Vegetarian & Vegan Food in Zanzibar: What to Eat, Where to Stay & What to Check
NARU ZANZIBAR GUIDE
By the Naru Zanzibar Editorial Team
Last updated: September 2026
Yes — you can travel to Zanzibar as a vegetarian or vegan and eat very well.
But there is a more useful question than:
“Can I find vegan food in Zanzibar?”
The answer to that is yes.
The better question is:
“Can I eat well for my entire Zanzibar holiday?”
That matters much more.
Finding one vegetable curry in Stone Town is relatively easy.
Eating breakfast, lunch and dinner comfortably for seven nights at a beachfront resort requires more thought.
Zanzibar’s food culture already uses many ingredients that work naturally in vegetarian and vegan cooking:
Coconut.
Beans.
Rice.
Cassava.
Plantain.
Fresh vegetables.
Lentils.
Tropical fruit.
Spices.
But recipes vary.
A vegetable dish may contain ghee.
Rice may have been cooked with stock.
A sauce may contain dairy.
A hotel buffet may offer plenty of vegetables but very few complete vegan meals.
That is why Naru approaches plant-based travel differently.
Do not simply ask a hotel whether it has vegan food. Ask what you will actually eat for seven days.
That one question tells you far more.
Is Zanzibar Good for Vegetarians and Vegans?
Yes. Zanzibar is generally very manageable for vegetarian travellers, and vegan travel is also very possible with some advance planning.
Vegetarians will usually find options relatively easily.
Vegans should be more specific because dishes that look plant-based may still include ingredients such as:
Butter
Ghee
Milk
Cream
Egg
Cheese
Meat or fish stock
Fish sauce
Gelatine
Where you stay also changes the experience.
In Stone Town, Paje and Jambiani, you generally have more independent restaurants available.
In quieter resort areas such as Pwani Mchangani and Matemwe, you may eat most of your meals at the hotel.
That does not make those areas unsuitable for vegan travellers.
In fact, Pwani Mchangani and Matemwe remain two of the areas Naru often prefers for a quieter Zanzibar stay.
It simply means the hotel kitchen becomes part of the hotel-selection process.
Naru Plant-Based Stay Match
Pwani Mchangani
Best for: quieter luxury resort stays.
Eating style: most meals are likely to happen inside the resort.
What matters most: breakfast variety, proper vegan mains, plant-based milk, desserts and meal rotation.
Naru’s view: an excellent choice when the resort genuinely understands your dietary requirements.
Matemwe
Best for: couples, honeymooners and slower stays.
Eating style: often more dependent on the hotel restaurant.
What matters most: whether one kitchen can provide enough variety across several days.
Naru’s view: excellent for the right traveller, but we would always check the food programme before confirming a longer stay.
Stone Town
Best for: variety and trying different restaurants.
Eating style: easy to eat outside the hotel.
What matters most: checking individual recipes rather than assuming every vegetable dish is vegan.
Paje
Best for: cafés, independent restaurants and a more social beach environment.
Eating style: easier to change restaurants regularly.
What matters most: Paje can be convenient for plant-based dining, but we would still choose it only if the overall travel style suits you.
Jambiani
Best for: a slower southeast-coast stay with independent dining available.
Eating style: a mixture of hotel meals and restaurants.
What matters most: the exact choice depends on where you stay along Jambiani.
The Naru 7-Night Vegan Test
This is the test we think matters most.
Imagine you are staying at the same Zanzibar resort for seven nights.
Do not ask:
“Do you cater for vegans?”
Instead, ask what seven days will actually look like.
Breakfast
Is there more than fruit?
Can you have some combination of:
Avocado
Beans
Potatoes
Oats
Vegetable dishes
Plant-based milk
Bread without dairy or egg
Vegan pancakes or another cooked option
Fruit is wonderful.
But fruit alone should not be the entire breakfast plan.
Lunch
Is there a proper main course?
Not simply:
Salad.
Fries.
Fruit.
A plant-based lunch should still feel like a complete meal.
Dinner
Can the kitchen rotate dishes?
One excellent vegetable curry is great.
The same curry every evening for a week is not.
Protein
Can meals regularly include ingredients such as:
Beans
Lentils
Chickpeas
Nuts
Tofu where available
Other suitable plant-based proteins
Dessert
Is fruit the only option?
If you are celebrating a honeymoon, birthday or anniversary, can a vegan dessert or cake be arranged?
Drinks
Is plant-based milk available?
If not normally stocked, can the hotel arrange it before you arrive?
Experiences
What happens when you leave the hotel?
If you have a boat trip, picnic or full-day excursion, who prepares the food?
Does that supplier understand your dietary requirements too?
If a resort can answer these questions properly, we become much more confident recommending it.
