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The Matlai Journal

Food & Dining


7 stories in this category — browse all 52 posts, or start with the Zanzibar travel guide.

Aerial view of a traditional wooden fishing boat on clear turquoise water off Michamvi Pingwe

Deep-Sea Fishing at Michamvi Pingwe & Catch-to-Table Dining

Beach Bums Fishing Charters runs deep-sea trips straight off the Matlai beach, and Zatiny's kitchen turns your catch into dinner the same…

Where to Eat in Zanzibar in Low Season (April & May)

Where to Eat in Zanzibar in Low Season (April & May)

What actually stays open for dinner in Zanzibar during April and May, why Michamvi Pingwe holds up better than most, and an honest note on…

Sunrise over the Indian Ocean, seen from Boutique Hotel Matlai

A Day at Matlai: From Indian Ocean Sunrise to Dinner on the Beach

What a day at Boutique Hotel Matlai actually looks like: sunrise over the ocean, breakfast wherever you are, a morning set by the tide…

live lobster in the restaurant aquarium

The Live Lobster Tank at Zatiny — and What Is Actually in It

Why the restaurant keeps lobster alive, which spiny lobster species turn up off this coast, and how to order one.

Exploring Zanzibar's Culinary Traditions: A Journey into Typical Food Habits

Exploring Zanzibar's Culinary Traditions: A Journey into Typical Food Habits

What a typical day of eating looks like in Zanzibar — breakfast staples like Ugali, Cassava, Chapati and Vitumbua, street food classics…

Exploring Matlai's Kitchen Department

Exploring Matlai's Kitchen Department

Meet the teams behind Boutique Hotel Matlai's two kitchens — Head Chef Saleh, Chef Ibrahim, Chef Herson, the younger Chef Ibrahim, Eric and…

Zanzibar's Culinary Delights: Swahili Flavors, Spice Farms and Dining at Matlai

Zanzibar's Culinary Delights: Swahili Flavors, Spice Farms and Dining at Matlai

Swahili cuisine, a real Ugali recipe from our head chef, spice farms, Zanzibar Pizza, and what dinner actually looks like at Zatiny …

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