Zanzibar food tour
STONE TOWN FOOD TOUR - Stone Town was built on trade, and you can taste the evidence. For centuries, dhows crossed the Indian Ocean carrying spices, rice, coconuts and recipes between East Africa, Arabia, Persia and India. Portuguese arrivals added ingredients from farther afield, while generations of Swahili cooks turned the lot into something unmistakably Zanzibari.
Our four-hour feast of 15+ tastings begins beneath the carved balconies of the Old Dispensary. Built in the late 19th century by Zanzibar's wealthy Indian merchant community, its coral-stone walls, Indian woodwork and European flourishes make it a fitting starting point for a tour of Stone Town's multicultural table.
First, we're going local. A street-side cook ladles out creamy maharagwe ya nazi, beans simmered in coconut, alongside sweet pumpkin cooked in coconut sauce, flaky chapatis and pillowy vitumbua rice cakes. Coconut runs through Swahili coastal cooking like a tide, enriching everything it touches.
Then we'll slip behind the scenes at a traditional halua workshop. Zanzibar's version of this Omani-influenced sweet is a sticky, gloriously rich affair of sugar, ghee, warming spices and nuts. If production is underway, you'll see enormous copper pans being stirred as the mixture slowly turns glossy and unctuous.
Seafood is never far away on an island. Tear flaky chapati through calamari coconut curry, then spoon into urojo, Zanzibar's wonderfully chaotic namesake soup, before heading to Jaws Cornerβthe old town's unofficial living room. Locals gather here over tiny cups of strong coffee to debate politics, watch football and put the world to rights. We'll join them with crisp mandazi and a caffeine hit.
The spice routes return to the plate with slow-cooked beef biryani. Rice dishes travelled across the Indian Ocean with Arab and Indian trade, before Zanzibar's cooks made them their own with the island's cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and other spices. Alongside come silky aubergine, coconut-laced okra and other homestyle dishes that rarely end on tourist menus.
We'll duck behind the scenes at an old bakery where bread still meets the heat of a wood-fired oven. With luck, we'll tear into a loaf while it's warm. Finally, we'll weave through Darajani Bazaar, grazing as we go, before ending with warming boko boko, nutty kashata peanut brittle and fragrant spiced coffee.
Stone Town's history is written on its carved doors and coral-stone walls. We prefer to read it from the plate.
Why this tour is awesome
Stone Town has spent centuries absorbing flavours from Africa, Arabia, Persia and India, and this tour follows those old spice routes through 15+ tastings. Duck into a halua workshop, tear into bread from a wood-fired neighbourhood bakery, sip coffee with locals at Jaws Corner and graze through the chaos of Darajani Bazaar.
From coconut-rich curries and fragrant biryani to urojo and Swahili sweets, it's four hours inside the markets, kitchens and street stalls that make Zanzibar taste like nowhere else.
Your guide
Maryam is Zanzibar born and raised, with a deep love for the islandβs food, culture and colourful history. She loves introducing guests to the flavours she grew up with and the local characters who make Zanzibar such a special place to eat.
Your guide
Muna is a proud Zanzibari who knows the islandβs winding streets, bustling markets and food traditions inside out. Warm and easy-going, she loves sharing the stories behind Zanzibarβs Swahili dishes and introducing guests to her favourite local bites.
Your guide
Rosie calls Zanzibar home and has a passion for the people, flavours and traditions that shape island life. A natural storyteller, she loves taking guests beyond the tourist trail to discover the food and everyday culture of Zanzibar.
Explore the flavours of old Stone Town through 15+ local tastings.
Meet the locals keeping Zanzibar's culinary traditions alive.
Coconut-rich maharagwe ya nazi and boga la nazi with flaky chapatis.
Go behind the scenes at a traditional Zanzibari halua factory.
Zanzibar's version of this Omani-influenced sweet.
Eat at hidden spots beloved by Stone Town locals.
Creamy ngisi wa nazi, calamari simmered in fragrant coconut curry.
The people at the heart of Stone Town's food culture.
Jaw's Corner, Stone Town's legendary local meeting place.
Taste your way through Zanzibar's favourite street snacks.
Fragrant curries and spice-laden Zanzibari biryani.
Follow the smell of fresh bread into Stone Town's backstreets.
Warm, crusty bread pulled fresh from a wood-fired oven.
Urojo, Zanzibar's famous sweet, sour and spicy street-food mix.
Rich date shake blended with fragrant Zanzibari herbs and spices.
Taste your way through 7β8 local spots across Stone Town.
Comforting boko boko, slow-cooked chicken and wheat Zanzibar style.
Includes
- Price US $35 per person
- Language English
- Small group Maximum of 8 guests (private tours or groups of 9+, please contact us)
- Tastings 15+ tastings
- Drinks Bottled water and local drinks
- Duration 9am - 1pm
- Guides Led by one of our superb Zanzibar food hosts
- Cancellation Cancel up to 48 hours before departure for a full refund
- Family friendly Families welcome on all our tours. Children 50% discount.
- Transport Walking tour
- Instant confirmation Book now to secure your space (before we sell out!)
- Pick up / drop off Our guests come from all over the city, so to save time we have a meeting point. Your guide can help you find transport back at the end of the tour
Dietary information
- General advice Many local eateries specialise in signature menus, and may not have alternatives. It is not always possible to cater for all dietary requests at every stop
- Vegetarian Possible, though meat and seafood is used in 1-2 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Vegan Unsuitable as meat, seafood and dairy are used in 4-5 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Pescatarian Suitable, though meat is used in 1-2 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Pork Suitable for no pork diets
- Halal Suitable for halal diets
- Gluten intolerance / Celiac Unsuitable as wheat is present in 5-6 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Lactose intolerance Possible though as milk and yogurt are used 2-3 tastings (out of 15 total). Please note ghee is used in further tastings
- Tree nut / peanut allergy Possible, though peanuts are used in 1-2 tastings (out of 15 total), and tree nuts are used in 2-3 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Seafood / Shellfish allergy Suitable for no seafood diets
- Severe allergies Due to the nature of street food cooking, we can never guarantee any dish to be 100% free from allergens, as there is always the risk of traces and cross-contamination. It is unsuitable for severe allergies. Contact us: info@achefstour.com
How to book
To join our Stone Town food tour, use the calendar above to select your preferred date, and secure your tour with your card. For special requests, private bookings, or dietary requirements, please contact us. Safety of our customers is our first priority, so if you have any food allergies, please contact us before booking.
What to expect
This tour is designed for adventurous eaters with an interest in discovering the food locals eat. Itβs a walking tour, but the pace is gentle, and there are plenty of rest (eating) stops along the way. Join us on the best Stone TownΒ food tour in the city, you won't regret it.
Meeting point
Meet outside the historic Old Dispensary in the old town.Β It's easy to reach either on foot from many of the hotels in Stone Town, or by taxi. There will be more details on your booking voucher.Β
Cancellation Policy
Why you should book with us
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99% 5 star reviews across our tours -
Secure payments through provider Peek
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No hidden charges - all food tastings included in the price
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Authentic food experience, escape the tourist traps