Zanzibar · Nightlife

Monthly full-moon beach party at Kendwa Rocks Beach Hotel on the north-west coast, running from the evening through to sunrise with international DJs, fire shows, acrobats, traditional dancers and a buffet. It has been running since 1996 and is the island's one genuinely large night; dates and tickets are on the hotel's own full-moon page.

The rooftop bar and restaurant at this boutique hotel on Nungwi beach, which the hotel describes as having ocean and sunset views. Nungwi is at the northern tip of the island and is the other main after-dark cluster alongside Kendwa. Access rules for non-guests are not published, so call before making the trip.

Café-restaurant and small hotel on Paje beach on the south-east coast, serving breakfast through dinner with live music on Thursday nights. Paje is the island's kitesurfing village — the venue runs lessons with Kite Centre Zanzibar — so the evening crowd is mostly people who have come off the water. Reservations on +255 785 355 105.

Three-day African music festival staged at the Old Fort in Stone Town, next running 19–21 March 2027, across several stages and weighted towards East African, women and emerging artists. It is the one week of the year when Stone Town itself has a night scene; passes are sold on the festival's own site.

Alcohol is largely confined to hotels, beach bars and tourist restaurants rather than to ordinary island life. The UK Foreign Office warns that Zanzibari authorities can fine visitors 700 US dollars or more for clothing they consider inappropriate in public, and that shorts or sleeveless tops away from the resorts, particularly in Stone Town, may cause offence. During Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking in public outside hotels and restaurants.