Paje by Night: Zanzibar’s Iconic Beach Party Hub

Nestled on the southeastern coast of Unguja, Paje by Night is less a time of day than a destination – a lush beachside hideaway that comes alive under the stars.

As the resort itself boasts, it is “a place with its own personality and its unique atmosphere”.

Built in traditional thatch-roofed bungalows amid swaying palms, Paje by Night sits on a 70-meter strip of the famously pure white sands of Paje Beach.

In fact, the hotel’s own blurb describes it as “surrounded by lush gardens, palms and tropical trees” just steps from the Indian Ocean, a vibrant green oasis of hammocks, sun lounges and a free-form lagoon pool.

By day the scene is bucolic and laid-back (even red colobus monkeys sometimes wander the grounds), but once the sun sets the resort truly earns its name.

As the owners like to remind guests, “Zanzibar is Africa and at Paje by Night we want you to Feel It”, and indeed the atmosphere shifts into full beach-party mode after sundown.

Around the centrally located poo is where the action happens.

The crystal-clear pool complete with an adjoining Jacuzzi, is a daytime retreat for sunbathing and yoga, and a nighttime dance floor when the music kicks in.

Travel writers note that Paje by Night offers a “relaxed beachfront nightlife experience”, with cozy fire pits, hammocks and reggae beats setting a chill mood.

In short, Paje by Night marries serenity and revelry: daytime tranquility by its free-form pool and Jacuzzi, followed by a boisterous party scene as night falls.

Weekly Party Themes

Paje by Night is famous for its themed party nights, most of them on a weekly schedule. These include:

• Tuesday – Live Music Night: Every Tuesday during high season the hotel hosts live bands by the pool (typically 8–10 pm). Travelers describe open-air concerts ranging from island Reggae to acoustic jams.

• Thursday – Pizza Night: Heaped with Italian-style ovens, the restaurant throws an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet most Thursdays. Guests line up for hot wood-fired pizzas with every topping – a favorite among backpackers.

• Friday – Party Night (Bazaar & Bash): Friday is the marquee event. During the day there’s often a craft market or “Friday Bazaar” on the lawn (11 am–6 pm), featuring local food, artwork and music. After dark (from around 7 pm), the bar pumps up the volume for a big beach party. According to hotel info, “Every Friday…we organize a party with music and dances, with the participation of guests coming from nearby resorts”. Tourists and kite-surfer crowds converge here to dance into the night.

• Sunday – Family Funday / Chill Vibes: Sunday afternoons often bring a laid-back barbecue and kids’ activities (face-painting, games and even a mini pool party). By evening, guests slow the pace with acoustic guitar jams by the pool or simply gather around a bonfire.

(Other nights of the week tend to be quiet at Paje by Night, so visitors looking for nightlife often hop over to nearby spots like Demani Lodge on Thursdays or the famous Jambo Beach Parties on Fridays. But for a resort-hosted event every week, the above schedule is key.)

Music, DJs, and Crowd

The soundtrack at Paje by Night is as eclectic as its guests. Music runs the gamut from Reggae and Bongo Flava to Afrobeat and deep house.

Local DJs and live bands take turns spinning tropical house, old-school R&B, Caribbean tunes and the occasional trance set.

Because Paje is known as a kiteboarding hub, many attendees arrive straight from the beach or a day on the water – the crowd tends to be an international mix of windsurfers, backpackers, and Tanzanian locals.

Paje is widely regarded as the nightlife hub of Zanzibar’s southeast coast, particularly popular with kite surfers and beachgoers.

Indeed, it’s common to see windblown surfers dancing with village kids or college students from across the island.

In sum, the vibe is egalitarian and unpretentious: friendly, barefoot-friendly, and always ready to welcome new party animals.

Food, Drinks and Practical Details

Food and drink at Paje by Night are big parts of the draw.

The à la carte restaurant – run by Italian chefs – is known for its pizza and pasta, as well as local Swahili stews and seafood curries.

An English review on Booking.com summarizes it well: “There is a live band on Tuesday and pizza night on Thursday… The breakfast was delicious” (indeed, the croissants and omelets earn rave comments).

The bar pours all the usual suspects: cold Tusker lager, tropical rum cocktails, and blended fruit juices.

