
Night Food Market
A bustling seaside market offering a vibrant array of authentic Swahili street food under the stars. Experience local flavors and energetic vendors.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Night Food Market

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A bustling seaside market offering a vibrant array of authentic Swahili street food under the stars. Experience local flavors and energetic vendors.
"Dive into the real Zanzibar at Forodhani Market - authentic street eats and a total win!"
Confirm Prices Before Ordering
Always ask for prices upfront to avoid potential scams or overpaying.
Seek Out Local Favorites
Look for stalls popular with locals for the freshest and best-cooked food.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Street Food
Price
$
Address
R5QQ+QHJ, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Zanzibar Pizza Experience
A must-try street food offering a unique savory or sweet crepe-like pizza with various fillings.

Vibrant Night Market Atmosphere
The Forodhani Gardens transforms into a lively culinary playground with enthusiastic vendors and a festive vibe.

Authentic Swahili Delicacies
Sample a wide array of local street foods like shawarma, falafel, meat skewers, and fresh seafood.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Confirm Prices Before Ordering
Always ask for prices upfront to avoid potential scams or overpaying.
Seek Out Local Favorites
Look for stalls popular with locals for the freshest and best-cooked food.
Visit Around 7 PM
Arrive around 7 PM for the best selection of fruits and other food offerings.
Bargain Respectfully
If you choose to bargain, do so firmly but respectfully with vendors.
Tips
from all over the internet
Confirm Prices Before Ordering
Always ask for prices upfront to avoid potential scams or overpaying.
Seek Out Local Favorites
Look for stalls popular with locals for the freshest and best-cooked food.
Visit Around 7 PM
Arrive around 7 PM for the best selection of fruits and other food offerings.
Bargain Respectfully
If you choose to bargain, do so firmly but respectfully with vendors.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
The Night Food Market offers a vibrant street food experience with many popular items like Zanzibar pizza and skewers being highly recommended. While the atmosphere and local interaction are highlights, some visitors caution about inflated prices at certain stalls and advise confirming costs beforehand. There are mixed reviews on specific items like grilled meats and desserts, suggesting a focus on universally praised dishes for the best experience.
"Okay, so I hit up the Forodhani Market, and you guys, it’s legit! Street food galore, and seriously, everything looked and smelled incredible. What was super cool was how chill the vendors were – not pushy at all, and they gave the same price to everyone, locals and tourists. Total win!
The food? Seriously yum! And the best part? No tummy troubles after! You gotta try the Zanzibar pizza and the Urojo. Trust me. (However I recommend staying away from the grilled meat , because it’s not fresh)
If you wanna dive into the real Zanzibar and aren’t scared of street eats, Forodhani Market is where it’s at. Totally recommend grabbing a bite there!"
Mumtaz
"I enjoyed it, the locals are very nice, I do recommend only the places that have the price out front, otherwise might get scammed. Overall it's a nice and cheap experience , and a good chance to taste local food"
Ariel Baras
"It’s a crazy atmosphere but definitely worth the visit. I recommend going with a local to have a nice experience and get to taste for free and find good prices. I do the free walking tour and we end in here. Was the best option, I get to try the sugar cane juice from Zanzibar with Lemon juice and ginger. And I feel safe trying the Zanzibar pizza. They had a price list and the pizza was made in front of me."
Paola Salas
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The Zanzibar pizza and shawarma are highly recommended. Skewers and various seafood dishes are also popular choices.
Most visitors report no tummy troubles. It's recommended to look for stalls with clear pricing and those frequented by locals.
The market comes alive in the evening, usually after sunset.
While some vendors may bargain, it's best to confirm prices upfront to ensure transparency.
Yes, options like falafel, potato balls, and vegetable skewers are generally available.
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The Night Market is a culinary playground for all—visitors and locals pour in, families gather with small children, and of course, the tenacious stray cats hunker down and wait for scraps. The chefs are a blur of motion, excitedly pointing to their culinary creations, cooing and coaxing until even the most hesitant eater gives in to their expertly spun sales pitches.
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In the evening, “Foro” becomes an impromptu fashion show, as Zanzibari youth show off their best bling while others run around soaking wet after taking running jumps to flip into the sea. Wander through the nearby nightly food market to sample Zanzibar’s favorite street foods (at your own risk), including the famous urojo, a tangy bowl of deep-fried bagia (nutty lentil falafel), muhogo (cassava), kachori (spiced potato ball), mishkaki (grilled beef kebab), and mayai (boiled eggs), steeped in a tangy ripe mango or tamarind broth and topped with coconut-lime chutney and chili sauce. Wash it all down with a fresh stafeli (soursop) juice, and let the day drift away as you ponder where to wander tomorrow.
