What time does the Forodhani night market open?

Vendors begin setting up around sunset, typically 6–7 pm, and the market runs until around 11 pm most evenings.

What is Zanzibar pizza?

Zanzibar pizza is a street-food creation unique to Forodhani: thin dough folded around fillings such as egg, minced meat, vegetables, or Nutella, then pan-fried on a flat griddle.

Stone Town

Forodhani Gardens

Stone Town's beloved seafront park and home to Zanzibar's most famous nightly street-food market.

Overview

Forodhani Gardens occupies a narrow strip of reclaimed waterfront land between the Old Fort and the seafront dhow harbour in the heart of Stone Town. The name derives from the Arabic word for a customs or landing place, reflecting the area's long history as a point of arrival for goods and people crossing the Indian Ocean. The gardens were laid out under British colonial administration and later renovated in 2008 with funding from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, giving them the stone benches, paved walkways, and central fountain visitors see today.

The Night Market

Every evening the gardens transform into one of East Africa's most atmospheric food markets. Dozens of charcoal braziers flare up at dusk and the air fills with smoke from grilling lobster, prawns, kingfish, and octopus. Fixed-price negotiations are the norm, and seafood quality is generally very good given the fresh daily catch landed nearby.

Two dishes are essential eating here. The first is the ubiquitous Zanzibar pizza — thin wheat dough pressed on a hot griddle, wrapped around your choice of filling (spiced meat and egg is the classic; sweet versions with banana and Nutella exist for the adventurous). The second is fresh sugarcane juice, pressed to order by hand-cranked machines and served ice-cold, sometimes spiked with ginger or lime.

Urojo, the tangy Zanzibar mix soup of potato, cassava, lentil fritters, and bhajia in a thin coconut-tamarind broth, is also worth seeking out from the stalls toward the northern end of the market.

Daytime and Sunset

By day the gardens are a relaxed public space used by local families and school groups. Vendors sell fresh coconuts and cold drinks, and dhow boats bob in the shallow harbour beyond the low sea wall. The gardens face west, making them a prime vantage point for watching the sun drop behind the dhow traffic and the lights of the mainland shimmer across the channel.

Visiting Tips

Arrive just after sunset for the best atmosphere; the market is at its liveliest between 7 and 9 pm.
Bring small denomination Tanzanian shillings — most stalls prefer cash and change can be scarce.
Bargain politely but firmly; agree on a price before the food goes on the grill.
The market operates year-round but is quieter during Ramadan evenings and during heavy rains in April and May.
The gardens adjoin the Old Fort's main entrance, so it is easy to combine both in one evening visit.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the Forodhani night market open?: Vendors begin setting up around sunset, typically 6–7 pm, and the market runs until around 11 pm most evenings.
What is Zanzibar pizza?: Zanzibar pizza is a street-food creation unique to Forodhani: thin dough folded around fillings such as egg, minced meat, vegetables, or Nutella, then pan-fried on a flat griddle.