Approaching by speedboat from the Indian Ocean, the Hotel Dona Ana looks like a wedge of birthday cake. Its Art Deco exterior is splashed in pastel pink and baby blue, oozing seaside splendor and class. You wouldn’t know it had sat vacant for 30 years, decades after Senhor Alves (so the story goes) met a gorgeous Mozambican woman, Dona Ana, on a Vilanculos beach, and built a hotel in her honor.

The hotel is perched right on the tip of the Vilanculos strip and adjacent to a jetty, making it the perfect jumping off point for a private boat ride to the Bazaruto archipelago. But with harbour view rooms from $120 and ocean view rooms starting at $140, you don’t need to have a Bazaruto budget to stay here. It’s easily accessed by main road from Vilanculos, and the town center and beachside restaurants are a short walk away. The rooms are small and cosy, with balconies, good thread counts, and sleek bathrooms. We liked the mood lighting and the large desks; great if you need to work while you’re in town. Wi-Fi, by the way, is fast and free.

Dona Ana’s exterior may be sweet and colorful, but the interior is thoroughly adult, with whitewashed walls, hip art deco furnishings, a smooth soundtrack, and touches that mix style with memories of yesteryear. There’s a sleek pool bar, Caju, that perfectly recreates the vibe of the 1950s, and a lounge bar equipped with a telescope for stargazers. Dinner is served in the smart restaurant with hip red chandeliers; there’s also a handful of breeze-blessed outdoor tables on the deck. Our prawn curry came with soft white rice, a freshly made poppadum, and a cool tomato-cucumber salsa. There’s a splendid breakfast buffet, too, with everything from muffins and scones to glass jars of trail mix, specialty cheeses, a healthy bread basket, and omelettes made with garden basil.