Retro
Location: Victoria Street, Vuga Road, Zanzibar City, tz
Star Rating: 3 Stars
Property Type: Hotels
About this Property
City Views and Convenient Location
Enjoy stunning views of Zanzibar City at Retro, located just 500 meters from Stone Town Beach.
Comfortable Rooms and Dining Options
Relax in air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi and unwind in a garden setting. Indulge in African and international cuisine at the on-site restaurant offering vegetarian and halal options.
Nearby Attractions and Services
Explore Peace Memorial Museum, Hamamni Persian Baths, and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral, all located close to the hotel. Benefit from airport transfers and a bicycle rental service for convenient travel.
Book your stay at Retro now for a memorable experience in Zanzibar City!
Policies
Check-in: 02:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Check-out: 12:30 PM
Amenities & Facilities
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Restaurant
- Family rooms
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in/check-out
- Tour desk
- Car hire
- Currency exchange
- Private check-in/check-out
- Shuttle service (additional charge)
- Staff adhere to local safety protocols
- Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
- Key access
- Access to health care professionals
- 24-hour security
- Express check-in
- Free wired internet
- Scuba diving on site
- Snorkeling on site
- Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
- Airport transportation - drop-off (surcharge)
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Internet access
- Housekeeping on request
- Japanese garden
- Covered parking
- Bicycle-friendly property
- Accessible shuttle
- No accessible shuttle
- Accessible train station shuttle
- No accessible train station shuttle
Rooms Available
-
Double or Twin Room with Private Bathroom
This twin/double room's standout feature is the hot tub. This twin/double room is air-conditioned and features a private bathroom, a private entrance and garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Desk
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance
- Tile/marble floor
- Mosquito net
- Wardrobe or closet
- Linen
- Clothes rack
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Body soap
-
Twin Room
This twin room provides a hot tub. This twin room is air-conditioned and features a private bathroom, a private entrance and garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Desk
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance
- Tile/marble floor
- Mosquito net
- Wardrobe or closet
- Linen
- Clothes rack
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Body soap
-
Family Room with Private Bathroom
This family room features a hot tub. The spacious family room features air conditioning, a private entrance, as well as a private bathroom boasting a shower. The family room has tiled floors and offers a wardrobe, a safe deposit box and garden views. The unit has 3 beds.
Max Occupancy: 4 (3 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Desk
- Fan
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance
- Tile/marble floor
- Mosquito net
- Wardrobe or closet
- Linen
- Clothes rack
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Body soap
Guest Reviews
- Fiona (1/5): - Basic breakfast. Not really much to write about. Not enough juice given. There was no WiFi at all. The a/c didn't work. The fan was functioning but didn't cool down the room.
There were crawling insects and bedbugs on my bed. I had to sit on the chair and try to catch some sleep. I still have insect bites on my arms.
The room was very filthy.
I guess Hiliki house which is next door is better than Retro house. No good view either from the room's windows which couldn't close at night.
I don't recommend Retro place .
A bit of monthly cleaning of the room and bathroom required. Fumigation is really necessary for that place. Generally, there's need for an overhaul clean for the room to preserve the good furniture and history in that house.
- Maria Belen (8/5): -
- Stella (3/5): Cheap Stonetown Stay - The art on the wall is nice and the chill area on the rooftop. We had to change rooms because the first room smelled strongly of mold and water musk. It was hard to fall asleep, the second room was not any better, smelled terribly we had to sleep with the window open due to the musty smell.
- Beerrttaa (1/5): La casa del terror - Absolutamente nada Llegamos y el hotel estaba destrozado. Sucio, moho en todas partes, la habitación daba miedo literalmente. Parecía que estábamos en una película de terror. Pagamos online y cuando intentamos cancelar y que nos devolvieran el dinero no ha habido manera (obviamente no dormimos allí , salimos corriendo) . No cogen el teléfono ni contestan mensajes. Una vergüenza muy grande. NO VAYAIS A ESTE HOTEL O SI QUEREIS IR POR LO MENOS NO PAGUEIS POR ADELANTADO HASTA VER LA HABITACIÓN.
