Zoi Retreat Hotel Zanzibar in Matemwe

Don’t be fooled by the glowing reviews. Lack of maintenance, poor hygiene, unfriendly staff (except at the bar) and worst breakfast we’ve ever had. This place needs care, not marketing.

We stayed 5 nights at Zoi Retreat in Matemwe at the end of July 2025, mainly for kitesurfing, and we definitely got what we came for: wind every day and an empty beach — just perfect if you're looking to ride solo! (but beware of sea urchins!). The location is superb: right on the beach, with a calm atmosphere and a lovely garden with mangroves. Massages were good and the guys working at the bar were always smiling, friendly and helpful. But: Unfortunately, the hotel is currently far from what you’d expect of a 4-star property. The new manager (since June 2025) is very responsive and clearly doing his best to improve things. We sincerely wish him success — but he still has a long way to go. We stayed in the family room which was very dark (not a place where you want to spend too much time) and extremely humid and smelled of mold on arrival. They lack maintenance and proper airing, and housekeeping was inconsistent — only once in five days was our room properly cleaned (after we complained). Otherwise, it was mostly making the bed and a quick sweep. Breakfast was a big disappointment: poor coffee, not-so-fresh fruits (cut with the same knife used for onions?), and yogurt that seemed off. Honestly, the worst breakfast we had during our stay in Zanzibar. Overall, if your priority is simply a quiet beach and wind for kitesurfing, this place might still work for you. But if you are expecting a genuine 4-star experience, you will likely be disappointed. For us, it was the least impressive hotel of our stay in Zanzibar. On a positive note: we ended up dining several times at a wonderful local restaurant just across the street, which truly enhanced our stay in Matemwe We sincerely hope the manager succeeds in his plans to improve the property. Until then, future guests may want to read both the positive and more critical reviews carefully to get a realistic picture. Hakuna matata