Vegetarian vs Vegan: Be Specific
A vegetarian traveller may avoid meat, poultry, fish and seafood while still eating dairy and eggs.
A vegan traveller avoids animal-derived ingredients altogether.
That means saying:
“No meat.”
is not enough.
A clearer vegan request is:
“No meat, fish, seafood, dairy, eggs or animal-derived ingredients.”
If you have additional preferences around honey, gelatine or shared preparation, include those too.
The more specific you are, the easier it is for the kitchen to get it right.
What Vegetarian and Vegan Food Can You Eat in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar has several local dishes and ingredients worth trying.
The important thing to remember is:
Recipes vary.
Treat these as foods to ask about rather than guaranteed vegan dishes.
Maharage ya Nazi — Coconut Beans
Beans cooked in coconut sauce can be one of the most satisfying plant-based dishes in Zanzibar.
They work well with rice, vegetables or chapati.
For vegans, ask whether stock or any other animal-derived ingredients have been used.
Wali wa Nazi — Coconut Rice
Coconut rice is a natural partner for beans, vegetables and curries.
It can be vegan, but check how the particular kitchen prepares it.
Vegetable Curry
Zanzibar’s Indian Ocean influences make coconut and spice-based curries particularly relevant to plant-based travellers.
Ask about:
Ghee
Butter
Cream
Stock
Once confirmed, a good vegetable curry can be one of the easiest local-style meals to enjoy.
Mchicha — Local Greens
Leafy greens such as amaranth may be cooked with coconut, peanuts or spices.
Preparation varies, so vegans should ask whether any animal-based stock or flavouring has been used.
Ugali
Ugali is a maize-based staple found across East Africa.
In its simplest form it is made from maize flour and water.
Pair it with beans, vegetables and a good sauce and it becomes a much more complete meal.
Cassava
Cassava may be boiled, fried or served as chips.
Check the frying oil or sauces if strict preparation matters to you.
Plantain
Plantain can be grilled, fried or used in savoury dishes.
Again, check whether butter or other animal ingredients have been added.
Bhajia
These spiced fritters can be an excellent snack.
Ask about the batter, frying oil and accompanying sauces.
Vegetable Samosas
A useful vegetarian option, but vegans should still check the pastry and filling.
Chapati
Chapati can be vegan.
But recipes vary and some kitchens may use ghee or another animal-derived fat.
Ask if you follow a strict vegan diet.
Dhal and Lentil Dishes
Indian influence makes dhal and lentil dishes particularly useful for vegetarians and vegans.
Check whether butter, ghee or cream has been added.
Tropical Fruit
Zanzibar is excellent for fruit.
Depending on the season, you may find:
Pineapple
Mango
Watermelon
Papaya
Banana
Passion fruit
Orange
Coconut
Other seasonal fruit
Fruit makes breakfast easy.
But again, it should not have to be the entire vegan breakfast.
Vegan Breakfast in Zanzibar
Breakfast is one of the first things we would check before booking a resort.
A buffet may look huge.
But remove:
Eggs.
Cheese.
Yoghurt.
Butter.
Milk.
Meat.
Pastries containing dairy.
And suddenly the vegan selection may be much smaller.
A good vegan breakfast does not need to be complicated.
Fresh fruit, avocado, oats, beans, potatoes, vegetables, bread, plant milk and one or two cooked dishes can already create plenty of variety.
For longer stays, this matters.
Is Pwani Mchangani Good for Vegetarians and Vegans?
Yes.
Pwani Mchangani remains one of Naru’s preferred areas for travellers wanting a quieter, resort-focused Zanzibar stay.
The key difference is that you are more likely to eat most of your meals at the resort.
That means we would pay close attention to:
Number of restaurants
Vegan choices across those restaurants
Breakfast variety
Plant-based protein
Desserts
Plant-based milk
Off-menu flexibility
Whether dietary requirements can be noted before arrival
A strong resort can make vegan travel extremely easy.
Naru’s view
We would not move a vegan traveller to a busier area simply because there are more restaurants outside the hotel.
If Pwani Mchangani is the right location for the trip, we would rather find the right resort and kitchen.
Is Matemwe Good for Vegan Travellers?
Yes.
Matemwe is particularly appealing for couples, honeymooners and travellers who want a quieter, slower stay.
Some properties are smaller and may have fewer restaurants.
That makes one question particularly important:
“Can this kitchen feed us well for five or seven nights?”
That is very different from asking whether the chef can prepare one vegan dinner.
Naru’s view
Matemwe can be excellent for vegan travellers when the hotel understands the requirement before arrival.
Where Is Vegan Food Easiest to Find in Zanzibar?
If your priority is independent dining, Stone Town and Paje are among the easiest areas to start with.
Jambiani also offers useful choices.
