At a Glance
- Neela Boutique Hotel blends historic charm with understated modern luxury in Stone Town.
- Family-run property prioritizes personalized service and cultural connection over conventional grandeur.
- Rooftop lounge and island-inspired dining offer immersive, memorable Zanzibar experiences.
In Stone Town, where carved wooden doors whisper of centuries past and the scent of cloves mingles with the sea breeze, a quiet kind of luxury has found a home. The Neela Boutique Hotel, a lovingly restored gem in the heart of Zanzibar’s historic district, is offering something rare, a refined, intimate stay that speaks just as much to the soul as it does to comfort.
Tucked into the timeless rhythm of the old town, this heritage property is part of The Neela Collection, the passion project of husband-and-wife team Steve and Raju Shaulis. For them, it’s more than hospitality; it’s about offering a deeper kind of connection with place, with people, and with the simple joy of living well.
Blending heritage with boutique precision
From the outside, The Neela blends naturally with Stone Town’s architecture, arched doorways, coral stone walls, and delicate latticework that echoes the area’s Swahili, Arab, and Indian influences. Step inside, however, and you’re greeted by a hotel that honors the past without being stuck in it.
The space is elegant yet unforced, with handcrafted details and modern comforts in quiet conversation. There’s a sense of calm in the layout—nothing rushed, nothing out of place. Whether it’s the locally carved woodwork or the soft lighting that changes with the time of day, every element feels like it belongs.
Rooms start at $340 a night, but what guests receive in return isn’t just accommodation, it’s a feeling. Each room, whether Deluxe or Superior, feels like it was designed for someone specific. Soft linens, curated bookshelves, generous bathrooms stocked with custom amenities, everything speaks to care and intention. The design invites rest without losing sight of the local identity. It’s Zanzibar, but it’s your version of Zanzibar, quiet, personal, and full of charm.
Sunset moments that nourish spirit
Dining at The Neela adds another layer to the experience. The open-air restaurant, set beneath palm fronds in a breezy courtyard, captures the spirit of the island with heart and imagination. The kitchen favors local ingredients and thoughtful preparation, think lightly grilled seafood, tropical salads, pastries kissed with cardamom.
Meals unfold slowly here, over conversation and laughter, with locals and visitors often sharing the same tables. Whether it’s breakfast in the morning light or dinner beneath a canopy of stars, dining feels like something to look forward to, not just a necessity, but a memory in the making.
Upstairs, the rooftop lounge, fittingly called Views, offers a front-row seat to Stone Town’s most unforgettable sunsets. By day, it’s a peaceful retreat with strong coffee and ocean breezes; by night, it becomes a cozy perch where guests gather for cocktails and small plates as the sky turns pink and the music hums gently in the background. There’s a grace to the space, a kind of easygoing elegance that doesn’t ask for attention but quietly earns it.
Back on the main level, the hotel lounge bridges the courtyard and rooftop. It’s a space that adapts, perfect for planning the day ahead or unwinding with a book. It holds the same DNA as the rest of the hotel: welcoming, and rooted in warmth. The baristas know their craft. The furniture invites you to linger. There’s always a place to sit, always a reason to stay a little longer.
Family-led hospitality with global perspective
What truly sets The Neela Boutique Hotel apart isn’t just its thoughtful design or prime location in Stone Town, it’s the way everything centers around people. Steve and Raju Shaulis aren’t just developers; they’re hosts in the most genuine sense. After years spent working across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, they’ve come to understand that hospitality isn’t about grandeur, it’s about care. And that understanding lives in every detail of the hotel.
They didn’t set out to simply build another property. What they wanted was to create a place that felt warm and personal, like stepping into a space that somehow already knows you. For the Shaulis family, The Neela Collection is close to the heart. It’s guided by family, quiet respect, and the belief that true luxury lies in making people feel at ease.
That same thoughtfulness extends beyond the hotel walls. In collaboration with a trusted local tour operator, The Neela offers experiences that bring guests closer to the island itself. Whether it’s sailing into the sunset aboard a dhow with a meal prepared by the hotel’s own chef, snorkeling in clear waters, swimming with dolphins, or trying kite surfing for the first time, each outing is designed to feel personal, not packaged.
In the end, what The Neela Boutique Hotel offers is something simple but rare: a sense that every detail was made to matter. Here, luxury doesn’t announce itself. It’s in the way someone remembers your name, in the glow of evening light on a weathered hallway, or the way the spices in your dinner echo centuries of culture. The Shaulis haven’t just opened another hotel in Stone Town, they’ve created a place where stories are remembered, and carried home.