- Ida (1/5): - DO NOT STAY HERE!! 3 stars? I would say -20 stars! The place is filthy - sheets, pillows and towels dirty, the bathroom and shower stinks and there’s no AC or wardrobe as promised. But the worst thing is the scary man working here. He didn’t give me the upgrade I payed for. He’s getting high (smoking weed right outside the property) and drunk all day and night and got crazy angry and aggressive when I asked if my friend could come over to visit for a short time while I was getting ready (never ever been a problem in any other place I’ve stayed in any country - including Tanzania). I’ve been staying in many hotels all over the world and this is by far the worst experience of my life and honestly the first bad review I’ve ever have to give. Just want to protect people in the future - I REPEAT: DO NOT STAY IN THIS SO CALLED HOTEL!! It’s a nightmare
- Djiar (10/5): Good zanzibarian experience - Mr David was very helpful and kind with us , the location is very good and the breakfast was perfect , the room was clean
- Noa (4/5): - מיקום מרכזי מלון ישן לא נקי לא מתוחזק , עובש בכל מקום
- Shahnaz (8/5): Good accommodation close to the old town. - The location is very good, close to the old town yet very peaceful, opposite to a beautiful green park.its a very old heritage building, there's a scope for upgrading the guest rooms, bathrooms, their kitchen. The manager Mr David was not very friendly. The breakfast was good with fruits. Over all value for money. There are beautiful paintings on the wall and heritage furniture. The property needs upgrading, the management has to be improved. There should be UPS or electricity back up . They should mention on which floor the room is located.
- Younga (2/5): Overall, it was a bad experience. - The paintings on the wall were nice, also the furniture. But the whole property needs a renovation! Also, I enjoyed breakfast. It was raining inside our room, there wasn’t always running water available in the bathroom, the fan wasn’t working, the electricity run off and the humidity in the room didn’t allow me to have a good sleep.
- Maider (1/5): Inaceptable: la peor experiencia de todo mi viaje por África - El desayuno, bastante completo (fruta, huevos, tostadas y café), y el personal del hotel vecino (Kiliki), que fue amable, aunque no hablaba inglés. Llevo tiempo viajando por África y este ha sido, con diferencia, el peor alojamiento en el que me he quedado.
Llegué sobre las 21:00 y me asignaron una habitación que no correspondía con mi reserva. Tenía humedades visibles en el techo y un estado general muy deteriorado. Al reclamar, me enseñaron la habitación correcta (la de las fotos de Booking), pero pretendían cobrarme 20.000 chelines más por ella. Absolutamente inaceptable.
La limpieza es algo deficiente en general, pero además estaban las mosquiteras sucias y rotas, enchufes en mal estado y una sensación general de abandono total.
Durante la noche llovió fuerte (época de lluvias). La habitación, ubicada en el último piso y con claras humedades en el techo, no aguantó: entró agua. Literalmente, llovía dentro de la habitación.
La seguridad es inexistente. El acceso al hotel permanece abierto y, aunque aseguran que hay personal vigilando, al volver de cenar a medianoche encontré al encargado dormido. Por la mañana (entre las 8:30 y las 9:00) no había absolutamente nadie del personal en todo el hotel.
Además, hubo un corte de luz (algo habitual en Zanzíbar), pero aquí no hubo ninguna gestión: ni agua, ni cubos, ni velas, ni una sola explicación. Tampoco informan de lo básico: tuve que enterarme por otro huésped de que el desayuno se sirve en el hotel vecino (Kiliki).
Para rematar, intentaron cobrarme tasas adicionales de la ciudad y 5.000 chelines extra por guardar las maletas el día del check-out. Una falta de respeto total teniendo en cuenta las condiciones.
Sinceramente, no deberían ofrecer habitaciones en este estado. Vergonzoso.
- Kamil (4/5): -
- Marika Strano (9/5): Qualità rapporto-prezzo Hakuna Matata - All'arrivo sono stata accolta da Ibrahim che ha subito provveduto a mostrarmi la camera.
La struttura è in una buona zona, come solo traveller mi sono sentita al sicuro, tutti i luoghi principali sono vicini o al massimo è facile spostarsi in boda boda.
La camera era molto carina così come la struttura in se.
Ho gradito molto la colazione e la sala in comune dove viene servita.
L'aria condizionata funzionava bene e anche l'acqua calda.
Il wifi funziona bene!
Per un paio di notti va benissimo, ottimo rapporto qualità-prezzo. La strada è parecchio trafficata per cui non facilita il riposo.
