The Olive Exclusive All-Suite Hotel

The designers of Olive Exclusive All Suite Hotel went to town. Not the centre of town, which is just minutes away, but Stone Town. Austere in its minimalist chic, the guesthouse is a modern taken on Roman times. With concrete baths, screed floors, granite tiles, ornate iron furniture, and flashes of cotton-white, the atmosphere is so calm it verges on sombre.

The bold, bare-faced style that meets you upon arrival continues into the 11 rooms, the monochromatic austerity of which draw your attention to the softly beckoning white cotton of the beds, the open-plan basins and bath shower are an intimate touch while the air conditioning, tea and coffee, mini bar, and snack platter up the comfort ante.

Breakfast is on the patio by the pool, which leads into a cosy lounge and dining room. Removing itself from the guesthouse category an à la carte menu is served throughout the day from the large open-plan kitchen and dinners are available on request.