Upendo Beach Boutique Hotel Zanzibar in Michamvi

We throughly enjoyed staying at Upendo. It is cozy with suites as well as multi-bedroom house, right in front of the beach and the famous "The Rock" restaurant. It has privacy, coziness, good and attentive service by staffs, as well as good restaurant, cafe and bar. Needless to say, it enjoyed beautiful view of Indian Ocean right in front. Highly recommended for cosy, private, relaxing getaway, with "the Rock" almost within a few hops.

Well- what a delightful piece of heaven we discovered. Our family booked Villa Shiva to spend Christmas together after our safari. From the welcome at the property we immediately knew we were somewhere special. Francesca and her staff took such great care of us from start to finish. It's nearly impossible to explain how relaxed we were. Our view of The Rock restaurant and the stunning blue waters made just sitting a worthy way to spend your time. Geoffrey, Teo and Cladia (I'm certain I've misspelled names here) were constantly available to us and brought us whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. We did the full board - breakfast, lunch and dinner were delicious and with so many options you didn't have to double up. But we did - because some of us just loved the banana pancakes, others the Benedict. Anyway - they helped us arrange for snorkeling and seeing the starfish. We had a private tour to Stone Town. We had a spectacular family dinner with live music on Christmas Eve at the restaurant which was a few paces from our villa. We had the option to eat in our villa or at the restaurant - both were perfect. We used five of the six rooms - and had our massages and facials in the 6th room. I mean - you cannot go wrong here. You're a bit of a drive from the airport - but once you arrive you are in heaven. We felt so lucky to have so much time with family - and the staff made Christmas special by setting up a tree with lights and ornaments in our living room. The housekeeping staff kept the space clean and the pool and grounds were tended to everyday. We never felt uncomfortable with the presence of the staff and also never felt like we couldn't ask for absolutely ANYTHING. The staff were welcoming and kind and professional and we watched our whole family relax for five nights. I mean - that private pool. That view. Ahhhhh.

Hello Francesca and team, What a wonderful experience we had at your excellent boutique hotel with my family. Our staff members Geof and Theo were amazing — congratulations to all the other team members as well! The private dinner was truly special; your Italian chef pleasantly surprised us with everything he created. This is not a goodbye — we’ll definitely be back! Highly recommended to everyone. Asante sana! Marc & Christine

Incredible position, with mesmerising sea views/reefs and of the Rock restaurant. The hotel was not busy when we were there, which was a shame. The lounge needed, we felt, more relaxing seating if you just wanted tea/coffee, it would have made it more inviting. Our room was spotless and brilliant (all day crisps in a jar...) views, plenty of lounging areas around the two pools. Everywhere was well maintained, always being cleaned, even half a coconut on a handle that you dipped into water to wash the sand of your feet. The hotel is 45 minutes out of Stone Town and. it does of course have the sea/ Indian Ocean. Very quiet area, excellent for a big chill out. All the staff were exceptionally helpful, smiley and happy to do anything you needed or required. The manager Francesca, was brilliant and went out of her way to chat with the guests at anytime to ensure they had whatever they wanted. Thank you to everyone for making the stay memorable and happy. Ray & Susanne HG

Upendo’s restaurant offers an unforgettable setting: a pristine sandy beach facing one of the most stunning stretches of sea in Zanzibar, right across from the iconic The Rock restaurant and the departure point for some of the island’s best excursions (Starfish, Blue Lagoon, Sand Bank). The interiors are minimalist yet refined, creating a stylish and relaxing atmosphere that perfectly complements the breathtaking views. The food and drinks are of excellent quality, carefully prepared and beautifully presented, with a menu that combines local freshness with an international touch. Prices are on the higher side, comparable to dining in Milan or other major European capitals, but fully justified by the overall experience and the premium setting. A perfect choice for those looking to combine fine dining with one of the most spectacular views Zanzibar has to offer.