Cambierei l'illuminazione, troppo bassa.
C'è stato un ammanco di luce un paio d'ore ma,è normalissimo a Znz!
- Laurent (8/5): On en a pour notre argent - L’accueil de David qui peut apparaître froid au début mais est très sympa, les petits déjeuners, l’emplacement, la grande terrasse couverte. Même si certaines chambres ne sont pas conformes aux photos et méritent un gros rafraîchissement, le confort est la clim et ventilo
- Miglena (10/5): Хареса ми и пак ще отседна там. - Всичко Че няма бар за напитки.
- Anna Juhl (3/5): Det kunne bruges til at sove i, men ikke et sted man tager hen for at være i længere perioder. - Værten var virkelig venlig og meget behjælpelig Sengen var virkelig hård. Der var næsten ikke noget lys/udluftning på badeværelset. Der var en stor vandskade i loftet. Strømmen gik hele den ene nat, hvilket førte til 27 grader hele natten. Vinduerne kunne ikke lukke ordentligt, så man kunne høre alt fra gaden, inklusiv moskéer og krager. Der var huller i myggenettet. Personalet ved nabohotellet (som er hvor man spiser morgenmad) var ikke særlig venlige.
- Chris (9/5): - Very good value for money
Property is very retro and unusual which i really liked but it wont be to everyone's taste. Nothing
- Concetta Maria (10/5): -
- Cosmus Kithunga (8/5): - Its next to the beach
- michal (7/5): Nothing special but OK. Slow wifi - Low price Slow wifi, old, not very clean
- Susan (8/5): -
- Marko (5/5): -
- Aden (10/5): - Staff was good Cleaning behind bed
- Tímea (6/5): - a reggeli bősèges és finom volt
- Johanna (10/5): -
- Aden (10/5): Suveränt - Personalen Inget
- Aden (10/5): Bäst - Läget och frukosten Inget
- Benedetta (10/5): -
- Benedetta (10/5): -
- Benedetta (10/5): -
- Le Fourn (7/5): - L'emplacement, l'accueil le calme
L'eau chaude ( c'est bien de le préciser dans ces gammes de prix car c'est souvent pas facile d'avoir d'eau chaude) la chambre est très bien. Malheureusement le lit et le matelas sont de trop mauvaise qualité et la moustiquaire est rafistolée au maximum. Une nouvelle ne serait pas de trop.
- nevena (10/5): Very pleasant stay - Hotel is very nice, love the style and all the decorations. The room was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was great. Staff very friendly and helpful with everything.
- Paul (7/5): - Very good location and the staff were very friendly and helpful.
- Atlas (6/5): -
- James (8/5): -
- Zario (7/5): - David was excellent and really helpful with everything..11 stars for him.
Breakfast was really filling and delicious fruits. There was no hot water however David brought us a kettle...
- Voliansky (10/5): -
- Reinhold (8/5): - Sehr preisgünstig und zentral
Gutes Frühstück Ausstattung dürftig
- D'Urso (7/5): - Lo staff davvero amichevole e ci aiutato in tutto.Purtroppo la struttura è datata ma non chiedevamo molto dal nostro soggiorno di qualche ora.
Ottima colazione e servizio bagagli
- Teti (10/5): - The heavy breakfast and friendly staff. Dave was exceptionally welcoming.
- wiljon (7/5): -
- Bettina (8/5): -
- Marcin (6/5): -
- Jisca (7/5): -
- Eleonora (8/5): bella struttura, ottimo prezzo. - Sistemazione a pochi minuti dall'aeroporto, il proprietario è stato molto gentile e ci ha dato ottime informazioni come raggiungere la città e il buon utilizzo dei trasporti. Colazione buona. Ottimo rapporto prezzo/qualità. Il bagno.
- maewen (8/5): - Personnel très agréable, à l’écoute. Bon petit déjeuner.
Bon rapport qualité prix. Dans le centre. Nous avons fais un détour à stone town pour une excursion et nous ne sommes pas dessus La wifi ne marchait pas dans la chambre.
