Stone Town: the best value
In the evening, the Forodhani Gardens market serves grilled seafood, Zanzibar pizza, skewers and sugar cane juice. For local dishes, Lukmaan is cited by an (undated) blog as a place at about 3 dollars per person, for pilau, octopus curry and biryani. At the other end, the Emerson Spice rooftop offers a tasting menu around 80 to 150 dollars per person according to a 2026 guide.
The table to choose
| Area | Place | For what | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town | Forodhani (night market) | Street food, atmosphere | A few dollars |
| Stone Town | Lukmaan | Simple local cooking | About 3 $ per person |
| Stone Town | Emerson Spice (rooftop) | Special dinner | 80 to 150 $ per person |
| Paje | The Rock | Unique setting, book ahead | 60 to 120 $ per person |
| Paje | Delight, Shirin | Relaxed meal, seafood | Moderate prices |
| Nungwi | Fisherman's Grill, Blue Ocean | Fresh fish on the beach | Moderate prices |
For a first evening in Stone Town: do the market with a guide
If you hesitate to eat alone in the market, a guided evening tour is worth the price: GetYourGuide offers a walk of about 3 hours through Darajani and Forodhani, with dinner, a drink and hotel transfer, rated 4.6 from 172 reviews (October 2026). Other tours last 2 hours, around 30 to 33 dollars.
The Rock and tables to book
The Rock, in Paje, stands on a rock in the water, reached on foot at low tide and by boat at high tide. One site says to book 4 to 8 weeks ahead to be sure of a table, which seems prudent in high season to us; confirm the date with the restaurant.
FAQ
Where to eat cheaply in Zanzibar?
At the Forodhani market in the evening, and in small local restaurants in Stone Town (around 3 dollars per person according to one blog).
Do you need to book?
Yes for The Rock and rooftops; no for street food.
Can you pay by card?
Not everywhere: see money in Zanzibar.
Pour aller plus loin
See Stone Town, Paje and Nungwi. To avoid table and price traps, read scams and safety in Zanzibar.