A standout is the nightly cocktail hour from 5–6 pm, when “2-for-1” specials lure early birds.

With friendly staff handling the wood-fired ovens and shakers, it’s easy to make an evening of it even before the party starts.

As for cost, the party nights themselves have no cover charge; patrons simply buy drinks or food as usual (Friday partygoers note that even visitors from other hotels typically enter free, and just settle their bar tabs or buffet fees).

Expect prices comparable to mid-range Zanzibar spots – cocktails are around $5–7, beers $3–4 – and the all-you-can-eat pizza can be an economical splurge.

Guests typically hit the party barefoot or in beachwear, though themed nights (neon paint on Glow nights, leis on tropical nights) encourage costuming.

There is no formal dress code at Paje by Night – the atmosphere is casual. 

(A travel tip: Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island, so modest dress is advised off the beach, but on the sand and at beach bars like this, shorts and tank tops are fine.)

Safety-wise, Paje by Night is family-friendly and open to all ages.

The staff monitor the pool and grounds, and the bar closes only when the last guest leaves. Clocking in at 11:00 am (check-in) and 10:00 am (check-out), the place is as easygoing as it gets.

There is 24-hour security on site, and the resort’s colorful central courtyard is well-lit at night. This is Zanzibar – petty theft is rare, but usual travel common sense applies.

Pro tip: If you want a long night, it’s wise to set a time to regroup back in your bungalow; otherwise the late-evening beats can lull even hard-partying guests into the early-morning.

What Makes Paje by Night Special

What really sets this party apart in Zanzibar’s nightlife scene is the combination of rustic lodging and live entertainment.

You won’t find the neon edginess of an urban nightclub here; instead it’s a communal seaside lodge where guests share long tables and swap kiteboarding stories.

Many visitors remark that the staff quickly become like friends, and that the bar’s openness – “they’ll mix your cocktail and call you by name,” in one guest’s words – gives Paje by Night its warm, lived-in feel.

The décor is a mix of global travel memorabilia (surf boards, tribal art, map mosaics on the pool deck) that nods to the spirit of adventure.

The hotel’s own marketing taglines (“it’s a place with its own personality and atmosphere,” “Zanzibar is Africa… feel it”) turn out to be literally true: no two nights here are ever exactly the same.

In short, Paje by Night offers a true African beach party experience with a friendly hostel vibe. It isn’t slick like a resort club, but that’s exactly the point – it’s raw, open-air fun.

Regulars joke that “every night is a party night in Paje” (and the resort does schedule something most nights).

Crowd-sourced nightlife guides rank it as one of the must-visit spots in the Paje/Jambiani area, precisely because it blends local culture (fresh-Spice-Route cuisine, Tanzanian hospitality) with international music and dance.

Travel Tips & Zanzibar Context

For first-time visitors: remember that Zanzibar operates on “African time”. Even though the bar advertises happy hour, it might actually start a few minutes late. But on the upside, the timezone truly comes alive at sundown.

Paje by Night is literally on the beach, so start your evening sipping a rum cocktail beachside as the sun dips (the resort is open daily from noon); the party usually revs up around 7–8 pm.

Locals give a thumbs-up to the resort’s laid-back vibe – and indeed, in holistic guides, Zanzibar’s nightlife is praised for offering a safe, friendly environment for dance and mingling.

Culturally, Zanzibari nightlife is modest but vibrant.

Paje by Night, like other beach bars, is mostly patronized by tourists and coastal Muslims from nearby villages, so it feels more international than Stone Town night markets or island villages.

Swahili is spoken freely (“hakuna matata” is even the name of the kite center on site) and English is no problem at all.

You’ll find that even the DJs sometimes call out “Jambo!” (hello) between tracks, blending global beats with island warmth.

Finally, consider the larger context: Paje itself is one of Zanzibar’s windsurfing and backpacking hubs. The whole village is dotted with zesty beach bars, from the famous Jambo Party to Demani and Mama Africa. But Paje by Night holds its own by being both a bar and a resort, so you can literally roll out of your room and onto the dance floor.

The consensus among travelers is clear: for a genuine Zanzibar beach party – pizza in one hand, cocktail in the other, sand between your toes – Paje by Night delivers an unmatched experience.