- Suleiman (4/5): -
- Robert (10/5): -
- Mohamed (1/5): The worst of the worst in town - The property require a lot of maintenance totally not in good condition for living or even having a decent night how is that possible u sell rooms without hot water no heater no functional air conditioning it’s totally waste of money and time the rooms are so dirty the linens are so dirty smelly if u want to run business ensure you think about your client
- Hosea (10/5): I enjoyed staying at the hotel - Staff None
- Mbarouk (6/5): - Aamiainen oli hyvä; hedelmät ja kolme erilaista omelet: ). Hyvää sijainti siis palvelut niin kuin ravintolat löytyy lähellä Mun puolestani kaikki palvelut toimivat niin kuin pitäisi olla.
- Mikhail (6/5): -
- Tuema (1/5): Oubliable - Les personnels L’établissement ne répondait pas aux normes hygiéniques.
- Αγγελικη (5/5): -
- Lars (10/5): A cool place with a nice breakfast and friendly staff. - A cool place with a nice breakfast and friendly staff. All good for the price with breakfast and a private room with bath can't complain.
- Laura (10/5): All good for the price with breakfast and location. - Friendly staff and affordable place to stay with breakfast. Good quiet location. For the price with breakfast it was a good deal.
- Khalidi (1/5): I dont think I will go there again - Not cleaning and isn't looking the way on the photo so isn't good place The room is dirty
- Priscilla (4/5): Only thing I like was breakfast otherwise I was anxious and kind of scared - I can’t point anything I liked The hotel felt scary
The guy attending the reception was oky but I don’t think he must be attending the reception better for back end job, he’s appearance is not one for front desk and first impression
- NANDA (5/5): -
- Erisa (1/5): Miserable - Breakfast was okay Reception
- Guest (7/5): - Excelente ubicación y desayuno. Las habitaciones tenían humedades en el techo bastante grandes.
- David Thomas G. (6/5): -
- Dorothee (7/5): Bon rapport qualité prix , accueil sympatique - Bonne ambiance globale, gardien et receptionniste tres sympa Pas de generateur electrique en cas de coupure ...
- Franco222 (7/5): È una tipica vecchia casa di Zanzibar, arredata in maniera tradizionale, molto caratteristica. -
- poul (7/5): Good basic accomodation - Ok place just outside the stonetown small streets in quiet surroundings with a look into Victoria park
- Jacek (5/5): -
- Özcan (5/5): -
- Özcan (5/5): -
- Karl Olav (10/5): -
- Joseph (9/5): -
- Silvia (10/5): Genial - Es muy tranquilo y el hombre súper amable, tengo y disponible 24/7 Quizás el ruido de los cuervos en el tejado, pero es algo de poca importancia.
- Milena (8/5): -
- Shoaib (8/5): -
- Haithm (4/5): - The location was OK, the staff were nice and the room size was good. The breakfast was nice. I get the concept of the hotel, but it needs to be a lot cleaner. When I entered the place, there was a strong unpleasant smell, and the pillows were dirty but covered with clean sheets, and the shower was broken, and the cupboard was dirty. The location was OK, but it was a bit scary walking on that street at night.
- Alexandre (9/5): Excelente opção econômica em Zanzibar - David é um anfitrião ótimo. Super simpático e atencioso. Não espere uma hospedagem de luxo. O local é simples mas muito limpo. Bom ar condicionado, cama confortável e a localização é ótima. Poderia ter melhores informações sobre a localização. Foi difícil encontrar da primeira vez. Fica na rua do hospital.
- Ithiel (8/5): Paix et calme - Le calme et la deco Je ne sais pas mais c’était juste calme et reposant
- Neslihan (6/5): -
- Sonia (7/5): Good for price - Location and price Staff is not very welcoming or kind
- Naiara Rocio (7/5): Normal - El desayuno muy rico y la ubicación es buena. Entre la zona más local y la zona más turística. La habitación olía a humedad, así como las sábanas y toallas y todo era un poco “viejo”
- Eva (7/5): - Bed and towels were clean, the man who runs it is super nice. First person in tansania who refused a tip after helping us get our baggage upstairs.
Also it is super super cheap and you cant expect a five Star Hotel for that Money.
It is Close to stonetown Center.
