Bed and Breakfast
Airport shuttle
Travel Sustainable property

Balcony House

Kenyatta Road 23, Stone Town, Zanzibar City, Tanzania – Excellent location – show map

Excellent location – rated 9.3/10! (score from 676 reviews)

Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions

8.0
Very Good
676 reviews

Balcony house was a great choice. Nice decor, excellent location, super nice staff, super comfortable beds, good a/c and fans, on-site laundry, beautiful balcony. Also provide airport pickup (at a cost) 100% would stay here again.

Darina Spain

Excellent place. Very authentic. Great hosts. And perfect location.

Jovan Germany

The location is excellent and walking distance to all of Stonetown's main attractions. The views from the room are lovely and there are lots of communal spaces to socialise with other guests. The location is also well positioned for a quiet stay without noise. There is a washing machine and washing powder available for use without an extra charge. There is no safe on the property but a lockable cupboard is available. The host is friendly and helpful.

Fatima South Africa

location is amazing, saeed is very helpful and very well connected with tours etc

Jacquelene United Arab Emirates

Nice location. Room has aircon. Manager is chill and helpful.

Conor United States of America

Nice place with friendly staff. I also liked the hostel vibe, lots of shared spaces which encourages interaction with other guests. We did not hear a call for prayer from our location.

Afra Netherlands

Thank you so much! It was a Great Stay and i Would always come back and i‘ll recomend it for sure! See you next year :)

Lucie Germany

Great location, easy access to restaurants, shopping, tourist attractions. Room was simple and very clean. Bed was comfortable. Ceiling fan was adequate during the day and AC was cold. Upstairs shared bathroom was clean and well maintained and great hot water. Towels were provided and the option to have your laundry washed ( you hang to dry) tips were appreciated. Great views of the ocean especially from rooftop. Lots of stairs to climb so be prepared.

Jenmarie Tanzania

The location, the space, the reception, the service, the views

Nyawira Tanzania

A gem in stonetown! Perfect location, walking distance to all points of interest. The place was beautiful and clean, the rooms super cozy and the staff very friendly. There is public parking close by in case you have a car.

Mireia Spain
8.0
Very Good
676 reviews
  • What guests loved the most:
  • “Balcony house was a great choice. Nice decor, excellent location, super nice staff, super comfortable beds, good a/c and fans, on-site laundry, beautiful balcony.”
    Darina Darina Spain Spain
  • “Excellent place. Very authentic. Great hosts. And perfect location.”
    Jovan Jovan Germany Germany
  • “The location is excellent and walking distance to all of Stonetown's main attractions. The views from the room are lovely and there are lots of communal spaces to socialise with other guests.”
    Fatima Fatima South Africa South Africa
  • “location is amazing, saeed is very helpful and very well connected with tours etc”
    Jacquelene Jacquelene United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates
  • “Nice location. Room has aircon. Manager is chill and helpful.”
    Conor Conor United States of America United States of America
  • “Nice place with friendly staff. I also liked the hostel vibe, lots of shared spaces which encourages interaction with other guests. We did not hear a call for prayer from our location.”
    Afra Afra Netherlands Netherlands
  • “Thank you so much! It was a Great Stay and i Would always come back and i‘ll recomend it for sure! See you next year :)”
    Lucie Lucie Germany Germany
  • “Great location, easy access to restaurants, shopping, tourist attractions. Room was simple and very clean. Bed was comfortable. Ceiling fan was adequate during the day and AC was cold.”
    Jenmarie Jenmarie Tanzania Tanzania
  • “The location, the space, the reception, the service, the views”
    Nyawira Nyawira Tanzania Tanzania
  • “A gem in stonetown! Perfect location, walking distance to all points of interest. The place was beautiful and clean, the rooms super cozy and the staff very friendly.”
    Mireia Mireia Spain Spain

Categories:

  • Staff8.7
  • Facilities7.7
  • Cleanliness8.2
  • Comfort8.2
  • Value for money8.5
  • Location9.3
  • Free WiFi 6.3
Low score for Zanzibar City

You're eligible for a Genius discount at Balcony House! To save at this property, all you have to do is sign in.

Balcony House is offering accommodations in Stone Town in Zanzibar City. Staff on site can arrange airport transfers.

Balcony House has 11 bedrooms. Each room is equipped with mosquito net and ceiling fan. Some rooms have private private bathrooms, while others have access to shared bathrooms. Air-conditioning is available in most room. Some rooms have view to the ocean, others to the street. All rooms have access to a shared balcony, terrace, living room, kitchen, dining room and bathrooms. Free WiFi is available.

