Forodhani Gardens at a glance
The gardens lie on the waterfront of Stone Town, between the old town and the bay. Shady trees, a sea wall with old cannons and a view of boats in the bay set the scene. In the evening the food stalls open, and the park turns into the Forodhani night market.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture restored the park. The work was completed on 29 July 2009 and cost USD 2.4 million. Paths, green areas, lighting, drainage and the sea wall were renewed. If you want to see more of the old town on the same evening, a guided walk through the lanes of Stone Town is a good way to combine the park with the main sights.
Forodhani night market: what to eat
The dishes you will see on most evenings, with price guides from 2026.
| Dish | What it is | Rough price |
|---|---|---|
| Zanzibar pizza | Dough folded around a savoury or sweet filling and fried on a plate | TZS 5,000 to 10,000 |
| Mishkaki | Grilled meat skewers | TZS 1,000 to 2,000 per skewer |
| Grilled seafood | Fish and other seafood from the grill | – |
| Sugarcane juice | Pressed to order | – |
These prices are guides, not a price list of the market, and they can be higher or lower from stall to stall. There is no official closing time, and not every stall is open every night. For most visitors, two or three dishes shared between two people are enough for a first evening.
Our pick: the night market on foot
A guided food walk that ends at the Forodhani stalls, so you know what to order.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Stone Town walking tours
City walks through the old town, with live prices and availability.
Sunset on the sea wall
The sea wall is a good place to watch the light change over the bay. There is no fixed time for sunset that applies all year, so look up the time for your date. Plan to arrive about half an hour before, find a spot along the wall and stay on while the stalls fill up.
Old cannons stand along the wall, and the trees give shade for a break earlier in the day as well. Expect other visitors around you in the hour before dusk.
Tips for the evening
Small things that make the visit easier.
Choose busy stalls
Pick stalls where the food is cooked in front of you and where many people are queuing. Nobody can promise that every stall follows the same standards, so use your own judgement.
Dress modestly
Shorts and sleeveless tops can cause offence in Stone Town, especially outside resorts. Light, modest clothes work well, also in the evening.
Ramadan
During Ramadan it is advised to avoid eating and drinking in public outside hotels and restaurants. If you visit in that month, ask locally how the evenings in the park work.
Combine it with the old town
The Old Fort and the House of Wonders are on the same waterfront. For more places to eat, see the restaurants guide.
Nearby on this site
Places to see before or after the market.
The Old Fort
The fort on the waterfront, its history and what to expect today.
House of Wonders
The landmark on the waterfront, its collapse and restoration.
Restaurants in Stone Town
Street food, rooftops and seafood beyond the night market.
Weather and best time
Rains, heat and the months that suit an evening outdoors.
A simple evening plan
One way to use the hours between the afternoon and the dark.
Late afternoon
Walk through the gardens under the trees and along the sea wall. The park is a calm place before the stalls open, and you can see the boats in the bay.
Around sunset
Look up the sunset time for your date and take a spot on the wall. Stay for the change of light.
From about 18:30
The stalls start up. Begin with a Zanzibar pizza, then add mishkaki skewers, grilled seafood or a glass of sugarcane juice.
Getting back
Decide how you will return to your lodging before you go. If you arrive from the mainland by sea, the ferry guide explains the harbour and the crossing, and the hotels guide describes the areas of the old town.
A park that was restored in 2009
The restoration of the gardens was a project of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. It covered the paths, the green areas, the lighting, the drainage and the sea wall, and it was completed on 29 July 2009.
The work concerned the park itself. It says nothing about how any single stall prepares its food today, so use your own judgement at the market, as you would anywhere else.
Forodhani Gardens: frequently asked questions
When does the Forodhani night market start?
Around 18:30 is a good rough guide. There is no official opening or closing time, and not every stall is open every night, so treat the time as orientation.
How much does Zanzibar pizza cost?
A rough guide is TZS 5,000 to 10,000 for one pizza in 2026. The price depends on the filling and the stall. Mishkaki skewers are around TZS 1,000 to 2,000 each.
What is a Zanzibar pizza?
It is not a pizza in the Italian sense. Dough is folded around a savoury or sweet filling and fried on a plate.
What should I wear?
Wear light, modest clothes. Shorts and sleeveless tops can cause offence in Stone Town, especially outside resorts.
How do I choose a stall?
Pick stalls where the food is cooked in front of you and where many people are queuing, and use your own judgement.