We stayed in one of the ocean front suits with the private plunge pool and I would absolutely recommend it to any couple that is traveling to Zanzibar. The room is surrounded by trees giving a sense of privacy, and the beach access is literally right outside your door. The rooms were beautiful and so clean. Geof and the rest of the staff were so welcoming and accommodating, they made us feel like royalty while we were there. The restaurant is incredible with a beautiful atmosphere, right on the ocean and the food is amazing. Couldn’t recommend more.

We had a lovely and memorable stay at Upendo Beach Boutique Hotel.

The location is simply beautiful, with breathtaking views and a peaceful ambiance. The staff were exceptional—especially Theo, who was incredibly helpful and welcoming throughout our stay.

Although I made an error in my booking by reserving the two-bedroom villa for only two adults, the hotel management showed great understanding. They kindly offered a generous solution by asking us to cover only 50% of the additional amount, which we truly appreciated.

The villa itself was spacious, clean, and beautifully designed. The entire property is well-maintained and provides a wonderful boutique experience.

One recommendation: it would be great if a pool heater could be added, as the water can be quite chilly in July.

Overall, we enjoyed our time very much and thank the team for their hospitality!

Incredibly unique and special paradise
I love this place and would love to come back again. I highly recommend coming here however there’s some things to take into consideration before you come here to stay.

We stayed in the downstairs room in the villa which is stunning. We had a magical time but there are somethings that need pointing out.

Pros:
1) incredible view and surroundings
2) wonderful chill beds with options to hang in the pool or lounge in total luxurious style.
3) fantastic service
4) great yummy food that all rocked !!
5) stylish and cool
6) some great art (accept in our room which didn’t really sit with the other fantastic photos and paintings featured in both Upendo locations)
7) the restaurant is super cool and the staff are very very nice people.
8) everyone makes you feel very welcome

Cons:
1) the bedroom has blackout curtains accept for the window which is right next to the bed where you have a spotlight shining in all night.

2) the room air condition is loud and hard to control, seems no matter what setting (I think due to power differences) it oscillates enough to wake my wife and I up a lot throughout the night.

3) there is no privacy, staff come in and out all the time from 7am. They’re amazing and are working hard to make it clean and remain that way, however you’re on holiday and would hope for a little downtime and to sleep in if you want.

4) there a small maasai market right beside the bedroom which can be noisy.

5) somethings need an update, the toilet is loose, the bathroom is open to the outside which is great accept if you have a shower and then need another one when you’re finished because of the humidity. The staff cleaned windows all the time accept the ones in our room (sadly), so looking out at the outstanding view wasn’t very nice. The curtains are hard to move and a tad granny like (down to taste of course)

These are small yet important details and as I’m somebody who’s spent 30 years of being a DJ, living in hotels globally, I felt this place really stands out.

In general, amazing and would recommend but truly hope that the team read this and consider it as constructive feedback to perhaps look at improving.

It’s a wonderful place, but if a few small kinks were ironed out it would make it 5 star all the way.

While eating here, this place has cozy atmosphere, great view, white warm sandy beaches. When the water resides, alots of places to explore or relax on the beach. Wortha visit.

The Upendo is truly a gem of a luxury boutique hotel on Michamvi beach. The entire team is wonderful and Geof went above and beyond to arrange any requests. The rooms are beautiful, spacious, and well appointed with amenities. The pools are lovely with plenty of day beds over looking the beach. The food at the restaurant was quite nice. The beach is enjoyed by tourists and locals alike and it’s pleasant to swim during high tide and walk down the beach during low tide. The hotel is directly across from the Rock restaurant and there are a few other restaurants and hotels along the beach. It’s also about a 30 minute drive from Paje, which has a more lively vibe if you feel like venturing out. I did a snorkeling excursion arranged by the hotel and they prepared a lovely basket with fruits, snorkeling equipment, and towels. The boat leaves from the beach area beside the hotel so makes for an enjoyable morning excursion. Highly recommend Upendo if you’re looking for laidback luxury!