Staff on site can organize many types of tours around Stone Town and Zanzibar upon request

This is our guests' favorite part of Zanzibar City, according to independent reviews.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.4 for a two-person trip.

Balcony House has been welcoming Booking.com guests since Jun 15, 2018

Show me more
Most popular amenities
Free WiFi
Airport shuttle (free)
Family rooms
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
24-hour front desk
Breakfast

Property Highlights

Located in the top-rated area in Zanzibar City, this property has an excellent location score of 9.3!

Breakfast Info

Continental, Vegetarian, Halal

Saved to 2269 lists

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Room Type
Sleeps
 
1 queen bed
1 queen bed
2 twin beds
and
1 queen bed
1 queen bed
1 full bed
1 queen bed
1 twin bed
and
1 queen bed
3 twin beds
1 queen bed
1 queen bed
1 queen bed
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Travel Sustainable property
Travel Sustainable property
This property is part of the Travel Sustainable program, which means it’s taken significant steps to make your stay more sustainable.

No credit card needed to book. We'll send you an email confirming your reservation.

Closest beach

  • Stone Town Beach

    7.1 Good beach
    550 feet from property
Guest reviews
Categories:
Staff
8.7
Facilities
7.7
Cleanliness
8.2
Comfort
8.2
Value for money
8.5
Location
9.3
Free WiFi
6.3
Low score for Zanzibar City
Select topics to read reviews:

See what guests loved the most:

  • Darina
    SpainSpain
    “Balcony house was a great choice. Nice decor, excellent location, super nice staff, super comfortable beds, good a/c and fans, on-site laundry, beautiful balcony. Also provide airport pickup (at a cost) 100% would stay here again.”
  • Jovan
    GermanyGermany
    “Excellent place. Very authentic. Great hosts. And perfect location.”
  • Fatima
    South AfricaSouth Africa
    “The location is excellent and walking distance to all of Stonetown's main attractions. The views from the room are lovely and there are lots of communal spaces to socialise with other guests. The location is also well positioned for a quiet stay...”
  • Jacquelene
    United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
    “location is amazing, saeed is very helpful and very well connected with tours etc”
  • Conor
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “Nice location. Room has aircon. Manager is chill and helpful.”
  • Afra
    NetherlandsNetherlands
    “Nice place with friendly staff. I also liked the hostel vibe, lots of shared spaces which encourages interaction with other guests. We did not hear a call for prayer from our location.”
  • Lucie
    GermanyGermany
    “Thank you so much! It was a Great Stay and i Would always come back and i‘ll recomend it for sure! See you next year :)”
  • Jenmarie
    TanzaniaTanzania
    “Great location, easy access to restaurants, shopping, tourist attractions. Room was simple and very clean. Bed was comfortable. Ceiling fan was adequate during the day and AC was cold. Upstairs shared bathroom was clean and well maintained and...”
  • Nyawira
    TanzaniaTanzania
    “The location, the space, the reception, the service, the views”
  • Mireia
    SpainSpain
    “A gem in stonetown! Perfect location, walking distance to all points of interest. The place was beautiful and clean, the rooms super cozy and the staff very friendly. There is public parking close by in case you have a car.”
Property questions and answers
Browse questions from guests for anything extra you want to know about the property
The property usually replies within a few days
  • Hi, We arrive 01:35 at Zanzibar airport so I guess 2am at the hotel. Would that be ok for the check in? Thank you
    Yes that is no problem as long as we get notified directly (we can't know which booking you have when you send us a general question like this)
    Answered on 9 January 2023
  • Is it possible to check in after midnight?
    Hi. Yes, absolutely. Just inform us your approximate check-in time beforehand and we will be ready to welcome you. We also offer airport pickup for 15 dollars.
    Answered on 23 September 2021
  • Hi, our flight arrives at 2am in the morning, will it be possible to check in? And is there a taxi service available to pick us up from the airport?
    Hi. Yes there is, the airport pickup costs 15 dollars.
    Answered on 23 August 2022
  • Hi there, we will be in Stone Town for just one night. Is it possible to store our luggage with you the following day while we tour the city?
    Hi. Yes absolutely.
    Answered on 9 January 2023
  • Is there a shuttle available to get to the closest beach nearby? What are the other transportation options?
    The beach in Stone Town (West Coast) is located only a few minutes away on foot. Guests can also enjoy the beautiful beaches on the East Coast, using ..
    Answered on 4 January 2021
  • Still looking?

