La Maison Bleau is situated on the sandy shoreline of Togo’s capital city, Lomé. A low-slung high spec building designed by the architect daughter of the guesthouse owner, the luxury property is built on stilts, generating a natural cooling system, which also helpfully offers excellent ocean views.
Overview
Constructed of rich dark woods, clay bricks, polished concrete, and beautifully finished, the hotel consists of five guest rooms, a gift shop, as well as indoor and outdoor dining areas. An outdoor pool sits surrounded by a green lawn and palm trees, where sunloungers shaded under bamboo roofing are on offer. WiFi is also available throughout.
Food & service
Olivia and Marianne, daughter and mother, the architect and owner of La Maison Bleue, are very much a part of La Maison Bleau’s warm and cheerful staff team, which also includes resident chef Florence, and even a resident artist, Kiki, who has created the hotel’s eye-catching African designs throughout the grounds. The mixed menu includes African, French, and other European dishes. Vegetarian and plant-based options are also available upon request. A poolside barbeque can be booked by guests – and nothing quite beats purchasing freshly caught fish from the local fisherman right in front of the hotel for such occasions.
Accommodation
The guesthouse consists of five private rooms, including two queen rooms and one king room – the room names reflecting the size of bed in each. The fourth room is a double suite of two adjoining rooms, with a king-sized bed and a queen-sized bed in each, and one large shared bathroom. Each room has a large walk-in shower with pebble-stone floor, a wood-framed four-poster bed, and a shared stretched veranda looking over the pool and ocean beyond. The fifth room is the eponymous Blue House itself. A self-contained apartment which can sleep up to 10, including two queen and two king-sized beds, and six single beds. The apartment also has two lounge areas, dining area, and fully equipped kitchen. Painted in rich oranges and blues, with local African prints throughout, this overall feel is very boho-chic.
Activities
The guesthouse has a massage room available to guests, while yoga and fitness instructors can be booked upon request. Staff will also be happy to arrange activities outside of the hotel, including tennis, golf, horseback riding, and deep-sea fishing.
Impact
La Maison Bleau has been built of local materials by local tradesmen. This includes the building’s red clay bricks, which were handcrafted on site. The property also stands on stilts to allow the cool sea breeze to flow freely throughout the property, mitigating the need for energy-consuming air conditioning units.