Urban by CityBlue Hotel, Dar es Salaam
Rooftop pool above the city
About this hotel
The pool sits on the roof here, a rarer setup on this list than a garden or courtyard pool, paired with a fitness centre and terrace for the rest of a wellness routine. Rooms lean toward longer stays with kitchenettes alongside work desks and free WiFi, useful for travellers mixing business with a pool break between calls. The restaurant serves international cuisine with a genuinely wide dietary range, halal, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options among them, while breakfast leans on local specialities and fresh pastries. Msasani Beach is a seven-minute walk away, the Village Museum six kilometres, and Tanzania National Stadium thirteen, with a paid airport shuttle available for the seventeen-kilometre transfer and free on-site private parking for anyone driving in.
- Rooftop pool and fitness centre
- Kitchenette rooms
- Near Msasani Beach
Our take
This suits travellers who specifically want a rooftop pool over a ground-level or garden setup, particularly business travellers with kitchenettes useful for longer stays. The rooftop framing is the clearest differentiator on this list, though the pool itself is sized for a break between work rather than a full resort afternoon.
- ✓Head up to the rooftop pool in the late afternoon for the best light over the city skyline.
- ✓Use the kitchenette for at least a few meals if staying more than a couple of nights, since the setup genuinely supports it.
- ✓Walk to Msasani Beach in the morning before the rooftop pool gets busy with other guests.
Why we love it
- Genuine rooftop swimming pool
- Kitchenettes for longer stays
- Wide dietary range at breakfast
- Seven-minute walk to Msasani Beach
Why guests love itThe rooftop pool is the reason to book here over a ground-level alternative, with the city spreading out below rather than a garden wall around the water. Days tend to split between the kitchenette for a simple breakfast, the rooftop for a midday break, and a short walk to Msasani Beach once the worst of the heat passes. The dietary range at breakfast, halal and vegan options included, makes it an easier stay for a mixed group than most hotels on this list.