“Wonderful stay at black Mamba for me and my two teenage daughters !”

The vibe, the amazing view and the wonderful and welcoming staff

Friendly hostess, nice atmosphere

An excellent and interesting guesthouse and the owner was lovely and made sure we had everything. The food was excellent and they made a special effort as to make vegan food for me.

“The Place to Be! Can’t wait to go back!”

Everything was just perfect, I still can’t get over it. Liana is an extraordinary host, with great energy and stunning smile, totally able to make you feel at home and feel seen. The place is just magical, exactly what you would want if you’re looking for peace, nature and just the right vibe. Falling asleep to the ocean waves breaking onto the rocks is something priceless. Lovely yet quiet dog and cats perfectly contribute to the overall vibe. Room was spacious, perfectly clean, with a lot of light and possibility to open the windows. Food is amazing, both at breakfast and at dinner, I had all my meals there while staying in Paul and would definitely do it again. They don’t serve meat, which, as a vegetarian, is one more plus and means that you don’t have to compromise as it can happen in certain other places. Liana has also arranged a guided trekking for me with Raffaele, and it was the best day ever. He is super knowledgeable, he taught me a lot of things about the paths, plants and the island(s) in general, while making me feel safe and comfortable at all times, super caring making you feel you’re in great hands. Last but not least, great transparency on price breakdown, even when not needed, and 100% honesty in properly converting escudos to € (which to be honest I haven’t found elsewhere so far). I wish I could have stayed there for my whole trip 🤍

“A great hostel right on the coast”

Black Mamba is a quality place to stay. It's basically a hostel with some dorm rooms and some private rooms and a couple of communal areas as well as guest kitchen. Our room was large with a separate toilet and bathroom and enough floor space for our luggage. Many plugs in the room as well. The whole place is clean and comfortable. Breakfast is very good, and although not included in the price, is only an additional €6 per person. Packed lunches and dinner are also available at a reasonable cost. The hostel is vegetarian. Your final bill can be paid in CVE or € cash, or by card (2.5% surcharge). The owner is really nice. She has lots of information about the walks on Santo Antao and how to get around. English, Italian and Portuguese is spoken. The location is excellent if you want to complete the Cova Crater to Paul walk as you can finish at the guesthouse. Otherwise it's easy to take a collectivo from outside the guest house to Ribeira Grande and onwards if you want to do the coastal walk to Ponta do Sol or to other areas. Approximate costs for two people are - Porto Novo to Black Mamba (CVE 700), Black Mamba to Ribeira Grande (CVE 200), Black Mamba to Cova Crater (CVE 2000), Ribeira Grande to Cruzinha (CVE 1000).

“Great very special place. We suggest to”

Great host. We knew that the accommodation would be special, but we got even more than we expected. All our wishes were fulfilled even with our request (special fier) The house is an island of peace and tranquility. Nice talks and friendship with our host remains unforgettable. The sounds of the ocean every night was amasingy We will be back.

Very friendly host, really nice food and drink, self catering facilities ( rare on the island) and good value for money.

“Perfect !”

Excellent place to Stay in Praia Very relaxing place Food is excellent It’s a place to Relax -look at the ocean - enjoy the good Just slow life Thank you

“Lovely stay”

Super friendly host and great location. There is a restaurant in the accommodation and the owner prepared fresh pasta in the evening. We could hear the ocean in the room. Overall a lovely stay! The host also helped us to organise drivers (aluguers) from and to the habor to make sure we reach our boat.

“Colorful seafront stay with great food and warm hospitality.”

We spent two wonderful nights at Black Mamba in Cidade das Pombas (Paul), Santo Antão, and it quickly became one of those places you don’t just stay at—you experience. The location is fantastic: right on the seafront in Paul, with the ocean just steps away and the lush Paul Valley behind you. It’s an ideal base for exploring the area, especially if you’re planning to hike. What truly makes Black Mamba special is the vibe. The place is funky, colorful, and full of character, with eclectic and artistic decor that immediately makes you feel welcome. Nothing feels generic here—every corner has personality. The owner, Liana, is a warm and attentive Italian host who creates a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. She’s incredibly helpful when it comes to planning hikes and exploring Santo Antão, always ready with practical tips and local knowledge. The food alone is a reason to come here. Black Mamba is well known for its excellent pizza and pasta, all prepared in a fire oven. There are great vegetarian options, and the homemade desserts are absolutely worth saving room for. Everything we tried was delicious and very reasonably priced. Our room was cozy and unique, in true Black Mamba style. The accommodation offers creatively designed rooms—some even with trapdoor access—along with balconies and beautiful ocean views. It felt artistic, comfortable, and perfectly in tune with the relaxed island atmosphere. In short, Black Mamba is much more than a place to sleep. It’s a welcoming, creative, and delicious hub in Paul—perfect for hikers, food lovers, and anyone who appreciates warm hospitality and a place with soul. We would happily return.

“Very happy to have stayed in this beautiful place, I will visit again!”

My room was amazing: beautifully designed and very comfortable. The staff were friendly and helpful and the food delicious.

“Inspiring...”

The vibe of the place. The owner, Liana. She is amazing in every way. Funny, helpful...

“Didn't go as planned”

No electricity. Bedroom floor still wet from the rain. I know those all are circunstancial but impacted a lot on the whole experience.

“Lovely place to stay, with a very nice welcome”

Liliana is great she is always thinking about the guests and making the stay perfect. Food is also amazong!!

Lovely stay

“Colorful hotel, helpful owner”

A charming and colorful hotel. The owner was very helpful with planning hikes that fit your situation / wishes.

“The best hotel and most warmest hotelkamer ever!!”

Liane, the owner is FANTASTIC!!! She is so warm and nice, make you feel comfortable and she is HAPPY when your are happy! The hotel is full of decorations and art; all made by Liane: it’s so nice and cosy. Everything is perfect! You should go there!

“Good vibes all day long!”

This place is absolutely wonderful! The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming—you instantly feel like part of the family. The dinners are top-notch, with delicious, authentic meals that hit the spot after a long day. After spending hours exploring the trails, coming back here felt like a true retreat. I couldn’t have asked for a better stay—highly recommend!

“Perfect ! 4 days in heaven”

Absolutely amazing stay. All was perfect !!! Breakfast was good for hiking days , awesome tips for all the walking / hiking trips I did. I would definitely stay again. Thank you