- Honore (8/5): À la prochaine expérience j’aimerai vivre plus que cette énergie…à plus - Concernant le petit déjeuner j’ai aimer la diversité sur mon plat je pouvais consommer jusqu’à 5fruits par jour et la vue à partir du deuxième niveau était juste magnifique avec les sons des oiseaux Juste le fait que les heures du petits soit trop top alors que normalement ou pouvez se réveiller avec un retard sans avoir accès à cela car les heures était déjà débordées
- jose vicente (10/5): -
- Enrica (6/5): -
- Anna (10/5): - El encargado fue un amor al igual que el resto del personal, muy buenas instalaciones a nivel calidad-precio, sin duda volvería
- sofia (8/5): - Ottima qualità/prezzo, per 20 euro in due per una notte più che sufficiente!
- jennifer (6/5): - La localisation très centrale est parfaite, la gentillesse de notre hôte.
Le petit déjeuner est délicieux, mais service dans l'hotel à coté (prévoyez 45min avant d'être servis).
Globalement l'hotel correspond au prix La chambre est rustique et pas très propre, la salle de bain à besoin d'un serieux rafraichissement (meubles, tapis de bain, etc). Toutes les moustiquaires autours des lits sont trouées, pareil pour les draps, et on a trouvé des insectes dans le lit...
- Okuniewicz (3/5): Dobrze, że tylko jedna noc 😅 - Lokalizacja fajna, blisko do centrum. Pan zajmujący się obiektem też miły i pomocny. Miejsce ma potencjał, jednak wymaga totalnego remontu. Od samego przekroczenia progu wejścia zapach jest dziwny, tynk odchodzi, łóżko, krzesła, lustro, moskitiera, ręczniki- w zasadzie wszystko jest stare, zniszczone, mocno używane i brudne. Poduszki pachniały grzybem, prysznic wyglądał obrzydliwie i bałyśmy się z niego skorzystać. Ogólnie miejsce naprawdę ogolony wyglądać świetnie, bo wiszą ciekawe obrazy, styl jest fajny. Ale trzeba byłoby to miejsca porządnie wyczyścić i wyremontować. Polecam tylko tym osobom, którzy nie zwracają na jakąkolwiek jakość w hotelach. Inni, którzy boją się, że dostaną wszawicy- lepiej omijajcie :)
- Emely (3/5): Det søde personale og den lækre morgenmad kan desværre ikke helt gøre op for de mangler hotellet har. Bl.a. beskidt og r - sødt personale og god morgenmad pletter på lagnerne, huller i myggenet og sengelinned, beskidt og ulækkert badeværelse og fugt på væggene
- hamid (9/5): Maison d’artiste - très vinted - Rapport Qualité / Prix.
Situation géographique
- Nomadic Leni (10/5): Lovely place - Lovely staff, very good breakfast. Room was spacious, wifi reliable. I had a very good experience.
- Francois (3/5): Grosse déception - L'emplacement était idéal, et le personnel très agréable. Nous avons également apprécié le petit déjeuner.
Le rooftop a été fort apprécié. Les photos ne ressemblaient pas a notre chambre qui était clairement sale. La salle de bain était pitoyable notamment à cause de la douche qui fuyait du plafond, nous ne pouvions pas avoir d'eau chaude car lorsque nous tournions le robinet de douche vers le "chaud", cela coupait l'eau. Lorsque nous utilisions le lavabo,nous nous faisions également arroser par un bout de tuyauterie non connecté en haut de la douche. Le miroir était complétement fêlé.
Quand a la chambre, le carrelage était sale et la moustiquaire déchirée sur un côté, avec de nombreuses tâches jaunes.
- Freda (4/5): We didn't sleep at all. - The breakfast was the only nice thing and the lady who served it was really nice and friendly. The welcome experience, the rooms weren't very clean, the bed linen needs to be upgraded please.
- mathilde (9/5): - Super petit déjeuner, très bon rapport qualité prix !
Nuit correcte
- Rolf (8/5): -
- Ngowi (7/5): -
- mwila (10/5): -
- Christopher (8/5): -
- Alice (1/5): truffa!! - niente attenzione è una truffa!!! Appena arrivati l’host vi informerà che la vostra stanza non è disponibile a causa di un guasto e vi porterà in un’altra struttura con servizi molto più bassi, sporca e puzzolente. Credevamo fosse successo solo a noi ma una volta giunti lì anche altre persone hanno avuto lo stesso problema
- Yousri (10/5): - Très très bien
- Yousri (10/5): - Très bien
- Mariann (10/5): -
Photos