Best Serviced Apartments in Harare

Harare doesn't get the tourism attention Victoria Falls does, and that's exactly why it has developed such a solid serviced apartment market — most people staying here are on business trips, NGO postings, diaspora visits, or relocations that run weeks rather than days, and a serviced apartment with a proper kitchen and living space simply works better for that than a standard hotel room. The city's spread-out, leafy layout also means the neighborhood you choose has a real effect on your daily commute and general feel, more so than in a compact town like Victoria Falls. Three areas dominate the serviced apartment market: Borrowdale, Avondale, and Highlands.

Borrowdale

Borrowdale is Harare's most upmarket residential and diplomatic district, home to embassies, the city's best shopping centres, and a concentration of newer, higher-spec serviced apartments. It's the natural choice for business travelers, diplomatic visitors, and anyone prioritizing modern finishes and reliable infrastructure — this is generally where you'll find the most consistent power and water backup arrangements, which matters more in Harare than it would in most cities. The trade-off is that Borrowdale sits a reasonable drive from the central business district, so factor in commute time if your meetings are downtown.

Avondale

Avondale sits closer to Harare's centre and has long been a popular base for its mix of convenience and character — a walkable shopping and restaurant strip, proximity to the CBD, and a good range of serviced apartments at a noticeably lower price point than Borrowdale's newest developments. It suits travelers who want to be central without paying a premium for it, and it works well for shorter business trips where minimizing commute time matters more than having the newest building on the block.

Highlands

Highlands is a quieter, established residential suburb with wide leafy streets and a genuinely calm, low-density feel — it suits longer stays, families, and anyone who wants a residential rather than commercial atmosphere while still being a manageable drive from central Harare. Serviced apartments here tend to offer more space and garden or compound access than the denser options closer to town, which makes it a strong pick if you're settling in for an extended stay rather than passing through.

What to expect from a Harare serviced apartment

Compared to a standard hotel room, a serviced apartment in Harare typically buys you a proper separate living area, a kitchen stocked for actual cooking rather than a kettle and a mini-fridge, and often a small compound or garden space — a meaningful upgrade if you're going to be based there for more than a few days. It's worth confirming a few practical details before booking regardless of neighborhood: whether the building has its own backup generator or solar system (Harare's grid supply can be inconsistent, and this matters far more over a week-long stay than a single night), whether water storage tanks are in place for the same reason, and whether the rate includes a housekeeping and laundry service or bills it separately.

Which area fits your trip

If you're here for business meetings, diplomatic work, or want the most modern building standards, Borrowdale is the default. If you want a central, walkable base at better value, Avondale is the practical choice. And if you're staying for an extended period and want space, quiet, and a residential feel over proximity to nightlife or shopping, Highlands is worth the slightly longer commute into town. Many business and diplomatic travelers also find that once they know their trip will run several weeks or more, negotiating a monthly rate changes the calculation considerably — see our companion guide below for how that typically works.

Booking a stay in Harare

Compare hotels in Harare and apartments in Harare directly — every listing on Tripvia goes through the same vendor verification process regardless of price point. If you're planning an extended stay, see our companion guide to monthly and long-stay apartments in Harare, and if Victoria Falls is also on your itinerary, check out where to stay in Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe safari packages combining Hwange and the falls.

The bottom line

Harare rewards picking a neighborhood based on what your trip actually involves — business convenience, central walkability, or residential calm for a longer stay — rather than defaulting to whichever apartment shows up first. All three of Borrowdale, Avondale, and Highlands are a manageable drive from the CBD, so the real decision is about atmosphere and building standard, not access.