Maputo is brimming with architectural gems, and the stunning, four-star Hotel Cardoso is among them. With every creature comfort imaginable, plus a sleek bar and gorgeous garden, this is undoubtedly our favorite place to stay in Maputo. The service is friendly, sleek, and ultra-efficient, while the rooms are lovely and steeped in history. There are also two fabulous places to eat within the grounds of the hotel. Plus, it’s located in a central spot, right opposite the quirky Museu da Historia Natural, with its playful garden and world famous collection.

Set atop a high ridge and overlooking the downtown Baixa area, this hotel is shaped like a giant ship. From the beautiful back garden, you can sip sundowners, look out over the Indian Ocean and pretend you’re standing on the dock, watching an elegant, multi-tiered vessel slip out to sea. Prices start at $240 for standard doubles, rising for junior suites and presidential rooms. All rooms come with complimentary Wi-Fi access and guests receive a doggy bag containing, among other things, a nice Mozambican cookery book, and a USB key.

The double rooms suited us just fine; they come with cotton linen, duvets to sink into, and spacious en-suite bathrooms. Opt for an ocean view room (they’re slightly pricier) and you’ll be able to watch the sun go down over the gardens and the sea from your private balcony. The junior suites come with romantic, Mozambican place names such as Baia de Sofala, while the two presidential rooms have three rooms filled with stylish sofas, inviting bathtubs and even an exercise bike; it’s no wonder that the Cardoso is a hit with couples beginning their honeymoon in Maputo.

Downstairs, the excellent restaurant (also with sea views) specializes in Italian cuisine, while the bar has a great snack and light meals menu, including mezze plates, oriental noodle salads, and pastrami rye sandwiches. You can opt to eat in the hip, light-filled lounge, or jump online in the business center (where there are laptops available for guests to use). The pool is large enough for a work-out, and is available for non-guests for $20 a swim. Next door, Acacia Cafe (owned by the same management) serves coffee and cakes in a pretty, peaceful park setting.

But the best thing about the Hotel Cardoso is not its greenery or its creature comforts, nor its sleek style, but its curious history; the elegant stairway is lined with prints of the Maputo of yesteryear, and rumor has it that the late female patron loved the hotel so much that she spent her very last hours in one of the rooms. But fear not, there’s nothing to stop you drifting off to sleep like a baby. This is a real Maputo gem.