Where to Stay in Mindelo

I visited four of the Cabo Verdean islands, and São Vicente is my favorite so far. My soul was smiling when I was there. I just loved that place so much! I wish I had spent more time there. Why? Because this island has everything I love:

• Music

• Beaches

• Good people

When I travel to a city, I like to try different hotels. In Mindelo, I stayed at two places: a fancy hotel called Luna Boutique Hotel and a bed-and-breakfast called Vanilla Residential.

Vannilla Residential

Bedroom in Vannilla Residential

Vannilla Residential is an excellent and affordable accommodation. It features a nice balcony with a view, a large living room, and a shared washroom. Everything was clean and well-maintained. The only downside was that the Wi-Fi was a bit spotty. However, I enjoyed meeting other travelers during my stay, and the owner is a very kind and welcoming lady.

The location is convenient—close to the city and only about a 15-20 minute walk to the beach.

Luna Boutique Hotel

Luna Hotel

I had the best experience at Luna Boutique Hotel! The hotel staff was incredibly kind and seemed genuinely happy to work there. They gave me great recommendations for places to visit, which I appreciated.

The hotel is women-owned, and I had the chance to meet the owner, who was super nice. She told me that the hotel was named after her granddaughter and even showed me some of the other suites. The rooms are decorated with a music theme, which makes the hotel more memorable.

Breakfast at Luna was marvelous, they had a large variety of sweet and savory treats. Another highlight of the hotel is its unbeatable location—just three minutes away from the beach. You can see the beach from the dining room, which is fantastic. On top of the beach access, the hotel has a decent-sized outdoor pool. While I’d always choose the beach over a pool, Luna’s pool is a great option if you’re in a rush and want to go in and out of the water or want to avoid getting sand in your hair.

The only negative about the hotel is that they didn’t provide an iron for guests, but that’s an easy fix. It’s not a cheap option—I remember paying over 200 CAD per night—and they now have a two-night minimum stay policy. Still, the amazing service makes it worth it. I would return to Luna Boutique Hotel without hesitation. If you need more convincing, drop a comment and I will drop a video of my bedroom at Luna.