Best Cafes to Work From in Zanzibar

Kaffe Koffee is widely regarded as the best spot for remote work in Stone Town, boasting the fastest and most reliable internet connection in the area. The cafe occupies a spacious property near the quiet end of Kenyatta Road, featuring a dark-themed interior with air conditioning, outdoor seating areas, and hammocks for those who want a more relaxed setup. The menu includes quality coffee, desserts like blueberry cheesecake, and dairy-free milk alternatives. Originally a Dar es Salaam roastery that expanded to Zanzibar, the cafe combines a cozy atmosphere with genuinely functional workspace -- a rare find on the island where WiFi reliability remains a persistent challenge for digital nomads.

Karafuu Coffee House occupies an upstairs space accessed from Kenyatta Road in the heart of Shangani, offering a stylish retreat from Stone Town's bustling narrow streets below. The cafe blends Zanzibari and Mediterranean design elements, with a variety of seating styles ranging from traditional tables and chairs to low loungers arranged around coffee tables -- making it easy to find a comfortable spot for an extended work session. The menu stands out for its authentic Arabian coffee infused with saffron, Zanzibari spice teas, and scrumptious date cake, alongside more conventional espresso drinks with dairy-free options available. With the longest operating hours of any work-friendly cafe in Stone Town (7 AM to 11 PM daily) and what Wanderlog identifies as coworking space amenities, Karafuu fills a genuine gap for nomads who need a reliable evening workspace on the island.

Run by a Brazilian couple with deep expertise in coffee, Puzzle Coffee Shop is a specialty cafe tucked into the Shangani neighborhood of Stone Town. The interior is colorful and intimate, decorated with local Zanzibari artwork, and the menu features premium Brazilian coffee alongside homemade pastries including their famous cheese bread (pao de queijo). Beyond serving excellent drinks, the shop offers hands-on workshops covering barista skills, brewing methods, and roasting -- making it a hub for coffee enthusiasts as much as a workspace. The WiFi is reliable enough for standard tasks and email, though heavy video conferencing may push its limits on busy days.

Housed in an authentically restored Arabic mansion near the Mkunazini market, Zanzibar Coffee House doubles as a boutique hotel and one of Stone Town's most atmospheric coffee spots. The ground floor cafe serves what many visitors consider the finest coffee in Zanzibar, roasted by Utengule Coffee -- Tanzania's premier single-origin roaster based in the Mbeya highlands. The real draw for many is the rooftop terrace, which offers sweeping 360-degree views over Stone Town's labyrinthine rooftops and out to the Indian Ocean. The WiFi here has been praised by multiple travelers as the best they found anywhere in East Africa, making it a surprisingly strong option for focused morning work sessions before the afternoon heat sets in.

Sitting on a corner of Mizingani Road opposite the NBC bank and near the waterfront, Buni Cafe (also known as Buni Bistro) is a compact local favorite that offers some of the best fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies in Stone Town. The raised balcony provides a pleasant vantage point over the street scene below, making it a solid spot for a morning work session accompanied by freshly brewed coffee, homemade cakes, or light sandwiches. The cafe offers free WiFi and keeps prices noticeably lower than the tourist-oriented establishments deeper in Shangani, appealing to budget-conscious nomads who want a no-frills workspace. While it lacks the dedicated work amenities of larger cafes, its central waterfront location and friendly staff make it a convenient fallback when your primary workspace is too crowded or experiencing one of Zanzibar's frequent power cuts.