VISITING THE ROCK, ZANZIBAR

What better way is there to explore Zanzibar’s idyllic waters, fresh seafood, laid back vibes and epic sunsets other than in a restaurant set upon a rock in the Indian Ocean? And that’s exactly why we couldn’t let the opportunity pass to visit the famous Rock Restaurant.

We first arrived at the Rock’s car park and our excitement levels were pretty much sky high at this point. A little pathway later and it opened to a beach that seemed to be full of life and by that, filled with bliss and easy-going vibes. We were instantly greeted by locals and young children eager to sell us seashells with their contagious smiles and welcoming gestures, but we refused and received even bigger smiles, lots of ‘welcome to Zanzibar’ and ‘hakuna matata’s and they left us to carry on with our journey.

Once you disembark from the dingy and climb up the steps, you realize the true appeal of The Rock Restaurant – the panoramic views of the astonishingly blue Zanzibar water. It’s probably the clearest water I’ve ever seen – so beautiful.

During high tide, the water floods the sand giving off that beautiful blue and turquoise colors which adds to the ‘lunch-on-a-rock-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean’ experience.

The Rock Restaurant is situated in Michamvi Pingwe in the South-east of Zanzibar and is as iconic as the island itself. Transfers to and from the restaurant can be made with the many hotels and resorts dotted around the island as well as with the restaurant itself.

How to get there

As for prices, these are roughly what we think are acceptable prices to pay for one-way transfers to the Rock:

· From Paje (15 minutes): $10-15

· From Stone Town (1h+): $30

· From Nungwi (~2h): $45-55

· From Matemwe (1.5h): $40-50

Once you reach the beach there are two options to access The Rock. If the tide is low, you can simply walk along the rock paths that take you to the stairs of the restaurant. If the tide is high there is a small wooden boat that takes you directly to the statis. This service is offered by the restaurant.

Reservations

Absolutely required. We booked it online on the official website a week before visiting. Advance booking is preferable as the restaurant is in high demand and it can accommodate couples as well as big groups so it can be enjoyed as a romantic haven or a fun gathering.

An important consideration when doing the reservation is to check the tides. At certain hours there is no water around it and we were a bit disappointed when we got there because of that. As the afternoon progress there is high tide which gives you the true picture of the rock surrounded by the water.

Food

The Rock Restaurant, as you’d expect, is not cheap. Any time you have such a famous place with the novelty factor like the Rock, you can expect to pay the premium. Nevertheless, you are paying for not just the food, but the experience and ambiance.

Prices for mains at the Rock range between $15 to $30. The cheapest items on the menu were pastas, with the most expensive being the rock lobster dishes that are $30+. If you want to just get a mixture of all the seafoods, get the Rock tasting plate which is around $70.

Cocktails are $10 and they are mostly okay, although nothing spectacular. Beers are $5 and wines are slightly more. The menu is very focused on seafood. We were craving for some pastas – we ended up ordering the homemade ravioli and aubergine pasta.

The prices are way above what you would normally pay eating anywhere else on the island. The Food described with two non-alcoholic drinks was about 110 USD.

Can You Just Come For Drinks?

If you want to visit the Rock and see what it’s all about, you can also do so without eating. The outdoor patio is fantastic for chilling out and having a drink. The views from the outdoor deck are stunning. You can see the nearby sandbank if it’s low tide.

Overall

We do recommend a visit to the rock if you are visiting Zanzibar as it’s like a postcard of the island. The location is great, and you can include it on a day when exploring around. The view from the rock is great and it was nice to get the sun sitting down on a comfortable sofa of the terrace. The staff is nice & the service was fast even when the restaurant was ful

I think if you’re after the best pictures and the best views from the restaurant, you must visit during high tide. The colors of the water are incredible and you can take the best photos this way. Also, we would come here for lunch service only as that’s when the water colors are at their most stunning. The restaurant is open until 8pm but as Michamvi faces east, you won’t be able to see any sunsets. The tides change every day so we would check to see when the high tide is around lunch time. Sometimes, you’ll get unlucky with low tide being around noon which means high tide won’t come until six hours later.

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