Fodor's Expert Review Serena Inn

On one side of Shangani Square, on the fringe of Stone Town, this beautiful hotel is the result of the restoration of two of Zanzibar's historic buildings: the old Telekoms building, an original colonial-era building, and the Chinese doctors' residence. As you step through the front doors, polished stone floors with inlaid tiles, carved arches, fountains, antique furniture, and high ceilings will take you back to a time when gracious living was the norm. The sea-facing rooms look out over a small beach or a huge palm-filled courtyard with an inviting, if not a bit dated, pool. Rooms are decent, albeit quite small if you do not have one on the upper levels, nevertheless each has an en suite bathrooms, hand-carved four-poster beds, and cool stone floors.