But this is an important distinction:
The easiest place to find independent vegan restaurants is not automatically the best place for your Zanzibar holiday.
If you want:
Quiet.
A luxury resort.
Long hotel days.
Few excursions.
Then Pwani Mchangani or Matemwe may still suit you better.
If you want:
Cafés.
Restaurants.
More movement.
More places outside the hotel.
Then Paje or Stone Town becomes more attractive.
Choose the location for the whole trip.
Not one dietary requirement.
Vegetarian and Vegan Food in Stone Town
Stone Town is one of the best places to explore a wider range of food.
You have:
Swahili restaurants.
Indian food.
Cafés.
International restaurants.
Street food.
Hotel restaurants.
Rather than searching only for places labelled “vegan”, ask local restaurants what can be prepared.
Some of the most interesting plant-based meals may come from kitchens that serve everybody.
Look for dishes involving:
Coconut
Beans
Rice
Lentils
Vegetables
Cassava
Plantain
Local greens
Fresh fruit
Is Paje Good for Vegans?
Yes.
Paje has a relatively developed restaurant and café scene.
That makes it useful for travellers who want to eat somewhere different from their hotel.
But Naru would choose Paje because you also want the Paje lifestyle:
Kitesurfing.
Cafés.
A social beach.
More activity.
We would not choose the entire coast purely because you follow a vegan diet.
Paje or Pwani Mchangani for a Vegan Traveller?
This is a more useful comparison.
Choose Paje if you want:
Independent restaurants
Cafés
Kitesurfing
A social atmosphere
More reasons to leave the hotel
Choose Pwani Mchangani if you want:
A quieter luxury resort
More hotel time
Fewer daily decisions
A polished resort environment
Meals organised mainly through the hotel
Both can work extremely well.
They simply create different holidays.
Which Meal Plan Is Best for Vegan Travellers?
Bed and Breakfast
Works particularly well in Stone Town, Paje and other areas where independent dining is easy.
Half Board
Can be a strong balance.
Breakfast and dinner are arranged while lunch remains flexible.
Full Board
Useful at more secluded resorts.
But we would confirm menu variety before booking.
All-Inclusive
Potentially the easiest option.
But only if the included restaurants genuinely work for you.
Five restaurants do not help if four have almost no proper vegan main courses.
The Naru All-Inclusive Vegan Test
Before upgrading to all-inclusive, ask:
Which restaurants have vegan mains?
Are speciality restaurants included?
Can dishes be adapted?
Are vegan desserts available?
Is plant-based milk available?
Can room service accommodate vegan requests?
Are snacks and afternoon food suitable too?
The point of all-inclusive is convenience.
It should not simply give you access to more food you cannot eat.
Vegan Food on Zanzibar Boat Trips
This is one of the easiest details to forget.
Boat experiences may include:
Snacks
Fruit
Lunch
Canapés
Drinks
The food may not be prepared by your hotel.
That means your dietary requirement needs to be communicated again.
For a full-day experience, fruit alone is not an adequate vegan lunch.
Ask what the actual meal will be.
A proper plant-based boat lunch might include rice, beans, vegetables, plantain, potatoes, salads or another filling main depending on the experience.
Vegetarian and Vegan Food on Naru Experiences
When booking a Naru experience, tell us your dietary requirements in advance.
Be specific.
For example:
Vegetarian — dairy and eggs are fine.
Or:
Vegan — no meat, fish, seafood, dairy or eggs.
If you have an allergy, tell us separately.
Clear information makes it easier for everyone involved in preparing the experience to understand exactly what is required.
Vegan Does Not Mean Allergy-Safe
This is important.
A vegan dish may still contain:
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Soy
Sesame
Gluten
Coconut
If you have an allergy, communicate it separately.
For example:
DIETARY REQUIREMENT: Vegan
ALLERGY: Severe peanut allergy
Those are two different kitchen instructions.
Vegan Does Not Mean Halal
These are also different dietary requirements.
A meal can be vegan without automatically meeting every halal requirement a Muslim traveller may have.
If both matter, communicate both.
Read our Halal Food in Zanzibar Guide.
Vegetarian and Vegan Zanzibar With Children
Children make dietary planning more specific.
An adult may happily eat dhal and vegetable curry.
A young child may want something much simpler.
Tell the hotel what your child actually eats.
Useful foods to ask about may include:
Rice
Pasta
Potatoes
Beans
Bread
Fruit
Vegetables
Plant-based milk
Simple sauces
Snacks
The word “vegan” tells a kitchen what not to serve.
It does not tell them what your child will happily eat.
Vegetarian and Vegan Honeymoons in Zanzibar
Honeymoons often include food outside the normal restaurant schedule.
Private dinners.
Picnics.
Birthday or honeymoon cakes.
