Marea Boutique Hotel

We felt safe on the grounds, and they even gave us both a massage for free. During our week here, my girlfriend and I were made to feel really welcome from the moment we arrived. Everyone at reception and in the restaurant was attentive and kind, and the service kept making us smile. The food was amazing, especially the Linguine Gamberi e Grana, Pizza Capricciosa and Zuppa Di Pesce. Breakfast was phenomenal too, enough to keep me full for half the day. We’re so glad we chose this place. Please say hi to Lova, Joyce!

We only ate here, but the pizza and pasta were the best I've had outside Italy. Absolutely delicious, with fantastic servers and service. Don't miss this place when you're in Zanzibar. Loved it!

The beach, warm ocean, pool and clean surroundings made this a lovely place to stay, and the food was fresh and delicious. Our room was nice, though it had no wardrobe. The hotel staff were fantastic, always kind, smiling and ready to help. Still, the dog incident badly affected my vacation. The owner's huge cane corso, Ares, usually seemed friendly with guests and would sit by restaurant tables hoping for food. But he roamed freely without a collar. One day, a man walking two leashed dogs near the ocean, on the beach outside the hotel grounds, was approached by Ares, who barked, growled and attacked. He bit both dogs. The man tried to run with them into the water, but Ares held one by the neck while both dogs cried out in pain. The Italian owner was there, standing on the beach and repeatedly shouting Ares's name, but the dog didn't respond. A hotel staff member ran into the water and pulled Ares away from the smaller dogs. Someone eventually brought a leash, and after a struggle they got him under control. The owner then hit him with a wooden chair and kicked him several times. That's not how to train a dog. The whole thing was frightening and could have ended much worse without the staff member, who was the only one who acted. That evening Ares was again walking around without a leash or collar. The owner's response, first just calling his name and then hitting and kicking him, was appalling. A big dog like Ares needs training. I felt very sad to give this otherwise wonderful place only 3 stars, but witnessing the attack was traumatic.

We picked this place because of the good restaurant reviews, and the food and service went beyond what we expected. The Italian pizza was very good, the pasta tasty and the seafood fantastic. The staff are lovely and there when you need help, but leave you alone while you're relaxing. It's a great base for exploring the south of the island. We love your dog, too. The rooms and general appearance weren't a big factor for us.