We stayed at Matlai to round off our honeymoon in East Africa and it was the best place we’ve ever stayed. If you are looking for a romantic, peaceful and quiet hotel with beautiful rooms, wonderful staff, creative touches and breathtaking sea views, this is the place for you! (If you prefer music or beach tunes, try Upendo down the road). Matlai is an oasis of calm, and has been designed thoughtfully and cleverly. There are only 6 bedrooms on the whole site which for us was a huge plus (and one of the reasons we booked) as it feels very private and secluded. We often had the pool and surrounding area to ourselves which was amazing. In Asili house there are four rooms - each one thoughtfully designed around one of the elements. We were in moto (fire) which was on the first floor (rather than ground) with an incredible balcony. We loved having our breakfast on the balcony, watching the tide go out, and relaxing there throughout the day on the beanbag sofa. We loved the location - great snorkelling is a short walk away (we saw lots of coral and fish), and the rock restaurant is 10 minutes along the sand. Our room was gorgeous and spacious, and if you appreciate well designed bathrooms you are in for a treat - the bathroom in moto was massive and felt so luxurious. It has amazing wooden etchings, a freestanding bath which I loved, as well as a great shower. The staff look after you so well without it ever feeling too in your face. Hashim, Derrick and Mohammad were so helpful and good-natured, and it was great to meet the owner Tim too. Their friendly and thoughtful approach really elevated our stay; they're a great team. We enjoyed selecting our meals each day - you can choose the location and time for your breakfast and lunch/dinner. If you pick ‘surprise’ the staff will choose an area for you set it up beautifully. You have the area completely to yourself, so it feels extra special. Overall, this was an unforgettable stay and I hope we can return!

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I had an exceptional hotel experience that truly stands out as one of the best I've ever had. From the moment I arrived for my three-day online workshop, I was impressed by the superior internet connectivity, which outperformed even that of my home in Zurich, Switzerland. The room was a masterpiece of thoughtful design, with each detail crafted with love and purpose. The service was outstanding, exceeding all expectations. The culinary delights prepared by the kitchen, along with the warm hospitality of the great owner, added to the overall excellence of my stay. This oasis of peace in Zanzibar is a place I wholeheartedly recommend to all my friends. A heartfelt thank you for such perfection. Well done! ♥️🙏💯

So incredibly happy I stumbled upon this gem of a hotel to stay for my birthday! It was absolute perfection. The hotel itself is so well kept, the pool, the amenities! Cannot find a single fault even if I tried. Communication before and during my stay made everything booked so seamless and made the trip so relaxing. The most memorable part apart from the stunning views were the incredible staff. From the moment we arrived we felt so welcomed and closely attended to. Everyone was so attentive, warm and kind. The owners have definitely created a experience that far exceeds five star hotels and I would highly recommend to anyone. Looking forward to return!

Wow, this hotel. It’s is an absolute hidden gem. My husband and I travel a lot and this hotel has provided more small touches and personalised experiences than anywhere else we have been. It deserves 5 stars. Tim who runs the hotel is an absolute perfectionist. The butler service was exceptional and no ask was too much. They made romantic dinners all around the property for us with candles and flowers. Shout out to Hashim who is also an acrobat! The food was out of this world from breakfast to dinner. I asked for dishes that weren’t even on the menu and it was no issue for the very talented chef. They created a steak linguine and my lord was it out of this world. The spa was a beautiful experience, the lady is incredibly talented also and created a huge sense of calm for me. She was the sweetest soul with a heart of gold who took a lot of care in her work The pool was stunning looking out to the sea and sunrises were gorgeous. I couldn’t recommend this more to anyone. We stayed at both Zuri Zanzibar and Pongwe Island and this hotel stood out for us as they make you feel so special.

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What can I say that others haven't already said?! Staying at the Matlai Hotel is an absolute dream, I would rate it in the top 5 places I have stayed in the world, a truly personalised experience. From the exceptional service provided by the butlers, to the utter beauty of the property, the landscaping, the huge rooms and bathrooms, the stunning beach, the sunrise views, and the food, to the private cinema room, the housekeeping service, the tranquility and peace, it is almost indescribable. I cried the night before I left, if you have a chance to stay here, take it, it was truly magical. I don't believe there is anywhere else on the island to compare to this, we left feeling like they were our family, and our every wish was provided for and our dreams came true.

