Baladin Zanzibar Beach Hotel

We missed Baladin's lovely cappuccino at breakfast as soon as we were back home. We missed the team's smiles, too, and how they look after Nicole, the manager of this 12-room hideaway in Zanzibar. After four nights and three days, we felt our travels had ended on just the right note. Andrea, Manuela, and Maisy at the front desk kept an eye on us while we spent lazy days around the property. We enjoyed morning walks along the beautiful, uncrowded beach and the kitchen's evening specials. The artwork and repurposed driftwood give the place a charming bohemian feel. Thanks to everyone for making our stay so wonderful. We'd definitely visit Baladin again.

My birthday at Baladin Zanzibar was one of the best I've ever had. The staff put so much care into making it special, and it really touched me. The hotel is beautiful, with calming, stylish details and thoughtful design that make it feel like a little paradise. From the moment I arrived, the warm and attentive staff went above and beyond, making the hospitality feel personal. The stay was unforgettable. I can’t wait to return, and I highly recommend it.

That was the best meal we’ve had in Africa. We ordered the seafood and lobster plate, and really enjoyed the focaccia starter and wheat beer too. It’s the only place I’ve seen with imported beer.

I organized a group trip here and came away extremely disappointed by the service. The location is excellent, particularly being close to the famous Rock Restaurant, but the stay overall was stressful and poor. At check-in, the owner was condescending and hard to communicate with. There were several dogs lying around the kitchen. One person in my group is afraid of dogs and politely asked if they could be kept away while she ate. The owner called her very “educated,” which felt dismissive and insulting, as though the rest of us weren't. That shaped the rest of our visit. The property describes itself as eco-friendly, but basic comfort and hospitality fell short. Towels were thin, rough, discolored, and looked very old. There were no washcloths, only bath and face towels. I’ve stayed at many eco-friendly resorts, and none have compromised cleanliness or comfort like this. The beds made a lot of noise, which was especially hard for light sleepers. We were given thin flannel sheets instead of blankets. The owner kept insisting that we leave the air conditioning at 22°C and explaining why sleeping in cooler temperatures was bad. It felt more like saving costs than caring for guests. For the first day and part of the second, there was almost no water pressure. Only drops came out of the shower, and I had to call several times. There were no room phones for emergencies, so I relied on WhatsApp and my own cellular data because the Wi-Fi was unreliable. Communication was still unclear. I got a room service contact but nobody told me that person also handled emergencies. The owner seemed to expect me to know that already. The owner also spoke separately with different people in my group, then expected me as the host to know every decision and detail that had been shared. When the Wi-Fi started failing on day two, it became even harder for our group to communicate. Instead of looking into it, we were repeatedly told it was “working.” After a long international journey and spending a significant amount of money, the service was unacceptable. We left a night early, and I wish we had left on day one. I wouldn't recommend staying here.