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One of the best things tourists can do in Zanzibar is to visit Forodhani Night Food Market for dinner. This top spot in Stone Town is excellent for an authentic street food experience as one can try dishes such as Ugali, Nyama Choma, Mandazi, Chipsi Mayai, Kuku Paka, Zanzibar Pizza, Mshikaki, Samosa, Pilao, Mtori, Urojo soup, and Biryani or drinks such as ginger tea and sugarcane juice. The food is delicious and is made with a blend of spices such as lemongrass, nutmeg, pepper, coriander, turmeric, cumin, garlic, ginger, cardamom, vanilla.
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This will be an amazing day where you will explore the beaches at Zanzibar by participating in different activities such as snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, traditional dhow cruise and many more. You will relax as you enjoy the sunset and sunrise while watching the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. In the evening, you will take an optional activity of visiting the Forodhani food market where different traditional Swahili foods are displayed for tasting and enjoying as dinner and supper.
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My favourite thing in Stone Town was the food market in Forodhani Garden, an authentic cultural experience, with a mix of incredible smells, colours and tastes. Try the Zanzibar pizza – kind of a pancake but with pizza toppings – a bbq with lots of vegetables to choose from or have a sugar cane juice with ginger and lime. Every day, after 5pm, this place becomes so magical, with plenty of stalls and local people strolling around enjoying the food and the sunset.
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At night, Forodhani Gardens transforms into a large night market that attracts locals and tourists alike with the promise of delicious and authentic local Zanzibar food. I highly recommend spending at least one evening at this night market if you enjoy tasty local food at affordable prices. Thanks to recommendations from fellow travel blogger “That Travel” and the helpful hostel receptionist, I arrived at the night market armed with a short list of foods to try.
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Tourists can spend a wonderful and romantic night at Forodhani Night Food Market, immersed in the lively town’s nightlife, trying out new flavors and savoring the food together. Zanzibar Pizza, octopus soup, date nut bread, biryani, plantain soup, Mshikaki (meat skewers), or pilao are some of the delectable foods available in this place to make you and your wife/ husband have a good time and enjoy your honeymoon safari experience in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
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Saturday evening we explored the night market, famous for making ‘Zanzibar Pizza’, a sweet or savory version crepe like pizza, along with huge amounts of grilled seafood and spicy hot sauce to go with it. The market was lit by hanging lights or freestanding lanterns, casting just enough light to let you view the food offerings up close. We had the most delicious grilled shrimp with hot sauce on the side and a nutella banana pizza to top it off.
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When low tide rolled in, we made our way back to Stone Town. Our gracious host was having a party that night, and over Serengeti beers, we chatted football, work and all things East Africa. Like most Zanzibari parties, this one ended with a midnight snack at the world-renowned Forodhani Food Market, a seafront carnival that opens at dusk with dozens of chefs whipping up treats under the muted glow of table lanterns.
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If you’re looking to dive into authentic Zanzibari street food, Forodhani Night Market is the place to go!. As the sun sets, vendors gather to serve dishes like Zanzibar pizza, a savoury, crispy pancake with fillings like egg, cheese, and minced meat and urojo (sour broth soup) loaded with spices. This lively market has a vibe that allows locals and travellers alike to experience Zanzibar’s culinary heartbeat.
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If you leave town before trying the bustling open-air night market at Forodhani, on the waterfront, you’re missing out. I’ll be writing a post later, but it’s an excellent place to come for its buzzing atmosphere, dressed-up crowd and a crazy array of food, from fish kebabs and seafood to grilled corn and the infamous ‘Zanzibar pizza’.
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Zanzibar Night Market is another attraction on Zanzibar Island held in the Forodhani Gardens, the gardens known during day changes their face completely once the sun sets. During the night, the gardens are filled with food stalls being set up by the locals welcoming you to get a taste of the different dishes of the Zanzibar cuisines.
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If the loud and hectic Faradhani night market is not your thing, then pay a visit to Lukmann’s restaurant down the street. This is a large open air restaurant that serves all the local dishes that you’ll find at the night market. The prices here are fixed so you don’t need to bargain or worry about being taken advantage of.
