Chez Maria Júlia Boutique Hotel

Tar Ula

4 months ago

Unfortunately, our stay was not very pleasant. When we arrived, the reception was not attended and when we found a staff member, there was no greeting; she just looked at the clock and said, “Check-in is at 2 p.m.” It was 1:15 p.m. She didn’t speak any further, just wrote down the amount to pay on a piece of paper and asked for payment. The room was already ready, and we were allowed to leave our luggage there, but we didn’t get the key, check-in is only at 2 p.m., after all. By then it was already 1:30 p.m. The first impression when entering the hotel is modern and appealing. However, once in the room, you quickly notice that many details don’t quite match the impression. For example: the toilet paper holder is crooked, the bathroom bin is broken, there’s no hairdryer, and although the room is spacious, it feels rather bare. All of this would be easy to overlook if the overall experience were better. The staff in general seemed rather unfriendly. During check-out, the same impression continued: the staff member was quiet and not at all welcoming. She called us a taxi upon request but didn’t say a word about whether or when it would arrive. You simply don’t feel welcome in this hotel. The location is okay, though quite far from the city center – taxis are inexpensive, so that helps. Breakfast was also disappointing. The breakfast room itself is large and nicely designed, but the selection is very limited; a few kinds of fruit, some cake, jam, and one type of cheese. When I asked for salt and pepper, I was told there wasn’t any. I assume it was a misunderstanding, but it felt easier for them to say “no” than to engage with the guest. You can order something from the kitchen, such as eggs, but nobody explains what’s available, and there’s no menu. Overall, quite a pity. The hotel has potential, but it lacks friendliness, attentiveness, and an atmosphere where guests truly feel welcome.

Zineb Hattab

2 months ago

Excellent food and great team. All spaces are kept clean, the Christmas decorations was beautifully done and the location is perfect. Amazing project

Rik Van Hoecke

12 months ago

Every now and then, one discovers a real gem. This hotel is simply fantastic. Large rooms with a great bed (so important!), great breakfast and an amazing kitchen - everything fresh with great taste. Calm neighboorhood, very friendly service, and a great host. Probably the best value for money in Praia!

Hannelore Glibert

11 months ago

The rooms at Chez Maria Julia are spacious, and that’s definitely a positive. Unfortunately, it was the only one we found during our short stay. I’m grateful we only stayed one night—though honestly, even one night felt like too many. We arrived early and, since we were quite tired, we didn’t mind paying over 3000 escudos for an early check-in at 10h. What we didn’t expect, however, was to be shown to a room that hadn’t been cleaned properly. There was visible dirt on the floor, hair and nail clippings, and stains on the sheets. I generally avoid leaving negative reviews (you can see this from the rest of my travel feedback), but our experience here was truly disappointing. I showed photos of the room to the reception and kindly asked for it to be cleaned again, especially pointing out the state of the bathroom. After we returned, it did appear that someone had cleaned it, but I still didn’t feel confident about the overall hygiene, there was still hair in and on the walls of the shower. Even the towels had hairs on them—I ended up going through them all to find one that seemed fresh and smelled clean. In the morning, we went down at 7h for breakfast, as it’s stated that it starts then, and our agency had informed them we’d be leaving early. Everything was still closed. I left the minibar payment and key on the counter while my husband looked for someone. After about 15 minutes, we finally found a staff member. When I asked about the breakfast schedule, I was told that they're just finishing putting the things on the table. But at that time our transfer was already waiting for us outside and we had to leave. I told them I was unhappy about this and the lady behind the reception didn't even respond. The whole experience felt chaotic and unpleasant. Perhaps we caught them at a bad moment—other reviews are mostly positive, so I really hope our experience was just an exception. Still, it left us wishing we had chosen differently.

Lisa Olshefsky

2 years ago

Boutique Experience With Heart, Soul and Passion. Chez Maris Julia is an exceptionally well-curated and beautifully designed hotel both inside and out. The vibe of the rooftop bar and lower restaurant is contemporary yet it is a relaxing space where we enjoyed substantial breakfasts featuring varied traditional dishes. Be sure to book dinner - it was a memorable culinary experience. We appreciated being so near to the hustle, bustle, and grit that is Praia, yet were tucked into a safe and calm neighborhood. The hotel is near to beaches and all sites whether you choose to walk or taxi when exploring this vibrant city. We loved our morning walk on the paved oceanfront path just 2 block down from the hotel - fun watching a couple local fishermen. The real gem here is Julia and her dedication to share her culinary expertise with guests and a team of local women learning the practice and art of hotel service. Indeed, her efforts elevate the industry and Praia. It was our pleasure to support a woman with such talent and vision who is making a difference in her community. Happy that we ignored the outlying and undeservedly low review scores which are not at all reflective of this experience and were most likely a result of growing pains associated with unique and game-changing ventures. Kudos and thanks to Julia and her team for such personable attention that made our first experience in Cabo Verde an exceptional one.