The Matlai Journal
Food & Dining
6 stories in this category — browse all 52 posts, or start with the Zanzibar travel guide.
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…
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…
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
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
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
Swahili cuisine, a real Ugali recipe from our head chef, spice farms, Zanzibar Pizza, and what dinner actually looks like at Zatiny …