Breakfast in the room.
Dhow experiences.
Special desserts.
If you are vegan, tell the hotel before arrival.
You do not want the surprise celebration cake to be something you cannot eat.
For the quieter honeymoon style Naru often recommends, Matemwe and Pwani Mchangani remain strong starting points.
Read our Zanzibar Honeymoon Guide.
Hidden Ingredients Vegan Travellers Should Check
A few ingredients are worth remembering.
Ghee
May appear in curries, rice, breads or vegetables.
Butter
May be used in sauces, vegetables, pastries or bread.
Milk and Cream
Can appear in soups, drinks, sauces, curries and desserts.
Egg
May appear in pastries, pancakes, noodles, batter and some street foods.
Meat or Fish Stock
A dish can look completely vegetarian while the cooking liquid is not.
Fish or Seafood Flavouring
Some local preparations may include dried seafood or fish-based flavouring.
Mayonnaise and Dressings
These may contain egg or dairy.
Desserts
Check milk, cream, butter, egg and gelatine.
Smoothies
Ask whether yoghurt, milk or honey has been added.
Common Mistakes Vegetarian and Vegan Travellers Make
Assuming “vegetable” means vegan
It may not.
Check the recipe.
Telling the hotel only after arrival
Advance notice gives the kitchen more time to prepare.
Choosing all-inclusive without checking menus
More restaurants do not automatically mean more useful vegan options.
Forgetting breakfast
This is often where limited plant-based variety becomes most obvious.
Forgetting excursions
The hotel may understand your diet while the external boat or excursion supplier does not.
Living on fruit and salad
Zanzibar has enough beans, grains, vegetables, coconut dishes and local staples that a plant-based holiday should be much more interesting than this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zanzibar good for vegetarians?
Yes. Vegetarian travellers can generally find a broad range of local and international options.
Is Zanzibar good for vegans?
Yes. Vegan travel in Zanzibar is very possible, particularly when requirements are communicated before arrival.
What vegan food can I eat in Zanzibar?
Depending on preparation, options may include coconut beans, coconut rice, vegetable curries, dhal, local greens, ugali, cassava, plantain, bhajia, samosas and chapati.
Always confirm the recipe.
Is Pwani Mchangani good for vegans?
Yes. Choose a resort that can provide enough plant-based variety across breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Is Matemwe good for vegan travellers?
Yes. Because some properties have fewer dining venues, confirm what the kitchen can offer across several days.
Is Stone Town good for vegan food?
Yes. Stone Town offers one of the widest ranges of independent dining on the island.
Is Paje good for vegans?
Yes. Paje has a strong café and restaurant scene, making it convenient for travellers who prefer eating outside the hotel.
Is Jambiani good for vegetarian and vegan travellers?
Yes. Jambiani can work well for travellers who want a slower southeast-coast stay while retaining some independent restaurant choice.
Is chapati vegan in Zanzibar?
It can be, but some recipes may use ghee or another animal-derived fat.
Ask if strict vegan preparation matters to you.
Is Zanzibar pilau vegan?
Not automatically.
Pilau may contain meat or stock.
Ask how the particular dish has been prepared.
Is coconut rice vegan?
It often can be, but recipes vary.
Confirm the ingredients if you follow a strict vegan diet.
Can I get vegan food at an all-inclusive Zanzibar resort?
Many resorts can accommodate vegan travellers.
The quality and variety of those options differ, so confirm the restaurants and menus before booking.
Can I request vegan food on a Zanzibar boat trip?
Often yes when arranged in advance.
Ask what the full meal will include rather than relying only on a generic dietary note.
Should I tell my Zanzibar hotel I am vegan before arriving?
Yes.
This is particularly important for longer stays, all-inclusive bookings, honeymoons, families and travellers with additional allergies.
How Naru Plans Zanzibar for Vegetarian and Vegan Travellers
At Naru, we do not consider the job finished because somebody says:
“The chef can accommodate.”
We want to know what that actually means.
What will you eat for breakfast?
What will lunch look like?
Will dinner change throughout the week?
Can you have dessert?
What happens on your boat day?
Are you travelling with children?
Do you have allergies?
Are you staying for three nights or ten?
Are you on half board or all-inclusive?
Then we consider the hotel.
For the quieter style of Zanzibar trip Naru often plans, Pwani Mchangani and Matemwe remain two of our preferred areas.
Being vegetarian or vegan does not mean you have to choose a busier destination simply to find food.
It means choosing the right hotel more carefully.
The goal should never be:
“They can make you something.”
The goal should be:
“You will eat well for the entire trip.”
Explore our Halal Food in Zanzibar Guide, Best Hotels in Zanzibar Guide, Where to Stay in Zanzibar Guide, or return to The Naru Zanzibar Travel Guide.
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