleaned daily. Had only one problem with the night manager letting people check in at 3am and then making a loud noise along with them and not considering sleeping guests. Very unprofessional. The other manager, Aisha was very professional in her client service. The restaurant has European prices, which is not cool. Not all your guests are Europeans or Americans who can afford that on a daily basis. Luckily there are local restaurants nearby.

I went to the bar to have a drink. Every day there is a different activity. Definitely visit this place. I don't know how is the food there but I had a drink there. The vibe is fantastic and drinks too.

The AC in my room is not working, the room is really hot. I kept complaining since morning but nothing has been done till evening. Request of changing room or refund my money back is also been ignored. I have no option but to change hotel, and report to our lawyer to sue this hotel for my refund when I am back to Dar Es Salam. It’s really disaster of their problem solving skill. Don’t stay in this hotel, absolutely not deserve the price~

Enjoyed the most amazing dinner at Furaha tonight! Out of all the places we ate in Zanzibar this was the most authentic and delicious. We came to see Iddy after a day at the beach and he cooked the most amazing tuna and selection of seafood for us. Iddy is super kind and I would 100% recommend if you are staying near the area! If you can, ask your taxi driver know to give them a call in advance so they can get the kitchen ready for you.

Don't be affraid of the looking of this place. Food is fresh and very good. Portions are big, prices are so good compared with resort restaurants and other types. I can say that it was a great experience and i recommend with pleasure.

Furaha is not another beach restaurant. It is located on a village square in Matemwe, next to a well, where the villagers pass by to get their water. What makes the difference to the beach restaurants is the quality of the meals. For a very low price you get a taste of the local kitchen, far much better than most of the places on the beach. The service is great. Just make sure you bring enough time, cause everything is a bit „pole pole“. No alcohol being served, but trust me, you will not regret a visit at Furaha.

We went to Furaha for a dinner and we didn't leave the place disappointed. The food was fresh and tasted good and the portions were big enough to ease our appetites. The waiter was also very kind. He sat with us and we had a nice talk till our food arrived. It was a really nice evening and a great experience! Definitely recommended!

Excellent, fresh food (from just fished tuna to beef and chicken), cheap prices (12-15,000 shillings per person) and kind owner who also offer taxi transfers and excursions (about half the price of hotels). Please do not hesitate to go this place, especially if you want to support local community who hardly benefits from tourism otherwise. You can order by WhatsApp before going there as service can take some time.

My husband and I spent our honeymoon at Villa Kiva this September and we had the most pleasant, comfortable stay. The staff is super friendly, very welcoming and the food is amazing. The set menu every night ( which was part of our half board package ) was so good, with different choices and amazing desserts. A special thanks to Mercy at the reception which was always very helpful and very sweet.

We stayed here after climbing Kilimanjaro, the perfect place for some rest & relaxation. Beautiful setting, great staff, great rooms, clean & well cared for! Options to go out & about too!

Paid 600 usd for two nights. Booked through travel agent. Was provided family room without view. Hotel refused to provide extra towels (three people, had three bath towels, but we needed more because one of us have extra long hair, and was rudely refused, as if we were crazy to ask for more). No slippers in the hotel room and they don’t have them in the hotel even if you asked. Even 100usd hotels usually have extra towels or slippers, nearby hotels are more luxurious, less expensive and with more comfort/supplies. The 30 USD dinner (included in the fees cause we booked half board) was three course. Tiny octopus salad, bland pasta with three small shrimps and a tiny bowl of diced fruits or browny as dessert, provided with bread sticks. Service, food and attitude of staff was mediocre, totally unsatisfied for the price. If you had 600 usd to spend with your family, book for another place. If you’re in honeymoon maybe it’s fine, but don’t expect too much of the food and facilities. It’s a remote place to just relax and chill. If you have special dietary preferences better bring your own stuff from supermarkets near the airport. Up sides: the beach is clean and beautiful, and if you don’t want to be disturbed and have too much to spend, plus you don’t care about value for money, this place is for you, because it’s far away from city center and away from everything noisy.

We had a wonderful stay at Villa Kiva!! The staff were wonderful and accommodating in every way. We did half-board for our food and we were never disappointed. Varying options daily and always tasty! Yes there are locals on the beach trying to sell things but that’s nothing unusual for any beach I’ve been to around the world. Easy enough to say “no thank you” and just keep walking ;). My son enjoyed both of the pools and the bag-chairs on the deck. Would highly recommend Villa Kiva to anyone!!

Villa Kiva Boutique hotel is hands down one of the most stunning places I have ever been. On arrival, the lush garden welcomes you with bright colours and tropical floralsmell. Walking to reception,discover the white private bungalows, the two blue swimming pools and a typical Zanzibari door with a breathtaking see-through on the white beach and the mighty ocean. The wooden deck where meals are served is well positioned for a pleasant breeze. Service is very friendly, from housekeeping to gardeners and waiters everyone is smiling and keen on going that extra mile for the guest to be happy. Wide variety of food, from continental to local Zanzibar to Italian, thanks to the personal touch of the management: Kamila and Tazio are the best hosts, they know the island inside out and they will give you great insights if you want to discover other parts of Zanzibar. The “home away from home” feeling is guaranteed. The new addition to the Villa Kiva family is called Leonardo, the sweetest and happiest baby who will always smile at you when you meet him. Well done Villa Kiva Team! I hope to see you soon again.

We were spending some time in the lounge and restaurant too. Good quality and service, great views.

