Matlai Boutique Hotel
Zanzibar has always been a dream destination for me! You know that I am obsessed with turquoise blue water and this island is famous for having all kind of blue shades in the sea
I like small hotels with few rooms, few guests and with a personalized service … The Matlai boutique hotel is probably the best boutique hotel on the island and in this post I will tell you why.
The Hotel was built and is run by a German family who chose to change their life and settle down in one of the most famous beaches on the island. They wanted to build a small hotel in a tropical zone somewhere in the world and after much searching Zanzibar was elected the place to start the project.
Located in Michamwi in the south-eastern coast of the island, here you will find a magnificent beach hotel built in a tropical garden with amazing views to the Indian Ocean. The Boutique Hotel Matlai is designed as an exclusive villa resort for people looking for a high level of comfort and privacy in a relaxed atmosphere.
The Hotel is divided into 3 buildings, the Asili House with four bedrooms, each with a balcony with direct views to the sea, a common pool and a lounge with library and living room / dining room.
The hotel bar is another building, an beach bar also open to other tourists. It’s a great place to have dinner/lunch or just a simple drink while you play table football or darts at the sound of chill out music.
In the middle of both buildings is the Kidosho village with two suites. I had the pleasure to be the first guest since the building was finished few days before my arrival (initially the hotel had only four rooms, now has six). Villa Kidosho is a “house” of about 200m2, built “on the beach”. Its architecture is inspired by the timeless beauty of ancient palaces of sultans with a lot of Arab details. The room has a private balcony with chairs and table for meals, you have also a garden with sofas, lounge chair and even a “swing bed”. The private pool of Villa Kidosho is beautiful, large and deep enough to to stay there all day. The color blends in with the sea and is without doubt one of the nicest swimming pools I’ve ever been. The villa has also a large lounge in common for the two rooms with seating area, bar, café, library for guests, dining table and terrace with direct access to the pool.
In my opinion the hotel is a paradise for those who come on their honeymoon and are looking for privacy.
The room is huge, 70m2 each, with king-size bed, fan, air conditioning, desk, sitting area, mini bar, safe, TV, Wi-Fi, mosquito net, DVD player, movies, personal phone and other little luxury details that make the difference. The bathrooms are very spacious, it has a bathtub with fantastic views to the garden, two showers, two sinks and an enclosed compartment with private toilet.
On the back of the Villa you will find a huge and beautiful garden and a volleyball net (with sand) for those who don’t like to stay all day sunbathing.
The food is fabulous, the hotel has a huge menu, the dishes must be ordered 1H before lunch or dinner and can be served wherever you want, in the room, in the garden, on the beach, bar, etc …
The staff is very friendly. Each room is entitled to a private “steward” that are available for whatever you need, just call him by phone.
The beach is very beautiful, you can see from the photos, the only problem, but it is a general problem of the island is that when in low tide the beach has no water. Also it has many corals but unlike other hotels, the Matlai provides water shoes so you can walk comfortably in the water. Anyway the pool (which is with salt water) is so fabulous that you won’t feel the need to bathe on the beach. One of the most famous spots of the island is located just 200 meters from the hotel, the bar/restaurant “The Rock”, a small house built on a rock in the middle of the sea. The drinks are not very good, it is better you ask just a beer (visit the restaurant when the tide is full, otherwise you will be disappointed).
The Matlai boutique hotel was a huge surprise for me, I found beautiful in photos but live it surpasses any expectations. It is a hotel that I recommend for honeymooners or for those who simply want to relax. Young groups of friends can be funny, but for single friends who want to have fun is not a good option since the hotel is far from bars.
www.hotelmatlai.com
Hi! My name is João Cajuda, I’m a travel blogger from Portugal and founder of this website. In this blog I share my adventures around the world and give you tips about hotels, restaurants, activities and destinations to visit. You can travel through my videos or join my group tours that I organize to selected destinations. Visit my Adventure Travel Agency LEVA-ME and join one of my journeys!