Nothing. Everything was perfect, I challenge anyone to find anything negative about the Matlai Hotel.

A Touch of Perfection at Boutique Hotel Matlai Hospitality: Experiencing the hospitality at Boutique Hotel Matlai is like embarking on a journey of warmth and attentiveness. The level of customer service from every staff member sets a new standard for what exceptional hospitality should be. The hotel's adept butlers seemed to know our schedules better than we did, going above and beyond to create an ambiance of seamless luxury. A heartfelt thank you to Jesus, Dereck, Hashim, Gideon, Ramadan, and Snaqira - each one of you added a unique touch to our stay and will be fondly remembered. Their expertise shone when they organised an unforgettable and deeply romantic dinner for our proposal, which can only be described as truly stunning. Location: Boutique Hotel Matlai is a serene oasis nestled in a uniquely beautiful beach, further elevated by the Rock Restaurant, one of the island's finest culinary destinations. From this prime location, we had convenient access to an array of island tours, while also being within a comfortable distance to the vibrant small town of Paje, rich with additional restaurants, dive shops, bars, and surf shacks. For those considering a visit to Mmenba, it is a bit of a distance, but rest assured, the immediate surroundings offer more than enough to explore and enjoy. Amenities & Tours: The hotel boasts a wealth of amenities including a lovely swimming pool, an excellent restaurant, and a cozy bar, not to mention a Cinema room that adds a touch of romance to any movie evening. Their collection of high-quality equipment for snorkeling, paddle boarding, and kayaking invites adventure at your leisure. The hotel excels as personal 'holiday planners', taking charge of organising tours around the island in a manner tailored to our preferences. Thanks to them, we experienced incredible trips including a private boat tour with snorkeling, an exploration of Muluum cave, a tour of Stone Town complete with stellar dining

We genuinely have no negatives. Maybe a negative is that there isn't much happening on the beach? But that was a positive for us as we wanted somwhere quiet - if you want more activity simply go to Paje 15 minutes up the road.

This exclusive hotel (4 rooms in main house, 2 in adjacent villa) is located in Pingwe, which is right at the top of Paje beach. It is quiet, serene and absolutely beautiful. As soon as you enter the informal reception area you are floored by the paradise view. We had coconuts and Malibu on arrival and given an explanation of the property and area by the owner/manager Inga. We were told about the high/low tides and the sandbank across from the hotel, easily reachable by walking and some swimming at low tide, from which there were corals and snorkelling opportunities. The property provided sea shoes (to prevent stepping on sea urchins) and snorkelling gear. I had the best snorkelling of my life there and no one was around. The food provided by the adjacent restaurant of the same name had some excellent choices. The breakfast was good, although a couple of mishaps on the orders despite us writing it all down on the provided forms the day before. The atmosphere of the property is relaxed with lots of nice touches. Location is perfect for a quiet, restful, and stunning experience with the wonders of the sea. The sand and sea are wonderful here for swimming. We had previously been in the northern beaches around Kendwa which we found not as pleasant.

As mentioned, couple of mishaps with breakfast. Otherwise nothing - all great.

The most incredible hotel, absolute perfection. Staff were friendly and attentive. Rooms are lovely, beautifully decorated and hugely comfortable. Property maintained incredibly. Food diverse and tasty with dinner served into wonderful “surprise” locations. Cinema was so lovely. Touches like choosing bath salts, room scents, gorgeous leaving gift and bedtime stories just enchanting. Head butler Eustus and his team are beyond amazing and the welcome from Tim and his assistant manager phenomenal.

That it was fully booked so we couldn’t spend our full Zanzibar time there.

The staff is beyond friendly and helpful. The room was great, bed was very comfy and a big bathroom with great shower and buthtub. The hotel is very private and there are many great places to sunbath and relax. Breakfast is served on your balcony, which makes it also very private. Wide range of possibilites to chose from. Dinner is served wherever one wants it. Overall great food. The beach is clean, one can snorkel (best at low tide) and go to the sandbank just in front of the hotel. Overall we had an outstanding stay and totally recommend staying at Matlai.

This hotel is insane. It doesn’t feel like a hotel. More like a villa surrounded with trees, a beautiful pool with a 2mns walk to the beach. If you’re after privacy, excellent service, this is the place. The staff adds so much joy to this beautiful place.. very friendly, accomodating. Nothing is too much for them. Great at advising and help you organise your activities.

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