Stone Town restaurants and street food
Food is a good reason to spend a few evenings in Stone Town. The old town has small local eateries, seafood places, restaurants with rooftop terraces and, at the waterfront, a night market where cooks grill fish, meat and sugar cane juice in front of you. Mishkaki skewers, rice dishes and grilled seafood are all easy to find.
This guide describes the dishes and the kinds of places, gives price ranges for 2026 and explains the manners that matter, such as eating in public during Ramadan. Prices are in Tanzanian shillings (TZS) and are rough guides, not fixed menu prices.
What to eat in Stone Town
The dishes to look for, with prices as a guide for 2026.
| Dish | What it is | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Zanzibar pizza | Folded dough fried on a flat plate, with a savoury or sweet filling | TZS 5,000 to 10,000 |
| Urojo (Zanzibar mix) | A tangy yellow soup with potatoes, bhajia and chutney | TZS 2,000 to 4,000 |
| Mishkaki | Grilled meat skewers | TZS 1,000 to 2,000 per skewer |
| Grilled seafood | Fish and seafood from the grill at the waterfront and in restaurants | – |
| Pilau and biryani | Spiced rice dishes with meat or fish | – |
| Sugar cane juice | Pressed to order at the market stalls | – |
These prices are guides for 2026, not a price list of any market or restaurant. Stall prices change with the day, the portion and the season. If a price is not shown, ask before you order. For most visitors, a good first meal is a walk through the night market, then a seated dinner with seafood on another evening.
Our pick: a street food tasting walk
A local guide chooses the stops, so you taste a wide range without having to pick a restaurant.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. 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 food and walking tours
Food tours, guided walks through the old town and day trips from Stone Town, with live prices and availability.
The Forodhani night market
The night market in Forodhani Gardens is where many visitors eat on their first evening. It starts at around 18:30, and the stalls offer Zanzibar pizza, mishkaki, grilled seafood and sugar cane juice. There is no fixed closing time that you can rely on, so go at dusk and take your time.
The market is a casual place. There is no price list for the whole market, so ask at each stall, agree on what you want and pay as you go. Watch your phone and wallet in the crowd as you would at any busy market.
More on the gardens, the cannons and the sunset walk is in our Forodhani Gardens guide.
Rooftop dinners and seafood restaurants
Beyond the market, Stone Town has restaurants with rooftop terraces that look out over the roofs and the harbor. These are a good choice for sunset, and they are usually a calmer place for a long dinner than the market. Seafood restaurants near the shore build their menus around fish and shellfish.
- Book if you want a specific table. Rooftop terraces can be busy around sunset. Ask the place directly whether it takes reservations.
- Ask about alcohol. Not every restaurant serves it, so check first if it matters to you.
- Look at the menu before you sit. A quick look at the prices saves surprises.
Walk the old town, look at the menus on the wall and choose the place that fits your budget and your mood. If you want help finding good food with a local, a food or walking tour can show you a few places in one afternoon, see the Stone Town tours page.
Eating during Ramadan and dressing for dinner
During Ramadan, many people in Stone Town fast between sunrise and sunset. The advice for visitors is to avoid eating and drinking in public outside hotels and restaurants during Ramadan. This is a matter of good manners. Hotels and restaurants serve guests as usual, but opening hours may differ, so ask ahead.
Modest clothing is also the polite choice in town. Shorts and sleeveless tops can cause offence outside resorts, especially in Stone Town. Light, loose clothes that cover shoulders and knees are comfortable in the heat and suit a restaurant dinner too.
- Carry small notes, because stalls often cannot change large bills.
- Choose busy stalls where the food is cooked in front of you and served hot.
- Drink only water you know to be safe. Ask for bottled water if you are unsure.
More to explore around the table
Markets, spices and the waterfront are where the food comes from.
Stone Town restaurants: frequently asked questions
What should I eat in Stone Town?
Try a Zanzibar pizza, a bowl of urojo, mishkaki skewers and grilled seafood. Sugar cane juice is a popular drink at the night market.
When does the Forodhani night market start?
It is usually under way from about 18:30. There is no fixed closing time that you can rely on, so go at dusk.
How much does street food cost?
As a guide for 2026, a Zanzibar pizza costs about TZS 5,000 to 10,000, urojo TZS 2,000 to 4,000 and a mishkaki skewer TZS 1,000 to 2,000. Stalls set their own prices, so ask first.
Can I eat in public during Ramadan?
The advice is to avoid eating and drinking in public outside hotels and restaurants. Hotels and restaurants serve guests, but opening hours can change.
Is alcohol available in Stone Town?
It differs from place to place, and not every restaurant serves it. Ask before you book a table if it matters to you.