Hotels in São Tomé
The Honest Guide

The Pestana São Tomé is the island's only full-service 5-star hotel, sitting on the seafront in the embassy and government district, around 1km from the city centre. It is the largest and most comprehensively equipped hotel on the island.

The hotel has 115 rooms and suites with sea or garden views, an infinity pool overlooking the water, a private beach area, spa with Turkish bath and sauna, fully equipped gym, restaurant, bar and casino. All rooms have air conditioning, minibar and satellite TV. Breakfast is served as a buffet. There are five meeting rooms and a conference centre. Free WiFi and free parking are included. The hotel can arrange airport transfers and boat transfers to Ilhéu das Rolas.

It is not a walking distance hotel. The city centre is around 20 minutes on foot and taxis from the hotel door will try their luck with tourist prices. Do not pay more than 100 dobras for a trip into town. The hotel will sort a car if you need one, which is the better option for a longer stay.

The Friday BBQ runs weekly with live entertainment and draws both guests and locals - worth knowing if you are there on a Friday.

The Miramar is the second Pestana property on the island - a 4-star hotel set in a tropical garden close to the city centre, with a pool and direct beach access. CNN included it in a list of the 20 best places to visit in 2020.

The hotel has 59 rooms across several categories including Classic, Standard, Superior, Junior Suite and Suite. Facilities include an outdoor pool, tropical garden, the Le Baron restaurant serving Santomean, Portuguese and international cuisine with wood-fired pizzas, two bars including a poolside bar, free WiFi and free parking. Guests staying at the Miramar can use the spa, gym and sauna at the main Pestana São Tomé.

The garden setting makes it feel more relaxed and intimate than the main Pestana. The wood-fired pizzas at Le Baron are a reason to eat in rather than go out. There is a good chicken place just outside the hotel if you want something simple and local. The bar on the roundabout is worth knowing about if you do not want to pay hotel prices for a drink.

The Estádio Nacional is a short walk away. Sunday nights there is often a party - it moved from Micolo and can be loud. Worth knowing if you are a light sleeper.

Omali sits directly on Ana Chaves bay, roughly 2km from the city centre, with the beach in front of it. It is operated by the Principe Collection and is the highest-rated hotel on the island by TripAdvisor reviewer score.

The hotel has 30 rooms and suites, including a family suite sleeping four. Facilities include an outdoor pool in palm-fringed gardens, a poolside bar, restaurant specialising in fresh seafood and local cuisine, gym, tennis court and free private parking. All rooms include air conditioning, minibar, satellite TV, safe and coffee-making facilities. Breakfast is included in the rate.

The beachfront location is the main reason to choose it. The beach outside is used by locals on Sunday afternoons - relaxed, genuinely friendly, and a good place to spend time without being hassled. The seafood restaurant is the strongest card in the evenings. Classic rooms are on the smaller side - worth upgrading if the budget allows.