We had three ocean-view rooms 8a, 8b, and 9. They are beautiful and spacious. The beds are comfortable. Views from the balconies are great. Chairs are comfortable. Breakfast is amazing, with real coffee. Cocktails and pizza were also amazing. Lots of loungers on the property. With two pools we were always able to find one that felt like a private pool just for us. The staff are really helpful. Also, their taxi rates to Nungwi and Paje were better then anywhere else. I recommend staying at least 4 nights to see everything around Villa Kiva and more if you just want to chill.

We only had diner and cocktails at the restaurant. But it was the best spot in Matemwe. They serve alcohol unlike other restaurants and hotels around. The service was warm and effective, even when it was very busy.

I really loved this hotel. Its not very often I award full 5 stars on a review but this is it. There was literally no short comings on Villa Kiva. The food, rooms and service were all top notch. Its now my favorite beach hotel in the island. Special thanks to Salum the chef who made Our meals memorable. Looking forward for my next visit.

Un lugar agradable, bien mantenido, con una vista preciosa al océano y para observar un precioso amanecer con tan solo abrir la puerta de tu pieza y no entregan agua potable en botellas plásticas! (Utilizan botellas de vidrio, reutilizables) La pieza que nos tocó estaba limpia, ordenada y con aire acondicionado. Al segundo día cuando entro a la pieza me encuentro con todo ordenado y con un muñeco sobre la cama con gran imaginación sacándome una risa. El personal muy atento y siempre con una sonrisa. El restaurante con precios sobre lo normal en zanzibar pero lo vale ya que cocinan todo muy delicioso y bien presentado. Un desayuno delicioso con una tranquilidad inolvidable donde puedes encontrar de todo. Los felicito por no utilizar plástico en todas sus facetas. Sin duda alguna un lugar para volver. (Translated by Google) A pleasant, well-maintained place, with a beautiful view of the ocean and to observe a beautiful sunrise just by opening the door of your room and they do not deliver drinking water in plastic bottles! (They use glass bottles, reusable) The room we had was clean, tidy and with air conditioning. On the second day when I enter the room I find everything organized and a doll on the bed with great imagination making me laugh. The staff is very attentive and always with a smile. The restaurant has prices above normal in Zanzibar but it is worth it since they cook everything very delicious and well presented. A delicious breakfast with an unforgettable tranquility where you can find everything. I congratulate you for not using plastic in all its facets. Without a doubt a place to return to.

Beautiful hotel right on the beach. Not much swimming at low tide but lots of coral reef to explore (hotel even provides water shoes to protect against pesky sea urchins)! The food was delicious and the service very friendly, though a little slow (but who is rushing on island time?). Great patio looking out over the beach. Our room was very nice and comfortable. Everyone was so friendly. There is a secure place to park your car and a security guard stands watch.

Beautiful Location. WE went there twice for Dinner. Prices are quite exspensive for Zanzibar. Main meals are good. Desserts are Not recommended at all! One night we had a Brownie that tasted Like the Freezer ... We barely touched it. The manager who Served us ... didn't even acknowledge that when taking away the full Plate or asked us If we liked it. Still had to pay for it. 😕

THIS IS THE FIRST AND LAST TIME IN THIS HOTEL, NOT PROFESSIONAL AT ALL FOR THE PRICE! We asked the hotel to get us a taxi to pick us up at the airport, we've got the confirmation someone will be there as we were landing at midnight. After waiting 20m in the night the taxi of the hotel never came so we had to take another one from the airport that was obviously more expensive... The hotel never excuse for this and we got no compensation. Be smart, avoid this and go in another Hotel there is plenty much better. + each time you put one step on the hotel's beach you get harassed by locals people trying to sell you things you don't need. Not the good hotel to have some rest..

The best restaurant we've eaten in during our stay in Zanzibar! The food is delicious, and you can get all local Swahili dishes. Even the rice is delicious! Fruit juice is really fruity, everything is served nicely, we particularly liked Garden Bob's Salad, red beans and fish pilau. Oh, and there are quite a few vegetarian options too!

Great local food, friendly staff and good value for money. I had a vegetarian dish and it was delicious. The portions were generous and the side salad was crispy perfection. So much better than the overpriced burgers at our hotel.

Great restaurant, very tastey, fish was fresh and they actually make coconut rice unlike in Paje. The swahili curry was delish, as was the grilled fish, masala chicken, chapati, and fresh juice. To top it off, freah fruit for dessert is included with all meals! Oh, and it was so good I forgot to snap a shot before I finished, and as you can see from my photo I cleaned my plate.

Cozy small restaurant. Very friendly and chatty owner in a positive manner. Super tasty food, delicious fresh juices. Big portions for good price value. Absolutely recommend to visit!

We went to Garden Bob the first night we arrived in Matemwe on a local recommendation. After this, we have NEVER eaten to the hotel restaurant. Everything is tasty and delicious. We tried the octopus which was so soft and tender, the fresh grilled fish with two options either king fish or tuna, is super tasty, sweet potatos soup is good and fish kebab as well. Portions are big ! The owner is very friendly with a warm welcoming, Hakuna Matata ! Thanks a lot 🙂

We’ve eaten three times at Garden Bob during our stay at the East coast. It’s a great local restaurant, we liked everything we tried and particularly the Chicken Chapati Wrap. Sitting upstairs is very nice, with a pleasant temperature. Bathroom facilities are good.