The Beyt al Chai is a small boutique hotel which is relaxed and peaceful, and a favourite amongst our travellers. The building itself is beautiful, with thick stone walls, large shuttered windows and a grand staircase winding up through the middle. Originally built by an Arab merchant, the Beyt al Chai was a popular meeting place, where people would gather together to drink spiced tea. Its name, meaning 'house of tea', is reminiscent of these times, when the ritual of tea drinking was a significant part of the Zanzibari culture.
The hotel only has six en-suite rooms – these are spread over three floors, each with a different name and style. The rooms are large and full of character with high ceilings, authentic Zanzibari furniture and vibrant silk fabrics covering the windows and beds.
There is a large lounge on the first floor of Beyt al Chai, which has two sofas covered with lots of cushions. They look so comfortable, it is impossible to resist relaxing on them with a book for a little bit! Then the breakfast area is on the same level, situated at the back of the building in a courtyard. It is a small, quaint area, partially covered with a palm tree roof and furnished with a few tables and chairs.
The Beyt al Chai has a lovely atmosphere and we found staying here a real pleasure. The team are friendly and welcoming, and because the hotel is so small it feels really homely. It is a great place to base yourself, whilst exploring Stone Town.
Ideal length of stay: 2 nights if you really want to explore Stone Town.
Central facilities: On the first floor of the Beyt al Chai, a large landing area leads out onto a small courtyard where breakfast is served. Small tables sit out in the courtyard, which is partially covered with a palm-thatch roof and feels relaxed and low key.
Also on the first floor, occupying the front corner of the house, there is a bright and airy lounge. The lounge is filled with stylish antique furniture – including two inviting sofas covered in sumptuous cushions and a large coffee table. An honesty bar (local and imported alcohol) stands against one wall, whilst a self-service stereo stands against another. This is a fantastic place to read and relax if you need a rest from exploring Stone Town.
Currently Beyt al Chai only serves breakfast. Though we are expecting a new restaurant to open on the ground floor from around June 2007. It wasn't finished when we last visited (February 2007), though we did have a quick peak inside. The room was beautifully painted in neutral colours, with arched doorways and Zanzibari furniture dotted around – it seems on track to being equally as stylish as the rest of the hotel, with the same wonderful Arab and Swahili design.
Though for those who will still want to get out and explore, the Beyt al Chai is conveniently located right in the heart of Stone Town. There is an array of restaurants and bars nearby, where you can get fresh fish, Italian food, Zanzibari food or standard international cuisine – and the Serena Inn is right opposite. (See both on a clear satellite map of Stone Town here.)
Directions: It takes around 35 minutes to fly to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, and then it is a further 10 minutes to Stone Town and the Beyt al Chai.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Key personnel
Owner: Independent / Owner Run
Food & drink
Usual board basis: B&B
Food quality: Breakfast is served between 8 – 10 am and consists of fresh fruit juice, a plate of fruit, pancakes and a cooked breakfast. Breakfast is the only meal served at Beyt al Chai.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Room service: No
Drinks included: Drinks are not in included.
Special interests
Honeymoons: The Beyt al Chai is a delightfully small and unique hotel, with a welcoming team and excellent service. With only six rooms it is one of the smallest boutique hotels in Stone Town and staying here feels really special – it is the perfect place for the last few nights of your honeymoon.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for honeymoons in Zanzibar
Children
Attitude towards children: Children are welcome at Beyt al Chai
Age restrictions: There are no age restrictions at the Beyt al Chai
Activities: There are no special activities for children at the Beyt al Chai
Equipment: Cots are available on request.
Generally recommended for children: Yes
Notes: The Beyt al Chai is a small welcoming hotel, which is lovely for families with older children.
Central communications
Power supply: Mains Electricity
Communications: There are no communication facilities for guests staying at the Beyt al Chai. Though there are plenty of internet and phone places nearby – all of which are relatively cheap.
TV & radio: There is no TV or radio at the Beyt al Chai
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: The Beyt al Chai can call a nearby doctor in case of a medical situation.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There are always two askaris (watch-men) on the front door of the Beyt al Chai.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers in all of the corridors.
Extras
Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: Laundry is an extra charge – when we were there last it was $1-2 per item.
Money: There are no exchange facilities at the Beyt al Chai itself, however the team will happily direct you to a nearby bureau which is reliable and has a good rate.
Accepted payment: You can pay for any extras using US dollars and Tanzanian shillings cash, as well as Visa & Mastercard.
Disappointing accomodation at Beyt al Chai
While very atmospheric, Beyt al Chai is in urgent need of a makeover. The electrics were unreliable; beds were three feet above the ground and the furnishings were poor. Very steep climb to bedroom wh...
Beyt al Chai review
This hotel is ideally situated in a safe area of the Town. It has a friendly, informal atmosphere with an unusual layout for a hotel, and a comfortable sitting room for reading.(not air-conditioned) T...
The only thing that went wrong
The only thing that we regret during our honeymoon was to stay here. Since we arrive until we left it wasn't what we were expecting and not really a unique experience. We still don't know if i...
Useful links...
We want you to understand more about Beyt al Chai. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Beyt al Chai homepage Great website, complete with images of the individual rooms and a small photo-gallery.
