Nestled in a natural cove on the north east coast of Zanzibar, Essque Zalu Zanzibar combines contemporary lifestyle with minimalist luxury to offer its guests an ostentatious ambience and sense of place. This boutique hotelhas the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean to one side and lush green forest to the other, with just a tint of spice in the warm and fragrant tropical air.

Built in the local style to blend into the natural landscape, the thatched roofsreflect the contemporary African feel with a traditional Swahili touch. Our minimalist décor enhances the sense that luxury is no longer just about material wealth, but has more to do with personal space, freedom to do what one feels like doing and the inclination to enjoy the flair and flamboyance the location has to offer.

Unique by design, the Essque Zalu celebrates distinctive hospitality experiences that showcase style, service and personality on an intimate scale. Since its debut in June 2011, the hotel has rapidly emerged as the name that defines the boutique hotel experience for travellers visiting Zanzibar – personalized service, memorable experiences, intimate surroundings and the highest level of quality is what sets us apart from our competitors. The recent award of being Zanzibar’s Leading Hotel 2012 by World Travel Awards is testimony that the Essque Zalu Zanzibar is continuously exceeding guests expectations by meeting their personal needs to guarantee 100% guest satisfaction. The experience at Essque Zalu can be classified into four categories - Classic, Design, Chic and Contemporary – encompassing eclectic attributes of redefined luxury into one product, Essque Zalu Zanzibar.

Essque Zalu is proudly affiliated with Preferred Boutique™, which is an elite collection of intimate hotels and resorts all over the world. The hotel has 40 suites and 9 three and four-bedroom villas, making it easy for staff to offer a bespoke and personalised service to their guests. Forget arduous hotel check-ins; any formalities will be completed at guests’ leisure in the comfort of their own suite or villa since we have moved on from the normal “reception” concept and guests are checked-in prior to their arrival and taken straight to their accommodations without wasting any valuable time. Each suite has a large en-suite master bedroom, a generous lounge and outside terrace or balcony overlooking the gardens, pool or ocean, while each villa also has its own private pool, massage room as well as dining and kitchen facilities where guests can prepare their own meals. All rooms in the villas have en-suite bathrooms, private television and wardrobe hence offers complete privacy in all the rooms.

There are three distinctive restaurants which include The Market Kitchen which will serve fresh local organic produce in a deli themed ambience; the A La Carte Fine Dining restaurant offering delectable fine dining cuisine found nowhere else on the island; and the more relaxed Jetty Restaurant, where guests can dine al fresco enjoying succulent MiddleEastern mezzes with the turquoise Indian Ocean as its milieu – a perfect location for a romantic rendezvous with your loved one.

Parents who need a little ‘me-time’ will be reassured to know they will be leaving their offspring in a safe, fun and creative environment. Essque has employed kid’s club experts PetitVip (www.petitvip.com) to train their own co-ordinators and to manage the kids club in VIP style.

At our renowned Spa, embark on a blissful and tranquil journey of the senses with our professional spa therapists using traditional African treatments where the basis of each treatment has its emphasis on spiritual re-alignment and revitalisation of the senses.

In line with our commitment to the local community, Essque is instrumental in promoting local artistic talent at the in-hotel Art Gallerywhich will include paintings, sculptures, photographs and glassworks from local, regional and international artists. Zanzibar’s based 'unknowns' and 'established' local artists are to be showcased regularly at this art gallery.

Overall, Essque Zalu Zanzibar’s chic and contemporary ambience offers its guests a multitude of distinctive and personalised service elements; revitalising of the senses and a stimulating atmosphere with prominence on vast open spaces and the uninterrupted flow of natural air – enticing to the mind, body and soul!