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if you are looking for a more authentic experience then you could try the Forodhani Night Market. Set in the Forodhani Gardens, during the day the area is a peaceful park. The vendors start setting up in the afternoon and from about 6 pm onwards they are ready to serve you (and the locals) traditional delicacies.
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For those seeking a non-alcoholic nightlife in Zanzibar experience, Forodhani Gardens transforms into a vibrant night market after sunset. Dozens of food stalls illuminate the waterfront park with their lanterns and grills. Subsequently, locals and tourists gather to sample fresh seafood and Zanzibari pizza.
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An ideal attraction for the tourist in Zanzibar, the Forodhani Night Market is the one-stop entertainment centre with the best eateries and café in the riverfront space. Gather here to enjoy the delicious cuisines while observing the beauty of shady palms, the colourful stalls and likely aura of the place.
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Every night from 7 pm, the night market comes alive with sizzling grills, the scent of spices, and crowds of locals and tourists. I tried Zanzibar pizza, urojo soup, beef kebabs, shawarmas, crepes and fresh sugarcane juice, they were all delicious. You can eat a full dinner with 2000 – 13,000 tsh ($1-$5).
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To experience the best of Zanzibar’s food, head to the Night Market that happens each night in the Forodhani Gardens. Indulge in seafood, meat skewers, Zanzibar pizza (!), snacks, local beer, exotic fuits and desserts. The hawkers can be a bit pushy, but do not let that annoy you too much.
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The route will lead us to Forodhani Park, which is home to a popular street food market. By now you'll have built up an appetite, so it's time to indulge in a delicious homemade soup and shawarma. Sugarcane juice, spiced tea, or coffee are also included, what more could you ask for?
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Visit the Forodhani night market and choose your ingredients (sweet or savoury). The chef will pop them all in a pocket of dough and then fry it in oil for a hot, crispy treat that you can eat while exploring Stone Town, or looking out to sea at the lights on the fishing boats.
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Talking about nightlife in Zanzibar without mentioning Forodhani Night Market is unheard of. When the sun sets, the market comes to life. The open-air food market is filled with local people, stall vendors and tourists all interacting with each other.
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The market is known for its wide variety of street food, including seafood, samosas, local drinks, and sweets. Here it’s free to visit. The market is located on the waterfront of Forodhani garden, and opens around 16:30 until late at night.
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In the evening, Stone Town comes alive with vibrant night food markets. Forodhani Gardens is the epicenter of this culinary extravaganza, where you can savor freshly grilled seafood, samosas, sugarcane juice, and local snacks.
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The evening food market held here is the best way to get a taste of local flavours and nightlife, as it is also the preferred spot for islanders to grab their favourite cow soup (urojo), or a slice of the famous local pizza.
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On January 13 afternoon, we were back to Stone Town from Nungwi. We walked around and very luckily found a great place to stay for the night. Thanks to the hostel staff, we had a cheap and delicious light dinner at Lukmann.
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The night market sells Zanzibar pizza- sweet, like Nutella and banana, or savory, with cheese, meat, and vegetables. One can find seafood, including grilled shrimp and octopus. Vendors also sell mandazi and kochari.
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Why Visit: As the sun dips behind dhows, Forodhani Gardens bursts into life. Fresh seafood skewers sizzle on grills, and street food vendors entice with Zanzibar pizza and fresh sugarcane juice.
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Forodhani night market: a sizzling street food bonanza, with dozens of stalls hawking everything from barbecued octopus to shawarma. Try the custard apple juice!
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Where to try Zanzibar Pizza: You should try the Zanzibar Pizza at the Forodhani night market in Stone Town. You will find several stalls selling them there.
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The Forodhani Night Market: A bustling night market that offers a variety of traditional Swahili dishes, including urojo, mchuzi wa samaki, and matooke.
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From the beaches to the parks, everyone relishes in the more pleasant temperatures once the fierce sun has gone. The night food market is no exception.
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A visit to Stonetown is not complete without a stop at the Forodhani Night Food Market at the waterfront location of Forodhani Gardens.
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Indulge in local delicacies such as biryani, pilau, and Zanzibar pizza at the Forodhani Night Market or in quaint local eateries.
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From 6 pm onwards the place is full of vendors ready to serve you fresh seafood, Zanzibar pizza, and other amazing delicacies.
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