The 3 Coolest Places to eat in Zanzibar

It's an island and it doesn't have to be so serious.

Bob Marley should be echoing from some dodgy speaker, bananas should be hanging over the barman's head and you must feel so far away from all the hustle and bustle that made you escape to an island in the first place. Right?

So here are my 3 favourite spots in Zanzibar that you should not miss out on:

Mercury's, StoneTown

Named after Freddie Mercury, the Queen legend born in Zanzibar, this place has achieved landmark status.





Sunset at mercury's



Situated next to the ferry terminal, on the main road and on the beach facing the sunset, the location could not have been better. This famous bar and restaurant is known for its vibe, whether with the locals or the tourists, all sorts get together here at all times of the day and week. Informal decor, cool music, decent food, great cocktails and enviable location, this is a true legend itself. Weekends are celebrated with the Coconut band who do excellent covers of classic sing along beats and have the crowd dancing and tapping their feet. Sunsets draw tourists that stare hypnotised at the sun's farewell of the day and lunch is an eclectic mix of languages and cultures dining together on local seafood, curries and chipattis.

What you see here is what you get, and if you see it for being a true Zanzibar experience, a pleasant experience is what you'll get!

Sele's Bungalows, Matemwe



Sele, the friendly barman and a happy guest



My favourite, and according to me, the best beach bar in the world!

Sele, the owner is always around, barefoot and always very happy to see you and greet you with a kiss and "welcome, welcome"  The barmen are cool dudes that look like they lie under coconut trees or surf in their free time. The bar is decorated with bananas and pineapples and all types of rare and interesting tropical fruits. The fruits don't only serve as decoration but are grabbed off the counter, popped into the blender and served as your fantastic cocktail with neon straws and umbrella- just as you should have it on an island!

The music is always cool, in an outdated kind of way. Music from the '90s and even the '80s, accompanied by the legend Mr Marley's famous tunes are always present. Hammocks under the trees, local hand made furniture and African motif couches decorate the open thatch roof. The floor is of beach sand and the bar of a beautiful old wooden dhow. Books and playing cards are available for entertainment and shisha pipes can be shared among friends. The crowd is made up of backpackers, relaxed free spirited travellers and locals looking for a good night out or maybe just a friendly face.

The food here is as unpretentious as the owner, but always fresh and always delicious! Crispy Chapatti stuffed with Spinach and Cheddar or Jumbo Prawns in a Coconut Curry or freshly caught Calamari stir fried in soy- and some other wonderful sticky sauce. Well priced and wonderful, the food doesn't dissapoint, but be warned, it does take up to 2 hours for your food to arrive. But then again, what's the rush? You're on an island for crying out loud! So sit back, order another umbrella drink and enjoy the experience!

Langi Langi, Nungwi

Any person who has ever been to Nungwi, has seen the sign outside the restaurant Langi Langi, and has definitely stopped, laughed and most probably taken a picture.

Rasta Chef's sign

Langi Langi is a hotel and restaurant owned and run by a funny and odd looking little Rasta man. He takes pride in his sign outside, which very cleverly attracts loads of attention and business. With statements such as "don't ask me what the weather will be like, do I look like CNN or BBC Weather?" and "If you want breakfast in bed please sleep in the kitchen", who can not want to taste his food? The Rasta Chef is the main attraction and the stunning location is a bonus.



The view and wonderful balcony



Upon entering through palm trees and Bougainvilleas, you find yourself on a wooden balcony perched on  one of the wonderful limestone rocks of Nungwi, where the tide showes off the wonderful white beach when it retracts and brings back the turquoise waves crashing under your chair when it returns.





The menu is as funny as the man and warnings are given on the "chilli page" (Don't go in the sun and get burn)  and "love you long time" footers every page. The food is simple yet very tasty and spices, curries and garlic are well used to amplify the ingredients.



Seafood Curry

 

My Seafood Curry served with rasta-style Vegetables is a sure winner! Fresh and tender calamari, shrimp and fish coated in a rich and flavourful coconut curry served with roasted mediteranean vegetables. The Roast Beef is a compote of beef strips marinated and fried in spices and garlic and served with rustic hand cut chips. Flavours from a mad kitchen enjoyed on a cool balcony watching the powerboats and fishing  dhows go past- this is what Island Living is all about!

A definite recommendation, Yah mahn!



Rasta Beef