Managed by Balcony House

Company review score: 8.7Based on 672 reviews from 1 property
1 managed property

Company info

Balcony House opened in 2018 by a Danish/Zanzibari couple who, together will local staff, transformed the 1st floor of the historical 1890s building into our guesthouse in 2018 and expanded in 2021 to include a whole new floor above with full renovation. Our local and Danish team members are passionate, welcoming and always available for our guests both online and in-person before and during your stay. Balcony House's calm atmosphere accommodate needs for privacy and space for relaxation while also providing the opportunity to socialize with the other guests and staff members. We host both short and long term stays. Please contact us anytime with special requests or questions, and we will get back to you shortly.

Property info

Welcome to Balcony House – a lovely, friendly and spacious two-floored guesthouse situated in the very centre of historical, cultural and beautiful Stone Town in Zanzibar. Each of our 11 bedrooms has their own unique details and is also different in terms of room size, number/type of beds and facilities: for instance with or without ocean-view, en-suite private bathroom, air-condition or private seating-area. All rooms have full access to lovely common facilities such as a unique balcony, two furnished terraces, one large living/dining room, two lounges, fully equipped kitchen with free coffee and tea, washing machine & WiFi.

Neighborhood info

Balcony House is located in the very heart of charming Stone Town on Kenyatta Road next to number 23 just across the street from Lazziz bakery. The best location you could wish for and only 2 minutes walk to the incredible beach perfect for swimming, a walk, sunset-watching and hangout-spots! You are also only a few minutes walk from the coolest sea-view cocktail bars in town, great restaurants, cosy cafés for hanging out and watch sunsets, the must-visit Forodhani streetfood market and lots of shops. You can take a beautiful walk around Stone Town's narrow and ancient streets. We furthermore arrange tours around Stone Town and Zanzibar at cheap prices (e.g. spice tour, dolphin tour, boat trip to paradise-like sandbank, Prison Island tour etc.)

Languages Spoken

Danish,English,Swahili
Area info *
Amenities of Balcony House
Most popular amenities
Free WiFi
Airport shuttle (free)
Family rooms
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
24-hour front desk
Breakfast
Bathroom
  • Towels
Bedroom
  • Linens
  • Wardrobe or closet
Outdoors
  • Picnic area
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Sun deck
  • Terrace
  • Garden
Kitchen
  • Shared kitchen
Room Amenities
  • Clothes rack
Activities
  • Tour or class about local culture
    Additional charge
  • Walking tours
    Additional charge
  • Beach
  • Snorkeling
    Additional chargeOff-site
  • Game room
Internet
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Parking
Public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) and costs $1 per day.
  • Street parking
Front Desk Services
  • Invoice provided
  • Concierge
  • Baggage storage
  • Tour desk
  • Currency exchange
  • Express check-in/out
  • 24-hour front desk
Entertainment & Family Services
  • Indoor play area
  • Board games/Puzzles
Cleaning Services
  • Ironing service
    Additional charge
  • Laundry
Safety & security
  • CCTV outside property
  • Smoke alarms
  • 24-hour security
General
  • Shuttle service
    Additional charge
  • Shared lounge/TV area
  • Designated smoking area
  • Air conditioning
  • Mosquito net
  • Fan
  • Family rooms
  • Airport shuttle
  • Non-smoking rooms
Accessibility
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Languages Spoken
  • Danish
  • English
  • Swahili

House rules

Balcony House takes special requests – add in the next step!

Check-in

2:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Check-out

Until 10:00 AM

Cancellation/
prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 8 and above are considered adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

0 - 2 years
Crib upon request
$5 per child, per night

Prices for cribs aren't included in the total price. They'll have to be paid for separately during your stay.

The number of cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

There are no extra beds available at this property.

All cribs are subject to availability.

Age restriction

The minimum age for check-in is 18

Cash only

This property only accepts cash payments.

Parties

Parties/events are not allowed

Quiet hours

Guests need be quiet between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

The fine print

Please inform Balcony House of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

FAQs about Balcony House

  • Balcony House is 1.4 miles from the center of Zanzibar City.

  • The prices at Balcony House may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

  • The nearest beach is 350 feet from Balcony House.

  • Room options at Balcony House include:

    • Double
    • Family
    • Triple

  • Check-in at Balcony House is from 2:00 PM, and check-out is until 10:00 AM.

  • Balcony House offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

    • Game room
    • Snorkeling
    • Beach
    • Walking tours
    • Tour or class about local culture