Emerson On Hurumzi - Emerson On Hurumzi

A unique stay

ZANZIBAR STONE TOWN

6°9’57.3’’ S / 39°10’32.5’’ E

Emerson on HURUMZI

Location

Stone Town

The old town of Zanzibar, or Stone Town, is a true poem in stone. Its winding alleys, lined with houses of ancient charm, invite discovery. Carved wooden balconies glow under the sun, while massive doors hide centuries-old stories. The scent of spices drifts through the air, awakening the senses at the bustling Darajani market. Between sultans and maritime legends, Stone Town dances to the rhythm of blended cultures, offering a moment of magic at every corner, where past and present gently intertwine.

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Hosting

A charming escape outside of time

Located in the heart of the historic district: The hotel is just steps away from the Forodhani Gardens, the Portuguese Fort, and adjacent to the House of Wonders and the Sultan’s Palace.

The hotel is the union of four 19th-century buildings, including the former residence of the Sultan’s Minister of Finance. Its prestigious first owner wanted the highest rooftop in the city: a unique vantage point at sunset over Stone Town and the Indian Ocean.

From this observation post or one of the other small private terraces, you can discover the minarets of the mosques, the towers of the Zanzibar Cathedral, the columns of the House of Wonders, the spire of the Hindu temple, and all the monuments of Zanzibar Town (a UNESCO World Heritage site).

Activities

Facilities

An ancient 1860 palace converted into a hotel by an American psychiatrist…

In the late 1980s, an American psychiatrist (Dr. Emerson) discovered Zanzibar, which was then in a state of ruin, and decided to bring these buildings back to life to create a hotel and a place for meetings and art.

This complex has come down to us thanks to Emerson’s friends, who after his death in 2014 continued to maintain his memory, his project, and his hotel.

In addition to its hotel function, the building houses: An exhibition space managed by the Emerson Foundation (exhibiting artists or themes related to the city or the island), the Princess Salme Museum, and a fashion design workshop (Farouk’s shop).

23 rooms (14 currently and 9 in spring 2026)
Salle de bain, toilettes, terrasse
1 rooftop restaurant (36 seats)
Salle de bain, toilettes, terrasse
A second restaurant (located in the ballroom) – opening spring 2026
1 spa with pool (set in an interior courtyard), hammam, and a relaxation and massage area.
Interior gardens and courtyards
Secure site 24/7
24/7 Electricity
Wi-Fi (common areas)

Emerson On Hurumzi

A Traveler’s Tale

This hotel must remain as Emerson originally imagined it: a unique place to stay, offering the best discovery of the city and the island, a meeting place, and a space for culture.

Emerson Dewey Skeens first came to Zanzibar in the late 1980s at a time when there was no tourist infrastructure on the island and only the occasional and intrepid backpacker attempted to visit it. A passionate traveler, one of the benefits of his career as an educational therapist working with troubled adolescents in New York was that it left him the freedom to travel for several months at a time. He would choose a place that appealed to him—Venice, Rome, Sevilla, Istanbul, among others—and spend several months there studying the art, architecture, and culture.

His first trips to Zanzibar were brief, mere footnotes to his ongoing travels in Africa. But increasingly intrigued by the island’s physical beauty and architecture, its music, complex culture, multi-layered history, and the charm of its people, he soon decided Zanzibar merited a longer visit.

In 1989, he returned for a planned four-month stay, a sojourn that has lasted 25 years. “The whole city was falling into ruins,” he recalls. “Sitting on that rooftop, the buildings seemed to call out to me that evening. It was then I knew I had to stay…” And he did!