Q-Bar & Guest House

There’s music from downstairs late into the night, which can make things a little noisy. It’s handy, though, if you want a drink without going far. The rooms were clean, breakfast was nice, and the staff were friendly. Great location and very good value for the money.

The staff were friendly, which is why I’m giving 2 stars, but I didn’t enjoy staying here. It was very noisy and hard to sleep. The bathroom didn’t seem clean, and there was used soap left in the shower, so I worried about whether they’d cleaned the room or changed the bed sheets. The bathroom bulb was out, and it took 45 min to get a replacement.

The area is good, close to the beach and the wealthier part of Dar. Breakfast is basic, with coffee or tea, eggs, bacon or sausage, bread, and fruit. There’s a bar downstairs, and you’ll hear the noise late at night, so bring earplugs. I paid ~50 USD per night per room, and in my opinion it wasn’t worth that. It doesn’t really feel like a 3-star hotel, more like a backpacker place without the right price. The rooms were good enough for one night, but the hotel has seen better days and needs modernising, especially a fresh coat of paint. They didn’t feel as comfortable as the photos suggest. There are no mosquito nets, the AC is strong and quite cold, there’s a slight smoke-like smell, and the rooms don’t feel especially clean.

I’d given it 3 stars before, then came back after 5 years. It’s been renovated and is now the most proper looking and feeling pub in Dar, in my view. I went on saturday and there was live music, without it being overcrowded. Definitely recommend it if you’re after pub vibes in dar.