Tatu
Tatu operates as Stone Town's primary late-night venue, a compact nightclub located below the Emerson on Hurumzi hotel on Hurumzi Street. The space is small, holding perhaps 100-120 people at capacity, with a single dance floor, a bar along one wall, and low seating around the edges. The DJ booth sits in a corner with a sound system that's adequate for the room size. Music spans Bongo Flava, afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, and the occasional throwback to 90s hip-hop. Tatu opens late, rarely seeing real action before 11 PM, and runs until 2-3 AM on weekends. Entry costs TZS 10,000-15,000 ($4-6), which includes the first drink at the bar. The crowd is a mix of younger tourists (backpackers, gap-year travelers), Zanzibari youth, and hotel staff who've finished their shifts. It's the only place in Stone Town that functions as an actual nightclub, giving it a monopoly that it fills, if not spectacularly.
What to Expect
You descend steep stairs into a low-ceilinged basement space with colored lights, a small dance floor, and bass you feel before you see the speakers. The bar is directly ahead, with most of the room opening to the left. By midnight the dance floor is packed, the air is warm, and the DJ is working through a set that keeps the room moving. The intimacy of the space means you're always close to the action.
Small, sweaty, underground, and fun. The intimacy of the space creates energy that a larger room couldn't generate with the same crowd size.
Bongo Flava, afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, and 90s/2000s throwbacks. The DJ caters to the tourist-local mix.
Casual. Anything goes. The underground setting and young crowd mean dress codes don't exist here.
Backpackers wanting to dance, travelers looking for Stone Town's only real club, meeting other young travelers
Cash only (TZS). No cards. Bring enough for the night.
Price Range
Entry TZS 10,000-15,000 (includes first drink), beer TZS 4,000-6,000, cocktails TZS 12,000-18,000, shots TZS 8,000-12,000
Entry ~$4-6 / EUR 3.65-5.50, beer ~$1.60-2.40 / EUR 1.45-2.20
Hours
Thu-Sat 10 PM to 3 AM, occasional Wednesday nights in high season
Insider Tip
Don't show up before 11:30 PM; it'll be empty. Saturday is the best night. The first-drink-included entry is always beer or a basic spirit; don't expect a cocktail. The stairs down are steep and narrow; watch your step, especially on the way out. Keep valuables secure in the crowd.
Full Review
Tatu exists because Stone Town needs a late-night venue and nothing else fills the gap. That sounds like a backhanded compliment, but the reality is more interesting. The constraints of the space (small, underground, basic) actually work in its favor on a busy night.
The room is genuinely compact. A hundred people fills it, and when it fills, the energy concentrates. The DJ doesn't need to be exceptional because the crowd does the work. Bodies press together on the dance floor, drinks get spilled, and the temperature rises. This is dancing in its simplest form: a dark room, a beat, and people who came to move.
The music selection is smart for the audience. Bongo Flava tracks get the Zanzibari contingent going. Dancehall and reggae are universal connectors. The throwback sets (Craig David, Shaggy, early 2000s R&B) trigger recognition across the international backpacker crowd. The DJ reads the room and adjusts, which matters more than technical skill in a venue this size.
The downsides are predictable. It's hot. The stairs are a hazard, particularly on the way out after a few drinks. The bathroom situation is basic. The sound system is adequate, not impressive. And if the crowd doesn't show, which happens on slow weeknights in low season, the place feels empty and slightly sad.
But on a Saturday night in July or August, with a packed room and a good DJ, Tatu delivers something that Stone Town's rooftop bars and restaurants can't: a night out that you remember for the energy rather than the view. It's rough around the edges and it doesn't pretend otherwise.
The Neighborhood
Tatu is on Hurumzi Street, one of Stone Town's interior alleys. The Emerson on Hurumzi hotel is above. The street is narrow and poorly lit; use your phone light. The nearest landmarks are the old Hamamni Baths and the Forodhani Gardens area, both within a 5-minute walk. Other late-night options don't exist in Stone Town; Tatu is it.
Getting There
On Hurumzi Street in Stone Town's interior. Walkable from any Stone Town hotel in under 10 minutes. The alley approach is dark; use a phone light and walk with confidence. No vehicle access. From hotels outside Stone Town, take a taxi to the Shangani area and walk from there.
Address
Hurumzi Street, Stone Town, Zanzibar
Other Venues in Stone Town
Mercury's
Named after Freddie Mercury, who was born in Stone Town. Waterfront bar and restaurant facing the ocean. Live music some evenings, cold beer, and a reliable tourist atmosphere. Beer TZS 4,000-6,000.
Africa House Hotel
Colonial-era hotel with a famous sunset terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean. The rooftop bar is Stone Town's most popular sundowner spot. Cocktails TZS 15,000-25,000.
Emerson Spice Rooftop
Rooftop dining and drinks atop a restored merchant house. Fixed-menu dinner with ocean views and cushioned seating. Reservations required. Dinner TZS 60,000-80,000 per person.
Livingstone Beach Restaurant
Waterfront bar and restaurant south of the Old Fort with beach seating, seafood, and live music on select nights. A relaxed alternative to the rooftop scene. Beer TZS 4,000-6,000.
Zanzibar Coffee House
Boutique hotel with a rooftop terrace serving coffee by day and cocktails by night. Intimate setting with no more than 20 seats. Cocktails TZS 12,000-20,000.