Beautiful hotel combining traditional design architecture with five-star accommodation. The Ocean Suite was superb, private, and with a sea view. We came for our honeymoon and left on cloud nine, feeing we'd had an extremely personal experience made possible by the staff, each of whom are, professional, willing to help, smiley, and with a great deal of heart! Situated slightly east at the northern tip of the Island, it's not possible to see the sunset directly, however it more than makes up with peace and tranquillity, especially compared to hotels on the nearby busy beachfronts where the sunset can be seen, and which are accessible from the hotel. It has a great infinity pool, much larger than usual resort pools, and sunbathing beds overlooking the blissful turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean uninterrupted by anchored boats. The food is EXCELLENT!! Well worth going half board. We stayed 11 nights, with so much choice avoiding any feeling of repetitiveness. We definitely left much healthier than we arrived! Al carte meals are also available on the romantic pier which were included in our package. We really appreciated getting to know the most senior staff as well who were very open about how they strive to make the experience even better for everyone. For a chilled out, beautiful experience, in a gorgeous hotel, Essque Zalu is very highly recommended!

The hotel is clean and comfortable. The waiters.chefand cleaning staff are very pleasant and go out of their to address your needs. The manager Rahul that was on duty interacts regularly with guests to ensure they are comfortable

Service at reception is slow. Some of the staff at the front desk need training to be more efficient. One lady at reception called Mary in particular has no people skills Different individuals in our group of 7 had issues with her.She quotes exorbitant prices for taxis and we suspect she gets kickbacks from the drivers. We had 2 medical issues that needed attention but she showed no empathy and spoke dollars first. So Dollar Mary as we called her is not good for Esseque Zalu image

Considering we stayed between Christmas and New Year's Eve when prices were nearly double other times of year, I was worried that the value may not quite match with expectations, but I'm happy to report that I was wrong. We stayed in an oceanfront suite (which was actually a private villa) and it was huge, clean, comfortable, and had the best front patio for hanging out and enjoying the view. We were in suite #11 and I believe it to be the best location on the property: just a few meters from the pool and jetty, but set back enough to enjoy quiet and privacy. We'd fully expected to spend most of our time at Essque Zalu hanging out by the pool, but found our villa's location so ideal that we never did fuss with reserving poolside sunbeds. Though we were skeptical on our first night when we turned up for dinner and found a buffet rather than a menu, this turned out to be a pleasant experience as well. Each night offered a different theme, dishes were widely varied, and there was always a grill or fry station for a freshly prepared and customized dish. Breakfast each morning was quite nice with several fresh juices (the Zalu Dawa, or lemongrass ginger, was our favorite!), an omelette station, fruits, and several other warm offerings on the buffet. Drinks at the various bars around the property are no bargain ($6 USD for beer, $8-10 for speciality cocktails, $4 for most liquors and the shots are small), but this is to be expected with a captive audience. A la carte lunch is a bit pricey ($18/plate for the fish dishes we ordered), but food quality and attention to detail is very good. (If you feel inclined to leave the property, a 15-minute walk toward Nungwi Beach will get you to Fish Market Local Restaurant, which is absolutely delicious and we paid the equivalent of $17 USD for three dishes — I highly recommend doing this at least once!) Overall, Essque Zalu provides gorgeous views, an awesome saltwater pool, good food, and a friendly staff.

As others have noted, yes, some of the sunbed and chair cushions have seen better days, but this is hardly a dealbreaker. Clean towels are readily available at the pool bar. I'm not sure this is true five-star property and if you're used to a Four Seasons (or comparable) standard of service and setting you'll probably find it a bit lacking, but Essque Zalu is among the finest accommodations on Zanzibar island. Some perspective is necessary when comparing to luxury hotels in other parts of the world, so perhaps just take a walk around the local area before feeling slighted at a 30-minute wait for your poolside lunch order to arrive.

There was very little to fault about this place. We had villa/room 16 which had an amazing view of the ocean - at night you could see fire flies on the rocks! The room was lovely and spacious, very clean, huge bed. We got replenished with water, tea/coffee and towels etc every morning and and evening and everything was super clean. We went half board which I recommend because the food is outstanding and there are not too many restaurants around. All the staff were friendly and really tried hard to make our stay special.

They charge Western prices for drinks....and the pool although large and clean could probably do with a bit of an upgrade.

I had an amazing hotel stay with friendly staff and clean, spacious rooms. The customer service was exceptional, and the comfortable amenities contributed to a pleasant experience. The hotel's convenient location and efficient check-in/out process were also noteworthy. Nonetheless, my stay was highly enjoyable, thanks to the attentive staff and the comfortable, well-maintained accommodations.

I am not sure if the hotel could be responsible for that but the road that led us to the hotel was miserable, this could improve the tourist experience if the hotel could fix this issue.

the hotel entertainment at night is great. the staff were nice and helpful. the place is nice and safe. it was a really enjoyable part of our trip to Zanzibar.

the hotel location is not optimal as the beach is rocky so you have to travel to arrive to a better beach. this hotel is Nugwi which is remote from the rest of Zanzibar but that shouldn’t be an issue if you combine it with a few days stay in stone town.

My stay at Esque Zalu Zanzibar was an embodiment of sophistication and luxury, seamlessly integrated with the African design ethos and breathtaking landscapes. The resort offered an unparalleled sense of privacy within its lush, tranquil grounds, making every moment feel exclusive and serene. From the moment of arrival, the warm welcome with fresh juice set the tone for a stay focused on relaxation and indulgence. The highlight was undoubtedly the poolside massage, a blissful experience with the soothing sound of ocean waves complementing the skilled masseuse's efforts to alleviate all forms of stress and anxiety. The resort's architecture and design celebrated local heritage while offering modern comforts, ensuring every need was catered to within this peaceful haven. Positioned perfectly, Esque Zalu offers both a secluded retreat for relaxation and easy access to explore Zanzibar's rich cultural and natural attractions. This harmonious balance of seclusion and exploration opportunities made my stay truly unforgettable, encapsulating the very essence of a luxurious getaway with a soulful touch.

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Truly great facilities, incredible views, and amazing large rooms. For most of the days, the food was great. The staff is very kind. The hotel provides free shuttles to the city center at various hours.

Expensive. Although we paid more than most hotels would charge on the island, this resort was charging money on about everything - 1$ for a billiard game, and 5$ for a coconut which is ridiculous. Also, the location is pretty far from the center.

We liked that the property is close to Nungwi but away from the madness. The jetty bar really stands out... perfect spot for a sundowner. The staff were amazing! There was a good variety with the buffets and food was generally good. Rooms are spacious and very comfortable.

The fridge in the room just didn't work despite us asking several times. The breakfast could do with some variety for guests who stay for a longer period

Exceptional beautiful place very wide very spacious rooms are perfect .. the best resort in Zanzibar by far Staff are great … jimmy safiya seif juma khier Issa Lucy ze elkefly the food is amazing you must eat swaihili food there The nature and the location of the hotel is absolutely marvelous Our stay was great and unforgettable

Just the pumpy road outside the hotel but that’s common Zanzibar issue